Homemade Tortellini Mac and Cheese with a creamy sauce and topped with riced cauliflower.Â
Anytime you think about macaroni and cheese do those little blue boxes pop in your mind? It does for me! In fact, it brings me back to when I was living on my own for the first time, which btw, happened to be a whole mile or so from where my parents lived.
But hey, I was an adult in my early twenties paying my own rent, utilities, gas, and such. Whatever few bucks were left would go towards groceries.
Cooking wasn’t my thing back then. I ate whatever was cheap like tuna, Top Ramen and Kraft Mac and cheese (powdered cheese). Talk about convenience and yeah, did I mention CHEAP?!
I continued to add that blue box to my grocery list even after I earned a steady paycheck and could afford different options.
It was a staple in our pantry for a very long time, and when we started a family, our kid’s had too many meals to count with that type of mac and cheese! Sometimes Kraft would shape the pasta out of cute cartoon or movie characters depending on what happened to be popular at the time.
During those early child rearing years I started to cook more. Really cook! I would still use convenience foods (as I do now), but products like the pre-packaged powdered cheese was replaced with real cheese, milk, flour and butter.
Easy. Quick. Real Food!
This mac and cheese dish has a twist to it. Veggies are throughout the casserole. I used spinach and cheese tortellini and instead of topping the casserole with breadcrumbs, I riced some cauliflower and used it as the topping. Next time I think I’ll add the whole head of cauliflower. I loved the veggie topping!
Tortellini Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce pkg Tortellini (fresh, frozen or dried, I used fresh spinach and cheese)
CHEESE SAUCE
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
TOPPING
- 1/2 head cauliflower, riced
Instructions
Notes
You don't want the tortellini too soft, so if the directions give you a range of time, cook at the minimum. It will continue to cook in the oven.
Aunt Bee
I love using tortellini for quick meals! This looks SO fabulous Sandra! Love the addition of the cauliflower!
Maggie @ The Love Nerds
This sounds fab! I absolutely love making mac and cheese from scratch.
Sandra Shaffer
So easy to make isn’t it Maggie! I want to make your jalapeno mac ‘n cheese!
Debra
That sounds just delicious and I love the cauliflower substitute!
Sandra Shaffer
Thank you, Debra! I will add more cauliflower the next time I make this!
Healing Tomato
This is Comfort food heaven!!! All that cheese is making me swoon! 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
Thank you, Rini! You need gooey cheese in your life every so often 🙂
Heidy L. McCallum @ The McCallum's Shamrock Patch
Your Tortellini Mac and Cheese looks so creamy and delicious! I can not wait to try this recipe!! I am such a cheese fan, and this would go over so well with my son!!
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks, Heidy! I really like the cheese sauce in this mac and cheese. It’s so simple and tasty!
Michaela ~ An Affair from the Heart
Tortellini Mac and Cheese?!?! This literally should have my youngest daughter’s name attached to it!! She would grin from ear to ear to hear this was for dinner!! I will make this one soon!!
Sandra Shaffer
Awww, That’s sweet! Love to hear your little one would enjoy this twist to the traditional Mac and Cheese!
Nicole Neverman
I adore tortellini but I have never thought do do it as a mac and cheese! – another favorite! Your cheese sauce recipe is really great. Nice and simple and not over-complicated. I love the riced cauliflower topping. What a great touch 🙂
Sandra Shaffer
Thanks, Nicole! This recipe is great for mid-week meals that need to me made in under 30 minutes! So satisfying too 🙂
Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads
That is a great idea to use tortellini! Looks great!
Sandra Shaffer
Thank you, Sheena! I was hoping to take some to work for lunch, but it went too quick!
Jen
Looks so comforting and creamy – mmmmm! Love that you used spinach and cheese tortellini – my fav!
Sandra Shaffer
I can never get enough spinach! I love all things green, but it’s extra delicious in tortellini!
[email protected] Tastes Good
Loving the cauliflower addition! We were in a hotel room recently and my daughter had some of those individual mac and cheese microwave cups, so we tried one and oh my goodness I couldn’t eat it! It was horrible! Real mac and cheese is just too good and too easy!!
Sandra Shaffer
I’ve seen those microwave mac and cheese packs! haha! The cheese looks like plastic to me! It’s ok in desperate times, but I’m with you, the real deal is so easy to make!
Michele @ Flavor Mosaic
This looks like wonderful comfort food.
Sandra Shaffer
Simply delicious. Everyone in my family will eat this, that’s for sure!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
I love tortellini and cheese. It’s grownup mac and cheese at our house.
Sandra Shaffer
I love that reference, grownup mac and cheese!