Smoky Spinach Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

SPINACH MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 teaspoon butter.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat while macaroni is cooking. Add flour and whisk until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in a little milk and continue whisking. Pour in remaining milk and add frozen spinach. Cook, whisking constantly, until spinach softens and sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
• Remove sauce from heat and stir in 2 cups Cheddar cheese; whisk until melted. Season sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Drain macaroni and spread evenly in the prepared baking dish. Cover with cheese sauce. Mix well. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup Cheddar cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 30 minutes. Turn on the oven's broiler and broil until a golden crust forms on top, about 3 minutes.

SMOKY SPINACH MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
• Add shallots and garlic; cook 1 minute.
• Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Gradually add milk, cream, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended.
• Bring to a boil; cook until thick (about 2 minutes).
• Add cheeses; stir until melted.
• Add spinach and macaroni to cheese sauce, stirring until well blended.
• Spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray.
• Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
• Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

SPINACH MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425.
• In medium sized pot, over medium heat, melt butter.
• Add the flour and cook for 3 minutes.
• Pour in the hot milk and cook until thickened.
• Add the spinach, cheese, seasonings, horseradish and mustard.
• Mix well.
• Combine with the cooked pasta.
• Place in a greased cassarole dish.
• Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until bubbling.

CHEROKEE GRILL MACARONI AND SPICY CHEESE WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Thaw the frozen spinach in the refrigerator overnight.
• Squeeze as much excess water as possible out of spinach and set aside.
• Place the milk, garlic, and crushed red pepper in a saucepan.
• Bring to a simmer with low to medium heat.
• Saute the finely diced onion in 1 tbsp butter for about 5 minutes.
• Add the onion to the milk, then add the Dijon mustard, Tabasco, and beer.
• Continue to simmer, stirring often so the milk does not burn.
• Make a roux with 5 tbsp melter butter and 6 tbsp flour.
• Cook on low heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add to the milk mixture and mix well.
• Continue to simmer until the sauce thickens, then reduce heat.
• Add the cheese to the sauce (cut into small cubes so the cheese will melt faster.).
• Stir until the cheese is completely melted and blended into the sauce.
• Remove from heat.
• Cook the macaroni according to package directions.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, cheese sauce, and the spinach.
• Mix until blended.
• Transfer to a large casserole dish.
• Top with grated cheddar cheese.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or till hot.

LIGHT MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400F.
• Spray 8" square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In small bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the milk and flour until smooth.
• In heavy medium saucepan, heat remaining 1 1/2 cups milk over medium heat until steaming.
• Add flour mixture; cook 2-3 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens, whisking constantly.
• Remove from heat; stir in cheddar cheese until melted.
• Stir in cottage cheese, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Cook spinach according to package directions; drain.
• Rinse under cold running water; squeeze out excess moisture.
• Cook macaroni in large pot of boiling lightly salted water 4-5 minutes or until not quite tender, stirring often.
• (Macaroni will continue to cook while baking.) Drain; rinse with cold water.
• Drain again.
• In large bowl, stir together cheese sauce and macaroni.
• Spread half of the macaroni mixture in baking dish; spoon spinach over top.
• Spread remaining macaroni mixture over spinach layer; sprinkle with wheat germ.
• (Dish can be made to this point and refrigerated for 2 days or frozen for 2 months. Thaw in refrigerator before baking.) Bake 35-45 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
• TIP*If you can't find wheat germ, substitute an equal amount of Parmesan cheese, cracker crumbs or bread crumbs.
• VARIATION: To make Southwestern Macaroni and Cheese with Peppers, substitute 1 cup grated pepper Jack cheese for 1 cup of the cheddar cheese.
• Omit the nutmeg.
• Add 1 (4 1/2-oz.) can chopped mild green chiles, 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro and dash cayenne pepper to cheese sauce.
• Omit spinach.
• Instead, cook 2 cups thawed frozen pepper stir-fry vegetables in 1 teaspoon olive oil 3 to 4 minutes or until tender.
• Replace spinach with pepper mixture.

SPINACH MAC & GOUDA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Place bread in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1/2 cup.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook 1 minute. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook until thick (about 2 minutes). Add cheeses; stir until melted.
• Add spinach and macaroni to cheese sauce, stirring until well blended. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until bubbly.