Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

Recipe by The Gourmet RD

Creamy 3-cheese mac with a creamy butternut squash sauce tossed with cavatappi noodles.

Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash (about 3 lbs.)
• ¼ cup water
• 1 lb cavatappi pasta (uncooked)
• 3 tbsp nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• 1½ cups nonfat milk
• 1¼ cups low sodium vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp salted butter
• 2 cups shredded marble jack cheese
• ½ cup shredded Gruyere cheese
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese (divided)
• cooking spray
• ½ cup panko bread crumbs
• ¼ cup fresh parsley

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut butternut squash in half, lengthwise, and scoop out seeds. Place in baking dish, flesh side down, and pour water in the baking dish. Roast in oven for 35-40 minutes, until soft. Scoop out cooked flesh and discard skin. Set squash flesh aside.
   
   Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, place butternut squash, Greek yogurt, milk, chicken broth, salt and pepper in a blender and puree until smooth. {If squash is still hot, remove plastic cap from blender lid and place a kitchen towel over it so steam can escape and the hot contents don’t explode!}
   
   Heat butter in a saucepan and add squash puree. Add marble jack, Gruyere and half of the parmesan cheese and cook on medium, stirring, until cheese is melted. {Taste and add more seasoning, if you wish}
   
   Coat a 9x13 glass baking dish with cooking spray. Add cooked pasta to the baking dish and pour in the squash/cheese sauce. Stir until combined. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove dish and turn oven on low broil.
   
   Top pasta with remaining parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Spray top with cooking spray. Place back in the oven and broil for 4-5 minutes, until top is browned, rotating the dish if necessary. {Watch carefully so the crumbs don’t burn!}
   
   Remove from the oven and sprinkle with parsley. Serve and enjoy!

View the recipe instructions at The Gourmet RD