Author:
Kevin Curry
Cheesy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Want to save this recipe?
I got you! Just enter your email address, and I'll forward it to your inbox! Plus, you'll receive a bonus of healthful, "must-try" recipes each week!
Craving for something creamy, salty, and sweet for your tastebuds? Food news! Here’s to another addictive comfort food that you’ll surely love — cheesy butternut squash mac & cheese!
Fall season is here, and who says that comfort foods need to be calorie dense? With just a few tweaks, delicious but healthier versions of our favorite meals are possible!
Squash comes from an Algonquian language “askutasquash” which means eaten raw or uncooked. One of its varieties is the butternut squash (also known as butternut pumpkin) — a type of winter squash that has a nutty and sweet taste. It’s rich in magnesium, dietary fibers, potassium, and vitamins A and C.
This cheesy baked butternut squash is so easy to prepare! As you preheat your oven, cut your squash and remove its seeds. Season it with salt, pepper, and oil before roasting to make it tender.
Next, cook the macaroni according to the instructions on its packaging. Set aside once it’s done. Then, toss the turkey bacon on a nonstick skillet to make it crispy and chop it to bits.
For the sauce, put the baked butternut squash and other ingredients in a blender until smooth. Blend afterwards with macaroni and top it with bacon bits and garnish — such as chives or parsley!
So, what are you waiting for? Add this now to your collection of cheesy baked squash recipes! Share this mouthwatering dish with your family and friends too! And, don’t forget to tell us how it went for you by commenting down below or sending me an email. Can’t wait to hear from all of you!
Wanting to know and try more of these butternut squash recipes? Download the Fitmen app on your Apple and Android devices and have easier access to lots of hearty dishes that will satisfy your cravings without making you worry about your weight loss and fitness goals!
Have a great day fit foodies!
Cheesy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
Substitution
Note
Ingredients for 1 of 8 servings:
- 10z quinoa elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- Substitute: wheat macaroni
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 8 slices turkey bacon (uncured, nitrate free, from turkey meat)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2oz goat cheese
- 1/2 cup reduced fat parmesan cheese
- Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- sea salt & pepper to taste (I used truffle sea salt to boost the flavors)
- Garnish:
- chives
Utensils:
Steps
Step 1
Set oven to 400F.
Step 2
Cut the end off the butternut squash and then slice it down the middle. Remove the seeds from the inside and then place the butternut squash on a baking sheet. Spray it with coconut or olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt & pepper. Roast in the oven for 1 hour or until the squash is tender.
Step 3
Cook the macaroni – according to the instructions – given while the squash is baking. Once it is finished, set the macaroni aside.
Step 4
Set a nonstick skillet on medium high heat and toss in turkey bacon. Cook the bacon long enough on each side that it becomes crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Once the bacon is crispy remove it from the skillet, allow it cool down for about 2 minutes, then chop the bacon into pieces to create bacon bits.
Step 5
Remove the squash from the oven and allow the squash to cool down (almost to room temperature). Then cut it into chunks and peel the pieces.
Step 6
To a high powered blender (I used the Vitamix Pro Series 750), add all of the ingredients except for the bacon bits and garnish. Blend the ingredients to create the creamy, cheesy sauce.
Step 7
Pour the sauce over the macaroni and stir thoroughly with a spatula. Then, toss in bacon bits and stir it again. Season to taste with more sea salt & pepper.
Step 8
Garnish with freshly chopped chives or parsley.
Approximate macros for 1 of 8 equal servings:
Cheesy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Kevin Curry
Ingredients for 1 of 8 servings:
- 10z quinoa elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- Substitute: wheat macaroni
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 8 slices turkey bacon (uncured, nitrate free, from turkey meat)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2oz goat cheese
- 1/2 cup reduced fat parmesan cheese
- Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- sea salt & pepper to taste (I used truffle sea salt to boost the flavors)
- Garnish:
- chives
Utensils:
-
Set oven to 400F.
-
Cut the end off the butternut squash and then slice it down the middle. Remove the seeds from the inside and then place the butternut squash on a baking sheet. Spray it with coconut or olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt & pepper. Roast in the oven for 1 hour or until the squash is tender.
-
Cook the macaroni – according to the instructions – given while the squash is baking. Once it is finished, set the macaroni aside.
-
Set a nonstick skillet on medium high heat and toss in turkey bacon. Cook the bacon long enough on each side that it becomes crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Once the bacon is crispy remove it from the skillet, allow it cool down for about 2 minutes, then chop the bacon into pieces to create bacon bits.
-
Remove the squash from the oven and allow the squash to cool down (almost to room temperature). Then cut it into chunks and peel the pieces.
-
To a high powered blender (I used the Vitamix Pro Series 750), add all of the ingredients except for the bacon bits and garnish. Blend the ingredients to create the creamy, cheesy sauce.
-
Pour the sauce over the macaroni and stir thoroughly with a spatula. Then, toss in bacon bits and stir it again. Season to taste with more sea salt & pepper.
-
Garnish with freshly chopped chives or parsley.
Nutrition per serving
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hey, I'm Kevin
My name is Kevin. My life changed when I realized that healthy living is a lifelong journey, mainly won by having a well-balanced diet and maintaining an active lifestyle.
By experimenting in the kitchen and sharing my meals on Tumblr, I learned healthy eating is not boring! By making a few adjustments to my favorite foods, I could design a diet that could help me achieve my wellness goals while satisfying my desire for BANGIN food! 😅 Now I try to help people around the world realize that same level of freedom in eating regardless of budget. Welcome, let's #DemocratizeWellness together!