Creamy Butternut Mac and Cheese
Everyone’s favorite dinner at the Andersen table is this homemade Mac and Cheese. It’s so popular that each member of the family (including Dad) requests this for their birthday dinner. It is just that good. I believe there is nothing wrong with sneaking a little extra nutrition into classic dishes. The butternut squash in this Mac and Cheese goes almost undetected. Best of all, it adds a good dose of vitamin A, carotene, fiber, folate and antioxidants to an otherwise not-so-nutritionally-dense food. Also, the bright orange squash provides a beautiful natural food coloring. Enjoy!
Creamy Butternut Mac and Cheese
Classic mac and cheese from scratch with a punch of nutrition
Servings 6 people
Calories 355kcal
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Elbow Macaroni Noodles dry
- 1/2 Large Butternut Squash
- 1 Recipe Hearty Cheese Sauce see instructions
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- Dash Black Pepper
Instructions
- Slice butternut squash in half, lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Roast in a rimmed baking sheet filled with water, cut-side down, at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until the skin can be punctured easily with a fork.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the macaroni noodles until soft and tender, about 10 minutes. Drain noodles and return to large pot.
- Once the squash is cooked, scoop the meat out of the skin and add to the pan of cheese sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- Using an immersion blender, puree the squash and cheese mixture until smooth and creamy. (You may also scoop the squash into a counter-top blender and puree it for about 2 minutes before adding it to the cheese sauce.)
- Pour the butternut cheese sauce over the drained macaroni, season with salt and pepper, and stir well to combine.
- Serve immediately.
