I stole this recipe for Spinach Ricotta Mac & Cheese from jaroflemons.com. This recipe is a fancier version of traditional macaroni and cheese that adds in a serving of vegetables. First garlic and onion are sautéed together, then milk, chicken broth and flour are added. Next ricotta, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses are stirred into the sauce. Once the sauce is thickened, spinach and cooked pasta are stirred into the sauce. Then the pasta mixture is spread into a casserole dish and topped with crumbled cracked and Parmesan cheese and baked in the oven. This recipe makes a creamy sauce because of the ricotta cheese.

Did you know? Ricotta is made from the whey of cheeses such as mozzarella, provolone and Swiss. Literally translated, ricotta means “twice cooked.” This is because it is made by cooking the whey from a previously cooked cheese.² (see more trivia in the Trivia tab)

The ingredients for this recipe are: 12 oz large elbow macaroni pasta, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tsp minced garlic, ½ cup finely chopped onion, 1 ⅓ cups milk, 2 ¼ cups chicken broth, ¼ cup flour, salt / pepper, 1 cup ricotta, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 1 cup shredded cheddar, 4 to 5 cups spinach, 8 crackers and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a large sauce pan, sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes over medium-high heat.

Then add in the milk, broth and flour.

Let simmer and whisk until the sauce thickens and reduces, about 5-6 minutes. Next add in the ricotta, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.

Continue to whisk and cook until the sauce is thick and creamy, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add in the spinach.

Add the cooked and drained pasta. Then add the pasta mixture to a sprayed baking dish.

Top with crumbled crackers and Parmesan cheese, then bake in oven at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

If you liked this recipe for Spinach Ricotta Mac & Cheese then you can also try 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese, Creamy Broccoli Mac and Cheese, Company Special Macaroni and Cheese or Gnocchi Mac and Cheese.

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Spinach Ricotta Mac & Cheese

This recipe is a fancier version of traditional macaroni and cheese that adds in a serving of vegetables. First garlic and onion are sautéed together, then milk, chicken broth and flour are added. Next ricotta, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses are stirred into the sauce. Once the sauce is thickened, spinach and cooked pasta are stirred into the sauce. Then the pasta mixture is spread into a casserole dish and topped with crumbled cracked and Parmesan cheese and baked in the oven.

Course Pasta

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings 8 people

Ingredients

• 12 oz large elbow macaroni pasta
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 1 ⅓ cups milk
• 2 ¼ cups chicken broth
• ¼ cup flour
• Salt / pepper
• 1 cup ricotta at room temperature
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 4 to 5 cups spinach

Topping

• 8 crackers crumbled
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cook pasta according to package.
3. In a large sauce pan, sauté the garlic and onion in olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes over medium-high heat.
4. Add in the milk, broth and flour.
5. Let simmer and whisk until the sauce thickens and reduces, about 5-6 minutes.
6. Add in the ricotta, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
7. Continue to whisk and cook until the sauce is thick and creamy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
8. Remove from heat and add in the spinach and cooked pasta.
9. Top with crumbled crackers and Parmesan cheese, then bake in oven for 8 to 10 minutes.