Add pumpkin to your next batch of mac and cheese so it’s more delicious and more creamy. This pumpkin mac and cheese recipe is 100% kid-friendly and done in 30 minutes!
Why This Recipe Works
I should count the number of batches of mac and cheese I make in the span of a single year. The number itself would add pounds to my thighs. Can I tell you all of the reasons I love the classic comfort food so much?
My boys love it. I love it. It’s impossible to mess up. It is comforting and I live in Minnesota. Also, it acts as a main dish OR a side and it goes great on any holiday table. You can make it in a variety of ways (more on that in a bit).
I also love that you can add so many other delicious ingredients to the mix to create unique cheesy flavor combinations. I recently made a few batches of homemade pumpkin puree and ran out of ideas about what to do with it.
Then I thought of the delish magic that happens when pumpkin and pasta join forces. At that moment, pumpkin mac and cheese was born! And ps. My kids LOVED this recipe.
50+ Make-Ahead Recipes For Your Holiday Table
Do you feel overwhelmed just thinking about planning a holiday menu? Then you anticipate the exhaustion that comes after the meal has been eaten?
Within each recipe in this ebook are tips for making the recipe ahead of time to open up space for the people you’re excited to spend the holiday with. Sample menus included, along with mouth-watering photos and tried-and-tested recipes!
Recipe Ingredients
Pumpkin puree – To reduce or increase the pumpkin flavor in this mac n cheese recipe, either decrease or increase the amount of puree added. Do not exceed 2 cups and use at least 1/2 cup. You can purchase a can of pumpkin puree for this recipe. Or consider making your own pumpkin puree in your Instant Pot.
Milk – Any type of milk works great in this dish. Whole milk, 2%, 1%, skim or even almond milk will all work great.
Cream cheese – This recipe calls for softened cream cheese when making frosting so the easiest way to prepare it is to take it out of the paper wrapper, open the block from the packaging and allow it to sit out for 10-15 minutes on the counter. If you press a spoon into it, it should give easily.
Web Story For A Delicious Way To Change Up Pasta!
Check out how Pumpkin Mac and cheese comes together in just 30 minutes and is ultra creamy.
How To Make Easy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe
Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes shy of until al dente. Drain, rinse and add the cooked pasta to the prepared pan in a single layer.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Throw in the flour and whisk until combined.
Next add milk and whisk until mixture is creamy and thickened, approximately 3 minutes. Throw in the cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups cheddar, pumpkin puree, salt and pepper to the pan and stir until cheese has melted. Remove from heat.
Pour the cheese sauce over the top of the pasta in the pan. Mix it slightly with a spoon and top with Parmesan cheese and reserved 1/2 cup cheddar. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is very lightly golden brown around the edges. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes
- A great replacement for pumpkin puree (if you’re not a fan) is 1 1/2 cups of roasted, pureed butternut squash. Cooked spaghetti squash would add a different flavor to the mix, but would work great, as well.
- Olive oil can replace a portion of the butter, if desired.
- Add cooked ham or bacon pieces to add flavor and when serving as a main dish.
More Delicious Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
- Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – Healthify Mac and Cheese by adding cauliflower! Kids won’t suspect a thing and you’ll secretly be adding nutrition to a favorite comfort food.
- Looking for a new way to enjoy comforting mac and cheese? Make these baked mac and cheese bites for a fun and perfect finger food to serve to kids and adults.
- Instant Pot mac and cheese is a dream come true! Done in 20 minutes, this side OR main dish cooks absolutely perfectly every single time!
- This Crockpot Mac and Cheese recipe is creamy and cheesy and just plain DELICIOUS. This comfort food comes together quickly and easily.
- Baked mac and cheese cooks perfectly every time with the perfect amount of creamy cheese. Great as a holiday side or weekday main dish. Kids and adults alike will devour it!
- This chili mac recipe is the perfect marriage of two of the most comforting comfort foods of all time. Delicious way to use up leftover chili!
Mac and Cheese Recipes for Thanksgiving – 13 Delicious Ideas!
Mac and cheese is a Thanksgiving staple! Read on for some scrumptious mac and cheese recipes for Thanksgiving that you can make this year! You’ll find a ton of options to choose from in this roundup.
