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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

from kristineskitchenblog.com
This Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese is the best cozy fall comfort food. The butternut squash makes it extra creamy and a touch of fresh sage and nutmeg round out the flavors.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 419kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound butternut squash half of a small/medium squash
  • 16 ounces medium shell pasta or elbow macaroni pasta
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 5 fresh sage leaves chopped, optional*
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth divided, or substitute with milk
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
  • 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

First, cook the butternut squash by following one of the 3 methods below: oven, stove or Instant Pot.

    To Cook Butternut Squash in the Oven

    • Halved Squash: Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice a small amount off of the stem and base ends of the squash and then cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds. Place the squash halves, cut side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 35-45 minutes, until soft when pierced with a fork. Let cool slightly and then scoop the squash out of the skin.
      Cubed Squash: Bake 1-inch squash cubes at 400° on a parchment paper lined baking sheet for 30-35 minutes, tossing halfway through the cook time, until soft.

    To Steam Butternut Squash on the Stove

    • Put an inch or two of water in the bottom of a pot or saucepan. Add a steamer basket to the pot.
    • Bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add 1-inch squash cubes to the steamer basket and cover the pot. Reduce heat to medium high and cook for 7-9 minutes, until tender.

    To Cook Butternut Squash in the Instant Pot

    • Quartered Butternut Squash: Cut off the stem end of the squash. Cut the squash in half crosswise, at the point where the squash widens. Stand each squash half on its flat end, cut in half, and then scoop out the seeds. Put 1 cup water in the Instant Pot (1½ cups for 8 quart pot). Put the metal trivet in the pot and place the four squash pieces on the trivet. Pressure cook at high pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a 5 minute natural release. Quick release the remaining pressure. Let cool slightly and then scoop squash out of the skin.
      Cubed Squash: Put 1 cup of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot (1½ cups for 8 quart pot). Add a steamer basket to the pot. Put 1-inch squash cubes in the steamer basket. Cook at high pressure for 3 minutes. Quick release the pressure.

    To Make the Butternut Mac and Cheese

    • Place the squash in a blender or food processor and add ½ cup of the vegetable broth. Puree until very smooth. Set aside.
    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and return pasta to the empty pot.
    • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and chopped sage and cook for 1 minute, stirring.
    • Whisk in the flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
    • Whisk in the remaining ½ cup of broth and the milk. Cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 3 minutes.
    • Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese. Then stir in the pureed squash mixture.
    • Stir the butternut cheese sauce into the pasta.
    • If the mac and cheese is not hot enough (this may be the case if the squash was cooled), warm it over low heat on the stove, stirring often, until hot. Serve.

    Notes

    • Fresh herbs are best in this recipe. 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme can be substituted for the fresh sage, if desired.
    • Do not use store-bought pre-shredded cheese because it is often coated with an anti-caking agent that prevents it from melting smoothly.
    • The pureed butternut squash makes the mac and cheese very creamy, even with less cheese. If you want a lot of cheesy flavor, feel free to increase the amount of white cheddar cheese to 6 ounces. 
    • To make a bread crumb topping for this recipe: Stir together 3/4 cup breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon of melted butter. You can also stir in 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Put the macaroni and cheese in a casserole dish, sprinkle on the topping, and bake at 375° F for about 15 minutes, until the topping is golden brown.
    • Leftover mac and cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 458mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6555IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 281mg | Iron: 1mg
    Nutrition information is only an estimate.
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