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Whole Wheat Spinach Mac & Cheese Bites

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Macaroni and cheese with spinach in cupcake tins for individual portions

These mac and cheese muffins are the perfect thing to make this time of year. They have just the right amount of cheese and you can sneak in frozen spinach or frozen kale for a little boost of Vitamin K!

They are made with whole grain elbows, sharp cheddar, spinach, and whole milk.

It is such light and satisfying snack and I love how the cupcake pan keeps the pasta in perfect portions.

If you cook your pasta off the night before this dish can be whipped together in less than 20 minutes!

I made these Mac and Cheese bites in cupcake tins, but you can also use jumbo muffins tins if you’d like a slightly larger portion.

Be sure to let the mac and cheese cool after removing from oven so the bites hold their shape. If you take the mac and cheese out of the tin right when removed from the oven they will not hold shape because they’re steamin’ hot!

Individual Mac and Cheese Bites - not too cheesy but just the right amount! #macandcheese #yum #easy #krollskorner

Ingredients you will need to make mac & cheese cups

  • Macaroni noodles
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Frozen spinach
  • Turmeric (optional)
  • Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper

How to make mac & cheese cups

Preheat oven to 400° F and lightly mist a cupcake pan with cooking spray, set aside.

Boil water for pasta if you have not precooked it. While pasta is cooking, make the cheese sauce.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Then add in the flour and whisk until thick. Gradually stir in the milk until sauce begins to thicken. Then add spices and bring to a slight boil. Immediately add in the shredded cheese and stir to combine. Remove from heat. 

Once pasta is cooked, place in a large bowl and add in the cheese mixture and thawed spinach. Stir to combine and then spoon the mixture into the prepared cupcake pan.

Bake for 10 minutes and let cool for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Optional: may top with bread crumbs prior to baking and garnish with Parmesan cheese and red pepper chili flakes.

These mac and cheese muffins are the perfect thing to make this year. They have just the right amount of cheese and you can sneak in frozen spinach or frozen kale for a little boost of Vitamin K!

I made this mac and cheese with whole grain elbows, sharp cheddar, spinach, and whole milk.

It is so light and satisfying and I love how the cupcake pan keeps the pasta in perfect portions.

If you cook your pasta off the night before this dish can be whipped together in less than 20 minutes!

More mac and cheese & pasta recipes you will love:

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Zucchini and Avocado Mac & Cheese

Sweet Potato Mac & Cheese

Easy Shell Pasta with Ground Turkey

Roasted Tomato & Bell Pepper Pasta

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Macaroni and cheese with spinach in cupcake tins for individual portions
No reviews yet

Whole Wheat Spinach Mac and Cheese Bites

Prep: 15 minutes
Resting time: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 24 “bites”
Individual Mac and Cheese Bites – perfect for summer time BBQ, kid-friendly and easy to make! 

Ingredients

  • 1 box 16 oz. Whole wheat macaroni noodles (cooked)
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheese
  • 1.5 cups frozen spinach, chopped
  • pinch turmeric
  • 1/8 tsp. garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste

Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and lightly mist a cupcake pan with cooking spray, set aside.
  • Boil water for pasta if you have not precooked it. While pasta is cooking, make the cheese sauce. In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Then add in the flour and whisk until thick. Gradually stir in the milk until sauce begins to thicken. Then add spices and bring to a slight boil. Immediately add in the shredded cheese and stir to combine. Remove from heat. 
  • Once pasta is cooked, place in a large bowl and add in the cheese mixture and thawed spinach. Stir to combine and then spoon the mixture into the prepared cupcake pan.
  • Bake for 10 minutes and let cool for 5 minutes. Enjoy!
  • Optional: may top with bread crumbs prior to baking and garnish with Parmesan cheese and red pepper chili flakes.

Notes

Can make with lentil noodles or gluten free pasta if you are gluten free/sensitive. 

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

 

macaroni and cheese cups on a gray plate
Krolls Korner

Krolls Korner

Welcome to my tiny “korner” on the Internet! I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves cookies as much as kale. (OK, maybe I like cookies a little bit more but shh, don’t tell anyone). I am so glad you’re here! Follow along for hassle free, realistic and approachable recipes.

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Emily Bruno

Love these! Everything is cute in mini/ individual form!

Susie

I think I could get my kids to eat spinach with these cute little cups

Alex Caspero MA,RD (@delishknowledge)

Love this idea! And now that you’ve got a new job- sounds like you should be making a trip to Sur la Table to celebrate 🙂 These would be perfect for when I have all my family over- my two year old niece is obsessed with cheese! 🙂

Jessica @ Nutritioulicious

These look great! I have a bag of whole wheat elbow macaroni in the pantry. Know what they’re getting used for! Good luck at the new job!

Katie @ Mom to Mom Nutrition

Good luck on your first day!!! PS. You know I’m making these for my kiddos 🙂

Emily @ Zen & Spice

Ahh these look so good!! I’ve been making more mac n cheese lately… indulging! But this recipe looks great and healthy with the addition of spinach!

Cheryl Meyer

Yum, these look absolutely divine! And all the best for your new job! Cx

Selena @ The Nutritious Kitchen

These are so cute and look like the perfect 4th of July side dish! I’ve never put spinach in mac n cheese but am SO going to start!

Meal Makeover Mom Janice

Yum! These look like a fun kid-friendly food to entice kids to eat more whole grains. 🙂