Skillet Mac and Cheese with Spinach & Bacon: The Ultimate One-Pan Weeknight Dinner

Prepare to fall in love with a dish that might just become your new monthly obsession! Considering the endless variations of mac and cheese I have waiting in the wings, this particular recipe deserves a special title. Let’s call this the official Skillet Mac and Cheese of the month – a delightful, comforting meal that’s as easy to make as it is to devour. Forget those flimsy boxed versions; we’re diving into a homemade experience that’s rich, creamy, and incredibly satisfying, all cooked in a single pan.

Embracing the Busy Life with Delicious, Home-Cooked Meals

Life can get hectic, and sometimes finding the time to prepare a wholesome, delicious meal feels like a monumental task. For me, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of manuscript deadlines and an astounding number of photos to edit. When your schedule is packed, and your kitchen doubles as your creative workspace, meals often become a reflection of whatever project is consuming your attention. This has meant a surprising amount of tea party leftovers gracing our dinner table – a novelty that, while charming, eventually gives way to cravings for something more substantial.

It’s during these busy periods that the appeal of convenience foods truly shines. My household recently made a strong case for something other than jam tarts – specifically, the nostalgic comfort of boxed mac and cheese. I almost gave in, understanding the allure of a quick fix. However, the challenge of creating a homemade, equally quick, and infinitely more delicious alternative was too tempting to resist. This is where the magic of skillet mac and cheese enters the scene, offering a perfect balance of speed, flavor, and minimal cleanup.

Why Skillet Mac and Cheese is Your New Weeknight Hero

This recipe transforms the humble mac and cheese into an extraordinary one-pan wonder. The beauty of cooking everything in a single skillet is twofold: it drastically cuts down on dishes, and it allows for incredible versatility. You start by sautéing your choice of add-ins – think crispy bacon, savory ham, succulent sausage, or even ground beef for a DIY Hamburger Helper vibe. Then, while these delicious components are cooking, you can easily boil your pasta right alongside or in the same pan, minimizing fuss.

But it’s not just about the meat! This method is a fantastic way to incorporate an array of vegetables. Imagine tender mushrooms, vibrant bell peppers, crisp zucchini, or hearty greens like kale, spinach, or Swiss chard, all wilted and flavorful within your mac and cheese. Once your chosen ingredients are perfectly cooked and the pasta is al dente, you simply introduce a super-easy cheese sauce. A quick stir to combine everything, and the skillet transitions from stovetop to oven, where it bakes to golden, bubbling perfection with a wonderfully crispy top. It’s truly an ingenious way to utilize those lingering bits of meat, cheese, and slightly wrinkly veggies, preventing waste and creating a wholesome meal.

The Secret Weapon: Creamy Stock for an Effortless Cheese Sauce

The real game-changer in this Skillet Mac and Cheese recipe is a carton of creamy stock. While I often enjoy the process of simmering homemade stock from scratch – turning every carcass into a rich, flavorful broth – there are many days when time simply doesn’t permit. This is where a high-quality creamy stock becomes an invaluable kitchen ally. Unlike traditional clear stocks, this creamy variety is thick and pre-seasoned, essentially a ready-made white sauce that pours directly from the carton into your pan.

The convenience is unparalleled. Instead of starting with a roux of butter and flour, then slowly whisking in milk, waiting for it to thicken, and finally adding cheese, the creamy stock streamlines the entire process. All you need to do is heat it gently and stir in a couple of generous handfuls of grated cheese. It’s a modern, sophisticated twist on the “tin of soup” shortcut often maligned in old cookbooks, but in reality, a practical solution many of us rely on for quick, comforting meals. This method delivers a wonderfully smooth, rich, and flavorful cheese sauce with minimal effort, allowing you to achieve a gourmet taste without the time commitment typically associated with homemade sauces.

Crafting the Perfect Crispy Topping

No baked mac and cheese is truly complete without that irresistible, golden-brown, crispy topping. This essential element takes mere moments to prepare and makes all the difference in texture and flavor. My go-to method involves tearing a piece or two of sandwich bread – particularly the often-discarded heels, giving them a delicious new purpose – into a food processor. A few quick pulses, combined with a drizzle of good quality olive oil and a handful of grated Parmesan cheese, transforms humble bread into a vibrant, flavorful crumb mixture.

Once your mac and cheese is assembled in the skillet, simply sprinkle this prepared topping generously over the surface. Baking the entire dish in a sturdy cast iron skillet, the very same one you used to sauté your meat and veggies, offers a dual advantage. Firstly, it keeps the dish count to an absolute minimum – a huge win on busy nights. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, a cast iron skillet excels at creating an expansive, perfectly crispy surface area. This ensures that every spoonful of your mac and cheese boasts that coveted contrast between creamy, cheesy pasta and a delightful, crunchy crust, elevating the dish from merely good to absolutely sublime.

Endless Possibilities: Customizing Your Skillet Mac and Cheese

What truly elevates this skillet mac and cheese is its incredible adaptability. The base recipe is fantastic, but it’s also a blank canvas for your culinary creativity. The original recipe, with its sautéed mushrooms and a pinch of smoked paprika, sounds divine. However, knowing that younger palates (and some adults!) might balk at mushrooms, and that not everyone keeps smoked paprika on hand, this method shines in its flexibility. Whatever you love, or whatever bits and pieces you have in your fridge that need using up, can be tossed in and cooked before the sauce is added.

Consider the possibilities! Transform it into a cheesy tuna casserole by adding canned tuna and frozen peas. Or, take an Italian-inspired route with leftover roasted chicken, chopped kale, and sun-dried tomatoes. For the ultimate crowd-pleaser, mimic W’s dream casserole with extra cheese and generous amounts of chopped ham. This skillet method isn’t just about making mac and cheese; it’s about making your mac and cheese, tailored to your tastes and whatever ingredients you have at hand. This versatility heralds the grand comeback of the humble, yet mighty, casserole, making it fresh, exciting, and effortlessly delicious once more.

Step-by-Step: Your Skillet Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ready to make this incredible Skillet Mac and Cheese? Here’s a simple guide to bringing this versatile dish to life.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

1 tbsp olive oil or butter
4-6 slices bacon, chopped (or 1 cup diced ham, cooked sausage, or ground beef)
2 cups small pasta (elbow macaroni, shells, ditalini), uncooked
1 (900ml/32 fl oz) carton creamy chicken or vegetable stock (like Campbell’s Creamy Stock)
1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped (or other veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, kale)
2 cups grated cheese (sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, or a blend)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the topping: 1-2 slices of sandwich bread, a drizzle of olive oil, a handful of grated Parmesan cheese

Easy Cooking Instructions:

Prepare your Add-Ins: In a large oven-safe skillet (preferably cast iron), heat olive oil or butter over medium-high heat. Add your chopped bacon and cook until crispy. If using ham, sausage, or ground beef, cook until browned and heated through. Remove the cooked meat with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
Sauté Veggies (Optional): If adding vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers, add them to the skillet and sauté until tender-crisp. If using spinach or kale, add it towards the end of this step and cook until just wilted. Remove and set aside with the meat.
Cook the Pasta: Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet. Pour in the creamy stock, ensuring the pasta is mostly submerged. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Make the Cheese Sauce: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in 1.5 cups of the grated cheese until melted and smooth, creating a luscious sauce. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Combine and Top: Fold in the cooked bacon (or other meat) and spinach (or other veggies) into the cheesy pasta mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Prepare the Topping: While the mac and cheese is simmering, tear bread into a food processor. Add a drizzle of olive oil and the grated Parmesan. Pulse until coarse crumbs form.
Bake to Perfection: Sprinkle the breadcrumb topping evenly over the mac and cheese in the skillet. If your skillet is oven-safe, transfer it directly to a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C). Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crispy, and the cheese sauce is bubbly.
Serve: Let the skillet mac and cheese rest for a few minutes before serving directly from the skillet. Enjoy your perfectly customized, one-pan meal!

Tips for Skillet Mac and Cheese Success

Cheese Selection: Don’t limit yourself to just cheddar. A blend of sharp cheddar for flavor, Gruyere for nuttiness, and Monterey Jack for meltiness can elevate your mac and cheese. Always grate your own cheese for the best melt!
Pasta Doneness: The pasta should be cooked al dente in the stock, as it will continue to cook slightly in the oven. This prevents it from becoming mushy.
Seasoning is Key: Taste your cheese sauce before adding the final mix-ins. Adjust salt, pepper, or even a pinch of garlic powder or onion powder to enhance the flavor.
Prevent Sticking: Stir the pasta frequently while it’s simmering in the stock to ensure even cooking and prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the skillet.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of milk or in the oven.

This post was generously sponsored by Campbell’s, but the opinions and images are my own. For more quick and easy meals kids will love, visit CookwithCampbells.ca.