Healthy Nibbles

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Baked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

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This gluten-free baked butternut squash mac and cheese is a great way to add more vegetables into a classic comfort dish! Plus, the butternut squash gives the entire dish a beautiful, natural golden orange color. This butternut squash mac and cheese recipe is a favorite at home and at my cooking classes!

Baked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese - healthy vegetarian mac and cheese!Note: This is an updated version of the baked butternut squash mac and cheese that I published in March 2016. I simplified the cooking method and added new photos and a video tutorial on how to make the dish. 

Every fall and winter, I make this butternut squash mac and cheese at least several times. It is a celebration of my favorite winter squash. Besides, I love that I can sneak in a few vegetables into a dish that we would normally deem “unhealthy.” The combination of squash, carbs, and melty cheese genuinely comforts my soul.

This butternut squash mac and cheese was originally inspired by the Three-Cheese Baked Mac from Better Homes & Gardens. I made a number of changes to the original recipe, including cutting the amount of cheese in half, using gluten-free pasta, and adding a butternut squash puree to the dish. The butternut squash puree move was inspired by my friend Sabrina and her baked mac with carrot. The idea of adding a bit of sweetness to a mac and cheese dish sounded so intriguing, I had to try it for myself. Friends, butternut squash in mac and cheese tastes PHENOMENAL.

Baked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe - healthy vegetarian mac and cheese!

COOKING NOTES FOR THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC AND CHEESE

  • Choosing the right gluten-free pasta: When I first created this recipe, I was on a gluten-free diet, which is why I used gluten-free pasta. After trying out quite a number of brands, I’ve found that Ancient Harvest, Tru Roots, Bionaturae and Banza work very well for this butternut squash mac and cheese recipe. I have been eating Banza’s pasta more lately because they contain a lot more protein and dietary fiber than other pastas. Because their pastas are made from beans, you will detect a slight beany flavor in the pasta. Don’t worry, you won’t be able to detect it in this baked mac and cheese!
  • Substitutions: This recipe works well with pumpkin puree!
  • Adding Broccoli: I made a version of this with chopped up broccoli florets, and it tasted great. I mixed some of the florets into the mac and cheese and spread some on the top. The florets at the top get nice and crunchy!

KITCHEN TIP #1: HOW TO PEEL & CUT BUTTERNUT SQUASH

KITCHEN TIP #2: HOW TO MAKE BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUREE

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Baked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Butternut Squash Baked Mac and Cheese - gluten free and healthier version! by @healthynibs

★★★★★

4.7 from 3 reviews

This butternut squash baked mac and cheese is great with about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of chopped broccoli florets on the top, too. Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.

  • Author: Lisa Lin
  • Prep Time: 15 minute
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) gluten-free penne pasta (use regular penne if not gluten free)

Cheese Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (475ml) low-fat milk (I used 2% milk)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups butternut squash puree (pumpkin puree also works)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 1 1/3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese
  • olive oil for greasing baking dish

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain pasta and rinse under cold water.
  2. Position an oven rack to the center. Preheat oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Set aside.
  3. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add flour and stir immediately until a soft paste, or roux, forms. Add milk and begin to stir everything immediately to prevent the roux from clumping up too much.
  4. Once the milk boils, reduce heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for about 3 to 4 more minutes, until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat to low.
  5. Add the oregano, thyme, black pepper and salt and stir. Add the butternut squash puree and mix until everything is incorporated. Mix in 2/3 cup of mozzarella, 2/3 cup of white cheddar. Save the rest of the cheese for topping later. Turn off the heat. Stir in the cooked pasta, until it’s well coated with the butternut squash cheese sauce.
  6. Pour mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and white cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, then broil for about 3 to 4 minutes to brown the cheese on top. Check the mac and cheese after 3 minutes to see if it has been adequately browned.

Notes

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Amount per serving (using Banza pasta): Calories: 404, Total Fat 17.6g, Saturated Fat: 8.2g,Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 644mg, Total Carbohydrate: 42g, Dietary Fiber: 9.4g, Sugar: 10g, Protein 26g

*In the original method, I made a butternut squash puree by sauteing 2 cups of cubed butternut squash (11 ounces) in a pan with a tablespoon of olive oil, a few cloves of crushed garlic, a splash of water and salt. The squash will need 10 minutes to cook, covered. If the water evaporates before the squash is ready, add another splash of water. Then, I blended everything in a food processor until smooth. I thought that this method was more time consuming than adding pre-made butternut squash puree into the cheese base, so I rewrote the recipe.

Baked Mac and Cheese - gluten free and healthier version!

Butternut Squash Baked Mac and Cheese - gluten free and healthier version!
Baked Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese - gluten free and healthier version!
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Comments

  1. Oh butternut squash – how I love thee more than words can describe. And in this dish I bet you give the mac and cheese a magical hint of sweetness!

    Reply

  2. Augh, that daylight savings is tough. I’m still feeling it Lisa! I love this transition to Spring recipe. There’s still so much winter squash around here and in my fridge! So this is perfect. I’ve not tried hardly any GF brands because I’m not GF, but if ever that has to change, I’ll be on the lookout for Jovial and Tru Roots. Congratulations on your guest post! A lightened up favorite is always handy. Heading over there now. Thank you for this my dear!

    Reply

  3. I actually really like Trader Joe’s brown rice pastas! I think they are nice and chewy. I also love Ancient Harvest Quinoa pasta– but I’ve never tried Tru Roots. WIll give it a shot.

    I actually really missed pasta when I first went gluten-free– but after 4 years, I almost never think of pasta. When I make it my husband is so excited because it’s like a twice a year thing! But Mac ‘n Cheese… oooh.

    Reply

  4. I have to tell you that this is probably the 12th Mac and Cheese recipe that I have tried, in order to find the perfect one. This is it! Not only is it great tasting, I got it by my 2 grandchildren who are connoisseurs of the mac and cheese.
    The addition of the butternut squash puree is brilliant and lends a sweetness to the dish, that no one could detect. Especially for children, its a great way to add extra veggies to a meal. I did not have mozzarella on hand so I used a creamy Havarti along with the cheddar cheese. I also omitted the oregano, worried that it might be over powering for the kids. I did keep the thyme, but reduced it by half. Added a couple more cloves of garlic…yum.
    Thank you for such a fabulous rendition of a classic. We all loved it…bring on more!

    Reply

    • Jan, thank you very much for trying my recipe and for your sweet comment! I’m so pleased that you and your grandchildren enjoyed the mac and cheese. I haven’t tried it with harvarti yet, but it’s definitely on the list. Honestly, reading your comment made my day! Thank you!

      Reply

  5. I absolutely love this recipe and my family enjoys it as well. Only thing I did different was add Gouda cheese instead of the white cheddar(I couldn’t find it shredded) and pure request of the man in the house who needs meat, I added crab meat into the mixture and topped with bacon crumbles on top. It’s a favorite in our house now!

    Reply

    • Kortnie, thank you so much for trying it!! Oh my goodness, crab meat sounds wonderful in this casserole! I’m so glad that you and your family are enjoying this!

      Reply

    • Hi Amy, I think it should work with soy milk instead of regular milk. Are you dairy free? If you’re also substituting the cheese for dairy-free cheese and using soy milk, I’m not sure how everything will turn out.

      Reply

  8. Hi Lisa, I’m making this for thanksgiving tomorrow and I just realized it says to serve immediately. Will it still be ok if I reheat it tomorrow?

    Reply

  10. I LOVE this recipe! Made it before as written and 6 adults and 1 child finished off the entire dish in one night! I’m going to do some experimenting and see about making this recipe into the newly infamous mac and cheese hamburger buns! Fingers crossed it works!! If not I at least know the recipe is to die for!!

    Reply

  11. Hi Lisa!
    I used almond milk instead of regular milk (because it’s what I had on hand) – I also added about a tablespoon of corn starch to make sure the mixture would thicken enough. I used pumpkin (again, what I had on hand) but next time will use butternut purée and a sharper cheddar for more flavor but overall loved the recipe!

    Reply

  14. This recipe is really looks awesome. The videos are really very helpful. I’m going to try it soon. Thanks for putting it together.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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