One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese.
One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese.
You know those fallback recipes? The ones you make over and over again? Well, this One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese is mine. It’s the easiest and best mac-and-cheese recipe. It uses just one pot, and the ingredients and methods are simple. My trick is to first boil the pasta in just enough water to start the cooking process, then add milk and cream cheese. That means there’s no boiling and draining the pasta, and no fussing around with making a roux either. Plus the cream cheese creates a light and creamy sauce without having to add any additional flour-like in a béchamel.
What’s really great about this recipe is just how adaptable it is. When my brothers are around, I omit the veggies, but I include a few chipotle peppers in adobo, and I use half pepper jack and half cheddar cheese. It’s one of their favorites!
Looking for other easy one pot pastas? Here are my favorites:
One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake
Slow Cooker Saucy Sunday Bolognese Pasta
One Pot Creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Lastly, if you make this One Pot Baked Spinach and Artichoke Mac and Cheese, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing
- 1 (1-pound) box short-cut pasta, such as macaroni
- 2 cups whole milk (see Note)
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cubed
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- Ground cayenne pepper
- 2 cups packed fresh baby spinach, chopped
- 1 (8-ounce) jar marinated artichokes, drained and roughly chopped
- 1½ cups crushed Ritz crackers (about 1 sleeve) (about 1 sleeve)
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
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1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Stir in the milk and cream cheese and cook until the cream cheese has melted and the pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes more.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 cups of the cheddar and 3 tablespoons of the butter. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Stir in the spinach and artichokes. If the sauce feels too thick, add ¼ cup of milk or water to thin it.
4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar.
5. In a medium bowl, stir together the crackers, the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, and the garlic powder. Sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the mac and cheese.
6. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and the crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve. Store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
Note: Have a little extra milk or water on hand. Once you’ve added everything, you can decide whether you’re happy with the consistency. If you need to thin the sauce out a bit, simply add more liquid.
Hi I was wondering if I could add shredded or cubed chicken to this to make a one pot meal?
Thanks!
Hey there,
Yes totally fine to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks soo good. If I were to add some meat what would you recommend??
Hey Haley,
I think chicken would be great here! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
My partner is not a fan of baked pasta but I made this tonight and it was a HIT! Thank you Tieghan — it was so simple!
Thank you so much Jericha! xTieghan
Just double checking, are you supposed to drain the pasta before adding the cheese?
Hey there,
No need to drain the pasta. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Could you prepare this in the morning or day before and bake in the evening for dinner?
Hey Whit,
Yes that is totally fine to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can you freeze this? If so, what would be the best way?
Hey Brigid,
Yes you can freeze just before baking. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Should you drain the pasta or make the sauce with water and all?
Hey Caroline,
No need to drain the water:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
It looks great! I can’t seem to find the nutritional information on the page?
Hey Nicole,
So sorry I do not provide that information, only an estimated calorie count. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Wait. I’m confused. Do you add the milk to the 4 cips of pasta water? I envision it being soupy, but I’ll give it a go.
Thanks!
Hey Kim,
Yes that is correct, no need to drain the water. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Thank you!! Making it now. It looks so good!!
Thank you so much Kim! xTieghan
Made this for election day and it was so comforting/delicious. I used kale instead of spinach and add pickled spicy peppers for an extra kick. i think it would have lacked flavor without the peppers so I highly suggest!
Thank you so much Hilary!! xTieghan
I actually made this the day before you posted it from your cookbook! I loved it and so did everyone I shared some with! This mac and cheese is so easy and delicious!
I am so happy you loved this one, Tiffany! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
This looks delicious! I wanted to make this for a dinner party at a friend’s house, but I want to serve it hot. I was wondering if I could perform all the steps except actually baking the dish, bring the uncooked baking dish to my friend’s house, and then bake it for 20 minutes?
Hey Alison,
Yes that will work well! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
So delicious! Love your one pot pastas without the need to drain.
They are the best! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Sarah! xTieghan
Made this tonight, so good and yet another winner! My kids always ask if it’s one of your recipes!
Aw that is so amazing! I am really happy you all enjoyed this and other recipes of mine! Thank you! xTieghan
Awesome and comforting recipe! I was nervous about not draining the pasta water but it worked out perfectly and saved some time! Overall this recipe took me about 30 min to prepare and everyone loved it. Thanks so much 🙂
Thank you Lindsay! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
So easy and so delicious!! Loved that you don’t have to drain the pasta — although these days that’s the only way I’m able to get a facial! My family could not stop raving about it and my 7-year old, who does not like baked pasta, cleaned his plate!
Wow that is so amazing! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Selena! Thank you! xTieghan
Hi! Love your recipes! Can you half the recipe? Also, to add “spice” which chillies would you add? Thanks!
Hey Jag,
Yes you can cut the recipe in half and I would use some red pepper flakes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can I make this in my Dutch oven
Hey Justine,
I would recommend transferring to an oven safe baking dish. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
We enjoyed the mac and cheese on a cold, windy, and rainy day in Michigan. We increased the amount of and added some diced grape tomatoes. So yummy!
Thank you so much Karen! xTieghan
Hi, could I use a milk substitute for this? Like oat milk? Thank you!
Hey Kiera,
Yes, that will work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks delicious! For baked pasta dishes, do you recommend dry pasta over fresh?
Hey Hillary,
Yes that is what I would recommend:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this this weekend and it was a hit! Incredibly delicious and a family favourite now. Will definitely keep this in the books for future family dinners!
