3 Cheese Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
3 Cheese Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Hello everybody, it is John, welcome to our recipe site. Today, we’re going to prepare a distinctive dish, 3 cheese butternut squash mac & cheese. One of my favorites food recipes. This time, I am going to make it a little bit tasty. This is gonna smell and look delicious.

Quick & Simple's Mac 'n' Cheese Contest recipe runner-up Jennifer Myers of Queen Creek, Ariz. puts a contemporary twist on a supper staple. Stir in squash and milk; cook, stirring, until thickened and smooth. This guilt-free mac and cheese gives you all the comfort of the classic dish, but with an extra heaping of nutrients.

3 Cheese Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese is one of the most popular of current trending foods in the world. It is enjoyed by millions daily. It’s simple, it’s quick, it tastes delicious. 3 Cheese Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese is something which I’ve loved my entire life. They are fine and they look fantastic.

To begin with this particular recipe, we have to first prepare a few components. You can cook 3 cheese butternut squash mac & cheese using 18 ingredients and 7 steps. Here is how you can achieve it.

The ingredients needed to make 3 Cheese Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese:
  1. Get 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 3 cups)
  2. Get 2 tsp olive oil
  3. Take 2 1/2 cup dry macaroni or other pasta of choice (I used Italian Cavatappi or "corkscrew pasta")
  4. Prepare For the Sauce
  5. Make ready 2 tbsp butter
  6. Take 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  7. Take 2 1/2 cup milk
  8. Get 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  9. Make ready 1/2 tsp salt
  10. Take 1/2 tsp white pepper
  11. Prepare 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for a kick!)
  12. Make ready 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  13. Prepare 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (or ground nutmeg is fine)
  14. Make ready 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves(or dried is fine)
  15. Take 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
  16. Take 1 cup Smoked Gouda, grated
  17. Make ready 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, grated
  18. Make ready 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

I decided to make a lighter Butternut Squash Mac 'n Cheeze. But of course, I wasn't so sure if it would work. I figured there was a good chance I'd be eating bad mac 'n cheese for a week straight while Eric ate cereal for dinner. This decadent, gooey mac and cheese is packed with flavor.

Steps to make 3 Cheese Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 °.
  2. Toss squash with olive oil and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, turning halfway through until squash is tender.
  3. Cook pasta according to the package instructions. Usually about 5-7 minutes until al dente depending on the pasta you choose. Drain pasta and set aside.
  4. In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. Whisk in the flour. Your flour mixture at this point will be thick, lumpy and dry.
  5. Slowly whisk in the milk a little at a time. Add the dijon mustard and spices. Constantly stir until the flour mixture comes to a boil about 5-7 minutes and thickens.
  6. Add in cheeses, squash and pasta. Stir just enough to coat and cheese is slightly melted.
  7. Pour your mac & cheese into an oven proof baking dish. Top with panko breadcrumbs and bake for 20 minutes. If you want, you can just put the mac & cheese under the broiler too for about 2-3 minutes to toast the panko breadcrumbs on top and be done with it. I like to bake mine a little longer until all the cheeses are very melty through the whole dish.

No one will guess it's made with butternut squash and way healthier than you'd expect! I love mac and cheese but it can be so rich! Everything is fine in moderation but sometimes you want a bigger portion without the guilt! But for us, mac and cheese was something you made from the box. You had your dried pasta and your bag of dehydrated cheese product and together The secret to a healthier mac and cheese is all in the sauce (though you would never know it from tasting this rich and creamy butternut squash sauce)!

So that is going to wrap it up with this special food 3 cheese butternut squash mac & cheese recipe. Thanks so much for reading. I’m sure you can make this at home. There is gonna be interesting food in home recipes coming up. Remember to save this page in your browser, and share it to your family, colleague and friends. Thank you for reading. Go on get cooking!