Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Swiss Chard and Roasted Garlic Mac and Cheese recipe. Creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavors from roasted garlic and Swiss chard, this dish is a satisfying twist on the classic mac and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni or pasta of choice
- 1 head garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Cheese Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups chopped Swiss chard (stems removed)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (optional topping)
- 1 tablespoon butter (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roast the Garlic: Slice the top off the garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast for 35–40 minutes until soft and golden.
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Cheese Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then gradually whisk in milk. Cook until thickened. Whisk in roasted garlic paste, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Stir in cheddar and Gruyère until melted.
- Combine Ingredients: Fold in Swiss chard and pasta. Pour into a baking dish.
- Add Toppings: Mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, sprinkle over the top with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta and flour.
- Swiss chard can be swapped with spinach or kale.
- The roasted garlic can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
