5-Minute Kale Mac ‘n Cheese

What I love about this recipe is how little prep there is. While the mac and kale are boiling, you grate the cheese and cut up the butter. You can chop the kale up really fast, or young hands could even tear it. The genius of the recipe is that the kale and mac have the same cook time when combined.

Then, once the pasta and veggies are drained, you can use the same pot to create the roux of butter, flour, and milk, which creates a silky, milky base for the mac ’n cheese.

I’ve made this dish for literally hundreds of children, and they go wild for it every time. I hear regularly that this is the best mac ’n cheese they’ve ever tasted. My secret is using Kerrygold Irish Dubliner Cheddar. It’s got to be the best cheddar I’ve ever tasted.

The best part is, it’s SO much healthier than making it from a box. You get to control the ingredients, and the freshness of the ingredients speak for themselves. A perfect way to spruce up your Thanksgiving table, enjoy this simple, yet elegant dish with guests or as a simple one-pot family meal.

Take our Happy Healthy Yogi Kid Quiz to learn more about healthy living and eating according to Bliss Belly Kitchen.

Kale Mac ’n Cheese

INGREDIENTS

• 16 oz dry macaroni

• 2 cups (16 oz) grated Kerrygold Irish Dubliner cheddar cheese

• 2 T flour

• 1/2 stick of butter

• 1 c milk

• ½ tsp Salt

• 1 bunch kale

PREPARATION

1. Chop up the kale into thin strips.

2. Cover the macaroni and kale with 2 inches of water and add a pinch of salt.

3. Boil macaroni and kale for 10 minutes. 

4. Drain the macaroni and kale and rinse. Put it to the side.

5. Melt the butter and mix in the flour until it’s brown and puffy. 

6. Add the milk. Stir until it thickens and becomes bubbly.

7. Add the cheese and stir it until well combined. 

8. Add the macaroni and kale.

9. Mix it all up until it’s well combined.

10. Let it simmer on low for 5 minutes and serve!

The best way to support your child is to learn more about their personality according to Ayurveda. Take our Happy Healthy Yogi Kid Quiz to learn more about healthy living and healthy eating. At Bliss Belly Kitchen, I have a unique approach, called the Yoga of Cooking. You'll gain knowledge about the mechanics of your child’s body's natural clock, what to eat at what time, and the most effective and efficient way to cook healthy, delicious, and nutritious meals.