Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

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By Shawn Williams

5 from 1 vote

Nov 16, 2021, Updated Mar 14, 2024

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe (2)

Butternut squash mac and cheese is perfect for fall and the holiday season. Patty’s family made it as a Thanksgiving side a few years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since. While butternut squash mac and cheese is technically healthier than regular mac and cheese, it’s not my motivation for sharing this recipe.

This mac and cheese recipe has an undeniable rich texture with softer and more subtle flavors. It works so well as a holiday side because the butternut squash really compliments the traditional ‘holiday’ flavors on the rest of your plate. It’s creamy and smooth and pairs nicely with sharp cheddar cheese to bring it all together.

I make my butternut squash mac and cheese with fresh rosemary and fresh thyme for some more savory fall-inspired flavors. The top is finished (baked or broiled) in the oven with buttered panko crumbs and shredded parmesan cheese. Do not skip this step!

Elevate your mac and cheese with lobster – perfect for date night. If you love pasta, but not quite as heavy on the cheese, American chop suey is the perfect family meal. You can also make cornbread in a skillet – what a versatile kitchen tool to have!

Table of Contents

  • No Roux Required
  • Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese?
  • Canned Versus Fresh Butternut Squash
  • More Recipes You’ll Love
  • Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe

No Roux Required

Most mac and cheese recipes require a roux (flour, butter, and milk), to serve as a thickening agent for the cheesy sauce. The base of this recipe is made up of blended (pureed) butternut squash, milk, and butter. It becomes the perfect creamy vehicle for melting cheese and also saves a few steps. My only tip is to season the sauce with plenty of salt and pepper to really bring out the butternut squash flavor.

Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese?

For regular mac and cheese, I typically like to use a blend of sharp and mild Cheddar cheeses, plus a more mild Fontina. Butternut squash is very mild, therefore I recommend you blend with sharper cheddar cheeses to help balance everything out and retain some cheese character. Mozzarella and fontina are both great choices for more mild creamy cheeses.

Canned Versus Fresh Butternut Squash

I usually opt for fresh butternut squash when I make this recipe. It’s very easy to prepare and you can use the same water to boil your pasta. If you use fresh butternut squash, look for one that is just over a pound. You can also buy pre-cut butternut squash to save some time and prep. The only extra equipment you need to account for is a blender.

A 15-ounce can of pureed butternut squash replaces the FRESH butternut squash in this recipe. Follow the recipe as written, but mix and heat the butternut squash, butter, pre-minced spices and herbs, and milk in the skillet and stir until smooth, warm, and creamy before adding the cheese. You can also choose to blend everything together as well.

P.S. A special thanks to Stargazer for sending me their ultra-smooth cast iron skillet. I’m a huge fan so far and highly recommend it.

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe (9)
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5 from 1 vote

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 20 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe (10)

Creamy butternut squash mac and cheese made with sharp cheddar cheese. Topped with buttered panko and parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound mezzi rigatoni, small shells, or elbows
  • 1 pound fresh butternut squash, cubed (see note on canned)
  • 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese, I like Cabot Seriously Sharp
  • 3/4 cup panko crumbs
  • 1/2-1 cup whole or 2% milk, use more if needed
  • 1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed
  • 1 sprig, fresh rosemary, leaves removed
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.

  • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add butternut squash and cook until easily pierceable with a fork with no resistance. About 10 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, combine, panko, 2 tablespoons melted butter, thyme, and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Stir to mix and set aside.

  • Remove butternut squash with a slotted spoon and place in a blender. Add pasta to the same boiling water and cook al dente. Strain and set aside.

  • Add rosemary, milk, garlic, and 2 tablespoons melted butter to the blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. The consistency should be easily pourable and very creamy. If it’s too thick, add more milk as needed. See note below on consistency.

  • Pour butternut squash into an oven-safe skillet or pan over medium heat. Season all over with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the cheese and stir until fully melted and creamy.

  • Add rigatoni and stir until fully incorporated. Top with panko mixture and bake for 10 minutes. For an extra golden crust, finish with a 1-2 minute broil. Top with additional thyme if desired.

Notes

A 15-ounce can of pureed butternut squash replaces the FRESH butternut squash in this recipe. Follow the recipe as written, but mix and heat the butternut squash, butter, garlic, finely chopped rosemary, and milk in the skillet and stir until smooth, warm, and creamy before adding the cheese.

A note on texture: If you prefer a creamier or thinner sauce, add more milk until you reach your desired consistency. This renders a creamy yet dense sauce that I personally prefer. It sticks to the noodles and isn’t necessarily runny.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6Calories: 576kcalCarbohydrates: 68.3gProtein: 23.7gFat: 24.2gSaturated Fat: 14.4gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 491mgFiber: 4.3gSugar: 4.3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @kitchenswagger or tag #kitchenswagger!

About Shawn Williams

My name is Shawn, author behind Kitchen Swagger. I'm a food & drink enthusiast bringing you my own simple and delicious restaurant-inspired recipes.

