Whole Wheat Spinach Mac & Cheese Bites
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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!
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:
Zucchini and Avocado 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.
Whole Wheat Spinach Mac and Cheese Bites
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
Love these! Everything is cute in mini/ individual form!
Hehe I totally agree – thank you so much Emily! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I think I could get my kids to eat spinach with these cute little cups
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! 🙂
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!
Thank you so much!! Enjoy:)
Good luck on your first day!!! PS. You know I’m making these for my kiddos 🙂
Thank you so much it went great!! Yum I know they’ll love it!!
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!
The spinach is a fun little addition!! Thank you!:)
Yum, these look absolutely divine! And all the best for your new job! Cx
Thanks sooo much!! <3
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!
Thank you Selena!!
Yum! These look like a fun kid-friendly food to entice kids to eat more whole grains. 🙂
I agree!! Thank you!:)