Best 11 Creamy Macaroni Spinach Bake Recipes

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Are you looking for a delicious and comforting dish that is easy to make? Creamy macaroni and spinach bake is a classic comfort food that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. This dish is made with macaroni noodles, spinach, cheese, and a creamy sauce. It is baked in the oven until golden brown and bubbly. The result is a hearty and flavorful dish that is sure to please everyone at the table.

Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!

SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE PASTA BAKE



Spinach and Artichoke Pasta Bake image

Provided by Katie Lee Biegel

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

One 10-ounce bag frozen spinach
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
1 pound rigatoni
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
One 4-ounce jar artichoke hearts packed in oil, drained and roughly chopped
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella

Steps:

  • Microwave the spinach according to the package instructions, then allow to cool slightly. Squeeze out the excess water with a kitchen towel and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook 2 minutes less than the package instructions. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water before draining.
  • In a large room-temperature saucepan, add the olive oil and garlic. Turn on the heat to medium and allow the garlic to cook until lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the crushed red pepper flakes, then add the spinach and artichokes and saute 2 to 3 minutes. Add about 3/4 cup pasta water and the cream cheese and dried basil to the saucepan and allow the cream cheese to melt, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more of the pasta water if necessary to thin out the sauce, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the grated Parmesan.
  • Add the rigatoni to the sauce and stir to coat. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish (if your pan is oven-safe, you can skip this step). Top with the shredded mozzarella. Broil on high until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

CREAMY SPINACH & RIGATONI BAKE



Creamy Spinach & Rigatoni Bake image

Macaroni and cheese is one of the ultimate comfort foods. My recipe gives it an Italian twist. -Tammy Rex, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 45m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 package (16 ounces) rigatoni
8 ounces sliced pancetta, chopped
3/4 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
5-1/4 cups 2% milk
4 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
1 can (14 ounces) water-packed artichoke hearts, rinsed, drained and chopped
1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375°. Cook rigatoni according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook pancetta over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings; wipe skillet clean., In same pan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until blended; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese blend until melted., Stir in artichokes, spinach and pancetta. Drain rigatoni; add to cheese sauce. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese., Bake, uncovered, until golden brown and bubbly, 20-25 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 643 calories, Fat 35g fat (20g saturated fat), Cholesterol 99mg cholesterol, Sodium 1438mg sodium, Carbohydrate 53g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

SPINACH & RICOTTA PASTA BAKE



Spinach & Ricotta Pasta Bake image

Recipe video above. A lazy meal for midweek that tastes like spinach and ricotta stuffed shells or cannelloni - but without all the labour! Feel free to use your favourite store bought pasta sauce if you prefer. Reheats well and freezes well too!

Provided by Nagi | RecipeTin Eats

Categories     Pasta

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 19

300g / 10 oz ziti pasta, (uncooked, or other short pasta of choice)
1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese (, shredded (or more! For topping))
1 lb / 500 g ricotta ((Note 1))
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (, grated)
2 garlic cloves (, crushed)
350g / 12oz frozen chopped spinach, (thawed and excess liquid pressed out )
1 cup mozzarella cheese (, shredded)
3/4 tsp salt & pepper
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves (, minced)
700g / 24oz tomato passata ((1 standard bottle) (Note 2))
1 tsp EACH onion and garlic powder
2 tsp dried Italian Mixed Herbs ((Note 3))
1/2 tsp dried chili flakes (, to taste (optional))
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
Black pepper
2 tbsp water ((if needed))
Parmesan cheese (, grated)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
  • Pasta Sauce: Pour out about 1/4 cup of the passata (to make room to add flavourings). Add the remaining Pasta Sauce ingredients into the bottle, screw the lid on and give it a shake.
  • Cook pasta for time per packet MINUS 1 minute.
  • SCOOP OUT 1 mugful pasta cooking water, drain and set aside.
  • Ricotta Mixture - Mix Ricotta Mixture ingredients in a very large bowl. Use a splash of pasta cooking water if needed to make it creamy.
  • Add pasta and stir to combine. Transfer to a heatproof baking dish.
  • Top with Pasta Sauce, top with cheese. Loosely cover with foil.
  • Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the cover and bake for a further 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Serve while hot and fresh!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 569 kcal, Carbohydrate 53 g, Protein 32 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 14 g, Cholesterol 81 mg, Sodium 1346 mg, Fiber 5 g, Sugar 8 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CREAMY MACARONI SPINACH BAKE



