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.
Kori
Great recipe! I love adding squash to many dishes, especially mac ‘n cheese.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh good I hope you like it Kori!!
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain
Be still my heart!! I so can’t wait to make this friend!!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you like it!! Can we have pudding for dessert?
Philia Kelnhofer
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!
Liz DellaCroce
I hope you live it Philia!!
Laurie {SimplyScratch}
Soooo creamy and dreamy Liz! I love using winter squash in mac and cheese… but I love even more that this is stove top!
Liz DellaCroce
I love baked mac and cheese but sometimes I just want to make it quickly on the stove. :)
Kristen
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!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m all about anything that makes eating a giant bowl of pasta and cheese feel less naughty. ;)
Joanne
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!
Liz DellaCroce
haha I couldn’t stop eating the sauce!! It was so good!
Liz
Love the color and I’m sure it’s delicious. Thank you, Liz.
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you Liz!
Mackenzie {SusieFreakingHomemaker}
Oh my goodness. My knees are a little weak over this. YUM!
Liz DellaCroce
haha thank you friend!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife
This is my kind of comfort food! Love that I can have two helpings without any residual guilt AND get my fiber. #winning
Liz DellaCroce
Exactly! I’m all about guilt free comfort food!
Julia
Winter squash is the best–i love that you put it in mac & cheese! I love how cheesy and comforting this looks.
Liz DellaCroce
I need to use it more often!! I’ve been buying it regularly lately!
Ashley - Baker by Nature
I’m such a sucker for a good mac! This one has me drooooooling, Liz! xo
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you my dear friend!! I bet you make a killer mac and cheese!
Elizabeth
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!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much! That was a newsletter exclusive photo. ;-)
Sylvia
This looks fantastic! Do you think it would work with vegetable broth?
Liz DellaCroce
Absolutely Sylvia!!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
Love how gorgeously orange this mac and cheese is from the squash Liz!
Liz DellaCroce
I love when plants make food beautiful!! :)
Wendy | Around My Family Table
I love sneaking squash into macaroni & cheese- it does make it such a pretty color and packs in some veggies!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you Wendy!! I think the color is beautiful too!
Abbie @ Needs Salt
This dish looks awesome. I love winter squash in pretty much anything. It’s just so amazing. Beautiful job with this mac and cheese!
Liz DellaCroce
After having it recently I have been buying it and using it more than ever!! It’s so low calorie and versatile. :)
taylor @ taylormade
genius!!! what a wonderful way to get your veggies in while still enjoying mac n cheese :) love!
Liz DellaCroce
I was so happy to see my son devouring it!! :)
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures
This mac and cheese is such a pretty color!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much! The winter squash really bumps up the color!!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
Mac and cheese, yum, you stole the keys to my heart!
Liz DellaCroce
Is there anything better?!
Rachel Cooks
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
Liz DellaCroce
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