Fall is my favorite season.
What’s not to love? The colorful foliage! Football! Pumpkin picking! The food!
There’s nothing quite like digging into a heaping bowl of comfort food after a romp in the crisp, cool air of Autumn.
My Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese Recipe is sure to fill you up and get you right into the Fall spirit.
I like to sneak in vegetables whenever I can, and the butternut squash is definitely a tasty addition to this classic dish. Even though I can be quite the health nut when it comes to serving food for my family, I see no harm indulging every once in awhile.
Everything in moderation is my motto.
Be sure to check out my food page for more recipes!
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/4 whole wheat flour *you can use all purpose if you'd prefer
- 2.5 C whole milk
- 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp. Dijon Mustard
- 6 oz. fontina cheese, shredded
- 6 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 box of pasta *I used small shells
- 1 butternut squash, diced
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp freshly chopped sage
- salt and pepper, to taste
- olive oil
- *For topping:
- 3/4 C panko crumbs
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp granny smith apple, minced
- *You can also add some shredded gouda to the top if you'd like
Instructions
- Toss diced butternut squash with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and spread onto a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes on 400 degrees.
- While butternut squash is baking, cook pasta until just undercooked.
- Turn oven down to 350 degrees.
- Heat milk in a sauce pan on medium-high heat until bubbles start to form.
- Meanwhile, melt butter into a large skillet. Whisk flour into butter until smooth. Add nutmeg and sage.
- Slowly add hot milk into butter/flour/nutmeg mixture. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low and slowly whisk sauce until thick and creamy.
- Take sauce off heat and add cheese. Mix until smooth.
- Then, add butternut squash and pasta.
- Pour mac and cheese into a grease pan.
- For topping, melt butter into panko crumbs and granny smith apple and pour on top.
- Bake mac and cheese for about 25 minutes.
Food 4 Fall & Kitchen Aid Mixer Giveaway!
My foodie friend Colleen, from Souffle Bombay gathered a group of us together for a fun post about the flavors of Fall PLUS hold on to your hats!! We are giving away a GORGEOUS Kitchen Aid 5QT Professional Stand Mixer!
Who’s feelin’ lucky? Get ready for some serious deliciousness coming your way!
Things like DIY Maple & Apple Breakfast Sausage, a colorful Layered Potato Gratin, hearty Black Bean & Pumpkin Soup, delicious Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, super-fun & seasonal Apple Cider Jello Shots , Mini Cheesecakes with Mini Caramel Apple Pops and so much more!
Join us for #Food4Fall and who knows YOU may be the proud new owner of an apple-red Kitchen Aid! Good Luck!
Don’t forget to check out all the other amazing Fall Food Recipes!
Breakfast
Maple & Apple Pork Breakfast Sausage Patties from Courtney’s Sweets
Roasted Pumpkin, Gruyère and Spinach Quiche from Afropolitan Mom
Soups
Black Bean & Pumpkin Soup from Giggles Gobbles & Gulps
Farm Fresh Broccoli & Cheese Soup from How Does Your Garden Grow
Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup from O’ Boy Organic
Squash Soup in Pumpkin Bowls from A Day In Our Shoes
Roasted Root Vegetable & Apple Soup from Momma Lew
Entrees
Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese from The Good Mama
Vegan Portobello Pizzas from Busy Bee Kate
Sides
Layered Potato Gratin from Girl Gone Mom
Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Vegetables & Bacon from The Vintage Mom
Desserts
Cinnamon Swirl Cake from A Grande Life
Mini Cheesecakes with Mini Caramel Apple Pops from Souffle Bombay
Gluten Free Sweet Potato Pie from Mom Blog
Cocktails
Caramel Haze Martini from The Fabulous Fairy
Apple Cider Gelatin Shots from Can’t Google Everything
Salted Caramel Appletini from How I Pinch A Penny
I am a chilli and Jiffy cornbread girl, through and through. By far, my favorite tastes of fall. I can definitely see the butternut squash Mac and cheese being a hit in our house too!! Yum!