Creamy Macaroni Spinach Bake image

Make and share this Creamy Macaroni Spinach Bake recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Parsley

Categories     Cheese

Time 45m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tablespoons butter
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened to room temp
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup low-fat milk
16 ounces reduced-fat sour cream
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
16 ounces frozen leaf spinach, thawed
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 casserole dish; set aside.
  • Cook macaroni according to package; drain.
  • Place hot, drained macaroni in a large bowl and toss with butter and softened cream cheese.
  • Add all remaining ingredients to the bowl and gently mix together well.
  • Pour into the prepared casserole dish.
  • Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

SPINACH-MACARONI & CHEESE BAKE



Spinach-Macaroni & Cheese Bake image

Got a picky eater you're trying to win over to the spinach fan club? Try this creamy macaroni and cheese casserole with garlic and fresh spinach.

Provided by My Food and Family

Categories     Home

Time 1h

Yield 8 servings, 1 cup each

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 pkg. (10 oz.) fresh spinach, stems removed
2-3/4 cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
3 Tbsp. margarine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
3 cups milk
3 cups KRAFT Shredded Triple Cheddar Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA, divided
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Add spinach to large pan of boiling water; cook 1 to 2 min. or just until wilted. Drain in colander. Use same pan to cook macaroni as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, melt margarine in separate large pan on medium heat. Add garlic and flour; cook and stir 1 min. Whisk in milk; bring to boil, stirring constantly. Add 2-1/4 cups cheese; cook and stir until melted. Stir in pepper.
  • Squeeze excess water from spinach; chop finely. Drain macaroni. Add to cheese sauce; stir until evenly coated. Spoon half the macaroni mixture into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with spinach. Top with remaining macaroni mixture and shredded cheese.
  • Bake 30 min. or until golden brown. Let stand 10 min. before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 430, Fat 21 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Sodium 400 mg, Carbohydrate 41 g, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 6 g, Protein 19 g

CREAMY MUSHROOM & SPINACH PASTA



Creamy mushroom & spinach pasta image

Toss together tagliatelle, mushrooms and spinach in a parmesan and crème fraîche sauce to make a quick and low calorie dinner that takes just 25 minutes

Provided by Liberty Mendez

Categories     Dinner

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
150g baby mushrooms, halved
150g tagliatelle
2 garlic cloves, crushed
200g low-fat crème fraîche
15g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated
120g baby spinach
½ tsp chilli flakes (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over a medium heat and fry the onion and mushrooms for 10 mins, or until softened and browned slightly. Meanwhile, cook the pasta following pack instructions.
  • Add the garlic to the pan with the mushrooms and cook for 2 mins more. Tip in the crème fraîche and parmesan, stir to combine, then add the baby spinach. Set aside.
  • Remove the pasta from the heat and drain, reserving 25ml of the water. Toss the pasta in the creamy mushroom sauce, put back on the heat and cook over a low heat until the spinach wilts, about 5 mins. Pour in enough of the reserved water to loosen slightly. Season with black pepper and finish with a sprinkle of chilli flakes, if you like.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 491 calories, Fat 20 grams fat, SaturatedFat 6 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 49 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 7 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 27 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium

SPINACH MACARONI AND CHEESE



Spinach Macaroni and Cheese image

Make and share this Spinach Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Lori Mama

Categories     Macaroni And Cheese

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups macaroni pasta, cooked
1 cup chopped cooked spinach
2 cups hot milk
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons horseradish
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
freshly grated nutmeg, to taste

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.

