Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese
Elevate your mac and cheese game with this Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese. This bold and creamy recipe is the ultimate definition of comfort food!
This Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, but the recipe and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Spiced!
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This Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese recipe is absolute proof that the sum of individual parts can be greater than the whole. What do I mean by that? Well, spinach artichoke dip is delicious. Mac and cheese is delicious. When the two are combined into one? You end up with a dish that is truly great!
One bite of this Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese and your taste buds will be doing a happy dance. (Heck, you might just have to stand up and do a happy dance yourself – go ahead, I won’t judge!) With a creamy blend of spinach, artichokes and gooey cheese, this dish is the ultimate definition of comfort food.
Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese
Whether you’re looking for a cozy meal at home or a fancy recipe to impress your friends and family, this Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese is a winner! With 3 types of cheese, this recipe is creamy, flavorful and downright delicious.
And the best part (aside from taste) is the fact that this recipe only takes about 30 minutes of active time in the kitchen. It’s perfect for busy weeknights! Once everything is mixed together, this pasta dish heads off to the oven to get nice and hot. That gives you time to clean the kitchen and get the table set.
Whenever I make Spinach Artichoke Dip, I use a combination of Monterey Jack and cream cheese. For Mac and Cheese, I typically go with Monterey Jack, cheddar cheese and cream cheese. See the similarities? I decided to merge the 2 recipes into 1, and wow – I’m glad I did! This Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese will be a new staple comfort food in our house.
The key ingredient in this recipe is the cheese – well, all three types of cheese to be more specific. When it comes to cheese, we always (and I mean always) turn to Cabot. We became very familiar with Cabot’s cheeses when we lived in upstate New York – after all, Cabot is owned by dairy farm families throughout New York and New England.
Even though we now live in the mountains of western North Carolina, I can still find Cabot’s cheeses at our grocery stores here. No kidding – when we decided to move, one of the first things I looked up was where to find Cabot cheese in Asheville. Fortunately, all of our major grocery stores carry Cabot’s products, so I’m still able to keep our fridge stocked.
For this Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese, I used a combination of cream cheese along with 2 different types of shredded cheeses. Monterey Jack cheese is mild, and it pairs perfectly with the sharp flavor of the cheddar. Together these cheeses add a creamy texture and a bold flavor that makes this recipe absolutely unforgettable. Good luck stopping at just one bite!
I also included a bit of Cabot’s Vermont Sharp Cheddar cheese in this recipe. This cheese is a classic cheddar – it’s great for everyday snacking, but it also brings a bold taste to recipes. It adds the perfect amount of cheddar flavor to this Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese recipe.
Storing Leftover Mac and Cheese
To store leftover mac and cheese, allow leftovers to cool to room temperature and then transfer them into an airtight container. (A plastic ziptop bag works well in a pinch!) Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Mac and cheese can also be frozen for up to 3-4 months. Just plan ahead and let it thaw in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours before reheating.
To reheat this Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese, place it in a small saucepan along with a splash (~2 tablespoons) of additional milk. Place over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can also reheat in a microwave – just add milk and stir after every 30 seconds.
If you’re looking for a fun and tasty way to elevate your mac and cheese game, then put this recipe on the menu soon. This became an instant favorite in our house, and I hope it becomes a favorite in your house, too. Cheers!
Did you make this Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese recipe at home? Leave a comment or snap a photo and tag me (@Spicedblog) and Cabot (@CabotCreamery) on Instagram – we’d love to see your version!
Spinach Artichoke Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 16 oz. medium shells or jumbo elbow pasta
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups whole milk
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 6 oz. fresh baby spinach leaves
- 1 14.5-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 4 oz. cream cheese room temperature
- 4 cups shredded Cabot Monterey Jack cheese ~4 oz.
- 2 cups shredded Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar cheese ~2 oz.
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp dry mustard
- {optional} red pepper flakes and/or paprika for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray a 9”x13” casserole dish with cooking spray; set dish aside. (Note: If using a Dutch oven, skip this step.)
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Rinse, drain and set pasta aside.
- Meanwhile, using a large saucepan, whisk together eggs and milk. Place over medium-low heat, stirring often, until warm.