Bekah- Thanks for your comment. I love chili and cornbread too! Now you have put me in the mood.
I have to try this. My hubby loves mac n cheese, but squash not so much. Maybe I can convert him 🙂
Jen @ The Halfway Homemaker recently posted…Day 16 – Have Go-To Meals Planned | 31 Day Stress Reduction Challenge
Jen- This is a great way to sneak in some butternut squash. I don’t think my husband is a huge fan of it either, but he did like it in the mac and cheese. Thank you for stopping by!
I love when it’s cold enough for cider and hot chocolate!
Nicci recently posted…Guest Post – A Homebirth Story
Nicci- Oh yeah, yum! Thank you for your comment!
This looks delicious. I love the idea of apples in the topping! Great give away and some of those other recipes look excellent, esp the soups for fall. Salted caramel apple think? Yes, please!!
MaryKay- Thank you! Yes, there are a lot of yummy recipes that I’m excited to try out.
My favorite fall food is pumpkin. Yes- all of it! Anything pumpkin flavored = fall!
Carly from The Puzzled Palate recently posted…3 Money Saving Tips for Eating Gluten Free
Carly- Yes, I am a huge fan of pumpkin too. I bet a pumpkin mac and cheese would be delicious as well. Thank you for stopping by!
My son is really hit or miss lately with food, but he absolutely loves pasta. If I make a whole grain pasta with vegetables and cheese he loves it. I’m totally pumped to try this recipe, per usual! And I totally love that you are shredding your own cheese (I’m only assuming). We do that as well. I’m also really excited to see you doing a giveaway. What an awesome way to grow your amazing blog. I have yet to do a giveaway, so maybe something in the future. Hope all is well!
Lauren
Lauren Tamm recently posted…Feeling the Intense Pressure of Parenting (and How to Fix It!)
Lauren- It’s funny, my son will eat most things, but he is not the biggest fan of pasta. He did, however, gobble up this mac and cheese dish. Thank you so much for the lovely comment!
I love mac & cheese, but have never had it with squash before. It sounds divine.
Robin- Thank you! I felt it made it “healthier.” Thanks for your comment.
looks very tasty, even for someone not into squash, I think the mac and cheese spoke to me though 🙂 thanx for sharing.
CHRISTY KARCH recently posted…**The Amazing Zhus** #HolidayGiftGuide 2014 #TheAmazingZhus
CHRISTY- Yes, mac and cheese it always a good way to sneak in some veggies that you might not otherwise be into. Thanks for your comment!
Looks really delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Juliana RW recently posted…Cute Puppy
Juliana- Thank you for stopping by and commenting!
Beautiful site and what a wonderful recipe!!! We love butternut squash along with pasta and this looks fantastic!!!
Angela recently posted…Arroz Con Pollo {Chicken & Rice}
Angela- Thank you so much! I love butternut squash in anything.
This sounds really yummy! I wonder if my kids would eat it and not realize there’s a vegetable hiding inside? Can’t wait to try it! 🙂
Nicole recently posted…Era Organics
Nicole- I love hiding vegetables inside other foods. It’s a great way to have kids eat more veggies (and adults too). Thanks for stopping by!
i would have never thought to put them together..but it sounds pretty good..
Kungphoo- Thanks for stopping by and your comment!
My daughter loves mac and cheese, she wants it for every meal. This sound like a great way to get a veggie in, I’m going to try it.
Katrina recently posted…Walmart Suave Hub and Fall Beauty Tips
Katrina- Yes, you could also add in whatever vegetables you would like your daughter to eat depending on the season. I’m sure spinach or zucchini or other types of squash would taste good in here. Also, bacon would probably taste good- not as healthy though! Thanks for your comment.
I would never have thought of using butternut squash in mac and cheese. What a great way to sneak in a healthy ingredient for the kids :).
Theresa- Yes, I like to add veggies into my meals whenever I can. Mac & cheese is a great dish to sneak in veggies! Thanks for your comment!
I definitely love this twist on macaroni and cheese, especially since I love butternut squash.
