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One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese.
Ingredients
- Salted butter
- Short-cut pasta
- Whole milk
- Package of cream cheese
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Kosher salt and ground pepper
- Ground cayenne pepper
- Fresh baby spinach
- Marinated artichokes
- Ritz crackers
- Garlic powder
Kitchen Supplies
- 9×13 inch baking dish
- Large saucepan
- Medium mixing bowl
You know those fallback recipes? The ones you make over and over again? Well, this One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese is mine. It’s the easiest and best mac-and-cheese recipe. It uses just one pot, and the ingredients and methods are simple. My trick is to first boil the pasta in just enough water to start the cooking process, then add milk and cream cheese. That means there’s no boiling and draining the pasta, and no fussing around with making a roux either. Plus the cream cheese creates a light and creamy sauce without having to add any additional flour-like in a béchamel.
What’s really great about this recipe is just how adaptable it is. When my brothers are around, I omit the veggies, but I include a few chipotle peppers in adobo, and I use half pepper jack and half cheddar cheese. It’s one of their favorites!
Looking for other easy one pot pastas? Here are my favorites:
One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake
Slow Cooker Saucy Sunday Bolognese Pasta
One Pot Creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Lastly, if you make this One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 817 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing
- 1 (1-pound) box short-cut pasta, such as macaroni
- 2 cups whole milk (see Note)
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cubed
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- Ground cayenne pepper
- 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach, chopped
- 1 (8-ounce) jar marinated artichokes, drained and roughly chopped
- 1½ cups crushed Ritz crackers (about 1 sleeve) (about 1 sleeve)
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.2. In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Stir in the milk and cream cheese and cook until the cream cheese has melted and the pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes more. 3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 cups of the cheddar and 3 tablespoons of the butter. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Stir in the spinach and artichokes. If the sauce feels too thick, add ¼ cup of milk or water to thin it.4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar.5. In a medium bowl, stir together the crackers, the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, and the garlic powder. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the mac and cheese.6. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve. Store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
Note: Have a little extra milk or water on hand. Once you’ve added everything, you can decide whether you’re happy with the consistency. If you need to thin the sauce out a bit, simply add more liquid.
This post was originally published on October 30, 2020
Made this tonight, so good and yet another winner! My kids always ask if it’s one of your recipes!
Aw that is so amazing! I am really happy you all enjoyed this and other recipes of mine! Thank you! xTieghan
So delicious! Love your one pot pastas without the need to drain.
They are the best! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Sarah! xTieghan
This looks delicious! I wanted to make this for a dinner party at a friend’s house, but I want to serve it hot. I was wondering if I could perform all the steps except actually baking the dish, bring the uncooked baking dish to my friend’s house, and then bake it for 20 minutes?
Hey Alison,
Yes that will work well! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I actually made this the day before you posted it from your cookbook! I loved it and so did everyone I shared some with! This mac and cheese is so easy and delicious!
I am so happy you loved this one, Tiffany! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
Made this for election day and it was so comforting/delicious. I used kale instead of spinach and add pickled spicy peppers for an extra kick. i think it would have lacked flavor without the peppers so I highly suggest!
Thank you so much Hilary!! xTieghan
Thank you!! Making it now. It looks so good!!
Thank you so much Kim! xTieghan
Wait. I’m confused. Do you add the milk to the 4 cips of pasta water? I envision it being soupy, but I’ll give it a go.
Thanks!
Hey Kim,
Yes that is correct, no need to drain the water. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
It looks great! I can’t seem to find the nutritional information on the page?
Hey Nicole,
So sorry I do not provide that information, only an estimated calorie count. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Should you drain the pasta or make the sauce with water and all?
Hey Caroline,
No need to drain the water:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can you freeze this? If so, what would be the best way?
Hey Brigid,
Yes you can freeze just before baking. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Could you prepare this in the morning or day before and bake in the evening for dinner?
Hey Whit,
Yes that is totally fine to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Just double checking, are you supposed to drain the pasta before adding the cheese?
Hey there,
No need to drain the pasta. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
My partner is not a fan of baked pasta but I made this tonight and it was a HIT! Thank you Tieghan — it was so simple!
Thank you so much Jericha! xTieghan
This looks soo good. If I were to add some meat what would you recommend??
Hey Haley,
I think chicken would be great here! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi I was wondering if I could add shredded or cubed chicken to this to make a one pot meal?
Thanks!
Hey there,
Yes totally fine to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan