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Creamy Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese with Crispy Bacon

November 6, 2024

Your Thanksgiving table isn’t complete without a side of mac n cheese – and my Creamy Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese with Crispy Bacon is creamy, cheesy, and perfectly delicious! This no-fuss mac n cheese recipe comes together in just a matter of minutes, and is perfectly comforting for children and just elevated enough for adults. If you’re looking for a recipe that the whole family will enjoy, this is it!

A skillet filled with creamy mac and cheese topped with crispy bacon pieces and chopped chives. A wooden spoon rests in the dish, ready to serve. Plates and a cloth napkin are seen in the background.

If you’re looking for the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving spread this year, you can’t go wrong with a classic mac n cheese. It’s a nostalgic and classic recipe for a reason; tender pasta shells are enveloped in a creamy cheese sauce and topped with crispy chopped bacon. Each bite of this mac n cheese is truly perfection, and is the epitome of comfort food!

Plus, this mac n cheese is packed with delicious fall flavors, thanks to the butternut squash. Butternut squash is creamy and slightly sweet, which adds depth and flavor to this recipe. I absolutely love using butternut squash in all of my favorite fall recipes, whether I’m making a Roasted Butternut Squash Soup or a Creamy Lemon Butternut Squash Pasta. And in this mac n cheese? It is truly delicious!

The key is to use canned butternut squash. During this time of year, I can usually find it at my local grocery stores (Whole Foods, Sprouts, or Trader Joe’s). However, if you can’t find it, see my notes below for making your own!

To make this mac n cheese, you’ll need pasta shells, bacon, butter, garlic, shallot, starch, fresh sage, half & half, butternut squash puree, dijon mustard, sharp cheddar cheese, sea salt, black pepper, and chives.

A pot of creamy orange sauce being stirred with a wooden spoon, surrounded by bowls of shredded cheese, black pepper, chopped herbs, pasta, and garlic. A hand is pouring milk into the sauce, blending the ingredients together. — To make this mac n cheese, you’ll need pasta shells, bacon, butter, garlic, shallot, starch, fresh sage, half & half, butternut squash puree, dijon mustard, sharp cheddar cheese, sea salt, black pepper, and chives.

What You Need to Make The Perfect Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese

Pasta Shells: My favorite pasta shape to use for this recipe is shells. Why? The crevices in the shells perfectly cradle the cheese sauce and bacon, making every single bite perfect.
🥓 Bacon: This mac n cheese is topped with perfectly crispy bacon – I mean truly, what could be better than that? You can also opt to use turkey bacon or a vegan-friendly bacon alternative, if you prefer.
🧈 Butter: When it comes to making mac n cheese, one of the most crucial ingredients is butter! Butter adds a creamy flavor that helps this recipe come to life.
🧄 Garlic & Shallot: The combination of fresh garlic and shallot add an unbeatable flavor to this recipe.
Arrowroot Starch or Cornstarch or Tapioca Starch: The starch helps to thicken the cheese sauce, so that it achieves that thick and rich consistency.
Fresh Sage: Fresh sage adds a delicious, herby flavor to this mac n cheese. Don’t skip it!
🥛 Half & Half: While traditional mac n cheese calls for half & half, you can also opt to use any dairy or non-dairy milk that you desire.
Butternut Squash Puree: Of course, it wouldn’t be a Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese without the squash! You can usually find this in the canned foods section of your local grocery store, or use the recipe below to make your own!
Dijon Mustard: Don’t knock it until you try it – the dijon mustard adds the perfect kick!
🧀 Sharp Cheddar Cheese: In my opinion, the absolute best cheese to use for mac n cheese is sharp cheddar. The sharp, salty flavor melts perfectly into the cream-based sauce and gives a delicious, nostalgic flavor.
🧂 Sea Salt & Black Pepper: The seasoning for this recipe is simple – just some sea salt and ground black pepper does the trick!
Chives: A sprinkle of chives adds the perfect garnish to this mac n cheese!

Next, prepare the bacon by lining up the bacon strips on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Transfer it to the oven heated to 400 F and allow the bacon to bake for 20 minutes, or until it’s golden, crispy, and reaches your desired doneness.

How to Make This Creamy Mac n Cheese

To make this mac n cheese, start by preparing the bacon. Preheat your oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, line the bacon up on a single layer across the baking sheet. Transfer the tray into the oven and allow the bacon to bake for 20 minutes, or until it’s golden, crispy, and reaches your desired doneness. Once the bacon is done, chop it into small pieces and set it aside.

Next, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add in a pinch of sea salt. Once the water is boiling, add in the pasta and allow it to cook until it’s al dente. Then, drain the water from the pasta, set it aside, and prepare the cheese sauce.

A person stirs creamy pasta shells mixed with grated cheddar cheese in a pot. Surrounding the pot are bowls of additional shredded cheese and a small bowl of black pepper on a wooden board. — Finally, cook the pasta until al dente and add it to the pot alongside the sauce. Toss in the grated cheddar cheese, and stir until melted and fully combined.

A bowl of creamy pasta topped with crispy bacon bits and chopped chives. A fork rests on the side of the bowl, and the dish is placed on a patterned cloth. — Finally, cook the pasta until al dente and add it to the pot alongside the sauce. Toss in the grated cheddar cheese, and stir until melted and fully combined.

Heat a large skillet, on the stove, over medium heat, and add in the butter. Chop the garlic and shallot. Then, once the butter has melted, add them to the pan. Sauté the garlic and shallot for about 3 minutes. Then, add in the sage and starch of choice (cornstarch, arrowroot starch, or tapioca starch) before sautéing for about 2 minutes. Add in the milk of choice, butternut squash puree, and mustard, and stir until smooth and creamy.

Finally, grate the cheddar cheese and add it to the pot alongside the pasta. Stir to fully combine until the cheese is melted and the pasta is fully coated in the sauce. Season the mac n cheese with sea salt and ground black pepper, then top with the chop cooked bacon and chives. Transfer the mac n cheese into bowls, serve, and enjoy!

Make a Homemade Butternut Squash Puree – 5 Easy Steps!

While you can find butternut squash puree at most grocery stores this time of year, if you can’t seem to find it (or have leftover butternut squash that you want to use up), you can easily make your own. This recipe is so simple and easy, and creates the perfect butternut squash puree to use in your favorite recipes – like this one!

To prepare this puree, simply preheat your oven to 400 F. Then, prepare the butternut squash by slicing it in half lengthwise and scooping out the seeds. Add them to a parchment-lined baking sheet, sprinkle them with a drizzle of olive oil, then transfer them into the oven and allow them to roast for 45-60 minutes.

Once the butternut squash is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool before scooping out the insides and discarding the flesh. Transfer the scooped squash into a blender or food processor, and process until it’s smooth, creamy, and takes on a puree-like consistency. That’s it!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

Nut Free/Refined Sugar Free