Butternut Squash Bacon Mac N Cheese Recipes

MACARONI & CHEESE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH & BACON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425ºF.
• Spread squash onto one side of parchment-covered rimmed baking sheet. Bake 25 to 30 min. or until tender, spreading bacon onto other side of baking sheet after 10 min.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt. While pasta is cooking, heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 min. Whisk in flour; cook and stir 1 min. Gradually whisk in milk; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until thickened. Add 1-1/4 cups shredded cheese and 3 Tbsp. Parmesan; cook and stir 1 to 2 min. or until shredded cheese is melted. Remove from heat.
• Drain bacon on paper towels; drain pasta in colander. Add both to cheese sauce along with the squash and sage; mix well. Spoon into 2 qt. casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining cheeses.
• Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH & BACON MAC N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Heat a large pot of water over high heat for the pasta; cover.
• In a 12-inch cast iron skillet (or other heavy, stainless skillet), fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon to a towel-lined plate to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
• Adjust the heat to medium-low and add the butternut squash and onion to the bacon grease. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash and onion are browned and cooked through. Once cooked, use the back of a wooden spoon to mash up the mixture (it doesn't have to be completely smooth - leave some chunks in for texture).
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook the pasta according to the box directions for al dente pasta (if your box doesn't specify al dente, cook it for 1 to 2 minutes shorter than the time called for - it shouldn't be cooked the whole way through). When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it in a colander.
• While the pasta is cooking, make the sauce. In a large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, until the flour starts to brown a bit and smells nutty, whisking constantly. In a slow, steady stream, whisk in the milk. Allow the sauce to come to a simmer.
• Once the sauce comes to a simmer, stir in 6 ounces each of the Gruyere and cheddar cheeses, adding a handful at a time and stirring with a wooden spoon until completely melted before adding the next handful. Season with salt and pepper and turn off the heat.
• Add the cooked, drained pasta, bacon and butternut squash mixture to the sauce. Stir with a wooden spoon until everything is completely combined and evenly distributed. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
• Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with the breadcrumbs.
• Sprinkle the macaroni and cheese with the remaining shredded cheeses. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top of the cheese.
• Bake until browned and bubbly, about 15 to 20 minutes. Allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON

Steps:

• Prep: Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook macaroni until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water once they're done.
• Cook onions and bacon: While the macaroni is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet oder medium heat. Sauté the bacon and onion for a few minutes, until cooked. Remove to a bowl and set aside.
• Cook squash: Add the butternut squash to the skillet and sauté over medium heat for one minute. Season with nutmeg,salt and pepper. Add the chicken broth and milk and bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer the squash for 10-20 minutes, or until very tender (do not cover with a lid or the milk will boil over).
• Finish sauce: Once squash is cooked, take off the heat and mash with a potato masher or blend with a stick blender. Stir in both cheeses until melted.
• Assemble: Once ready to bake, preheat the oven to 360°F. Stir the onion/bacon mixture and the cooked macaroni into the sauce. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Cut the butter into the breadcrumbs until crumbs form, then sprinkle all over the casserole.
• Bake: Bake the macaroni for 10-15 minutes, or until bubbly and golden around the edges. Serve immediately.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place butternut squash, cut-side down, on a baking sheet.
• Roast squash in the preheated oven until soft, 40 to 50 minutes. Remove squash flesh from skin and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk flour and mustard into melted butter until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk milk into flour mixture until the mixture has the texture of heavy cream, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir butternut squash, white Cheddar cheese, and Cheddar cheese into milk mixture until cheese is melted. Stir rotini into cheese mixture. Pour cheese mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with bread crumbs.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bread crumbs are golden, about 10 minutes.

BUTTERNUT MAC AND CHEESE WITH BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Lightly oil butternut squash and season with salt and pepper. Set butternut squash, cut-side down, on the lined baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until butternut squash can easily be pierced with a fork, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels and crumble when cool enough to handle.
• At the same time, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• Remove 2 cups hot pasta water to a liquid measure; add bouillon cube and stir to dissolve. Drain pasta.
• Pour 1 cup broth from the liquid measure into a large pot. Scoop roasted butternut squash flesh into the pot and blend with an immersion blender, adding more broth as needed to achieve a light creamy texture.
• Place the pot over medium heat and mix in Cheddar cheese. Cook until cheese is melted and sauce is thick. Add drained pasta and mix to combine. Adjust seasoning to your liking.
• Serve topped with crumbled bacon.

BUTTERNUT MAC-N-CHEESE

Steps:

• Roast the butternut squash. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds. Place in roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil. Place in oven and cook until soft all the way through, about 1 hour. Set aside until cool. When cooled, remove skin and place in food processor. Purée until smooth.
• Make cheese sauce. Melt butter in saucepan. Add flour. Stir to make a roux and cook 3 minutes, stirring the entire time. Add 3 cups milk and stir until thickened. Add the rest of the milk and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add shredded cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble the dish: Place cooked elbow macaroni in bowl. Pour half of the cheese sauce over and add puréed, roasted butternut squash. Fold together. If it seems too dry, add the rest of the cheese sauce. Place in an ovenproof dish and heat for 15 minutes at 325 degrees.