Sharp cheddar and pureed winter squash create a thick and creamy sauce for this easy stove top mac and cheese. Kid-friendly, adult approved!
Cool weather, short days and sleepless nights have me craving comfort food (read: carbs) like never before. Of course, I’m also well aware that nothing saps or drains your energy like loading up on sugar or white bread.
In an attempt to find a happy medium, I created this easy and nutritious Stovetop Mac and Cheese with Winter Squash. By using whole-wheat pasta as the base, I am adding protein and fiber that will keep me from crashing an hour later. For even more vitamins and nutrients, Winter squash is pureed into the cheese sauce creating a thick and hearty texture that sticks to every shell.
This dish freezes really well and also keeps for several days making it an ideal option for a quick and healthy lunch throughout the week.
Your fork is waiting.
Winter Squash Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound whole wheat shells
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups low fat milk
- 2 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 12 ounces cooked winter squash puree (thawed if frozen)
- 1 ¾ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (low fat)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salty water according to package instructions reducing the cook time by 1 minute to ensure al dente pasta; set aside.
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes whisking frequently.
- Pour in milk, broth, dry mustard, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce to low. Whisk constantly until sauce begins to thicken.
- Stir in winter squash and shredded cheese. Mix until melted, about 2-3 minutes. Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
- Add reserved shells to the pot and stir until noodles are evenly coated.
- Serve immediately.
Great recipe! I love adding squash to many dishes, especially mac ‘n cheese.
Oh good I hope you like it Kori!!
Be still my heart!! I so can’t wait to make this friend!!
I hope you like it!! Can we have pudding for dessert?
Oh this looks delicious! I have a serious love for mac N cheese, and I happen to love squash too, so i’m going to have to try this recipe!
I hope you live it Philia!!
Soooo creamy and dreamy Liz! I love using winter squash in mac and cheese… but I love even more that this is stove top!
I love baked mac and cheese but sometimes I just want to make it quickly on the stove. :)
I need to incorporate squash into my recipes more often. I always love it when I do and this recipe looks like a great place to start!
I’m all about anything that makes eating a giant bowl of pasta and cheese feel less naughty. ;)
I kind of want to bathe in the sauce alone. Or drink it with a straw. But I’ll never say no to good healthy whole wheat pasta either! Such a great dish!
haha I couldn’t stop eating the sauce!! It was so good!
Love the color and I’m sure it’s delicious. Thank you, Liz.
Thank you Liz!
Oh my goodness. My knees are a little weak over this. YUM!
haha thank you friend!
This is my kind of comfort food! Love that I can have two helpings without any residual guilt AND get my fiber. #winning
Exactly! I’m all about guilt free comfort food!
Winter squash is the best–i love that you put it in mac & cheese! I love how cheesy and comforting this looks.
I need to use it more often!! I’ve been buying it regularly lately!
I’m such a sucker for a good mac! This one has me drooooooling, Liz! xo
Thank you my dear friend!! I bet you make a killer mac and cheese!
I don’t the photo here on the website, but your email to me that included this recipe had the most gorgeous photo of you and your son — you looked like an angel cradling him. So lucky — so precious!
Thank you so much! That was a newsletter exclusive photo. ;-)
This looks fantastic! Do you think it would work with vegetable broth?
Absolutely Sylvia!!
Love how gorgeously orange this mac and cheese is from the squash Liz!
I love when plants make food beautiful!! :)
I love sneaking squash into macaroni & cheese- it does make it such a pretty color and packs in some veggies!
Thank you Wendy!! I think the color is beautiful too!
This dish looks awesome. I love winter squash in pretty much anything. It’s just so amazing. Beautiful job with this mac and cheese!
After having it recently I have been buying it and using it more than ever!! It’s so low calorie and versatile. :)
genius!!! what a wonderful way to get your veggies in while still enjoying mac n cheese :) love!
I was so happy to see my son devouring it!! :)
This mac and cheese is such a pretty color!
Thank you so much! The winter squash really bumps up the color!!
Mac and cheese, yum, you stole the keys to my heart!
Is there anything better?!
I made something just like this the other night! It was kind of a clean-out the fridge meal. I had roasted butternut squash so I pureed that as the base of the sauce (I actually only used 1 cup of cheese — extra sharp!) and threw in some bacon, brussels, zuchinni and green onions. Of course I didn’t measure anything or write anything down but it was so tasty! Yours looks wonderful too! Total comfort food. xo
It is always extra sharp in my book!! Love your clean out the fridge meal – I swear those meals are always the best ones and they never make the blog. xo