Macaroni Cheese with Spinach and Artichoke

This macaroni cheese with spinach and artichoke is the perfect rich, gooey and delicious comfort food for your family dinner.

Classic thanksgiving recipe and comfort food, this mac & cheese is an epic dish that is ready in just 20 minutes.

Also, this delicious recipe is great for enticing your kids and even adults to eat their greens.

Although is a fairly simple homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe that you can make in just 20 minutes.

Here are a few tips to make the perfect Macaroni cheese with spinach and artichoke

What cheese is best in mac and cheese?

We suggest using melting cheeses to achieve better results when making mac and cheese.

The best cheeses are:

Cheddar
Part-skimmed mozzarella
Gruyere
Parmesan
Gouda

You can also use different types of cheese that will also add an extra flavor to your dish like

Gorgonzola/blue cheese
Monterrey Jack
Brie

What is the best seasoning to put in mac and cheese?

Most of the flavors everyone loves in the mac and cheese pasta come from the cheese and the time spent in the oven to a golden brown. Some seasonings are important but they won’t be so effective if you skip that baking part.

Here are some ideas:

Garlic in nature or powder
Onions in nature or powder
Oregano
Red pepper flakes
Truffles

How do you make mac and cheese gooey?

Our process of making mac and cheese gooey is super simple. Simply use whole milk to cook the pasta! The whole milk will reduce its liquids and form a gooey coating over the pasta.

The next super important thing is using a lot of cheese! Don’t be shy as this is important to make the perfect gooey mac and cheese that everyone will love.

Cooking Time

Cooking: 15 minutes
Preparation: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Servings

4 servings

Equipment

Large Cast Iron Skillet

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Ingredients list

2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
5 oz spinach
1 cup artichoke hearts, drained
3 cups of whole milk
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 cups elbow macaroni pasta
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 cups shredded part skimmed mozzarella cheese, divided

How to make Artichoke Spinach Mac & Cheese

Preheat the oven to 392º F / 200° C.
Bring a large skillet or saute pan over medium heat. Add the butter to melt, add garlic and stir with a rubber spatula until fragrant, for about 30 seconds.
Add the spinach and cook until wilted, followed by artichoke hearts. Cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Slowly add the milk, salt, and pepper. Stir until starts boiling.
Add the macaroni pasta and cook until the milk reduces its liquids and coats the macaroni as a glaze.
Add the cheddar and 2 cups of mozzarella, stirring until completely melted.
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top.
Take the skillet to the oven and bake for around 7 minutes, until the cheese bubbles and is nicely golden brown.

Storage

To store the mac and cheese, keep it in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Suitable for home freezing for up to 3 months.

Want More Easy Italian Recipes?

We believe you will like these options:

Easy Tuna Wrap Recipe

Homemade Italian Rice Frittata

Italian Cold Pasta Salad

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Italian Style Eggs In A Hole

Follow Little Pans on Instagram to learn more delicious Italian inspired recipes.