This gooey mac ‘n’ cheese combines all the things you love about spinach artichoke dip in one comforting side dish! Even kids won’t be able to resist this dynamite macaroni.
So I’ve got a story of woe to tell you guys today before we get to today’s recipe. Care to hear it? Beware ’cause it’s kinda lengthy.
Here we go: So this week started off so innocently. I didn’t have any huge plans except testing a bunch of new recipes, writing a few blog posts, photographing a few things, ect. My week was humming right along until Tuesday when…..
…disaster struck. Like LIGHTNING, disaster struck.
My oven died. My oven legitly and completely DIED. Poof. GONE. I had just put the chicken drumsticks for dinner in the oven, and was minding my own business making a salad when I heard a very peculiar and suspicious noise.
“sizzle, sizzle, POP, hisssssssss.”
I SPRINT over to the oven, yank it open and…..I’ll be honest, my first thought was that one of the kids had lit off firecrackers in my oven or something because there were sparks EVERYWHERE.
I more or less screamed for my mother at that point. MOM!!! THE OVEN IS ON FIIIIIIIIIRE! SAVE THE CHICKEN!!
We managed to save my poor chicken drumsticks (that were still raw but certainly on their way to becoming burnt to a crisp) Then my mom closed the oven (the sparks were slowly dying down by then) and said to me: “Well, there’s that…..do you want me to the store and stock up on canned tuna?”
Veeeeery funny. The tears were definitely flowing at this point.
The only good news in all of this drama is that I made this mac ‘n’ cheese you are seeing today BEFORE my oven bit the dust. So that was good. The bad news is that it is now Thursday and I am STILL without any oven until my dad gets the new part he needs to fix it. We’re currently living on stovetop food and I’m HANGRY.
Okaaaaaay, maybe I exaggerated that last part just a bit…I did make some pretty wicked stovetop chicken chimichangas last night and even with my broken, oven-less heart I managed to choke down a few.
A lot, okay? I managed to make a pretty nice dent in the chimichanga supply.
And that right there is the end of my tale of woe. Maybe we should talk about happier things now. Like cheese!
And spinach artichoke dip getting all close and personal with mac ‘n’ cheese.
Hoooooooold me.
Let me reiterate what exactly we have going on here in Carbo-Loaded Land today….
Gooey mac ‘n’ cheese + spinach + artichoke hearts + an ridiculous amount of cheese = Spinach Artichoke Dip Mac ‘n’ Cheese.
Otherwise known as the answer your mac ‘n’ cheese prayers. Friends, no lies: this mac is insane. Ridiculously awesome. Super-duper addicting. I mean, we ARE cramming two pretty epic comfort foods into one pan. Only glorious things could happen. ā„
Even kids will smack their way through firsts, seconds and maybe even sevenths of this macaroni. I promise they won’t even care that there’s green stuff hanging out in there.
It’s covered by cheese, yo! Sneaky, sneaky….
Friends: Avert your eyes away from all this cheesy insanity RIGHT.NOW if you have even a shred of self-control.
It’s too late for me, obviously. š
*smack, smack, gulp*
Seriously though, this mac will turn any bad week around. Cheese just does that to ‘ya even if you’re lacking an oven.
Go borrow your neighbor’s or something. š
Spinach Artichoke Dip Mac ānā Cheese
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup whipping cream
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 lb elbow pasta cooked according to package instructions
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach coarsely chopped
- 1 can 14 oz artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour until smooth, then slowly whisk in milk, cream, and mustard until combined. Stir frequently over medium-high heat until sauce starts to simmer and thicken. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper and stir in cheese until melted.
- Place pasta, spinach, and artichokes in a large bowl and pour sauce over top. Transfer to a greased 9x13 pan.
- Bake macaroni and cheese at 350F 20 minutes or until bubbly. Serve immediately.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Wow. Just wow! Spinach artichoke mac ‘n cheese?! I’m drooling over here, Sarah! This looks absolutely amazing! Such a great idea to combine the two. I think I could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Pinned!
Sarah says
Aww thanks girl! This mac totally sounds up your alley! Weekend project?! š
Heather - Butter & Burlap says
OH NO! To be honest, I’ve never heard of an oven dying? I thought they were meant to last an eternity! That’s a food bloggers worse nightmare! (along with all other kitchen appliances dying). This is still a great recipe in the meantime, I would be feasting on this all week!
Sarah says
Right?! Ovens are supposed to last forever! Totally heart-breaking. š
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
Oh, no! I hate it when applicances die! It’s so annoying. This mac and cheese looks wonderful!
Sarah says
Ugh right?! It’s especially hard when you’re a food blogger! LOL.
Kathy@ Olives & Garlic says
I have a confession, mac and cheese is my ultimate weakness (that’s the reason why I don’t make it nearly enough at home). š This one looks amazing Sarah.
Sarah says
Haha! No judgement, because mac is totally my biggest weakness too!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
I need this in my life! You have combined 2 of my favorite foods!
Hoping you oven gets fixed soon! My refrigerator has been making all kinds of noises and it is giving such bad anxiety I don’t even want to be in the kitchen!
Sarah says
Oh, nooooo! A dying refrigerator would totally be my worst nightmare!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeterlife says
This mac’n’cheese is brilliant! I wish I had a giant bowl for lunch right now. Love that it combines two favorites! Oh no, hope your oven gets fixed soon!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly!! I’m hoping it gets fixed asap too!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
Woah! You really knocked it out of the park with this mac n cheese. I am sorry to hear about your stove but I love that you tried to save the chicken š
Sarah says
Haha! My family found it funny that I was more worried about saving the chicken than the possibility of the whole inside of the oven going up in flames! LOL.
Manali @ CookWithManali says
aww hope your oven gets fixed soon, can’t imagine a day without mine!! This man n cheese though looks delicious yum!
Sarah says
Thanks Manali! Have an awesome Friday. š
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Oh your poor oven! That’s actually kind of scary! What if it had started a fire. Eek! Bright side? Sounds like you’ll be getting a brand new oven verrrry soon! Just don’t forget to take all the tape off the racks inside BEFORE you turn it on. We got a new oven last summer, and I definitely forgot to do that. Realized it when I started smelling burning plastic. Whoops! This mac n cheese is AMAZING!
Sarah says
Right?! It kinda freaked me out a little bit! Now I’m wary of all ovens! LOL. And haha! I’ll definitely remember that tip because it definitely sounds like something I would do too!
Nora @ Savory Nothings says
Oh noooo, how can you be without an oven?? Disaster!! Virtual hugs to you, friend. This Mac n Cheese though – total win š
Sarah says
Haha thank you, girlie! At least it’s grilling season so I’m not totally helpless in the dinner department! š
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Oh Sarah, how awful that your oven did an exploding fire thing! So lucky that you had this GORGEOUS looking mac n cheese (with the healthy artichokes in!) to make you feel better.
Really hope you get the oven back super SOOON! š
Sarah says
This mac ‘n’ cheese definitely did it’s job in the comfort department that particular day! LOL. Thanks girlfriend! xoxo
Joanne says
I’ve had ovens die on me before and…yeah. It is pretty much traumatic. Hope you can get a new one or get it fixed soon! And in the meantime, eat ALL THE MAC AND CHEESE. You deserve it.
Sarah says
Dying ovens definitely make for one annoyed food blogger that’s for sure. LOL. Thanks girl!
Kelley @ Chef Savvy says
I love the idea of combining mac and cheese and artichoke dip. Two awesome comfort food that I’m sure taste awesome put together. Awesome idea!
Sarah says
It’s seriously a dreamy combo! Thanks Kelley. š
mira says
This looks like the perfect mac and cheese! Amazing combination! Your pictures make me drool! Pinning!
Sarah says
Thanks for the photo love and for pinning, Mira!
Michelle { A Latte Food } says
You HAD to put two of my favorite things together. I might never eat a different dish again! Seriously. Maybe your oven just couldn’t handle how amazing this is! š Here’s to hoping it’s fixed soon!
Sarah says
YES. Eat this mac every day for the rest of ‘yo life and I promise you will always be happy. š And DUH! Why didn’t I think of that?? Obviously my oven couldn’t take the overload of mac ‘n’ cheese awesomeness. š LOL
Kate @ Diethood says
Broken oven – not good
Carb-loaded, artichoke dippin’, mac ‘n cheese??? SO DAMN GOOD!!!
Sarah says
Haha! AMEN. š Thanks girly!
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
What a fun twist on traditional mac and cheese! I bet it was AWESOME!
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
Is it bad that I want this before it’s 10am?! This looks amazing!!!
Sarah says
Haha! No shame at all! I get mac ‘n’ cheese cravings pretty early in the day myself. š
Marta @ Foodaciously says
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing this hearty and tasty recipe! Using spinach and artichokes is a great way to make a mac’n’cheese healthier, I also added some cherry tomatoes for a nice color contrast š
Thank you!