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    Home » Pasta » Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

    Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

    Published: Sep 22, 2021 Modified: Sep 22, 2021 by GG

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    macaroni and cheese with butternut squash and text overlay

    Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese combines the flavors of a homemade cheese sauce with pasta and morsels of tender butternut squash for a delicious mac and cheese that’s ready for cooler weather and brimming with fall flavor.

    Butternut Squash Mac 'and Cheese with scoop out

    Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

    There’s no denying that there’s nothing quite like the comfort of a bowl of macaroni and cheese.

    Enter fall, butternut squash and our mac and cheese casserole.

    We dressed up our mac and cheese recipe with the fall flavor of butternut squash and comfort never tasted so good!

    This recipe is so versatile that you can get daring and switch out the butternut squash for sweet potato, acorn squash or even fresh pumpkin! 

    Panko breadcrumbs combine with Fontina cheese for a delicious crunchy topping.

    I used cavatappi pasta because it has lots of nooks and crannies to catch our delicious cheese sauce made with mozzarella and Fontina cheeses. Double cheese means double the flavor and cheesiness!

    Shell pasta and elbow pasta will both catch the sauce too! But feel free to make this recipe with the pasta that’s your personal favorite.

    Chunks of tender flavorful butternut squash are scattered throughout our baked macaroni and cheese. Your taste buds will be so happy!

    I make commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

    Prefer a creamy butternut squash cheese sauce? I understand because that will taste amazing and is so easy to make too.

    So get out your immersion blender and puree the butternut squash mixture after cooking it in your skillet. Then stir the pureed butternut squash into the cheese sauce. Voila!

    Our butternut mac and cheese is so delicious that you might even get your kids to eat their veggies tonight! You know they’ll say your vegetarian mac and cheese is fabulously delicious!

    Be sure to check out the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's kitchen recommendations!

    How to make veggie mac and cheese

    Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below

    1. Preheat oven to 375F. Coat a 6-cup baking dish with cooking spray.
    2. In large non-stick skillet melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook butternut squash, onion, marjoram, kosher salt and pepper until mixture is just tender, stirring occasionally.
    3. Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente according to package directions; drain.
    4. Combine vegetable mixture and pasta in prepared baking dish.
    5. Reserve 1 cup Fontina cheese.
    6. In the same large non-stick skillet heat evaporated milk until hot. Stir in mozzarella and remaining Fontina cheese. Reduce heat to medium; stir constantly until cheeses are melted and mixture is smooth, about 3 minutes. Pour over pasta mixture in baking dish and toss until evenly coated.
    7. Bake, covered, 30 minutes. 
    8. Combine Panko and reserved 1 cup Fontina cheese. Sprinkle over pasta.
    9. Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, breadcrumbs are golden and mixture is hot and bubbly, about 15 minutes.
    macaaroni and cheese in ramekins

    Bake your macaroni and cheese in individual ramekins for personalized servings! So cute! Photo courtesy of Canva.

    Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips

    • Bake in small ramekins for personalized macaroni and cheese casseroles
    • Make this recipe with shell pasta or elbow pasta
    • You can puree some or all of the butternut squash mixture and add it to the cheese sauce
    • Stir in fresh, or defrosted frozen, peas

    Substitutions

    • You can substitute these vegetables for the butternut squash:
      • Acorn squash
      • Fresh pumpkin
      • Sweet potato
    • Substitute dried sage for the dried marjoram
    • You can use regular Italian breadcrumbs in place of the seasoned panko breadcrumbs but you won't get as much crunch and texture

    chopping butternut squash on a cutting board with a blue chef knife

    Ingredients for macaroni and cheese with butternut squash

    • butter
    • butternut squash
    • onion
    • dried marjoram
    • kosher salt
    • pepper
    • cavatappi pasta
    • Fontina cheese
    • evaporated milk
    • shredded mozzarella cheese
    • seasoned Panko breadcrumbs