Liz Mays recently posted…Kick Off The Season with the Krusteaz Flatbread Instant Win Game
Liz Mays- Yes, I love butternut squash too! Thanks for your comment and stopping by!
Butternut squash is one of my faves! I like that you’ve used it in the mac & cheese, I think the recipe sounds great. My favorite Fall food is pumpkin pie. 😉
Rosey- Thanks so much for your comment. I love pumpkin pie too! I always eat some on Thanksgiving. Thanks for stopping by!
Mmmmmm this looks soooooooooooooo good. Butternut squash is one of my favorites!
Jaime Nicole recently posted…Momofuku Ginger Scallion Sauce Recipe + James Spader
Jaime Nicole- I love butternut squash too! It’s such a great Fall food. Thanks for your comment and for stopping by!
Oh yummy! I love butternut squash, however I think acorn squash may beat it just a hair 🙂 Now, I want some acorn squash! I wonder if I can find any good squash here in SC, IL always had awesome squash & corn 🙂
XOXO
Mrs. AOK- Yum, acorn squash is tasty too. I love the look of it too! I may have to try this dish out with some acorn squash instead. I’m up in PA, so I’m not sure how the squash is down there. Thanks for your comment and stopping by.
Omgosh this sounds so delish! Saving it for later!
Elizabeth Obih-Frank recently posted…Haiku: To The Contingent…
Elizabeth- Thanks for your comment and for stopping by!
I’m all over anything mac & cheese, and to combine it with butternut squash? Absolutely delicious.
Kori recently posted…Yankee Candle Giveaway
Kori- Thanks! I love mac and cheese too. I like to add all kinds of veggies with it, so it makes me feel better about all the cheese I consume! haha
This is a very interesting way to incorporate a lot of different ingredients – I’m very curious as to how this tastes. YUM!
Yona Williams recently posted…I Madeâ¦Garlic Feta Tomato Alfredo Pizza with Ragu Light Parmesan Alfredo Sauce
Yona- I like mixing it up! Thanks for stopping by and your comment.
Looks delicious!! Perfect mac and cheese for fall! I try to add veggies to lots of different things too, just to get in an extra serving. My kids love vegetables though…I am lucky! Thanks for sharing it with us at Foodie Fridays! Excited to enter your giveaway too!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…Lemony Kale Quinoa Salad
Michelle- I am the same way. I love to add veggies into dishes so we make sure to get enough. So far my son loves most veggies. Hopefully he stays that way! You are lucky! Thanks for the comment and stopping by.
This looks AMAZING! I want some now! My hubby had butternut squash mashed potatoes this weekend…I may need to find that recipe!
Kristen recently posted…Easy Fall Decorations
Kristen- Butternut squash mash potatoes? I would LOVE that recipe! Yum! Thanks for your comment!
Hmmm, I love butternut squash and mac and cheese. I bet your recipe is super good. Thanks for the recipe. I can’t wait to give it a try soon.
Deanna Ritz recently posted…Pretty Pintastic Party
Deanna- Thank you! I hope you like it. Thanks for stopping by!
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to add it to our menu plan!
Lauryn recently posted…Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Vegetables and Bacon {Side Dish Recipe}
Lauryn- Thanks! I hope you like it.
i SERIOUSLY NEED TO TRY THIS – NEVER HAD A MAC & CHEESE THIS WAY, SOUNDS SO GOOD!
Colleen- Thank you! I hope you like it.
I am not a fan of butternut squash per say…but you make it look GOOOOOOOOOOD! I do love mac n cheese though so I may have to give this a try 🙂 Thanks for coming by to #foodiefridays! Hope to see you again this week!
mila furman recently posted…31 Days to Clean Eating…Avocado and Feta Salad
Mila- Mac and cheese can make any veggie taste good I think! haha Thanks for hosting and stopping by!
Oh what fun fall way to eat a classic and make it healthier!
Reesa- I wouldn’t call it the “healthiest” dish with all that cheese, but it is healthier with the added butternut squash! Thanks for your comment!