This Green Mac and Cheese with Spinach is a creamy, cheesy dinner with a hidden veggie boost. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s an easy weeknight meal that my kids actually request again and again.

my two hands holding a blue kids plate with green mac and cheese, cut strawberries and slices of carrots.

Over the years, my kids have called this recipe many different things. During our dinosaur obsession era, it was “Dino Mac,” complete with edamame “dino eggs.” 🦖 During our superhero phase, it became “Hulk Pasta.” 🦸 I tried calling it “Popeye Pasta” for a while, but my kids were like… “who?” Now that they’re a bit older, we mostly stick with its real name – Spinach Mac and Cheese.

But through all the eras and name changes, one thing always stayed the same: my kids always knew there was spinach in their cheesy noodles. So while some people might call this a hidden veggie recipe, in our house it never really was. The spinach was right there in the bright green sauce – and thankfully, they happily ate it anyway.

So what makes this recipe one we’ve been coming back to for over ten years? For me, it’s the simplicity. I can go from idea to dinner on the table in under 15 minutes, which is exactly the kind of meal I need on busy weeknights. For my kids, it’s all about the taste – creamy, cheesy pasta that, in their opinion, rivals the boxed version.

#IMHO: pre-shredded cheese will work in a pinch, but if you have an extra minute, grate a block of cheese while your pasta cooks. Freshly shredded cheese melts better and creates a creamier, smoother sauce (hello, epic cheese pull).

Spinach Mac & Cheese Video

Let’s Make the Kids Some Dinner –>

Ingredients for green mac and cheese on my white marble kitchen counter in small bowls - milk, spinach, shredded cheddar cheese, butter, pasta and spices.
Gather your ingredients.
Small blender on my white marble kitchen counter with the spinach, milk and spices in it.
Cook pasta according to the package. Meanwhile, add the spinach, milk and spices to a blender.
The small blender with the blended spinach and milk.
Blend until smooth.
Medium saucepan with the green spinach mac and cheese inside, sitting on my kitchen counter.
Drain pasta, in the same saucepan, melt the butter. Then add the spinach milk and the shredded cheese. Mix until smooth, and then toss in the pasta.
My hand holding a blue kids plate with a lighter blue bowl full of green spinach mac and cheese for kids. Also on the plate is cut carrots and chunks of strawberries.

Get the recipe: 15-Minute Green Mac & Cheese with Spinach

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This Green Mac and Cheese with Spinach is a creamy, cheesy dinner with a hidden veggie boost. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s an easy weeknight meal that my kids actually request again and again.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Main Course, toddler food
Print Recipe

Ingredients 

  • 8 ounce shaped pasta, in any shape you prefer
  • 1-2 cups baby spinach (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • pepper – to taste
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese,

Instructions 

  • Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, add pasta, and cook according to the directions on the box for 'al dente'. Drain and reserve.
  • Add the spinach, milk, garlic powder, and salt to a blender and blend for 1 minutes or until smooth and you don't have any spinach pieces.
  • In the same pot you cooked the pasta, turn the heat to low and melt the butter. Add in the spinach mixture and shredded cheese.
  • In the same pot you cooked the pasta, turn the heat to low and melt the butter. Add in the veggie mixture, shredded cheese, salt and pepper.
  • Whisk until smooth and the cheese is melted, roughly 30-90 seconds.
  • Add in the pasta and mix until well incorporated. If the sauce gets too thick, add in a few tablespoons of milk to thin it out.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Age: 9+ months
Spinach Amount: I used a total of 2 cups of spinach for this recipe, but you could easily go down to 1 cup if you don’t want any spinach taste. 
How to Store: Store the green mac and cheese leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

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