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A white bowl contains the curly macaroni pasta cooked in the butternut sauce and a breadcrumb and cheese topping.

Butternut Mac and Cheese

Cassie Waltman
Butternut Mac and Cheese has a silky butternut squash pasta sauce, Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses, tender pasta, and a crisp breadcrumb topping.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 470 kcal

Equipment

  • 9" x 13" casserole dish

Ingredients
  

  • 20 oz. butternut squash (diced)
  • 1½ cups chicken stock (or vegetable broth)
  • 1½ cups 2% milk
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper (ground)
  • 3 tablespoon Greek yogurt
  • 8 oz Gruyère cheese
  • 2 oz Parmesan cheese
  • 1 pound pasta (short, sturdy shape, i.e. macaroni, cavatappi, rigatoni, etc.)
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoon salted butter

Instructions
 

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Peel the garlic cloves, trim the stem ends, and crush them using the broad side of your knife.
  • Combine the squash, broth, milk, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large Dutch oven or saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Watch it carefully so it doesn't boil over and then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook the squash mixture until the squash is very tender, about 15-17 minutes.
  • While the squash is cooking, shred the cheeses and toss them together. Remove about 1.5 ounces of the blended cheese (roughly ½ cup) and set this aside.
  • Once the squash is tender, remove the pot from the heat. Puree the mixture using an immersion blender or by transferring it in batches to a standard blender.
  • Add all but the reserved cheese to the squash mixture along with the Greek yogurt. Stir the sauce until the cheese are melted and the sauce is smooth. You can also add the cheese and yogurt to the blender and give it another mix to incorporate the cheeses.

Cook the Pasta, Assemble, and Bake

  • You can start the pasta at the same time the butternut squash pasta sauce is cooking to save time. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, using the package directions as a guide.
  • Grease a 9" x 13" casserole dish with butter or cooking spray.
  • Strain the pasta and set it aside. When the butternut cheese sauce is ready, add the drained pasta to the sauce and stir to coat the pasta evenly. Transfer the pasta to the prepared casserole dish.
  • Melt the butter in a medium microwaveable bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs and the 1.5 ounces of reserved cheese blend to the melted butter. Mix this together until it is well combined.
  • Top the pasta with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake the mac and cheese for 25-30 minutes, until it is bubbly and the top is golden brown. Allow the mac and cheese to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Make this a vegetarian dish by swapping the chicken stock with vegetable stock. Choose a Parmesan cheese made with vegetable rennet in place of a classic Parmesan, which is made with animal rennet.

Nutrition facts are sometimes provided below and are calculated using an online calculator. With specific brands of ingredients and additions, omissions, or substitutions the nutrition facts may change. We encourage you to use your own nutrition facts calculator to obtain the most accurate nutrition facts for your meal.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 58gProtein: 23gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 750mgPotassium: 535mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 7993IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 486mgIron: 2mg
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