Description
Creamy St. Patrick’s Green Mac & Cheese features a creamy, vibrant green cheese sauce made with baby spinach and fresh herbs, topped with a crunchy, buttery breadcrumb crust.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni or small shells
- 2 cups packed baby spinach
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 2 cups whole milk (or any milk you prefer)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (or 1 small garlic clove, minced)
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley or chives
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook until just al dente, about 7–8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a blender, combine baby spinach, parsley, and 1 cup milk. Blend until completely smooth and bright green, about 1–2 minutes. Set aside.
- Melt 2 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Slowly whisk in the blended green milk and the remaining 1 cup milk. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened and just beginning to bubble, 3–4 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan by the handful, mixing until smooth.
- Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Taste and adjust seasoning. If sauce is too thick, add a splash more milk.
- Add drained pasta to the pot or a large mixing bowl. Pour the green cheese sauce over the pasta and gently stir to coat every noodle.
- Pour the mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish and smooth the top.
- In a bowl, mix panko, melted butter, parsley or chives, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle evenly over the mac & cheese. Press down gently.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the top is golden and the edges are bubbling. For extra crunch, broil for the last 2–3 minutes (watch closely!).
- Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley or chives if desired.
Notes
- Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you want to sneak in some extra greens.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Irish-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Creamy Patricks Green Mac, Mac and Cheese, St. Patrick's Day Recipe