- Using a large pot or Dutch oven, add 6 Tbsp of butter and place over medium-high heat. Once butter has melted, reduce heat to medium-low and add garlic and flour. Cook, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes, or until mixture begins to turn light golden brown.
- Pour warm milk and egg mixture into the pot and whisk until well combined. Continue cooking, stirring often for 2-3 more minutes.
- Remove pot from heat and add spinach, artichokes, cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, salt, pepper and dry mustard; stir until well combined.
- Add cooked pasta; stir until well combined.
- Transfer mixture into prepared baking dish. (Note: If using a Dutch oven, skip this step. Instead, just put the Dutch oven directly into the oven uncovered.)
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until top is golden brown.
- {Optional} Before serving, sprinkle top with red pepper flakes and a pinch of paprika.
Looking for more cheesy comfort food recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use almond milk / vegan butter / cream cheese and cheeses i never had spinach artichoke mac and cheese before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Hey Ramya! I can’t speak to the vegan substitutions here as I’ve never tried them. I do know this is a tasty recipe, though! Give it a try and let me know how it turns out??
Oh this look and sounds so good! I know many people are strict about mac & cheese saying it should only be about… well, pasta and the cheesy sauce, without any additions (except breadcrumbs). While I love an old classic mac and cheese, I am always excited about trying a fun twist, every now and then. I haven’t had pasta with spinach and artichoke, so I will need to give it a try urgently. I am a horrible dancer, but my taste buds will be doing a happy dance for sure 🙂
I hear ya, Ben – a good classic mac and cheese is a thing of beauty! I’ll curl up with a bowl of that any night of the week. But I also enjoying playing around with the flavors. Spinach artichoke dip is creamy and delicious. Mac and cheese is creamy and delicious. It just makes sense to introduce the two so they can be friends! 🙂
Pass me a bowl! Love the flavours of spinach artichoke, and pairing it in mac and cheese is such a no brainer!
Both mac and cheese and spinach artichoke dip are creamy, cheesy and delicious – they’re perfect together! Make a batch this weekend, Michelle! 🙂
Love this. I like that you included spinach. It makes it a little less caloric!!!
Haha – there ya go, Mimi! 🙂
I’m obsessed with mac & cheese. I think it is the ultimate comfort food. I do always try and put a bit of vegetables in though and this version with spinach and artichoke sounds delicious!
I hear ya, Simone – mac and cheese is delicious, but it’s also a great base for other fun recipes. Combining mac and cheese with spinach artichoke dip was really tasty – give it a try sometime!
I didn’t know that you put cream cheese in your mac and cheese. That alone sounds interesting. My husband is a spinach fan – and I like it too – so I have no objection to allowing it to find its way into just about everything. But I bet its especialy good in this context. I hope you’re loving Asheville. I hear nothing but good things about it. Although I never realized until just now that the word “evil” is embedded in its name. I’m seeing it now. You moved there, attracted to the beautiful location and friendly people, but something seemed … off. I think you see where I’m going with this. It ends with clowns in the storm drain. So keep your chef’s knife sharpened, my friend.
I do like to add a bit of cream cheese to mac and cheese – it adds to the overall creaminess which is a good thing!
Now as far as Asheville and evil…hmmm…I haven’t seen any clowns lately. Bears, yes. Clowns, no. Bears dressed as clowns? Maybe. 🙂
I love Jeff’s comment about clowns in the storm drain! I like these flavours David but we don’t eat pasta so that kind of skews this dish for us – sigh 🙁
I had to laugh at Jeff’s comment, too, Sherry! So I know you don’t eat pasta these days, but I bet you could use these same flavors with riced cauliflower. I might have to try that myself!
I’d definitely do a happy dance if I had a big bowl of this cheesy mac and cheese in front of me right now (I’d even love it for breakfast). Love the addition of spinach and artichoke for extra flavour. Seriously hungry right now, it looks so so yummy!!
You and I are on the same boat here, Dawn! Whenever mac and cheese of any sort shows up in front of me, I do a happy dance. If that mac and cheese happens to be combined with spinach artichoke dip? Well that’s a Carlton from Fresh Prince dance! 🙂
I love that the spinach and artichokes make this luscious mac and cheese a hearty and well rounded meal on it’s own!
Creamy spinach artichoke dip + creamy mac and cheese is a match made in heaven! 🙂