Baked Mac & Cheese Recipe

Name: Baked Mac & Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Pasta & Noodles
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs, (see Tip); 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 1 16-ounce or 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed; 1 3/4 cups low-fat milk, divided; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese; 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese; 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon salt; Freshly ground pepper, to taste; 8 ounces (2 cups) whole-wheat elbow macaroni, or penne

Servings: persons

3 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs, (see Tip)
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 16-ounce or 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed
1 3/4 cups low-fat milk, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
8 ounces (2 cups) whole-wheat elbow macaroni, or penne

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Put a large pot of water on to boil. Preheat oven to 450u00b0F. Coat an 8-inch-square (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
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Mix breadcrumbs, oil and paprika in a small bowl. Place spinach in a fine-mesh strainer and press out excess moisture.
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Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until steaming. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup milk and flour in a small bowl until smooth; add to the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce simmers and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Cheddar until melted. Stir in cottage cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
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Cook pasta for 4 minutes, or until not quite tender. (It will continue to cook during baking.) Drain and add to the cheese sauce; mix well. Spread half the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the spinach on top. Top with the remaining pasta; sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture.
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Bake the casserole until bubbly and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.

No nutrition data on file — estimate from the ingredient list.

No additional tips available.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

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This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 12 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 3 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs, (see Tip), 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1 16-ounce or 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed, and more.

Yes, Baked Mac & Cheese falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

Baked Mac & Cheese

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