Read More About Me

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best mac and cheese? ›

Preparation
  1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the pasta and milk. ...
  2. Once the pasta is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and add the butter, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. ...
  3. Divide between serving bowls and top with the bread crumbs.
  4. Enjoy!
  5. All your favorite recipes, stored in one place.
May 4, 2023

What does butternut mac and cheese taste like? ›

The squash makes it insanely creamy (even creamier than classic mac!) and adds a subtle sweetness to the rich, cheesy flavor. Bonus: it sneaks in some extra nutrients too! This butternut squash mac and cheese has been a huge hit in our house. It's comforting, delicious, and—thanks to the squash—just perfect for fall.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

In a large bowl mix the cubed squash, garlic cloves and ginger with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mix. Season with salt and pepper and scatter in a single layer in a roasting tray. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes until tender all the way through.

Do you peel butternut squash before using it? ›

Can You Eat Butternut Squash Skin? It's important to note that while many people choose to remove butternut squash skin (and this is best practice for soup making, where you want smooth results), you can 100% eat roasted butternut squash skin. Slice butternut squash into crescents and roast it with the skin on.

What are the 3 best cheeses for mac and cheese? ›

What Is the Best Cheese for Mac and Cheese? Sharp cheddar is the overwhelming popular choice, but for extra-creamy results, we think medium cheddar is even better. Other delicious options include Gruyère, smoked Gouda, and Monterey Jack.

Is Trader Joe's butternut mac and cheese good? ›

The sauce is very thick and cheesy, and the sweet flavor of butternut squash is particularly pronounced and made even more autumnal-tasting with the addition of thyme, sage, and nutmeg. Made with mezzi rigatoni, a smaller and shorter version of classic rigatoni, the pasta-to-sauce ratio is just right.

What is the most flavorful cheese for mac and cheese? ›

Gouda - aged gouda can spike your mac and cheese with deeper, pungent flavors, while a smoked Gouda has a meatiness that never disappoints. Blue cheese can add real zing to any mac and cheese. Feta features a tart and salty Mediterranean taste.

What is the best tasting butternut squash? ›

Butternut cultivars are pretty consistent when it comes to flavor. All have richly sweet, nutty flesh favored for all kinds of fall and winter cookery. The compact variety C. moschata 'Butterbush' (75 days) is short-vined and bears small butternut squash that are dark orange, dense and very sweet on the inside.

How to cook butternut squash Martha Stewart? ›

Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown. Add squash; saute, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and tender when pierced with a fork, about 16 minutes. Add chicken broth, the water, and brown sugar; cook until liquid has evaporated and squash is nicely caramelized, about 6 minutes.

How to cook butternut squash Paula Deen? ›

directions
  1. In a medium saucepan combine squash, onions, carrots,broth, and salt. Simmer, uncovered, until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
  2. Puree soup in a blender or food processor with the butter. Whisk cream into soup. Serve in wide, shallow bowls with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

What are 3 ways you can eat butternut squash? ›

7 ways to cook with butternut squash
  • Butternut squash soup. ...
  • Spicy squash and spinach soup. ...
  • Roasted butternut squash. ...
  • Butternut squash laksa. ...
  • Moroccan-spiced tomato sauce with roast vegetables and chickpeas. ...
  • Beef and butternut squash moussaka. ...
  • Chilled toffee apple creams.

Can dogs have butternut squash? ›

Generally, butternut squash is safe to feed to most pooches, unless your vet has advised otherwise. As a guide, we would recommend feeding small dogs no more than 1 or 2 teaspoons of butternut squash, whilst bigger dogs can eat up to 3 or 4 tablespoons of butternut squash.

Can dogs eat raw butternut squash? ›

Eating raw butternut squash could cause stomach problems/pains, and may cause your dog to vomit or have diarrhoea. Cooking it is best way to feed your dog butternut squash as it's tastier and easier for them to chew and digest.

Can you eat butternut squash raw? ›

Skip eating most hard-skinned squash raw. "Hard skinned squash is difficult to eat raw," Marz says. "They are usually much larger in size, have a harder flesh, and are much more fibrous." Examples of hard-skinned squash that should not be eaten raw include: pumpkins, delicate, butternut, Hubbard, and acorn.

What are the ingredients in Gordon Food Service mac and cheese? ›

COOKED ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT (WATER, SEMOLINA [MILLED WHEAT, NIACIN, FERROUS SULFATE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID]), WATER, CHEDDAR CLUB CHEESE (CHEDDAR CHEESE [CULTURED PASTEURIZED MILK, SALT, ENZYMES], WATER, SALT, ANNATTO [COLOR]), CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES ...

Does Gordon Ramsay have a mac and cheese recipe? ›

Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese is a simplified recipe. Just boil pasta in milk and then, add butter, cheese, salt, and pepper to it. Merge all the elements and Gordon Ramsay's mac and cheese will be ready in no time.

What is the most perfect cheese to use on Mac & cheese? ›

Gruyere is a classic addition because it melts much like Cheddar, but has a lovely nutty flavor. Other classics include Gouda, Muenster, Parmesan, fontina, Havarti and Monterey Jack. Brie works well too, just make sure you remove the rind before mixing it in.

What makes mac and cheese taste so good? ›

Great mac n' cheese needs one or more cheeses that melt well, and one or more cheeses that bring the flavor. The best melters include monterey jack, fontina, baby swiss, asiago, provolone, mozzarella, and alpine-style. Cheeses for flavor: cheddar, havarti, smoked gouda, gorgonzola, feta and any other of your favorites.

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