Butternut squash is a delicious winter squash variety perfect for creating a creamy, comforting, and flavorful macaroni and cheese. Its naturally sweet flavor pairs well with hearty pasta, while the addition of fragrant sage adds a touch of earthiness and complexity. This dish is perfect for a cozy meal on a cold day or as a side dish for a special occasion. Whether you prefer a classic or a vegan version, there are many variations of butternut squash sage macaroni and cheese to suit your taste.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC AND CHEESE
This healthier Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese recipe is made with lots of good-for-you squash, it's easy to make in just 30 minutes, and it's SO cozy and creamy and delicious. See notes above for possible ingredient add-ins.
Provided by Ali
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of generously-salted water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, heat the butter in a separate large sauté pan until melted. Add the sage leaves (if using) and sauté for 1-2 minutes until crispy. Transfer the sage leaves to a separate plate and set aside.
- Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Then add in the butternut squash and vegetable stock and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the stock reaches a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and mashes easily with a fork.
- Transfer the squash mixture to a blender. Add in the milk and give the mixture a quick stir. Then very carefully (I recommend slightly opening the cap on the blender lid, so that excess steam can escape) pulse the mixture until smooth.
- Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water for later. Then drain the pasta.
- While the pasta is cooking, return the butternut squash mixture back to the sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add in the shredded cheddar cheese, and stir until it has melted into the sauce.
- Taste and season the sauce with salt and pepper as needed. (I used about 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.)
- Then once the pasta is drained, return it to the stockpot. Pour the butternut cheese sauce on top of the pasta, and toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add in some of the hot starchy pasta water to thin it out.
- Serve warm, garnished with the crispy sage leaves if desired.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC AND CHEESE
I received this recipe from a dear friend. This is a quick, great way to incorporate a fall vegetable into a comfort-food favorite. Sweet, creamy, and delicious.
Provided by bwayfreak3
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 1h20m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Place butternut squash, cut-side down, on a baking sheet.
- Roast squash in the preheated oven until soft, 40 to 50 minutes. Remove squash flesh from skin and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk flour and mustard into melted butter until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk milk into flour mixture until the mixture has the texture of heavy cream, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Stir butternut squash, white Cheddar cheese, and Cheddar cheese into milk mixture until cheese is melted. Stir rotini into cheese mixture. Pour cheese mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with bread crumbs.
- Bake in the preheated oven until bread crumbs are golden, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 414.3 calories, Carbohydrate 51.9 g, Cholesterol 45.7 mg, Fat 15.6 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 17.7 g, SaturatedFat 9.4 g, Sodium 307.2 mg, Sugar 6 g
BUTTERNUT SQUASH & SAGE MACARONI CHEESE
There's little more comforting than a homemade macaroni cheese. This version includes 1 of your 5-a-day, as well as a hint of sage.
Provided by Good Food team
Time 2h5m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss two-thirds of the butternut squash with the olive oil and seasoning, and roast for 20 mins until nearly tender (it will finish cooking later). Chop the remaining squash coarsely, put in a heatproof bowl with 100ml water and cover with cling film. Microwave on High for 8-10 mins until tender. Drain and mash.
- Fry the onion in a knob of butter until softened but not browned, about 5 mins. Stir in the chopped sage and cook for 1 min more, then add the remaining butter to melt. Stir in the flour and mustard powder, and cook for 1 min until it forms a paste. Gradually whisk in splashes of milk (you can add in bigger additions as you go) until you have a smooth sauce. Bubble, stirring constantly, for 3-5 mins until thickened. Take off the heat and whisk in the mashed squash, 200g of the cheddar and half the Parmesan. Season to taste.
- Cook the macaroni following pack instructions. Drain well, then stir into the sauce with the roasted squash. Tip into a baking dish and scatter with the remaining cheese and sage leaves. Can be made up to a day ahead at this point - cool and keep in the fridge. If freezing, don't add the whole sage leaves.
- Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 again. Splash the sage leaves with oil and bake for 40 mins until bubbling and golden on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 560 calories, Fat 27 grams fat, SaturatedFat 15 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 55 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 13 grams sugar, Fiber 3 grams fiber, Protein 23 grams protein, Sodium 1.1 milligram of sodium
BUTTERNUT MACARONI CHEESE
This comforting and creamy family pasta bake is given a makeover by adding roasted squash
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Toss the squash with the olive oil and some seasoning, and roast on a baking sheet for 15-20 mins until tender. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni following pack instructions, then drain.
- Melt the butter in a pan and stir in the flour and mustard powder to make a paste. Gradually whisk in the milk and simmer to thicken to a smooth sauce, stirring constantly.
- Take the sauce off the heat and mash in a third of the squash with the cheddar and half the Parmesan. Season, then stir in the drained macaroni with the remaining squash. Tip into an ovenproof dish, scatter with the remaining Parmesan and bake for 15 mins until golden and bubbling.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 828 calories, Fat 38 grams fat, SaturatedFat 22 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 94 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 19 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 35 grams protein, Sodium 1.49 milligram of sodium
FONTINA MAC WITH SQUASH AND SAGE
Provided by Laura Werlin
Categories Cheese Herb Pasta Low Cal Dinner Lunch Casserole/Gratin Parmesan Squash Butternut Squash Swiss Cheese Sage Fontina Simmer Boil Self Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield Serves 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375°. On a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, shape Parmesan into 8 2-inch rounds. Bake until golden, 10 minutes; remove from sheet to cool. Cook pasta as directed on package; set aside. In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 2 teaspoons butter. Cook whole sage leaves until crisp, 45 seconds. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving butter. In the same skillet over medium heat, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until light brown, 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and cook, 5 minutes. Add squash, garlic, reserved butter and salt. Cover; simmer until squash is very soft, 25 minutes. In a food processor, puree squash mixture. In a pot over medium-low heat, heat squash puree, Fontina, Swiss, chopped sage and cayenne; stir until cheese melts. Stir in pasta. Serve with Parmesan crisps and sage leaves.
MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH
Ricotta and pureed Butternut squash add extra creaminess to this new Macaroni and Cheese-a favorite comfort-food.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Seasonal Recipes Fall Recipes Butternut Squash Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine squash, stock, and milk in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mash contents of saucepan; stir in nutmeg, cayenne, and salt, and season with black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles; cook until al dente according to package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl; stir in squash mixture, cheddar, ricotta, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
- Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking dish (4 inches deep) with cooking spray. Transfer noodle mixture to dish. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and oil; sprinkle evenly over noodle mixture.
- Cover with foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking until lightly browned and crisp on top, 30 to 40 minutes more. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 350 g, Cholesterol 18 g, Fat 6 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 16 g, Sodium 505 g
CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC AND CHEESE
This is a delicious recipe for butternut squash mac and cheese that is husband and kid approved. Just beware of portion control; you'll want seconds and then some. Play around with the recipe, it's fairly forgiving.
Provided by Merritt
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Macaroni and Cheese Recipes Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
Time 30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- Place cooked squash in the bowl of a food processor; process until pureed. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in cooked pasta, milk, cottage cheese, Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, bouillon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, sea salt, and black pepper until completely blended and creamy. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 261.5 calories, Carbohydrate 44.1 g, Cholesterol 8.5 mg, Fat 4.1 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 11.3 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 121.3 mg, Sugar 2.6 g
Tips:
- For a creamier macaroni and cheese, use half-and-half or whole milk instead of water.
- To make the sauce even more flavorful, add a tablespoon of Dijon mustard or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- If you don't have any fresh sage, you can use a teaspoon of dried sage.
- To make the macaroni and cheese ahead of time, cook it according to the directions and then let it cool completely. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you're ready to serve, reheat it in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven until it's heated through.
- You can also freeze macaroni and cheese for up to 2 months. To freeze it, cook it according to the directions and then let it cool completely. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you're ready to serve, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven until it's heated through.
Conclusion:
Butternut squash sage macaroni and cheese is a delicious and comforting dish that's perfect for a fall or winter meal. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you like your macaroni and cheese creamy or cheesy, mild or spicy, there's a recipe out there that's perfect for you. So next time you're looking for a warm and satisfying meal, give butternut squash sage macaroni and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed.
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