Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (2024)

Make all things green this St. Patrick's day, including our green mac and cheese without food coloring! Enjoy this healthy macaroni and cheese loaded with delicious green veggies.

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (1)

Our green mac and cheese without food coloring is a fun way to get your kids to eat vegetables by putting it directly into the tasty pasta. It is a fun take on the traditional mac and cheese recipe.

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (2)

I’m sure you are wondering how to make food green without food coloring. Well, not only is it actually super simple, but it is also delicious, so make sure you finish reading to find out, I promise, it’s worth it.

With our broccoli mac and cheese, you can add as much broccoli as you like, or even more of your other favorite green veggies. This recipe also calls for peas which I love because it give just another delightful texture to this macaroni and cheese dish.

Since St. Patty’s day is right around the corner, make sure you take a look at our copycat McDonald’s Shamrock shake recipe, rainbow jello cups, and our lucky cereal bars recipe for some fun recipe ideas!

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (3)

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe:

  • Elbow macaroni
  • Milk
  • Spinach
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Water
  • Grated white cheddar cheese
  • Broccoli florets
  • Peas
Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (4)

How To Make This Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe:

Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.

Then, cook the elbow pasta according to the directions on the back of the packaging for al dente.

Now, place the milk and the spinach in a blender and blend it together until it is nice and smooth.

Get out a large sauce pan and melt the butter in the pan.

Once the butter is melted, add in the flour and whisk it together for 2-3 minutes. Continue whisking it while bringing it to a boil.

After the butter roux begins to boil, reduce the heat to low for 3-4 minutes, and occassionally whisking it until it thickens up.

When the roux is thick, add ½ cup of water to the butter mixture as well as the cheese, and continue to whisk it together until the cheese is melted.

Now, stir in the cooked pasta, chopped broccoli, and peas.

After it is all mixed together, pour the mac and cheese into a 9×13 inch baking dish that has been generously sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Place the baking dish in the oven, uncovered for 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling.

Then just remove the dish from the oven, and serve!

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (5)

To Make Instant Pot Loaded Mac and Cheese You Will Need:

  1. Medium pan
  2. Large pan
  3. Colander
  4. Whisk
  5. 9×13 inch baking dish (like THIS one)

Macaroni Bar

Have you ever heard of a macaroni bar? Well if you haven’t, its like a table filled with cheesy pasta goodness and a ton of toppings to make your own macaroni flavor!

There are so many amazing things that you can pair with macaroni, its kinda crazy. The Cookful has an insane list of 40 topping for macaroni that will blow your mind.

Pick your favorite, or try them all and pair them with this delicious green mac and cheese recipe.

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Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (6)

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We are so excited to share these recipes with you. Order your copy today!

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Time to Get Mac and Cheesy! Who Doesn’t Love a Good Mac and Cheese Recipe? We Have Plenty You Need to Try!

  1. Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe
  2. Instant Pot Lobster Mac and Cheese
  3. Bacon Mac and Cheese
  4. Mexican Mac and Cheese
  5. Instant Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Our Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Desserts:

  • Pistachio Fruit Dip
  • Grasshopper Sandwich Cookies
  • Thin Mint Cookie Truffles
  • Thin Mint Poke Cake
  • Rainbow Fruit Kabobs with Fluffy Marshmallow Dip Recipe
  • Copycat McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Recipe

Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (7)

Serves: 8

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe

Make all things green this St. Patrick's day, including our green mac and cheese without food coloring!

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 3 Tablespoons butter
  • 3 Tablespoons flour
  • ½ cup water
  • 4 cups grated white cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
  • 1 cup peas

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  • Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente.

  • Place the milk and spinach in a blender and blend until smooth.

  • In a large saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in flour for 2-3 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk/spinach mixture and bring to a boil.

  • Reduce heat to low and whisk occasionally for 3-4 minutes until mixture starts to thicken.

  • Add 1/2 cup water and cheese and whisk until melted.

  • Stir in the pasta, broccoli and peas.

  • Transfer to a 9×13-inch baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling.

Notes

  • Make sure to generously spray your pan with cooking spray so the macaroni doesn’t stick.

Nutrition

Calories: 565 kcal · Carbohydrates: 54 g · Protein: 26 g · Fat: 27 g · Saturated Fat: 17 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 80 mg · Sodium: 443 mg · Potassium: 444 mg · Fiber: 3 g · Sugar: 8 g · Vitamin A: 1478 IU · Vitamin C: 29 mg · Calcium: 544 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Equipment

  • blender

  • Large Saucepan

  • 9×13-inch Baking Pan

  • Non-stick Cooking Spray

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (8)

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Join The Discussion

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  1. Emily says:

    Frozen peas and cold broccoli or cooked peas and steamed broccoli?

  2. Cyd says:

    We used frozen peas and fresh broccoli uncooked. We peas were slightly thawed. But with 20 minutes of baking time the veggies should cook through.

  3. kaylee says:

    Could you make this in advance or should it be prepped and cooked at the same time?

  4. Cyd says:

    You could make in advance and stick in the fridge until ready to cook. But it may take a little more time after having been chilled in the fridge.

