Macaroni Cheese With Butternut Squash Bacon Recipes

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 SQUASH MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat a pot of water to boil for the pasta. Salt the water then add the pasta and cook to al dente or, with a bite to it.
• While pasta cooks, heat a medium heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and butter. When the butter melts into the oil, add the thyme and grate the onion directly into the pot with a hand held grater or Microplane. Cook the grated onion in butter and oil 1 to 2 minutes, then add flour and cook together 1 to 2 more minutes. Whisk in stock, then combine with butternut squash until warmed through and smooth. Stir in cream or half-and-half and bring sauce to a bubble. Stir in cheeses in a figure 8 motion and season the completed sauce with salt, nutmeg and pepper. Taste to adjust seasonings.
• Drain cooked pasta well and combine with sauce. Serve alongside chicken sammies and top with thyme leaves picked from remaining sprigs (Boo would also have a little extra sprinkle of that cheese, please!)

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 & SAGE MACARONI CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss two-thirds of the butternut squash with the olive oil and seasoning, and roast for 20 mins until nearly tender (it will finish cooking later). Chop the remaining squash coarsely, put in a heatproof bowl with 100ml water and cover with cling film. Microwave on High for 8-10 mins until tender. Drain and mash.
• Fry the onion in a knob of butter until softened but not browned, about 5 mins. Stir in the chopped sage and cook for 1 min more, then add the remaining butter to melt. Stir in the flour and mustard powder, and cook for 1 min until it forms a paste. Gradually whisk in splashes of milk (you can add in bigger additions as you go) until you have a smooth sauce. Bubble, stirring constantly, for 3-5 mins until thickened. Take off the heat and whisk in the mashed squash, 200g of the cheddar and half the Parmesan. Season to taste.
• Cook the macaroni following pack instructions. Drain well, then stir into the sauce with the roasted squash. Tip into a baking dish and scatter with the remaining cheese and sage leaves. Can be made up to a day ahead at this point - cool and keep in the fridge. If freezing, don't add the whole sage leaves.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 again. Splash the sage leaves with oil and bake for 40 mins until bubbling and golden on top.

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 & CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9" x 11" glass baking dish with oil and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add squash and boil until tender, 5-6 minutes.
• When fork tender, transfer squash with a slotted spoon to a blender.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions. When cooked, drain and put back into the pot.
• Meanwhile, add ½ cup vegetable broth, onion powder, garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt and pepper to the blender with the squash. Blend until smooth and creamy.
• In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add the shallots and sauté 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the shallots and cook another minute.
• Add the remaining 1 cup broth and milk and whisk to combine. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook 5 minutes, whisking frequently.
• Remove pot from heat and whisk in cheese, pureed squash, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper.
• Add sauce to noodles, gently mix to combine, then transfer mixture to prepared baking dish.
• Sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture and bake 25 minutes. Switch oven to high broil and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until crumbs are starting to brown.

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.