This super creamy sweet potato mac and cheese uses pureed sweet potato, almond milk and two different kinds of cheese. It’s indulgent while being a little healthier for you and sneaking in some spinach!
This super creamy sweet potato mac and cheese uses pureed sweet potato, almond milk and two different kinds of cheese. It's indulgent while being a little healthier for you and sneaking in some spinach!

Years ago, I was addicted to 30 minute meals, like the Rachael Ray tv show, not actually cooking them or anything.

I can remember the retro studio kitchen she taped all the episodes in down to every dumb this-is-clearly-not-a-real-kitchen detail.

The microwave in particular really bothered me and I’ve never been a fan of retro design so I’m honestly not sure how or why I continued to watch the show for the three long years I did.

One of the many Rachael-isms besides the classic “evoo” and “a dab will do ya” was the “hmmm what is that?” phrase she’d say when adding a “weird” ingredient to a pretty basic dish to describe someone’s reaction when tasting it.

She must’ve said it at least 100 times in all the episodes I watched but the one that stands out most in my head is this simple spinach sauté she made once. It was just spinach sautéed in some evoo (of course) with garlic, red pepper, salt, pepper and the “weird” ingredient of, wait for it…

Creamy sweet potato mac and cheese with spinach is a comforting classic made a touch healthier!
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…nutmeg.

I’ll admit, I’ve made that spinach dish countless times adding the nutmeg and while it definitely doesn’t make me say “hmmm, what is that?” because 1. I added it and 2. nutmeg has a pretty distinct, identifiable flavor, I do adore it combined with spinach.

It’s the perfect thing to get the otherwise boring spinach to pop.

So, in a nod to Grenada, the nutmeg capital of the world that I just spent two weeks in, eating nutmeg in pretty much 95% of the food and drinks I consumed, I added nutmeg to this sweet potato mac and cheese.

I feel like Rachael would be proud.

Sweet potato mac and cheese is the perfect way to get your creamy mac and cheese fix in a healthier way.

The creaminess factor in this sweet potato mac and cheese is threefold: sweet potato puree, two different kinds of cheeses and almond milk.

Try this creamy white bean pasta too for another vegetarian take on creamy pasta sauce.

With the sweet potato, spinach and almond milk, it’s practically health food too.

Don’t be fooled into thinking mac and cheese needs copious amounts of butter, flour and whole milk to be creamy and decadent. It certainly can, and this sausage mac and cheese recipe is the perfect example of that but it doesn’t have to.

This proves quite the opposite.

And who would’ve thought a tv show from 10+ years ago would be to thank for the inspiration?

Check out –>  Creamy Greek yogurt mac and cheese with peas and bacon or this turkey skillet mac and cheese for more health(ier) inspired mac and cheese dishes!

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4.14 from 15 votes

Sweet Potato Spinach Mac and Cheese

Servings: 4 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
This super creamy mac and cheese uses pureed sweet potato, almond milk and two different kinds of cheese. It’s indulgent while being a little healthier for you.

Ingredients 

  • 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and chopped
  • 1 3/4 cups Silk Unsweetened Original Almondmilk
  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup grated Jarlsberg cheese
  • 1/2 pound elbow pasta
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 cups baby spinach

Instructions 

  • Place the potatoes in a small sauce pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until fork tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, place the potatoes in a food processor with 1/4 cup of the almond milk and process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  • Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
  • Meanwhile, over medium heat, melt the butter with the garlic and red peppper flakes in another large pot.
  • Once melted, add the flour, stir and cook for about 1 minute.
  • Add the remaining almond milk and whisk continuously until thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the sweet potato puree to the milk and stir until combined.
  • Add the nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir in the cheese and spinach until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
  • Drain the pasta and transfer it to the pot with the cheese mixture. Stir until fully coated and serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1SERVINGCalories: 547kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 23gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 593mgPotassium: 435mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 10112IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 580mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
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Made with sweet potato puree, almond milk and cheese, this sweet potato mac and cheese is a healthier dinner everyone will love.
Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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10 Comments

  1. I’ve had this recipe saved for months and finally made it. Nothing weird about the nutmeg. But I was disappointed in the sauce. I am not amazing at sauces but I had to stir my butter,seasoning, flour, and almond milk mixture for quite a while and it thickened very little. I was honestly tempted to sub regular milk because I’m not really avoiding it for any reason. I wonder if it would make a difference. But anyway the sweet potato is genius. It turned out really very tasty but I can’t but help wonder if I messed up the sauce.

  2. I’m in Cambodia at the moment without a kitchen. But the day I return I am making this… Sleep, then this. It sounds great!

  3. This just brought so many memories back and mostly her stupid humor all while wondering if that dish is truly 30 mins…she doesn’t account for running around the kitchen while having 4 pots going at the same time. And the disaster you are left with after getting your dish thrown on a plate in 30 mins!