What To Serve With Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a comfort food favorite! But what goes with it?! This roundup provides 16 delicious ideas about what to serve with macaroni and cheese to create a complete, satisfying meal!
Can You Freeze This Dish
You can definitely freeze mac and cheese! Place in a freezer resealable bag or air-tight container and store in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. When defrosting it, let it thaw in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours before heating.
How To Reheat Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese leftovers are inevitable since most recipes make huge batches. Learn how to reheat macaroni and cheese, while retaining moisture and flavor!
How Long Does This Recipe Last
If you have leftovers and you are wondering whether to toss or eat, read this article for information about how long mac and cheese lasts.
Substitute For Milk in Mac and Cheese
Whether you are looking for a different flavor in your next creamy pasta dish or you just don’t have milk on hand, learn substitutions for milk in macaroni and cheese!
Are Canned Pumpkin and Pumpkin Puree The Same Thing?
Canned pumpkin is straight-up pumpkin that has been put into a can. Some pumpkin puree contains other ingredients that flavors it, making it pumpkin-pie ready. Read your labels to see what you’re getting in your next can of pumpkin!
FAQ About Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin puree can be eaten raw. However, it is not necessarily delicious until you have added the ingredients to a recipe you are including it in.
Pumpkin puree can be frozen. Add the puree to an air tight container and you can safely freeze it for 4-5 months.
Good news! Pumpkin puree is full of healthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It’s low calorie and it’s a benefit to your eyes, heart and skin.
Pumpkin puree can go bad after you open it and remove it from the can. If you don’t need to use up the entire batch with baking, then you can put the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate it for 3-5 days. Alternatively, you can freeze it for 2-3 months in the same container to use it later.
Pumpkin puree is known to be a good addition to a dog’s diet. Fresh pumpkin puree has a lot of water in it so canned pumpkin puree will offer the most fiber, nutrients and vitamins to their diet.
What To Make With Pumpkin Puree
- Best pumpkin bars make the perfect fall dessert. They are moist, irresistible and full of yummy pumpkin flavor. Great for your next fall gathering.
- If you want Pumpkin Pie without the hassle, make pumpkin pie bars instead! Each buttery bite of the tasty shortbread crust is perfect with the creamy pumpkin.
- Throw it into your next batch of oatmeal!
- Pumpkin AND bananas join forces in this tasty pumpkin banana bread! This is a great fall treat and your house will never smell so good.
- Pumpkin truffles – Enjoy pumpkin pie in a single bite, covered by delicious dark chocolate. These pumpkin truffles are the perfect fall treat!
- Introducing the only pumpkin cookie recipe you’ll ever need in your life. These cookies are DELICIOUS and so soft, pillowy, light and fluffy. The Cream Cheese Frosting complements them absolutely perfectly.
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Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz elbow macaroni
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, reserve 1/2 cup for topping
- 15 oz pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 2 minutes shy of until al dente. Drain, rinse and add the cooked pasta to the prepared pan in a single layer.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until combined. Add milk and whisk until mixture is creamy and thickened, approximately 3 minutes. Add cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups cheddar, pumpkin puree, salt and pepper to the pan and stir until cheese has melted.
- Pour the cheese mixture over the top of the pasta in the pan. Mix it slightly with a spoon and top with Parmesan cheese and reserved 1/2 cup cheddar. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is very lightly golden brown around the edges. Serve immediately!
Notes
- To reduce or increase the pumpkin flavor in this mac n cheese recipe, either decrease or increase the amount of puree added. Do not exceed 2 cups and use at least 1/2 cup.
- Any type of milk works great in this dish. Whole milk, 2%, 1%, skim or even almond milk will all work great.
- A great replacement for pumpkin puree (if you’re not a fan) is 1 1/2 cups of roasted, pureed butternut squash. Cooked spaghetti squash would add a different flavor to the mix, but would work great, as well.
- Olive oil can replace a portion of the butter, if desired.
- To enhance the flavor in this dish even more, make your very own batch of pumpkin puree!
- Add cooked ham or bacon pieces to add flavor and when serving as a main dish.
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