I’m just going to put it out there, front and center: this is a seriously decadent recipe. Maybe that’s obvious – it’s a mac and cheese recipe, after all. Or maybe it’s less obvious, because it’s got butternut squash in the sauce – and quite a bit of it.
But make no mistake. This Stove-Top Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese recipe is over-the-top rich, creamy, and – yeah – pretty divine, too.
I have a favorite macaroni and cheese recipe. I even boldly declared it the best ever. But I admit it – I’m waffling now.
I threw this recipe together with what I happened to have on hand. I was attempting a butternut squash white bean soup in the slow cooker (it was a bit of a fail), and I had some squash cubes left over. I was also craving some mac and cheese, dangit, so I thought, why not put that squash to use?
I was out of milk, so I used heavy whipping cream (and not a small amount). I didn’t have much in the way of seasonings – just some fresh thyme sitting in the fridge, starting to look little withered. It needed to be used. And then a little scoop of Dijon mustard, for giggles. I pureed the cooked squash together with the jazzed-up whipping cream mixture, and then stirred in the cheddar.
Sweet holy velvety sauce!
I knew this was going to be good, but when I took my first bite, my eyes opened wide. Oh, it was good. TOO good. I devoured the entire (generous) bowl. I’m not proud.
I decided this gloriously decadent macaroni and cheese was going to have to be reserved for special occasions. Luckily, my birthday was a couple of days away. So I made it again.
Confirmed: There will always be a special place in my heart for that other mac and cheese recipe, but, yeah. This is my new favorite. And – I’ve got to admit – way easier to make.
Next up: Thanksgiving. I can hardly wait for more cheesy goodness.
P.S.: If you want to sneak more veggies into your family’s diet, this is the dish to do it with.
More macaroni and cheese recipes:
- The Best Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Ever – THE most popular recipe on Kitchen Treaty (for a reason)!
- Jalapeno Mac & Cheese – smoked cheddar and fresh peppers = yesss
- Southwest Mac & Cheese (with optional chicken) – uber-cheesy pasta with black beans, corn, and chilies. A one-dish-two-ways recipe that can satisfy both vegetarians and carnivores
- Super Creamy Vegan Stovetop Mac & “Cheese” – proof positive that, surprisingly, you don’t actually need cheese to get a super-satisfying mac!