Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

5 from 1 vote

Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese with a hint of sage, a healthier twist on the classic dish, but as creamy and comforting. The cheddar cheese and parmesan bring a lovely sharpness, and the butternut squash add a touch of colour and extra goodness. It's so good, no one will ever guess it's not the regular mac and cheese! Particularly good for toddlers and fussy eaters, and perfect family dinner all year around, and especially for Thanksgiving.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 463kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

1 small butternut squash
2 cups macaroni
1 ¼ cup stock/broth or water
2 fresh sage leaves (or a teaspoon of dried sage)
1 tablespoon butter
⅓ cup double cream (heavy cream)
⅔ cups grated cheddar cheese
2 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

To make the butternut squash sauce, peel and dice the butternut squash.
Melt the butter in a pan set over a medium heat, add the chopped sage, diced butternut squash and stock, and leave to cook with a lid on until the butternut squash is tender.
When the squash is tender, add the cream, then blend everything to a smooth consistency - either by using a hand blender or a food processor (if you like a thicker sauce you can drain some of the liquid left in the pan before adding the cream).
Return the sauce to the heat, add the cheeses and sir for 20-30 seconds to get a smooth sauce.
Cook the macaroni according to the packet instructions, drain and pour the sauce over.
Mix well so the sauce can coat the pasta.
Serve hot!

Notes

This delicious butternut squash mac and cheese is made on the stove top only, but if you wish to bake it as well for a nice crust, you can simply transfer everything to an oven-proof dish, top with more grated cheddar cheese, and pop it in the oven for 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit).
You can also leave some cooked butternut squash chunks into the dish, rather than blending everything - that will give the dish a nice chunky texture - a delicious dish for kids and grown-ups alike.

Nutrition