Pumpkin Mac n Cheese

User Reviews

4.8

66 reviews
Excellent

Pumpkin Mac n Cheese

A seasonal twist on a comforting classic!

I Made This!

49 people made this

Save this

39 people saved this

Ingredients

Servings
  • 1/2 lb elbow macaroni or your other favorite pasta
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 cups 2% milk or whole or cream
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 1/2 cups gruyere cheese shredded

Panko Topping

  • 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter melted, or olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 cup Parmesan Cheese shredded
Add to Shopping List

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta: Add a large pot of salted water to the stovetop and bring it to a boil. Add the pasta cook to 1 minute less than the noted time on the box (or only about 2 minutes if using fresh pasta). Save 1/3 cup of pasta water and then drain and set aside.
  2. Prep Breadcrumbs: In a small bowl add panko, melted butter, salt, and Parmesan cheese and set aside.
  3. Make roux: Meanwhile, in a cast iron skillet or large saute pan, add butter and heat to medium. Add flour and whisk together the butter and flour until a thick roux forms, about 1-2 minutes.
  4. Add milk: Slowly add a little splash of milk at a time, whisking to combine it with the roux before adding more until all of the milk is combined.If you add it too quickly then the roux with "break" and you won't have the same thick creamy sauce.
  5. Add pumpkin and seasonings: Bring the sauce to a boil, add the reserved pasta water, and then reduce it to a simmer, add the pumpkin, stir to combine, and then add the thyme, ginger, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.
  6. Add cheese: Reduce the heat to low and add the shredded cheese. Stir to melt and combine.
  7. Add pasta: Add drained pasta and stir to combine so that all of the pasta is well coated with the cheese sauce.
  8. Add panko: This step is optional, but if you choose to, sprinkle on breadcrumb topping and broil in the oven for 2 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are nicely toasted and browned.
Equipments used:

Notes

  • Storage
  • Storage
  • Fridge: Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Freezer: Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.  
  • Substitutions
  • Substitutions
  • Pasta: Use your favorite! 
  • Milk: Use at least 2% and up to whole milk.  And you can also make this even richer and creamier by using a mixture of milk and cream. 
  • Cheese: The combination of mozzarella and gruyere is our favorite, but you could also use cheddar in place of either. 
  • Pumpkin Puree: Be sure to use 100% pumpkin puree for this recipe, like ours!  Do not use pumpkin pie filling!
  • Breadcrumbs: We prefer the texture of panko breadcrumbs, but you can use regular as well. 
  •  

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 548kcal (27%) Carbohydrates 46g (15%) Protein 26g (52%) Fat 29g (45%) Saturated Fat 17g (85%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 8g Trans Fat 0.4g Cholesterol 90mg (30%) Sodium 988mg (41%) Potassium 337mg (10%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 5647IU (113%) Vitamin C 2mg (2%) Calcium 611mg (61%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 548 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 548kcal 27%
Carbohydrates 46g 15%
Protein 26g 52%
Fat 29g 45%
Saturated Fat 17g 85%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 8g 40%
Trans Fat 0.4g 20%
Cholesterol 90mg 30%
Sodium 988mg 41%
Potassium 337mg 7%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 5647IU 113%
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Calcium 611mg 61%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.8

66 reviews
Excellent

Write a Review

Drag & drop files here or click to upload
Other Recipes

You'll Also Love

Spicy Sausage and Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

American
2.6 (15 reviews)

Baked Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese

American
4.8 (87 reviews)

Slow Cooker Four Cheese Mac and Cheese

American
4.6 (78 reviews)

Chicken Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (9 reviews)

Tuscan Mac and Cheese

Italian, American
5.0 (42 reviews)

Baked One Pot Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (117 reviews)

Homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole

American
5.0 (3,798 reviews)

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (8,988 reviews)

Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (147 reviews)

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

American
4.9 (84 reviews)

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (171 reviews)

Easy Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (192 reviews)

Extra Creamy Lobster Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (705 reviews)

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

American
5.0 (30 reviews)