Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
A smooth, creamy butternut squash sauce stirred through soft pasta with melty cheddar. Naturally sweet, comforting, and ready in about 25 minutes.
Ingredients
- 360 ml butternut squash, peeled and diced1.52 cup butternut squash, peeled and diced
- 360 ml pasta, small shapes1.52 cup pasta, small shapes
- 120 ml full fat milk8.12 tbsp full fat milk
- 120 ml cheddar cheese, shredded8.12 tbsp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1.25 ml garlic powder0.25 tsp garlic powder
- 1.25 ml paprika0.25 tsp paprika
- 15 ml butter1.01 tbsp butter
- pasta water (optional), reserved from cooking
Steps
Cook the Squash
- Peel and dice the butternut squash, then boil or steam it until very soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Drain the squash well and set it aside while you cook the pasta.
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta until soft, following the package timing.
- Scoop out a small cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and keep the pot handy for the sauce.
Make the Sauce
- Melt the butter in the empty pasta pot over low heat, then stir in the garlic powder and paprika.
- Add the cooked squash and warm it gently in the butter for a couple of minutes.
- Blend the squash mixture with the milk until completely smooth.
- Pour the sauce back into the pot and stir in the shredded cheddar until melted and creamy.
- Loosen the sauce with a splash of the reserved pasta water if it feels too thick.
Combine
- Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce until well coated, then let it cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 320
- Protein
- 12g
- Fat
- 9g
- Carbs
- 47g
Tips by age
Use small soft pasta shapes and keep the sauce loose and creamy. Serve a small portion. The cheddar adds sodium, so keep amounts modest and choose low-sodium cheese where possible.
Choking safety: Make sure pasta is very soft and shapes are small; avoid large clumps stuck together.
Serve the pasta and sauce as written, choosing bite-size shapes that are easy to scoop with a fork or spoon.
Serve as written in a small bowl. Bite-size shapes like small shells or macaroni work well for this age.
Serve as written as a full portion. You can offer a bit more cheese on top if your child enjoys it.
Want the full library?
Unlock all 1,300+ recipes, the meal planner, allergen tracking, and more in the Lil' Noms app.
Unlock all in the app