Best Cheesy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

The best form of macaroni and cheese you can imagine is in front of you. It’s quick, easy, and so much better than the box kind. It will get you pumped for all things pumpkin. 

I love pumpkins!

I love pumpkins because they remind me of fall and adorable fall porch decor that I stalk on Pinterest and then never feel like my porch has that same cutesy fall thing goin on.

I love pumpkin muffins because they are seriously the one thing you should consider making this fall if you are only up to making one pumpkin related anything.

I also love pumpkin because it is high in Vitamin A. One half cup serving of canned pumpkin puree contains 250% of the recommended dietary allowance for Vitamin A, while containing only 50 calories per serving. That’s pretty sweet in my world. No need to worry about eating your carrots today.

This pumpkin and mac and cheese combo may not be one that jumps right at you but you HAVE TO BELIEVE ME when I say it is hands down amazing.

To be honest, I am not one that would ever want to make mac and cheese for anyone other than my kids who ask for it on an hourly basis. And yet, I was very set on making a mac and cheese recipe with pumpkin in it for this fall when it’s cold out and we are in need of a 20-minute meal or else it’s sandwiches type of thing.

I am happy to say that I now have my own excitement about macaroni and cheese…the homemade pumpkin kind!

I have a few ideas regarding how to serve this bowl of deliciousness:

1. It’s quite filling so pair it with a salad, which will also help you to balance out the amount of mac and cheese you eat.
2. Fry up some bacon, chop it up and add it right to your bowl of mac and cheese and you are good to go!
3. Roast some veggies to serve on the side-keep thinking about balance here. You want to enjoy it but not regret eating it if you serve it with something else like ham or meatloaf which seem to be most common.

I personally love it with some whole wheat bread crumbs on top and a bit of parmesan!! Nothing else needed in my opinion.

Hope you guys enjoy this! Be sure to let me know what you think!
Thanks for reading!!

Best Cheesy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Megan

The best form of macaroni and cheese you can imagine is in front of you. It's quick, easy, and so much better than the box kind.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Pasta

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb elbow macaroni pasta
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• 2 cups mild cheddar cheese shredded (for best results, don't use bagged kind already shredded)
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• Optional toppings: Whole wheat bread crumbs parmesan cheese

Instructions

 

• In a large pot or dutch oven, bring salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan melt butter over medium low heat, stirring frequently. Stir in flour until mixed in and thickens. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously while doing so. Break up any clumps that form and work them into the sauce.
• Once sauce is smooth, add cheddar cheese and pumpkin to milk and butter mixture. Increase heat to medium and continue using whisk until cheese is melted completely.
• Pour cheese sauce over pasta and mix until pasta is evenly coated with cheese.
• Serve with a sprinkle of whole wheat bread crumbs and parmesan cheese on top.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Trial and Eater

More Delicious Fall Recipes

Fancy Fall Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Linguine with Kale