Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese
September 25th, 2011
Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese plus a give-away!
OK, it is officially fall. I am pretty sure that means it is time to break out the comfort food, right?
This is delicious. And I am not going to pretend for one minute that it is healthy, (even if it is full of tender bites of butternut squash and onion)- cause it’s not. It is packed with cream and butter and cheese. But I just can’t apologize for it, because this Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese tastes so dang good.
I have made pasta with butternut squash before, (and that was healthier) but that was made with a butternut squash puree. This time, I wanted the cheese to be the star, with chunks of butternut squash.
I also have never made macaroni and cheese with a breadcrumb topping- but that was a wonderful addition. I love the crispy caramelized edges, (my favorite part.)
So, it may not be healthy- but it is the epitome of comfort food. I served this to my family with a big green salad and it was perfect! It would be a wonderful dinner on a blustery fall night!
Because I like you guys so much and to help you bake up this butternut squash macaroni and cheese, or any other delicious baked and roasted dishes this fall, I am giving away my very favorite variety of baking dishes.
This is the Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown Bakeware in the 4.5 Qt. Large Oval Baker.
It comes in Blue, Eggplant, Green, Red and Yellow. (Valued at $50)
I use it for everything from fruit crisp to baked pasta. The handle feature kicks butt. No more burns.
If you would like to enter to win one of these you need to do the following:
1) Leave a comment below saying what fall dish you would like this for, (Oh! And what color you would like!)
2) “like” the post on Facebook* (the little “thumbs up” at the bottom of the post!)
If you would like ADDITTIONAL ENTRYS!! You can do any of the following (just leave me a comment so I know you did it!)
1) tweet this post
2) sign up for a subscription on the home page so you don’t miss any great posts or giveaways!
Good Luck Guys! I will announce the winner Saturday morning ☺
*if you are not on facebook, that ok- just let me know
Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese, serves 8
-1lbs macaroni noodles
-¼ loaf of white bread
-4oz butter
-1 large yellow onion, minced
-½ large butternut squash, small diced
-4oz butter
-4oz flour
-2 cups cream
-1 cup milk, (plus another cup reserved if needed)
-4 cups shredded sharp cheddar
-1 clove garlic, minced
-¼-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1) Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2) Boil the macaroni noodles. Drain them 1 minute shy of their “al dente” cooking time, and rinse with cool water. Drain and set aside.
3) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
4) In a food processor, add the bread, (torn into chunks) to the bowl. Pulse until you have a fine crumb.
5) Empty onto a sheet pan and toast in the hot oven for about 10 minutes, or until the crumbs are golden and crispy. Set aside.
6) In a large heavy pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
7) Add the onion and cook until soft.
8) Add the butternut squash to the onion and cook until tender about 8 minutes. It should be just tender though, not mushy or falling apart.
9) Season the onions and squash with Kosher salt and transfer to a bowl.
10) In the same heavy pot, melt the rest of the butter for the roux.
11) Add the flour to the butter, and start stirring with a wooden spoon.
12) Stir constantly until the butter and flour form a smooth paste. Cook for several minutes.
13) Add the cream, 1 cup at a time, stirring the roux into a smooth consistency.
14) Add 1 cup of milk and stir the roux until smooth.
15) At this point, if you feel like your sauce is too tight (thick), then stir in the extra cup of milk until smooth.
16) Add the garlic clove and stir in.
17) Add the cheese to the sauce and stir and stir! (this took me about 10 minutes to get it smooth)
18) Add the cayenne pepper and taste the sauce to determine if you would like extra spice or salt.
19) Remove the sauce from the heat.
20) Add the macaroni noodles.
21) Add the onions and butternut squash to the macaroni noodles and sauce.
22) Stir everything together really well.
23) Spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
24) Spoon the macaroni into the baking dish.
25) Sprinkle the crumbs generously over the top of the macaroni.
26) Bake the dish at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes until the macaroni and cheese is very hot and bubbly on the edges. The top will be crispy and golden.
27) Spoon up into dishes and serve hot!
You have found my weakness! This looks incredibly tasty. Another reason to postpone dieting for another day ;)
4:14 pm on September 25th, 2011
my thoughts exactly!
4:18 pm on September 25th, 2011
“I’d like to put ratatouille in one of these beautiful bowls, perhaps in blue or eggplant color :) BTW, this looks fab!!!”
4:26 pm on September 25th, 2011
“I would love a green bowl.This looks so good.”
5:15 pm on September 25th, 2011
Wonderful! I would love to try making apple fritters this fall. My choice of color would be yellow. thanks!
