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Home » Type » Main Courses » Pasta and Noodles » Stovetop Tuscan Mac and Cheese

Stovetop Tuscan Mac and Cheese

January 8, 2014 by Faith 15 Comments

Thank you to I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter® for sponsoring this post. I am happy for the opportunity to share products that I enjoy with my readers, and I hope you like my recipe for Stovetop Tuscan Mac and Cheese.

Stovetop Tuscan Mac and Cheese

There are the obvious sources of mealtime inspiration, like cookbooks, food magazines, and food blogs. There are friends’ recommendations, and remakes of restaurant favorites.

But how often do we really go to our moms for recipe advice? (I mean after college anyway…my mom was my cooking guru during undergrad!)

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The other day my mom and I were talking about dinner recipes, which is something I’d like to share more frequently on my blog. She reminded me that so many home cooks need to get a nutritious meal on the table for their families in a hurry. Slow-cooker dishes or one-pot recipes work well, and so do stovetop recipes that can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less.

As she was talking, an idea took shape. Mac and cheese is always a crowd-pleaser. And what if there was such a thing as healthy mac and cheese? The idea isn’t as far-fetched as you might think.

For starters, this mac and cheese is light on the pasta and heavy on the veggies. Even though there’s only two ounces of pasta per serving, you’ll be lucky if you can finish your serving because the veggies and beans bulk it up so much. This dish boasts an entire bunch of kale, along with nutritional powerhouses onion and garlic. White beans bump up the fiber and protein. And although it’s a little lighter on the cheese than many other cheese sauces, this sauce is still rich and velvety thanks to a secret ingredient: cream cheese. If you haven’t tried mac and cheese with cream cheese added, give it a try and I think you’ll have a new favorite secret ingredient.

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There’s another winning ingredient in this dish; I recently tried I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Deliciously Simple™ spread for the first time. It’s made with simple ingredients like non-fat yogurt and vegetable oil, and has a creamy, buttery taste. I used it instead of butter or oil to sauté the vegetables for my Stovetop Tuscan Mac and Cheese; I also used it instead of butter to make the roux (which is usually melted butter and flour) for my cheese sauce. I found Deliciously Simple™ spread to be really versatile; I also enjoy it spread on toast or bread so the flavor can really shine. You can find out more about Deliciously Simple™ spread here.

This recipe is pretty perfect for a healthier version of mac and cheese for a quick weeknight meal!

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Print
Stovetop Tuscan Mac and Cheese
Prep time:  15 mins
Cook time:  15 mins
Total time:  30 mins
Yield: 4 large servings
 
Ingredients
  • 8 oz (230 g) elbow noodles (or any small pasta shape you like)
  • 4 tablespoons I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Deliciously Simple™ spread, divided
  • 1 bunch kale, washed, de-stemmed, and chopped
  • 1 medium-large onion, chopped
  • 2 large cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste), plus more for garnish if desired
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ cup (120 ml) water
  • 1 (15.5 oz/439 g) can no-salt-added cannellini beans (or other white beans), rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1½ cups (355 ml) milk (I used 1%), warmed
  • 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese (regular or low-fat)
  • 4 oz (115 g) provolone cheese, shredded
Instructions
  1. Cook the noodles to al dente according to the package directions; drain and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Deliciously Simple™ spread in a large, deep lidded skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kale, onion, garlic, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, and water. Cover the skillet and cook until the onion is soft, the kale is wilted, and the water is evaporated, about 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the beans during the last minute of cooking to warm them up. (You can add a splash more water if the pan starts to look too dry before the veggies are cooked.)
  3. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Deliciously Simple™ spread to a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk; once the milk is added, whisk in the cream cheese a little at a time. Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and whisk in the provolone cheese until smooth.
  4. Stir the cheese sauce and pasta into the kale mixture; serve with additional crushed red pepper flakes on top if desired.
Notes
Baked Variation: If you have a few extra minutes and you want to make this into a quick baked mac and cheese, generously grease an 8 by 8-inch casserole dish with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® Deliciously Simple™ spread, and preheat the broiler. When the pasta is still hot, instead of serving it immediately, pour it into the prepared casserole dish and top it with an additional 2 oz (60 g) shredded provolone cheese and 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese. Run it under the broiler until the cheese on top is melted and browned in spots; stay with it, because this can happen fast!
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If you have a few extra minutes, you could make the Baked Variation!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter® through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated to write a post about I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter® Deliciously Simple™, all opinions are my own.

Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Pasta and Noodles, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Tagged: Kale, Mac and Cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, Pasta, Provolone Cheese, Quick Dinner Ideas, Tuscan, Vegetarian, Weeknight Meals, White Beans

Comments

  1. Loolie says

    September 27, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    I needed a budget meal made to impress, and boy, did this ever hit it out of the ballpark! Considering my limited time and skills (and finances), this was beyond perfect. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
    • Faith says

      September 29, 2014 at 6:28 am

      Loolie, Yay, I’m so glad you enjoyed this dish! Thanks so much for telling me!!

      Reply
  2. nancy at good food matters says

    January 10, 2014 at 7:22 am

    Happy New Year, Faith. This is such a good recipe! I can’t wait to share it with my friend who is always on the lookout for healthy options for her husband, who has heart disease. She uses I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter in her cooking. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Katie says

    January 9, 2014 at 6:38 am

    This dish sounds good – love the addition of the beans and kale to make the normal fattening mac-n-cheese healthier.

    Reply
  4. Katerina says

    January 9, 2014 at 5:29 am

    My friend I wish to you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year full of professional success and personal happiness! I love Mac ‘n Cheese and your version looks absolutely irresistible!

    Reply
  5. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    January 9, 2014 at 12:58 am

    Now this is mac and cheese that nobody can turn down!

    Reply
  6. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    January 9, 2014 at 12:44 am

    This looks incredible, I love the added veggies and Tuscan flavors!

    Reply
  7. Julia says

    January 9, 2014 at 12:24 am

    Moms are amazing and it sounds like yours is an excellent resource. I call my mom up all the time asking her baking questions, what I can use for substitutions, etc etc. This mac n cheese is allllll grown up and delicious! I LOVE it! Nice work, ladies!

    Reply
  8. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says

    January 8, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    Ooooh I have to pin this immediately and make this very soon… everything about it sounds delicious!

    Reply
  9. Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says

    January 8, 2014 at 10:13 am

    this looks sooooooooooo good, I cant even.

    Reply
  10. Erica says

    January 8, 2014 at 9:27 am

    YES! I need to make this! I love a good stovetop mac…homemade is so much better than the boxed kind!!

    Reply
  11. Krista says

    January 8, 2014 at 9:25 am

    I love this recipe, Faith!! And Happy New Year! :)

    Reply
  12. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says

    January 8, 2014 at 8:40 am

    This looks so creamy and delicious – I don’t think anyone could resist!

    Reply
  13. Katrina @ WVS says

    January 8, 2014 at 8:20 am

    This is such a neat mac and cheese recipe! I can’t wait to try!

    Reply
  14. Rosa says

    January 8, 2014 at 5:11 am

    A scrumptious combination and casserole!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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