CREAMY SPINACH BAKE



Creamy Spinach Bake image

When my brother, sisters and I were growing up, Mom knew how to get us to eat our spinach. This casserole has a rich creamy sauce, french-fried onions and a cracker crumb topping. Who can resist? -Debra Falkiner, St. Charles, Missouri

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 50m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
4 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
2 cans (2.8 ounces each) french-fried onions
2/3 cup crushed saltines (about 16 crackers)
1/4 cup butter, melted

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Beat in soup. Stir in spinach and onions., Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Combine cracker crumbs and butter; sprinkle over spinach mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 218 calories, Fat 18g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 468mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

SPINACH MAC AND CHEESE



Spinach Mac And Cheese image

This recipe was a successful attempt at trying to feed my family more spinach. They loved it and now prefer this version to conventional mac and cheese.

Provided by Lenka McDonald

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Pasta     Macaroni and Cheese Recipes     Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Time 1h

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 teaspoon butter
1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 pound frozen chopped spinach, not thawed
3 cups grated Cheddar cheese, divided
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 425.8 calories, Carbohydrate 41.2 g, Cholesterol 59.5 mg, Fat 20 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 20.5 g, SaturatedFat 12.3 g, Sodium 466.6 mg, Sugar 5.2 g

CREAMY SPINACH PASTA CASSEROLE



Creamy Spinach Pasta Casserole image

I had a bag of frozen spinach thawed and wanted to make regular greek spinach rice, but then my brain got toggled with cream and cheese and mushrooms and pasta for some reason, one thing led to another and the creation of this recipe happened. It was enjoyed, so if it sounds like something you would like, go along and play around with my recipe and tell me about it. Verdict: Not bad. It was a tad undersalted for my taste but i think in general its better than over salted. And you cant tell how salty the cheeses would be. So i would stick to the amounts of salt and just add salt while you are eating if needed. Optional in section B: you could add some chopped whole canned tomatoes - 1 cup. Also for those who prefer some meat in this dish, in section B you could add some cooked ham or turkey. Serve with a nice vinegrette salad of cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, lettuce..

Provided by Alfrancis

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 1h50m

Yield 1 casserole dish, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

400 g pasta, 400gm cooked with seasonings and oil, al dente, drained
400 g frozen spinach, defrosted and drained
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 spring onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons olive oil
150 g feta, cut into small cubes
80 g butter
3 tablespoons flour
700 ml milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon nutmeg
1/3 teaspoon black pepper
2/3 cup cheese, grated

Steps:

  • Put a pan of water to boil, when boiled add salt or seasoning and about 2 tbsp oil then pasta. dont over cook. AL DENTE!
  • At the same time (1) is on the fire. Put a saucepan on the fire, add about 3 tbsp olive oil, saute onions, garlic for 1 minute, do not brown! Add the dill, spinach, seasoning and mushrooms. Saute for about 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Just enough to cook through and evaporate any excess liquid from the spinach or mushrooms. Make sure it does not 'fry', just lightly cook/saute. Remove from heat and leave to cool.
  • Drain pasta and pour into casserole dish, spread out at bottom of dish. The pasta should be about the height of half the dish.
  • Top the pasta with the feta, evenly ditribute to make sure that each serving has some cheese. Then top with spinach mixture. Evenly distribute.
  • Microwave the milk on the lowest heat for 2 minutes Check to see if its warm. The temperature we want the milk to be is heated but not Boiling.
  • Preheat the oven to 165C/ 320°F.
  • In a pot, melt the butter, do not burn, on low heat. Add the flour. Stir well, about 1 minute (during this time make sure the milk is heated enough or else blast it on high for 20 seconds). Add the heated milk to the pot, a quarter at a time. Each time mix well till it is as smooth as you can manage before adding more milk. About 30 seconds for each addition of milk - yes that quick. Add the nutmeg, salt, pepper and let it simmer on medium heat for another 2 minute while still stirring. This should leave you with quite a light, slightly watery white sauce (BECHAMEL) - which is what we want.
  • Pour the white sauce evenly over the spinach. Use a chopstick or butterknife and just lightly poke through the dish and wiggle about to allow some of the white sauce to get to the bottom layer. About 12 spots around the dish if you need to know. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top.
  • Put the casserole dish into the preheated oven. Middle of the oven or so, not to high, dont want the cheese to start to brown before the time is up. If your oven tends to burn the top move the dish lower. Anyway as each oven is different the top of the dish should start to puff up at about 40 mins into cook time. If its not starting to brown at all at this time just increase temp to 175C/350F for the last 15-20mins. Top should be slightly browned all over.
  • 10. Remove and leave to cool. Never serve immediately. Best served about 30-45 mins after removing from oven. Believe me, it will still be more than warm.

