Description
Creamy pumpkin mac and cheese blends autumn’s warmth with comforting pasta perfection. Cheesy, spiced goodness satisfies seasonal cravings and brings delightful comfort to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) elbow macaroni
- 2 cups (200 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (240 g) pumpkin puree
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cups (480 ml) milk
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh sage or thyme leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Boil salted water and cook macaroni until al dente, then drain completely, shaking off excess moisture to prevent diluting the sauce.
- Roux Foundation: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, whisk in flour until a golden, fragrant base forms, creating a smooth thickening agent for the sauce.
- Liquid Integration: Gradually stream milk into the roux, whisking consistently to develop a velvety sauce without lumps, allowing it to thicken and coat utensils elegantly.
- Flavor Infusion: Blend pumpkin puree with garlic powder, onion powder, nutmeg, and paprika, stirring to create a warm, aromatic foundation that elevates the classic mac and cheese.
- Seasoning and Cheese Incorporation: Stir in Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, then gradually melt cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until the sauce reaches a rich, creamy consistency with complex flavor layers.
- Final Assembly: Fold cooked macaroni into the pumpkin-cheese sauce, ensuring each pasta piece is generously and evenly coated, then transfer to serving dishes and garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Test macaroni frequently during boiling to maintain al dente texture, which prevents mushy results and ensures ideal pasta consistency.
- Control Sauce Thickness: Adjust milk quantity gradually while whisking to achieve perfectly smooth sauce without lumps, creating ideal creamy texture that coats pasta evenly.
- Optimize Cheese Melting: Remove sauce from direct heat before adding cheese to prevent separation and maintain silky, luxurious consistency without graininess.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Toast spices briefly before adding to sauce to intensify their aromatic qualities and develop more complex, robust flavor profile in the pumpkin mac and cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 305
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg