Memorial Day is here and it’s time for you to wow the backyard /potluck / BBQ crowd with Butternut Squash Mac N Cheese, a kid-tested and kid-approved hit. In this lightened up version of the traditional dish, over half the cheese is replaced with a delicious squash sauce, created by roasting butternut squash and onions until golden and sweet, then puréeing until rich and creamy. The result is a savory, gooey, and vitamin-packed sauce that, when combined with cheddar and Parmesan, will make your taste buds melt. Lower in saturated fat and higher in nutrients, Butternut Squash Mac N Cheese is still comforting without the uncomfortable calories.
3 cups of butternut squash (approximately 1 squash)
½ medium white onion
2 cups 1% milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded parmesan + ½ cup for topping
½ cup unseasoned panko breadcrumbs
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (or cayenne pepper)
1 Tbsp olive oil (for roasting)
Cooking spray
Optional garnish: minced fresh parsley and cracked black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit. Peel, de-seed, and cut butternut squash roughly into 1-inch cubes. Chop onion roughly into small chunks. Toss squash, onion, and olive oil in a mixing bowl, then place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 20 minutes or until squash begins to brown around the edges.
In the meantime, boil 5 quarts of water. Add elbow macaroni and cook for 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.
To create squash sauce, place roasted vegetables, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and red pepper flakes in a blender and blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Combine squash sauce, cheddar cheese, and 1 cup of Parmesan to the drained macaroni. Spray an oven-safe 9” x 13” casserole dish with cooking spray. Add macaroni mixture.
Top with breadcrumbs and the remaining ½ cup of parmesan cheese. Bake at 400° Fahrenheit for 25 minutes, or until a golden crust forms. Garnish with fresh minced parsley and black pepper.