5 from 45 votes
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese features tender pasta shells tossed in a creamy sauce made from steamed butternut squash and onion blended with soaked cashews, garlic, almond milk, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. Seasoned with lemon juice, mustard, salt, pepper, and paprika, this dish combines a smooth, rich texture with subtle spice and tang, suitable for a comforting meal.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings:
8
Calories:
189 kcal
Course:
Lunch
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 lb medium shell pasta uncooked
- 3 cups butternut squash peeled and chopped into 1-inch cubes
- 1 small yellow onion quartered
- 2 large garlic roughly chopped, cloves
- 1 ½ cup almond milk unsweetened
- ¾ cup cashew nuts soaked for 2-4 hours or overnight, raw
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons salt plus more to taste, sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- If you haven’t already soak your cashews for 2-4 hours. If you have a high powered blender like a Vitamix you can get away with soaking for only 30 minutes-1 hour.
- Fill a large pot with about 1 inch of water. Add butternut squash and onion to a steamer basket or metal colander and steam for about 15-20 minutes or until soft.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and transfer the pasta back to the pot.
- Place cooked butternut squash and onion in a blender, along with garlic, almond milk, cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, pepper and paprika and blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the sauce over cooked pasta and stir to fully combine.
- Season to taste and serve immediately.
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat it, add a little bit of milk or water to thin out the sauce. When reheating, stir often to avoid burning.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Serving
1/8 recipe
Calories
189kcal
(9%)
Carbohydrates
28g
(9%)
Protein
7g
(14%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
(6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Sodium
648mg
(27%)
Potassium
301mg
(6%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 189
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/8 recipe | |
| Calories | 189kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 28g | 9% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Sodium | 648mg | 27% |
| Potassium | 301mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.