  5. Sandy says:

    I’m planning on making this a day ahead...thoughts on wether to mix and chill the day before, then bake the day of serving or mix and bake the day before, then rewarm...Also, cook the spinach before blending with the milk or no?

  6. Cyd says:

    I would prepare the recipe and place in the fridge instead of baking. Then stick in the oven when ready to heat.

  7. Amanda says:

    Fresh spinach or frozen?

  8. DD says:

    Will it look bad if I use yellow cheddar instead of white cheddar?

  9. Elisha says:

    I also need to know if it will turn out if I use yellow cheddar. I don't have any white? Does anyone know? Thanks! Happy St. Patty's Day!

  10. Elisha says:

    Did you try it?! :)

  11. Mandi G says:

    I just made this using marble cheese. It’s still green. I did add a little bit extra spinach.

  12. Cyd says:

    It should work fine!

  13. Angie says:

    When do I add the milk spinach mixture?

  14. Kim says:

    Has anyone added chicken to this? If so, did you cook the chicken up, cube it and mix it in before you baked it? Thanks!

  15. Momma Cyd says:

    If you add chicken, cook it first. Stir in the chicken to the mixture before baking.

  16. Momma Cyd says:

    Scroll down to the recipe card and it's Step 4.

  17. Karen Cuevas says:

    Can I make this recipe a day ahead?

    Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (9)

  18. Momma Cyd says:

    You could make in advance and stick in the fridge until ready to cook, or cook through and then just reheat the next day.

Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (10)

About The Author:

Kendra Murdock

Kendra lives in Northern Utah with her husband, Matt, and her daughter, Blakely. She manages and markets all of our social media and loves to workout or relax with show and a treat in her spare time.

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Green Mac and Cheese without Food Coloring Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What gives mac and cheese color? ›

The company has sold more than 50 million boxes of the new mac & cheese so far. To keep its yellow-orange glow, Kraft swapped out artificial food colors, including yellow 5 and yellow 6, for natural spices like paprika, annatto and turmeric. The new mac & cheese also doesn't use artificial preservatives.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What can I add to homemade mac and cheese to give it more flavor? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

What mac and cheese is dye free? ›

The two Kraft flavors without artificial dye are Organic (which is hard to find at most grocery stores, hence the trip to Dierbergs) and White Cheddar. While I was in the pasta aisle I picked up a few other boxes and checked them out. Both the house brand and Betty Crocker's macaroni had Yellow #5 and #6.

Does Annie's mac and cheese have dyes? ›

Annie's uses all-natural colors that come from plants, like purple carrots, beets, and annatto – the seed of a tree that grows in South America. You'll never find anything synthetic in Annie's products.

What are the best 5 cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

1. It takes two cheeses to tango with mac. For really great macaroni and cheese, you need a cheese that melts well and a cheese that packs a punch. A few cheeses do both (that's a shout out to you, cheddar, emmentaler, and your other alpine-style, fondue favorites).

Why put mustard in mac and cheese? ›

Mustard Powder: The secret ingredient you should always add to your Mac and cheese. The acidity in the mustard helps cut through the fat. You can find it in the spice section of any major grocery store. Otherwise, swap it for 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of Dijon or yellow mustard to taste or omit it.

Why add sour cream to mac and cheese? ›

Whether making it from scratch or the box, sour cream is the secret ingredient to rich and creamy macaroni and cheese. This tart and tangy additive goes a long way regarding recipes, and just a dollop can transform any dish into a thick and creamy masterpiece.

Why does my homemade mac and cheese taste bland? ›

Try adding a little more salt first, because that might fix it. If the problem was the cheese you use doesn't have much flavor, then try adding some other flavors, such has mustard or hot sauce.

What kind of milk is best for mac and cheese? ›

Milk: Keeps our cheese sauce super creamy. I use whole milk or reduced-fat milk. Mustard and spices: A combination of Dijon mustard, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt makes this macaroni and cheese extra delicious. Cheese: I use white cheddar and parmesan or pecorino cheese.

What is the most flavorful cheese for mac and cheese? ›

For a mac and cheese recipe, consider the combination of sharper cheddar cheeses and a flavorful Parmesan. This cheese adds a boost of fruity, nutty notes to your favorite macaroni recipes. Parmesan is also ideal for grating on top of mac and cheese before you bake it to add golden color.

Does mac and cheese have food dye? ›

Kraft nixed the artificial dyes (yellow 5 and 6) and replaced them with paprika, annatto, and turmeric to maintain the product's signature, eerily-bright orange color; it has also removed artificial preservatives.

What gets out mac and cheese stains? ›

Rinse with cold water

Afterwards, simply mix cold water with a tablespoon of white vinegar on it and pour it onto the stained mac and cheese area and wait for 5 minutes. Removing mac and cheese stains does require patience so after 5 minutes, rinse the area again with cold water and dry it with a towel.

What gives cheddar cheese its colour? ›

Today, orange cheddar cheese is colored with annatto, the fruit of the achiote tree, while white cheddar is made without any added color. Here in Wisconsin, we asked and answered the "why is cheddar cheese orange?" question long ago.

Can you use food coloring in mac and cheese? ›

*If you are using store bought mac n' cheese, use a couple drops of the all-natural food coloring to make the pink color.

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