Bacon Spinach Mac & Cheese

Deliciousness right here folks!

This Bacon Spinach Mac and Cheese is pretty much amazing.  The bacon adds a depth of flavor to this classic comfort food, and the spinach is a superfood to help bring out your inner superhero. 

This dinner recipe will please everyone in your family.  Your husband will love the bacon, the mac and cheese will make your kids happy, and the spinach will make you happy.  This dish is a complete meal with all your nutrients in one dish, and it can be on the table in less than an hour.

As a bonus, using quinoa pasta or other gluten free pasta as well a gluten free flour will easily make this dish gf.  

Bacon Spinach Mac and Cheese
Recipe: Alohamora
Active Time: 25 minutes
Inactive Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6-8

Ingredients: 

1 (8oz) pkg pasta of choice (quinoa pasta is our favorite)

1/4 c. butter

1/4 c. onion, diced

3 cloves minced garlic

1/4 c. flour (use gluten free flour if you need/want)

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1/4 tsp salt
1/8 pepper
2 c. milk (I use fat free for health reasons, but any milk will work)
2 c. cheese, shredded

1/2 c. bacon bits

2 c. spinach, chopped

1/4 c.green onions, diced 

Instructions: 

1. Cook your pasta according to the directions on the box until it is al dente.  When pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and pour it into a 2 quart baking dish, or a 11/13 baking dish. 
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 
3. Over medium heat place your butter, the diced onion, and the minced garlic in a large saucepan.  Stir until melted.  Once melted stir flour into the butter mixture until smooth (takes no more than 30 seconds). 
4. Quickly stir in the dry mustard, salt, and pepper until evenly mixed in to the thick paste like mixture.  You can remove the pan from the stove while you measure out the spices. 
5. Add the milk and stir the mixture constantly over the medium heat until it thickens.  If you are using gluten free flour this process will take closer to 10 minutes.  
6. Add the cheese (white cheddar is my favorite) and continue to stir and cook it until the cheese is melted.
7. Add the bacon bits to the cheese mixture and stir to combine everything. 
8. Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the spinach until everything is mixed well.
9. With the pasta already in a baking dish, pour the cheese mixture over the cooked pasta.  
10. Stir to combine everything, and top it with the green onions, and a little more bacon bits if you so desire.  
11. Bake at 325 uncovered for 20 minutes. 
12. Enjoy 
13. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. 

Happy delicious Bacon Spinach Mac and Cheese eating!