5:20 pm on September 25th, 2011
Wow….I have over 30 butternuts in the garden and have been trying to figure out what to do with them beyond soup, lasagna and roasted. Guess I have one more to add to the list! Can’t wait to make this. p.s. – the Peanut Butter Cup Brownies were a HUGE HIT at my Dad’s card game, sadly I didn’t get to have one. :( Guess I better make another batch. :)
6:05 pm on September 25th, 2011
I’ve had it on my to-do list to make a mac n cheese with butternut squash mixed in. Thanks for posting! I love fall flavors too.
6:12 pm on September 25th, 2011
I would love to make this Mac and cheese in the eggplant dish.
6:18 pm on September 25th, 2011
I love a nice hot bowl of broccoli cheese soup on a cool fall day. Oh and I love the color blue! Can’t wait to make this mac and cheese dish!
6:28 pm on September 25th, 2011
OMG!! you grew that many in your garden!! It is probably my favorite vegetable. (do they count as a vegetable? or too starchy!?) I can’t wait to hear about what you make!
6:36 pm on September 25th, 2011
oh good! I hope you like it! :)
6:36 pm on September 25th, 2011
I would love one white or blue. I would serve pot roast in it, or spaghetti. Thanks for the giveaway!
Jessica
p.s. I don’t have FB.
6:56 pm on September 25th, 2011
Great Mac and Cheese!!!
I’d love a red one, I could see a big plate of nachos heating on this one for a yummy snack!
6:57 pm on September 25th, 2011
I “like” the post on FB :)
6:58 pm on September 25th, 2011
I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/createdbydiane/statuses/118142664431509507
7:00 pm on September 25th, 2011
I would make this mac for my son, as his fave things are mac n cheese and squash!! I would loved red, or even green depending on the shade :)
7:43 pm on September 25th, 2011
I also liked this on fb. :)
7:44 pm on September 25th, 2011
This looks so incredibly good! I would love a red pan so I can make this dish!
7:50 pm on September 25th, 2011
That looks a-maze-balls!!! (ok, one of my students said that and I have dying to use that)
Red would be awesome
8:16 pm on September 25th, 2011
Great combination – I like!
Color: Red
8:49 pm on September 25th, 2011
If I win–or even if I don’t–I’ll be making this recipe–the squash mac ‘n cheese. And I like yellow. :-)
Yum
12:07 am on September 26th, 2011
I’d actually love to try this dish! Really like the orange.
3:22 am on September 26th, 2011
This recipe is lovely! I would like this dish for a nice veggie lasagna. Comfort food at it’s best!
3:52 am on September 26th, 2011
I “liked” the post on facebook (warm vanilla sugar blog)
3:55 am on September 26th, 2011
Perfect mac n’ cheese for fall!
6:02 am on September 26th, 2011
Wow…great recipe and a cool give away. My absolute favorite fall fruit is sweet potato and any recipe that I make with it! Would love to win this baking dish in RED!! Thanks!
7:01 am on September 26th, 2011
Heather, don’t tell Ina and Giada, but you are my favorite ;)
I made your radiatori with bacon, butternut squash and chanterelles and my girls loved it. I know this will become a favorite too! I tweeted and liked this on FB.
7:04 am on September 26th, 2011
thanks Jennifer- you made my day :)
7:17 am on September 26th, 2011
OMG! that just made me laugh really hard! Thanks Lea :)
7:18 am on September 26th, 2011
Thank you for reminding me! I am WAY over due for a good veggie lasagna :)
7:19 am on September 26th, 2011
“Great recipe – love all the ingredients. Red to match my Le Creuset.”
7:34 am on September 26th, 2011
I just love soups~any kind at all! Not that would work in my new RED baking dish :). Liked on FB, too! thanks so much
7:38 am on September 26th, 2011
Yummy! I love both macaroni and cheese and Butternut squash-I just made some butternut soup last week and it was so good!!! SO lets see, what would I use the dish for???? Gads of dishes, but I think because its apple picking time in New Hampshire-it would have to be apple crisp first of all…and I think Red would be sweet!! Thanks for the chance either way!
8:01 am on September 26th, 2011
That mac n cheese looks amazing. I would use this dish for my sweet potato casserole.
8:28 am on September 26th, 2011
I also subscribe in google reader!
8:29 am on September 26th, 2011
I would love a green one for Mac and Cheese. I’m going to have to give this recipe a try. Mac and Cheese is my absolute favorite.
8:49 am on September 26th, 2011
Wow! That mac and cheese looks delish! I would use the baking dish for baked ziti or lasagna. (Red.)
9:01 am on September 26th, 2011
I would make your butternut squash macaroni and cheese. I would like the orange to go with my kitchen!
9:02 am on September 26th, 2011
I love that you went all out on this creamy, dreamy casserole! In that pan I would make out favorite spaghetti squash casserole.