    Easy macaroni and cheese recipes

    • Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites
    • Chili Mac and Cheese
    • Irish Cheddar Mac and Cheese
    • Stovetop Mac and Cheese from Jersey Girl Cooks
    • Creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese from Half Baked Harvest





     

    butternut squash mac and cheese in casserole dish with scoop out
    Print
    5 from 8 votes

    Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

    Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese combines the flavors of a homemade cheese sauce with pasta and morsels of tender butternut squash for a delicious mac and cheese that’s ready for cooler weather.
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Keyword butternut mac and cheese, butternut squash mac and cheese, vegetarian mac and cheese
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 661kcal
    Author Gwynn Galvin

    Ingredients

    • 2 Tbs. butter
    • 1 lb. butternut squash cubes , about 3 heaping cups
    • 1 onion , chopped, 1 cup
    • 1 tsp. dried marjoram
    • 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
    • 1/4 tsp. pepper
    • 8 oz. cavatappi pasta
    • 8 oz. Fontina cheese , grated, 3 cups
    • 1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
    • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 1/2 cup seasoned Panko breadcrumbs

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375F. Coat 6-cup baking dish with cooking spray.
    • In large non-stick skillet melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook butternut squash, onion, marjoram, kosher salt and pepper until mixture is just tender, 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente according to package directions; drain.
    • Combine vegetable mixture and pasta in prepared baking dish.
    • Reserve 1 cup Fontina cheese.
    • In same large non-stick skillet heat evaporated milk until hot. Stir in mozzarella and remaining Fontina cheese. Reduce heat to medium; stir constantly until cheeses are melted and mixture is smooth, about 3 minutes.
    • Pour cheese sauce over pasta mixture in baking dish and toss until evenly coated.
    • Bake, covered, 30 minutes.
    • Uncover. Combine Panko and reserved 1 cup Fontina cheese. Sprinkle over pasta.
    • Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, breadcrumbs are golden and mixture is hot and bubbly, about 15 minutes.

    Notes

    Served as a main dish this recipe makes 4 servings.
    When served as a side dish this recipe makes 8 smaller servings. 
    Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
    • Make this recipe with shell pasta or elbow pasta
    • You can puree some or all of the butternut squash mixture and add it to the cheese sauce
    • Stir in fresh, or defrosted frozen, peas
    Substitutions
    • You can substitute these vegetables for the butternut squash:
      • Acorn squash
      • Fresh pumpkin
      • Sweet potato
    • Substitute dried sage for the dried marjoram

    Nutrition

    Calories: 661kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1103mg | Potassium: 663mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 13038IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 568mg | Iron: 3mg
    First Published: October 15, 2013... Last Updated: September 22, 2021, for better readability and user experience

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    About GG

    Gwynn Galvin, known to many as GG, is the creative and talented chef and nutritionist behind Swirls of Flavor. Gwynn is an award-winning culinary professional with over twenty five years of recipe development, food styling, test kitchen management and culinary innovation experience. Gwynn's passion is gathering people around the table with her simple real food recipes to savor the moments together.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jerika

      September 24, 2021 at 12:31 am

      5 stars
      I have never tried Butternut Squash on my mac and cheese, so I will definitely try this.:) Looks so delicious, thanks!:)

    2. Jean

      September 24, 2021 at 5:34 am

      5 stars
      the addition of butternut squash gives it a great balance to add veggies and enjoy more the recipe, thanks for that

    3. Kayla DiMaggio

      September 24, 2021 at 9:36 am

      5 stars
      Loving this butternut squash mac and cheese! It is so delicious! The perfect Fall recipe!

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    Hi there, I'm Gwynn, the creator of Swirls of Flavor. Welcome to my kitchen where delicious memories are made. My passion is bringing people together through food. I create easy, family friendly recipes made with fresh, simple ingredients. So come on in and gather round the table. Let's Cook, Share and Savor the Moments together.

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