CREAMED SPINACH PASTA



Creamed Spinach Pasta image

This pasta nods to everyone's favorite steakhouse side, and it comes together in no time, making for a fine weeknight meal. One full pound of fresh spinach is cooked down in garlicky butter before cream is added, then simmered until thickened. The cooked pasta is added directly to the sauce, then tossed with ricotta cheese for even more richness. Fettuccine or tagliatelle pasta work best, but the creamy sauce will cling to any long noodles. Top with pine nuts, walnuts or hazelnuts for crunch, or leave the nuts out entirely. Serve as a side to grilled steak, chicken or fish, or serve it on its own, paired simply with a glass of bubbles.

Provided by Colu Henry

Categories     dinner, easy, pastas, main course, side dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 to 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup whole-milk ricotta
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound long pasta, such as fettuccine or tagliatelle
3 tablespoons pine nuts (optional)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 pound fresh baby spinach
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
Grated pecorino or Parmesan, for serving

Steps:

  • Add the ricotta to a large bowl; season well with salt and pepper and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water and drain.
  • Prepare your sauce while the pasta cooks: If using, cook the pine nuts in a deep 12-inch skillet over medium heat until toasted, stirring occasionally to make sure they do not burn, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
  • Wipe skillet clean and melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté until pale golden, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach, stirring it in by the handful if needed, and cook until it wilts, adding a few tablespoons of the pasta water to help it along if needed, about 4 minutes. Season with salt.
  • Add the cream, bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until sauce begins to thicken slightly, about 2 minutes more. Stir in the nutmeg then season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked pasta directly to the skillet and toss until the noodles are glossy with sauce.
  • Turn off heat and stir in the prepared ricotta, thinning the sauce with a bit of pasta cooking water if needed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Divide among bowls. Top with pine nuts, if using, and pass grated pecorino or Parmesan at the table.

Tips:

  • Use fresh spinach for the best flavor and texture. If using frozen spinach, be sure to thaw and drain it thoroughly before using.
  • Use a good quality pasta. A high-quality pasta will hold its shape better and won't become mushy when baked.
  • Don't overcook the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, but be careful not to overcook it. Overcooked pasta will become mushy and won't hold its shape well in the bake.
  • Use a creamy sauce. A creamy sauce will help to bind the ingredients together and make the bake more flavorful.
  • Add cheese. Cheese is a great way to add flavor and richness to the bake. You can use any type of cheese that you like, but a sharp cheddar or Parmesan cheese is a good choice.
  • Bake the mac and cheese until it is golden brown and bubbly. This will ensure that the mac and cheese is cooked through and that the cheese is melted and gooey.

Conclusion:

Creamy macaroni spinach bake is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. With its creamy sauce, tender macaroni, and flavorful spinach, this bake is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give creamy macaroni spinach bake a try!

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