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/02/28/bacon-and-cheese-spaghetti-squash-casserole-recipe/
9:07 am on September 26th, 2011
I “liked” on FB :)
9:09 am on September 26th, 2011
i heart apple crisp. good call :)
9:53 am on September 26th, 2011
Sounds delish Marla!!
9:54 am on September 26th, 2011
this dish sounds delicious! I will definitly be trying it. I would use the yellow or eggplant dish for apple crisp since this is apple season!
12:04 pm on September 26th, 2011
I’m definitely going to try this recipe!
What a great dish! I like it in red.
12:07 pm on September 26th, 2011
I LOVE that dish – the handles are divine!! I would love a RED one and would make one of my very favorite Fall comfort foods from childhood … Chicken Divan!
12:22 pm on September 26th, 2011
I have never added butternut squash to mac and cheese but it is brilliant!! I think I could easily become addicted! I would definitely make this in the casserole or make a fruit crisp – my favorite dessert during the fall!
12:23 pm on September 26th, 2011
I liked this on Facebook!
12:24 pm on September 26th, 2011
I liked the post on facebook
12:34 pm on September 26th, 2011
What is Chicken Divan??! I have heard of it- but now you have sparked my curiosity!
12:35 pm on September 26th, 2011
I would love to make your Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese , Orange and Yellow would be my choice. So happy I found this site. Looks like fun
12:39 pm on September 26th, 2011
OMW … Chicken Divan is a warm, baked, creamy ‘casserole’ … with chicken, broccoli, and cheddar cheese with toasted, crispy buttered breadcrumbs on top! Served on a little rice, which absorbs some of the creamy mushroom/cheese sauce … warm, creamy and comforting! :)
12:49 pm on September 26th, 2011
lol! is OMW: oh my word?
12:51 pm on September 26th, 2011
Oh how wonderful a bubbling apple crisp would be baked in this (blue) dish…right after I washed it out from my last creation–Heather’s mac and squash and cheese (I can’t wait to try this recipe!)
*no FB
12:59 pm on September 26th, 2011
haha! Yes, OMW = OH MY WORD! :)
1:04 pm on September 26th, 2011
Anything would look extra yummy in this dish in the eggplant color, don’t you agree??
2:07 pm on September 26th, 2011
This looks soooo yummy!
(I never win these things, but) I would love to have the dish in eggplant. And this very dish would be perfect in it.
3:18 pm on September 26th, 2011
PS. I would make a billion yummy dishes in that RED dish! Your BN M&C, your roasted chicken nachos, baked pastas, blackberry cobbler … the list is endless and I’m hungry!
4:27 pm on September 26th, 2011
Looks amazing. I think I would make roasted cauliflower puree. I would love love the yellow!!!
4:37 pm on September 26th, 2011
I would love an orange or purple dish! I would love to serve sage roasted acorn squash with portabello mushrooms in one of these.
7:43 pm on September 26th, 2011
WOW…the perfect fall comfort food! Thank you! Eggplant would be gorgeous!
9:15 pm on September 26th, 2011
Thanks for the giveaway, I would LOVE to win this pan!
4:43 am on September 27th, 2011
Signed up for subscription
4:43 am on September 27th, 2011
Liked on FB too!
Oh – Purple pan would be awesome!
4:44 am on September 27th, 2011
This looks super yummy! Any color would be great, but green would probably look great!! Lasanga and Mac & Cheese would probably be the first things made in this dish :)
7:58 am on September 27th, 2011
Oooh, I adore these! I would use it for any pasta. Blue, blue, blue!!!
8:51 am on September 27th, 2011
I would LOVE to have this pan in a pretty turquoise color!
8:51 am on September 27th, 2011
I would love the eggplant Rachel Ray baking dish first to make this dish (butternut squash & Macaroni and Cheese, does it get any better!?) and also for my favorite fall dish – APPLE CRISP
9:03 am on September 27th, 2011
it would be perfect for enchiladas, fruit crisp or green chile mac ‘n cheese!
9:09 am on September 27th, 2011
I would make tortellini quattro fromagio in a beautiful green version of this bowl!
9:09 am on September 27th, 2011
and think the eggplant color would be my color of choice.
9:10 am on September 27th, 2011
I think I would first make a shepherd’s pie for my guy, just like his mom makes it.
I am loving the orange! That may call for some enchiladas!
9:17 am on September 27th, 2011
Shepard’s Pie Julie! Please share that recipe!! I would love to make that!
9:19 am on September 27th, 2011
HELLO! Green chili mac n’ cheese sounds incredible! how brilliant.
9:20 am on September 27th, 2011
Signed up for a subscription for my additional entry.
9:29 am on September 27th, 2011
I would love to make a baked penne in this beauty! The eggplant color would be fantastic I think!
