Pasta and Noodle Pasta by Shape Macaroni Macaroni & Cheese Mac & Cheese with Collards 5.0 (6) 6 Reviews Dark leafy collards add bold flavor and boost the calcium in this healthy skillet mac and cheese recipe with a crispy topping. If you don't have collards, kale, Swiss chard and spinach are delicious substitutes. By Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD See More Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H, RD, is a Chinese and Jewish chef and dietitian who has worked in all facets of the food world. She is a recipe developer, culinary nutritionist and marketing specialist with more than 15 years of experience creating editorial and digital content for top food and kitchen brands. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 17, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H, RD, is a Chinese and Jewish chef and dietitian who has worked in all facets of the food world. She is a recipe developer, culinary nutritionist and marketing specialist with more than 15 years of experience creating editorial and digital content for top food and kitchen brands. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Cook Time: 30 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 4 Yield: 4 servings Nutrition Profile: High-Calcium Bone Health Healthy Pregnancy Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity High-Fiber Vegetarian Jump to Nutrition Facts Cheddar and cream cheeses create a creamy, rich sauce for this pasta dish.Whole-wheat elbow noodles contribute to a fiber-rich meal for sustained energy.Panko breadcrumbs add a crispy topping for a satisfying texture contrast. Keep Screen Awake Ingredients 1/2x 1x 2x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. This recipe was developed and tested at its original yield and has not been tested at other yields. Note that only the ingredient list is scaled, so you may need to make adjustments to ingredient amounts, cooking times and equipment sizes in the recipe steps. Scaling could also impact the nutrition analysis. Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings 8 ounces whole-wheat elbow noodles (about 2 cups) 4 cups chopped collard greens 1 ¾ cups low-fat milk, divided 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground pepper 1 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese 2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs, preferably whole-wheat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon paprika Directions Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and collards and cook according to the pasta package directions. Drain. Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a large broiler-safe skillet over medium-high heat until just simmering. Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup milk, flour, salt and pepper in a small bowl until combined. Add the flour mixture to the simmering milk; reduce heat to medium-low and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in Cheddar, cream cheese and vinegar until the cheese is melted. Stir the pasta and collards into the sauce. Position rack in upper third of oven; preheat broiler to high. Combine breadcrumbs, oil and paprika in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the pasta. Broil until golden brown, 1 to 3 minutes. Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2015 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 470 Calories 19g Fat 58g Carbs 22g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Serving Size about 1 2/3 cups Calories 470 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 58g 21% Dietary Fiber 7g 24% Total Sugars 7g Protein 22g 45% Total Fat 19g 24% Saturated Fat 9g 43% Cholesterol 45mg 15% Vitamin A 2563IU 51% Vitamin C 13mg 14% Folate 86mcg 22% Sodium 584mg 25% Calcium 450mg 35% Iron 2mg 13% Magnesium 79mg 19% Potassium 363mg 8% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.