Growing up, my brother and I ate boxed mac ’n cheese at least once a month. Dad spent nearly all of the daylight hours at work, and although Mom only worked part-time during the hours we were in school, she shuttled us to enough soccer practices and piano lessons in the afternoons that she rarely had time to cook a gourmet meal from scratch.
So many of our dinners were part pre-made or incredibly easy: mac ’n cheese, fish sticks, grilled cheese, quesadillas… But Mom always served a big side of fruit, veggies, or a salad to make our plates a little healthier.
Then last summer, my guy and I wandered around the supermarket one evening while his stomach growled louder than a lion. (Note to self: Never go grocery shopping with him when he’s hungry!) He loaded our cart with chips, candy, soda, and frozen lasagna. As we nearly the registers, he spotted a sale on boxed mac ’n cheese, so he threw that in as well to cook for himself that night.
A little while later, as he chewed on big spoonfuls, he explained that he grew up on boxed mac ’n cheese too, but that was the only was he’d eat it. He turned down the home-cooked or fancy kinds made entirely from scratch because they didn’t taste the same as what he remembered.
So when his new work schedule came out recently and he had to work the long evening shifts, I cooked this easy Spinach & Caramelized Onion Mac ’n Cheese for him. It’s full of the familiar comfort food flavors from his childhood—but with a few healthy veggie twists!
Because he’s so picky (or, umm, selective) about his mac ’n cheese, I started with Horizon Organic Mac ’n Cheese. With organic ingredients, it’s something I feel better about serving my guy, and I love how easy it is to whip up. This entire meal comes together in less than 30 minutes!
While the water boils and the pasta cooks, start caramelizing the onions. They take a while to soften and sweeten, but boy oh boy are they worth it. They’re like little strips of gold! Cooking brings out the naturally sweetness of the onions, which beautifully complements the tangy cheddar cheese.
Wait to sauté the spinach until just before the past finishes cooking. The spinach wilts and darkens really quickly, so you only need a minute or two. Then all that’s left is adding the rest of the ingredients to the pasta, stirring until it’s wonderfully cheesy, and mixing in the veggies.
My guy wandered into the kitchen just as I finished caramelizing the onions, and he stopped to stare for a minute. “That smells good!” he exclaimed, and when I set a big bowl of this Spinach & Caramelized Onion Mac ’n Cheese in front of him, it disappeared in seconds. Thank goodness my picky eater approved!
| Spinach & Caramelized Onion Mac 'n Cheese | | Print |
- 1 (6oz) box Horizon Organic Mac ’n Cheese
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 4 c baby spinach, chopped into ribbons
- ¼ c nonfat milk
- ½ tbsp unsalted butter
- Bring a large pot of water to boil, and cook the macaroni according to the package directions (about 8-10 minutes, or until tender).
- While waiting for the water to boil, coat a large pan with nonstick cooking spray. Cook the onions over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly, or until they’re completely translucent and beginning to turn a faint golden color. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and continue to cook for about 15-20 minutes while stirring constantly, or until they’ve turned completely golden. Add the spinach to the pan, and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the spinach is completely wilted and dark green. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Drain the pasta, and return it to the pot. Stir in the milk, butter, and packet of cheese from the box until the pasta is evenly coated. Stir in the onions and spinach. Serve immediately.
Any milk may be substituted in place of the nonfat milk.
{vegetarian, low fat, low calorie}
![Spinach and Goat Cheese Cornbread Muffins -- moist and crumbly, just the way cornbread should be! [Gluten-free + clean-eating] | by Foods for the Soul {amyshealthybaking.com}](https://amyshealthybaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/smaller-IMG_1475-edited-copy.jpeg)
Horizon has created a fun interactive tool called the MAC-N-ATOR for you to use! You select the ingredients that are already in your pantry, and it gives you an easy mac ’n cheese recipe to try. Visit their website to give it a go, and check out their Pinterest board for more recipes too!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organic. As always, the opinions, text, images, and recipe are all mine.
You just can’t go wrong with man and cheese.
SO true Brittany!
Perfect! That’s how I sneak in veggies to MY picky eater… a little spinach amidst a boatload of cheesy, familiar comfort food rarely gets snubbed!
We need to get together and compare notes… Although I’m sure while we were eating salad, the boys would be eating cheeseburgers or pizza in the other room!
Craving a bowlful of this mac and cheese right now – it looks divine. And I just love the addition of caramelised onions.
Thank you so much Thalia!
I cannot believe. You actually found a way to make mac and cheese healthy. Parents the world over can breathe a sigh of relief…
This is so neat!
Thank you! Although I bet we probably would’ve given you a funny look if you tried serving this to us as 6- and 3-year olds… 😉