St Patrick’s Day Food for Kids: Green Macaroni and Cheese

This healthy and delicious Green Mac and Cheese recipe is a perfect St Patrick’s Day meal for your kids! What kid doesn’t like green food?

It’s March. Time for all things green! St. Patrick’s day is coming up, so we are all about leprechauns and pots of gold and rainbows now, right? We love getting super festive for holidays in our home. St. Patrick’s Day is no exception.

Which is why we decided to try making green Mac and Cheese for the first time. It was actually very easy to make and still as delicious as the regular staple in our home. This turned out to be a healthy dinner dish that we may be serving often in the future.

Green Mac and Cheese: St Patrick’s Day Food

Ingredients:
One 14.5 oz box of whole wheat pasta shapes
One bag pre-washed baby spinach or one package frozen spinach (defrosted & moisture squeezed out)
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons white flour
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Over medium heat, drizzle a little oil into a saute pan. Add spinach and wait until it reduces in size and is soft, turning occasionally.

Add wilted spinach to a food processor and puree until smooth. (For frozen spinach, put defrosted spinach directly in food processor)

Cook and drain pasta according to package directions.

Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add flour, whisk and cook for one minute. Slowly add milk continuing to whisk until combined. Continue stirring and allow the rue to come to a slow bubble.

Add the shredded cheese and stir until cheese melts and is combined. Add nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper.

Stir in spinach puree until combined. Add drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat pasta.

Serve immediately or pour into casserole dish, top with some additional shredded cheese if desired, and bake on 350 degrees just until the cheese is melty and bubbly. Enjoy!

I love that this recipe allows me to sneak in that extra serving of veggies!

If you liked this, you’ll enjoy this other green recipe for kids – Pea Pesto!

Green Mac and Cheese - St. Patrick's Day Food for Kids

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Ingredients

  

• One 14.5 oz box of whole wheat pasta shapes
• One bag pre-washed baby spinach or one package frozen spinach defrosted & moisture squeezed out
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons white flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 3 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

 

• Over medium heat, drizzle a little oil into a saute pan. Add spinach and wait until it reduces in size and is soft, turning occasionally.
• Add wilted spinach to a food processor and puree until smooth. (For frozen spinach, put defrosted spinach directly in food processor)
• Cook and drain pasta according to package directions.
• Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add flour, whisk and cook for one minute. Slowly add milk continuing to whisk until combined. Continue stirring and allow the rue to come to a slow bubble.
• Add the shredded cheese and stir until cheese melts and is combined. Add nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir in spinach puree until combined. Add drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat pasta.
• Serve immediately or pour into casserole dish, top with some additional shredded cheese if desired, and bake on 350 degrees just until the cheese is melty and bubbly. Enjoy!
• I love that this recipe allows me to sneak in that extra serving of veggies!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

You might also enjoy these St. Patrick’s Day favorites:

Freezer-Friendly Shepherd’s Pie

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Shepherd’s Pie made with leftover Pot Roast

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