Spinach Artichoke Mac & Cheese

Name: Spinach Artichoke Mac & Cheese
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: Kosher salt; 1 lb pasta shells; 3 tbsp. butter, plus 2 tbsp. melted butter, plus more for greasing; 6 tbsp cloves garlic, minced; 3 tbsp all-purpose flour; 3 cups milk (preferably whole); Freshly ground black pepper; 2 (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese, cut into cubes; 3 cups shredded mozzarella; 1 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, divided; 2 (10-oz.) packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained; (15-oz.) cans artichoke hearts, drained and chopped; 1 Cup Dots bread crumbs; Bacon

5 steps

Prep:20minCook:1h 30min

This twist on mac & cheese might just take the cake though—the cream cheese makes for an EXTRA-creamy cheese sauce.

Updated at: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 20:34:44 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Unbalanced

Glycemic Index

Low

Glycemic Load

High

Nutrition per serving

Calories642.9 kcal (32%)

Total Fat34.3 g (49%)

Carbs56.3 g (22%)

Sugars7.9 g (9%)

Protein27.6 g (55%)

Sodium852.7 mg (43%)

Fiber4.4 g (16%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

10 servings

kosher salt

1 lbpasta shells

3 Tbspbutter

plus 2 tbsp melted butter, plus more for greasing

6 Tbspcloves garlic

minced

3 Tbspall-purpose flour

3 cupsmilk

preferably whole

freshly ground black pepper

2 x 8 ozcream cheese

blocks, cut into cubes

3 cupsshredded mozzarella

1 ½ cupParmesan

freshly grated, divided

2 x 10 ozfrozen chopped spinach

packages, thawed and drained

15 ozcans artichoke hearts

drained and chopped

1 Cupbread crumbs

bacon

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375°. Butter a 9"-x-13" baking dish. In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Pour in milk and continue whisking until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Let simmer until slightly thickened, 2 minutes. Stir in cream cheese until melted.

Step 3

Remove pan from heat and whisk in mozzarella and 1 cup of Parmesan. Continue whisking until melted and smooth. Stir in spinach, artichoke, and cooked pasta and transfer to prepared baking dish.

Step 4

In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan with panko and melted butter. Sprinkle mixture over macaroni.

Step 5

Bake until bubbly and golden, about 30 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.