Hearty Mac & Cheese Recipe

Name: Hearty Mac & Cheese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 lb pasta, whole wheat (I like Barilla plus); 2 (10 ounce) packages winter squash puree, frozen (I used Cascadian Farms brand); 2 cups 1% low-fat milk; 6 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated; 2 ounces monterey jack cheese, grated; 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon mustard powder; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated; 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs; 2 teaspoons olive oil

Servings: persons

1 lb pasta, whole wheat (I like Barilla plus)
2 (10 ounce) packages winter squash puree, frozen (I used Cascadian Farms brand)
2 cups 1% low-fat milk
6 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces monterey jack cheese, grated
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
2 teaspoons olive oil

1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 9 X 13 baking pan with olive oil or cooking spray.
2
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 6-8 minutes. Drain.
3
Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat until the squash is fully defrosted. Turn the heat up and cook until almost simmering. Add the ricotta cheese. Use an immersion blender to make sure the squash, milk and cheese is nice and smooth (this isn't necessary, but it helped the consistency).
4
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Cheddar, Monterey Jack, salt, mustard and cayenne. Add drained macaroni to the cheese sauce and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
5
In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan and olive oil. Sprinkle over the top of the mac & cheese. Bake for 20 minutes. Then broil for 3 minutes to crisp-up the top.

825

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

No additional tips available.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

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This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 12 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 1 lb pasta, whole wheat (I like Barilla plus), 2 (10 ounce) packages winter squash puree, frozen (I used Cascadian Farms brand), 2 cups 1% low-fat milk, 6 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, grated, and more.

Yes, Hearty Mac & Cheese falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

Hearty Mac & Cheese

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