10:27 am on September 27th, 2011
I subscribe via e-mail!
10:29 am on September 27th, 2011
mamma’s sweet potato’s – in the blue dish!
10:59 am on September 27th, 2011
This looks fabulous! Fall is definitely all about comfort foods! I have loved these dishes from afar and I have coveted for one just as long! I love the blue and I would use it to make this comforting recipe.
12:24 pm on September 27th, 2011
I’d use it to try a new vegan dish, since I’ve been at the diet for 3 weeks now and need to start really getting into cooking again! I love the red color.
1:10 pm on September 27th, 2011
I came across this post looking for a bn squash mac recipe. Soooo, that’s exactly what I would make w/ this dish. I think I want the eggplant color. I have a brand new obsession with any shade of purple.
1:20 pm on September 27th, 2011
I like this post on fb
1:20 pm on September 27th, 2011
So glad that you found this recipe!! tis the season for butternut squash anything…
1:48 pm on September 27th, 2011
I would use it for baked chicken Parmesan pasta! I would love it in red
4:31 pm on September 27th, 2011
This looks amazing! Just bought a butternut squash a couple of days ago so besides pureeing some for my daughter I will be trying this out! I would use that dish for so many things. Mac and cheese, spinach and artichoke dip, a pasta dish. Endless possibilities. I think it would be lovely in yellow.
7:41 pm on September 27th, 2011
I adore that you mixed butternut into this! So wonderful these flavors are together. And the color too!
9:08 pm on September 28th, 2011
I would use this dish to try so many wonderful casseroles! My greek chicken casseroel would probably be the first thing!
6:51 am on September 29th, 2011
And I tweeted :)
6:54 am on September 29th, 2011
thanks Georgia!
7:06 am on September 29th, 2011
Broc, rice & cheese casserole! I would like the giveaway in red!
10:33 am on September 29th, 2011
I liked this on FB. I also wante to tell you I made your Mustard Glazed Roast Salmon last night and my husband and I both loved it. Very easy and will be making this often. Thanks for the great recipe Heather.
10:43 am on September 29th, 2011
Thank you so much Julie!! I am so glad that was a fast and yummy dinner for you!
11:18 am on September 29th, 2011
Oh I love that baking dish. The orange is my pick and it would be so wonderful at Thanksgiving with my sweet potatoe casserole nestled in it.
1:17 pm on September 29th, 2011
Oh! that sounds so delicious!
1:26 pm on September 29th, 2011
This would be great for Chicken Parmesan!
4:27 pm on September 29th, 2011
This sounds delicious! How do you cut up a butternut squash? After cutting myself horribly a while back I’ve never attempted it again.
8:51 am on September 30th, 2011
Oh my, what WOULDN”T I make in it?
Shipwreck, my fav cold weather food, stuffed bell peppers, or pear crisp. In either red or eggplant. Pretty!!
8:54 am on September 30th, 2011
Yikes. I know several people who have taken off pieces of their fingers witha peeler. Thats why I just go for a large, sharp chefs knife and skin it. Much safer. Also- make sure that you have cut one side flat so that it is not rolling around. I usually separate the top knob from the bottom and then break in into quarters, and work that way. PEELERS+ SQUASH=INJURY!
11:27 am on September 30th, 2011
I would make your plum crisp (obvi) in the red baker!
12:02 pm on September 30th, 2011
This mac n cheese looks amazing. I can’t make it right now because my 9×13 is full of butternut squash lasagna. Sure could use that awesome baking dish! Thank you for all of your great recipes!
12:16 pm on September 30th, 2011
lol! great!
12:16 pm on September 30th, 2011
I L-O-V-E butternut squash lasagna. Do you make it with white sauce or red?
12:17 pm on September 30th, 2011
I would like this for my oatmeal apple crisp! I love RR, and orange makes my tail wag! Thank you for the delish inspiration, i love it when i can sneak in veggies to my kids diet! (evil laugh) they will never suspect a thing! :)
1:09 pm on September 30th, 2011
My two favorite fall dishes would both work perfectly with this baker’s dish in RED. First I would make my mom’s enchiladas because it’s all about warm comfort food for fall and then I would make my raspberry pie and bring it my friend Audra’s house (because she is still begging me for another one of my pies). She loves RED and I love her!
* liked on fb!
* signed up for a subscription on the home page!
4:57 pm on September 30th, 2011
the veggies in this makes me feel like it’s a lot healthier! :) this sounds fantastic!
5:55 pm on September 30th, 2011
beef stew!!! would love a red one!
11:00 am on November 12th, 2011
Love kid friendly comfort food with hidden veges! I’m sure anything you come up with would be perfect in a red or blue pan. Could this pan be used to make pot pie?
6:46 pm on November 13th, 2011