Hi – Can I use saltines instead of Ritz crackers?
Hey Caroline,
Sure that will work. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Total comfort food. This was one of the best Mac snd cheese recipes I have ever had Delicious
Thank you so much Marie!! I am really glad you enjoyed this recipe! xTieghan
Made this for the first time tonight, it for sure won’t be my last. Absolutely loved it, great flavour and it was fun to make with my boyfriend who has never enjoyed cooking … that was until your cookbook arrived in the mail after me spamming him with your Insta stories. You’ve inspired him to cook and that makes me beyond excited! We now have a new activity to do together, so thank you for making everything look so delicious to a dedicated meat and potatoes only kind of guy!
Hi Jenna! I am so happy this recipe turned out so amazing for you!! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Great recipe, super easy to follow! My mom was especially pleased with the addition of artichokes to this classic dish. Thank you! Will definitely be making this again in the future.
Thank you so much Cassidy! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made this for an annual Mac off my friends and I have and it won! I had to share the recipe with them as they loved it. Going to try different cheeses next time to switch it up ☺️. What will I make next year? Maybe a curry Mac recipe could be made by then?! 😍
I am so happy to hear that!! Thank you for trying this one, Samantha! xTieghan
Wondering if I could use frozen spinach in place of fresh? Would I proceed as normal? Thanks!!
Hey Lindsay,
Yes you can use fresh but you will want to cook it down and drain first. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Looking forward to making this for our *hopeful* winter snowstorm this week in DC! Any advice for a gluten free cracker substitute? Was thinking I’d just use some GF breadcrumbs since a good buttery GF cracker is hard to find 🙂
Hey Laura,
Yes, GF breadcrumbs would be a great option! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This was SO good, and deceptively simple!!
Cannot wait to make again 🙂
Hey Samantha,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I have made this recipe 3x now and it is a huge hit. It is so easy and doesn’t require a ton of different cheeses like so many Mac recipes do. I made two batches on Christmas Eve this year for my family (made for great leftovers as well)!
Hey Katelyn,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
One of our favorites!! It’s so good and easy.
Thanks so much Amanda! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This was DELICIOUS and so easy! Will definitely make again. Only adjustments I made were some extra spinach and artichoke hearts. I also made with chickpea pasta. I can’t wait to try more of your one pot recipes!
Hey Meghan,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Could I make this without the spinach and artichokes and not bake it?
Hey Maria,
I would try one of my other Mac and cheese recipes:
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/baked-brie-mac-and-cheese/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/boil-mac-cheese/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/cheese-makers-mac-cheese/
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions!! xTieghan
If I want to freeze this and make later, how long would you recommend baking for? Should I thaw first? Thanks!
Hey Lindsay,
You could freeze and bake from frozen for about 1 hour. I hope you love the dish. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi there!
I previously made your baked mac & cheese ahead of time and took it to the cabin where we stayed and baked it there. It came out great!
We are heading to Steamboat next week – do you think this would work for that as well?
Hey there,
Yes, that would be an awesome idea! Let me know if you have any other questions:) xTieghan
Hello! A couple of questions. Do you need to saute the spinach before adding it into the pan/does it need to be chopped? Did you use white or yellow sharp cheddar cheese? And then how big of a pan on the stove do you need for this all to fit? THANK YOU, so excited to try with my family tonight.
Hey Riley,
You are going to use chopped baby spinach and you do not need to sauté it. I used yellow sharp cheddar cheese, and you are going to need to use a pretty large pot for this recipe. I hope you love it! Let me know how it turns out. xTieghan
This looks delicious, making it tomorrow! How much cayenne do you recommend using? Thanks!
Hey Ann,
I am thrilled you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Awesome recipe! I found this in the Super Simple Book and made it last night for dinner. It was a big hit. I only had Philadelphia Jalapeno Cream Cheese which gave it a nice kick. Thank you – So Delicious!
Hey Tricia,
I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have a great week! xTieghan
Hi! I’m a very literal reader and want to confirm— do I ever drain the pasta?? Or does the water evaporate?? Thanks!! Cannot wait to make it for Meat-free nights!!
Hey Maggie,
You do not drain the pasta. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Fantastic!!! Was super easy, incredibly tasty and a potluck hit!!!!!
Hey Anjie,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thank you for making it! xTieghan
I made this once before and loved it but it’s been a few months since the last time I made it. I have a question about the baking time. At the top of the recipe it says 45 minutes but in the instructions it says 25. I’m going to just bake it for 25 and see if it looks golden and bubbly but I was just wondering which is correct for the next time I make it. Thanks! ☺️
Hey Jennifer,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am delighted that the recipe was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
The flavor was so good! I underestimated how much this would make, but that’s probably a good problem to have. I’ll be making this for potlucks when things are “normal” again!
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Any tips on how to keep the cheddar cheese from clumping? And not incorporating in the sauce?
Hey Barbara,
I would highly recommend grating your own cheese off the block. I know it is more work, but it melts differently and much better than the pre-shredded bags. I hope this helps! xTieghan
I make this for truly everyone I love. I’m a vegetarian and the carnivore members of my friends and family can’t get enough. It is so good and always everyone’s favorite. Unfortunately there are rarely leftovers so I just have to make more. Thank you!!
Hey Paige,
So so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for giving it a try! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
This one was a hit with my husband who normally doesn’t want Mac and cheese for dinner. It’s on the regular menu now! The sauce came out perfectly the first time and the second time was a bit too much liquid but that’s an easy fix.
Hey Holly,
Awesome!! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan