If I want to rate a successful recipe, I need only see how the Teen reacts to it. He had two helpings, ate all the leftovers and has bugged me since making it – that I need to make it again. And that he liked the pumpkin flavor. Today’s recipe comes from a new cookbook, Eat Skinny, Be Skinny: 100 Wholesome and Delicious Recipes Under 300 Calories
Warming, comfort food. Delicious. The original recipe I doubled (the Teen can eat 8 ounces pasta if left alone….), I left the panko crumbs off the top and used whole milk instead of a mixture of milks called for. Not huge changes, just personal preferences.
Baked Pumpkin Mac ‘N Cheese (As adapted from paged 222-223)
Ingredients:
- 16 ounces small pasta shapes
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 ounces lower fat cream cheese
- 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste, if desired
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, divided
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Lightly oil a 9×13″ glass baking dish. Preheat oven to 350°.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, cook pasta as directed on package, taking off a minute early, drain and return to pot.
Meanwhile, heat a saucepan over medium. Melt butter, whisk in flour, letting cook for a few minutes. Slowly whisk in milk, till smooth, then add in cream cheese and pumpkin puree, whisking in. Let cook, stirring often, until it starts to bubble and is thickened. Stir in cheddar and mozzarella cheeses and 1½ tsp of the pumpkin pie spice, whisking until melted. Take off the heat, season to taste with pepper and salt.
Pour sauce over hot pasta, toss to coat. Spread in prepared pan. Toss Parmesan cheese with remaining pie spice, sprinkle over the pasta. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
Serves 4 to 8, depending on appetite.
FTC Disclosure: We received an advance copy for review.
Ooooh, this sounds so good. I have a great vegan mac n cheese recipe that I make with butternut squash. You’ve just inspired me to try pumpkin instead!
This is what’s for dinner tonight. I might add some thinly sliced/diced onion since I have some that needs used up. I already have everything on hand. Do you have any chili or bean based soup recipes? I”m in a mood for chili but googling vegetarian chili brings up way too many choices. I need simple.
I found it!! Both vegetarian and turkey. I have ground turkey but not sure I want it, thinking I need just lots of veggies and kidney beans with chili flavor. Will probably start this tonight too. Thanks again! Can’t say it enough, but I love your blog!
Ooh, I’d saute the onions in the butter first and proceed 😀 And garlic. But that is me 😉 And oh man, chili is a hard one! So many potential ways to make it. Is it wrong I like it over spaghetti?
Made this pumpkin mac n cheese tonight. So freaking good. Really hit the spot for me. Didn’t end up adding sauteed onion (too tired to dice) and did sprinkle panko on top. Other than that, made it exactly as you did. It was so delicious!!
Total comfort food 😉