Quinoa Spinach Mac and Cheese

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Move over macaroni because quinoa is in town and taking over this mac and cheese. I know this recipe is called Quinoa Spinach MAC and Cheese, but there is no macaroni involved. Don’t be sad, you won’t miss the macaroni. I promise.

When I saw Carrie’s recipe on Tasty Kitchen, I knew I had to make it for dinner. It had my name written all over it. I am obsessed with quinoa-did you see my Crunchy Quinoa Granola? And I love trying new mac and cheese recipes-remember my Avocado Mac and Cheese? Yeah, I knew I would love this recipe.

This quinoa mac and cheese is loaded with spinach, white cheddar, and has a crunchy Parmesan and Panko topping. I baked it in a skillet until it was bubbly and screaming EAT ME!

I loved everything about this “not” mac and cheese. It is creamy, cheesy, and even a little crunchy thanks to the topping. The quinoa and spinach boost up the nutritional value of the traditional mac and cheese. This Popeye approved mac and cheese was a hit at our dinner table. All of the peas give this recipe two big thumbs up!

For step-by-step photos and the recipe, visit Tasty Kitchen. You are going to love this Quinoa Spinach Mac and Cheese. It is a great easy weeknight meal and perfect for the cold winter months. Healthified comfort food! I don’t know if healthified is technically a word, but it is now because I am using it:) Now, go make some Quinoa Mac and Cheese please!

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Maria

I'm Maria and my husband is Josh. We share a love of cooking, baking, and entertaining. We enjoy creating recipes that are simple, fresh, and family friendly. We love sitting around the table with good food, good conversation, and good friends and family! Our kitchen is always open!
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  1. What an creative s mac and cheese! Going to check it out over at Tasty Kitchen!! Have a nice weekend!!

  2. What a great idea! This quinoa craze that everyone is going through is awesome, the stuff is so good and you really can incorporate it into just about any kind of recipe – case in point, your mac & cheese!

  3. Seeing as I’ve been on a spinach kick lately, this looks amazing!
    By the way, I can’t believe I haven’t tried your avocado mac and cheese. It’s on my list to make very soon!

  4. I cooked quinoa for the first time two days ago. I sauteed onions/garlic, added the quinoa, and then simmered in chicken broth. Delicious. Then yesterday, I took the leftovers and made a cheese sauce and added leftover broccoli. But now I want to make it again so I can try it with the panko topping!! I can’t believe I am just now getting into quinoa. I’ve been missing out!

  5. So glad you liked it Maria! This is a family favorite in our house…. and it gets my kids to eat their spinach!

  6. Maria, this sounds fantastic! Is Caleb eating your cooking now? He’s going to be the luckiest little boy around with Mama’s cooking! 🙂 Happy weekend friend!

  7. I absolutely LOVE that you used quinoa in this mac and cheese instead of the regular pasta! Superb idea, Maria!

  8. What a great idea! I wouldn’t have thought to use quinoa instead of pasta but it makes perfect sense. I can imagine this tastes so creamy and good…and much healthier than regular mac. 🙂

  9. Don’t tell my Italian ancestors but I choose quinoa over mac! Especially when it means that I can have an extra serving. 🙂

  10. This looks so good! I can’t resist anything with a crunchy cheesy crust like that 🙂

  11. Looks super delicious. I’ve only cooked with quinoa once but I’ve seen so many different recipes using quinoa lately (like this one) so I must buy more quinoa soon!

  12. This looks delicious! I’ve done a regular cheddar quinoa mac & cheese with broccoli & red peppers but this will definitely be the next recipe I try!

  13. Just tried for dinner. We loved it! Healthified even more by substituting butter for olive oil and using fat free milk. Still reach enough for us. Could also add mushrooms, ham, other vegetables. Will make it again for sure.

  14. This looks yummy – I will be trying it soon. I’ll also br trying Mel’s recipe for Cheesy Brocoli and Ham Quinoa cups at her blog Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (www.melskitchencafe.com)

    Quinoa is the in thing!

  15. I’m totally okay with forgoing macaroni for this cheesy, creamy masterpiece. Just look at that perfect golden breadcrumb topping. Yum!

  16. I’m a sucker for all mac and cheese recipes, but WOW you ‘healthified’ this puppy in your recipe! Mmmmm, no excuses to boycott Mac and Cheese now! Thank you for your post!

  17. Cannot wait to try this – I have some serious mac and cheese addicts in my house and a bag of quinoa waiting to be used up. Thanks for sharing!

  18. OMG, this looks fantastic. I love quinoa too and this looks like something I need to make asap!! Love!!

  19. I made this on Saturday. It was wonderful. We didn’t miss the macaroni one bit. This is a new favorite when we want comfort food! Thanks for the great recipe!

  20. I made this on Sunday. It was the first time I’ve cooked with quinoa. It was amazing and I can’t wait to make it again. I added cubed ham to it. Even the picky husband and kids loved it! Thanks for another great recipe 🙂

  21. This was SO, SO good! I made it for lunch last week, and my two year-old loved it too! Next time I think I might try adding some steamed broccoli in with the spinach for some extra greens. But it was fantastic just as written.

  22. I made this last night and my boyfriend and I inhaled it! We added grilled chicken and roasted tomatoes because this was our main dish. I imagine other roasted veggies would be good too. Thanks for the yummy (and healthy) twist on one of my favorite dishes!

  23. Okay, this looks amazing. I also think my 14-month old will like it — finally, a way to get the kiddo to eat spinach and quinoa. 🙂 Yay!

  24. Ok, this is for real one of thee best “mac” and cheeses I have ever tried, to die for!!! thanks for submitting!

  25. We LOVE this recipe at my house (seriously, it’s one of the few things my 4 year old will eat – she has it at least 3 nights a week for dinner and I always have a pan in the freezer!). The one thing I do differently is I puree the spinach first – it gives the whole dish a green hue that my veggie-averse kiddo is somehow not freaked out by (and yes, she knows it’s spinach). Thank you for making a dish that I feel good about feeding my family!

  26. I saved this recipe off TastyKitchen years ago, but didn’t try it until today. So many years wasted. I literally moaned when I tasted it. A five star recipe.