By Carolyn Malcoun [2], September 8, 2009 - 4:27pm
Mac & cheese is one of my all-time favorite comfort foods [6]. I was a big fan of the boxed variety when I was a kid (the kind that came with a can of “real” cheese sauce, not the powdered cheese stuff, of course). And my mom was a big fan because it was a quick, easy meal that the whole family liked. But when I was finally wise enough to look at the nutrition label on those boxes, I was stunned at all the fat and sodium (and don’t forget all those unpronounceable ingredients). Not only is this ultra-creamy version of mac-and-cheese [7] nearly as fast as the boxed variety, but your family will be able to pronounce every ingredient. Even my mom can get on board with that!
When I have some extra time, I like to cook Baked Mac & Cheese [8]. Whenever I make it, I whip up a double batch to freeze for a practically instant dinner on a busy night. And there’s a layer of spinach in there, which is delicious and nutritious!
Hate spinach or just prefer your mac & cheese unadorned? Try our plain-Jane veggie-free baked Macaroni & Cheese [9]. Or if you want to really get fancy, go for Cheesy Chicken Pasta [10], an ooey-gooey crowd-pleasing pasta dish that's like rich and creamy macaroni-and-cheese tossed with cauliflower and chicken. If mac & cheese is just one of the reasons you love pasta, here are 22 other ways to dress up a box of pasta. [11]
What ingredient do you like to add to your mac & cheese to make it special? Tell us what you think below.
TAGS: Carolyn Malcoun [2], Food Blog [12], Dinner [13], Family meals [14], Healthy kids [15], Quick meals [16], Recipe Makeover [17]
Carolyn Malcoun combines her love of food and writing as a recipe contributor for EatingWell. Carolyn has a culinary arts degree from New England Culinary Institute and a degree in journalism from University of Wisconsin—Madison. Carolyn lives in Portland, Maine, and enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking and running in her free time.
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[2] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/carolyn-malcoun
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[4] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/who_doesnt_love_creamy_mac_and_cheese_4_recipes_to_try
[5] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/who_doesnt_love_creamy_mac_and_cheese_4_recipes_to_try?section=comments#tabs
[6] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_comfort_food_recipes
[7] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/no_bake_macaroni_cheese.html
[8] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/baked_mac_cheese.html
[9] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/macaroni_cheese.html
[10] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cheesy_chicken_pasta.html
[11] http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/quick_healthy_pasta_recipes
[12] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_topics/food_blog
[13] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/dinner
[14] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/family_meals
[15] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/healthy_kids
[16] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/quick_meals
[17] http://www.eatingwell.com/category/blog_tags/recipe_makeover
[18] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/meat_lover_s_quinoa_veggie_burger
[19] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/277288?section=comments#tabs
[20] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/healthy_spring_salad_recipe_with_fresh_peas_and_crispy_fried_shallots
[21] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/277219?section=comments#tabs
[22] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/vegetarian_thai_red_curry
[23] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/276919?section=comments#tabs
[24] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/how_to_make_cream_sauce_without_cream
[25] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/276908?section=comments#tabs
[26] http://www.eatingwell.com/blogs/food_blog/3_diy_tortilla_tricks_how_to_make_your_own_taco_shells_taco_bowls_and_tortilla_chips
[27] http://www.eatingwell.com/node/276907?section=comments#tabs
[28] http://www.eatingwell.com/user
[29] http://www.eatingwell.com/print/14919
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