Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

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This vegan butternut squash mac and cheese is the last word consolation meals recipe made more healthy and comes collectively in simply Half-hour. It’s so creamy and scrumptious, nobody will ever guess it’s full of veggies!

This vegan butternut squash mac and cheese was impressed by my vegan mac and cheese recipe, so when you’ve tried that one you’re going to like this recipe! I wished to make use of that recipe as a base however create a extra fall-inspired mac and cheese utilizing butternut squash within the sauce. And let me inform ya, the delicate sweetness from the squash and creaminess from the cashews critically makes for the most effective vegan cheese sauce. I can’t wait so that you can do that one!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There’s no butter or cheese – it’s plant-based consolation meals at its most interesting!
It’s full of hidden veggies and has extra vitamins than conventional mac and cheese.
After your cashews have soaked and your butternut squash has softened this recipe comes collectively in a matter of minutes!
It’s assured to be a success with the entire household – kiddos and adults will love the creamy sauce.

Ingredients measured out to make Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese: sea satl, pepper, butternut squash, almond milk, raw cashews, shell pasta, lemon juice, onion, garlic, nutritional yeast, dijon and paprika.

Substances Wanted

shell pasta – I went with shell pasta as an alternative of macaroni elbows for this recipe because it does an excellent job at holding the creamy sauce, however you need to use any pasta of alternative.
butternut squash – the star ingredient for the sauce! Search for a squash that’s heavy for its dimension, has clean, agency pores and skin with out many cuts or bruising. Butternut squash is a vegetable that’s full of fiber, nutritional vitamins and minerals whereas additionally being low in energy.
yellow onion and garlic – provides a ton of scrumptious savory taste to the sauce.
unsweetened almond milk – I want unsweetened almond milk for this recipe, however any milk will work. Simply ensure you’re utilizing unsweetened milk! In case you don’t have milk readily available vegetable broth could be a very good substitute.
uncooked cashews – that is what makes the sauce thick and creamy! You’ll soak the cashews for just a few hours (or in a single day) after which mix till clean with the remainder of the sauce components.
dietary yeast – this nutrient-packed ingredient provides the sauce a “tacky” taste with none precise cheese! It’s barely nutty, barely tacky and a key ingredient on this recipe so I don’t suggest skipping it! Study extra about dietary yeast right here. You could find it at most grocery shops within the spice part or you should buy dietary yeast on-line.
lemon juice – only a contact of acidity to brighten up the sauce! I like to recommend utilizing freshly squeezed lemon juice.
dijon mustard – provides a slight tanginess to the dish that rounds out the flavors. You too can use dry mustard powder when you don’t have any dijon readily available.
paprika – provides a pleasant spice to the sauce that’s not too overwhelming. I used candy paprika, however be at liberty to make use of smoked paprika if you need extra of a smoky taste.
salt and pepper to carry all of the flavors within the sauce collectively, you simply want 1/4 teaspoon salt to make a distinction!

Five photos showing the steps how to make Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese: soaking the cashews and cooking the butternut squash and onions, then blending everything together with spices to make a creamy sauce. Sauce is poured over shell pasta and mixed together.

How one can Make

Soak cashews: You’ll need to start with soaking your cashews. They solely have to be soaked for Half-hour to an hour when you have a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, however even with one, I wish to soak the cashews for a number of hours. Simply place the uncooked cashews in a bowl and canopy them with water to soak. You too can soak them for about 15-20 minutes in boiled water when you’re in a rush.

Cook dinner veggies: Over medium-high warmth fill a big pot or massive saucepan with about 1 inch of water. Add the butternut squash and onion to a steamer basket or a metallic colander and steam for about 15-20 minutes till tender.

Cook dinner pasta: Boil water in a big pot and cook dinner the pasta in accordance with package deal directions till al dente. Be sure to save 1/2 cup of pasta water earlier than you drain it! This provides taste to the tip consequence and in addition helps the sauce stick with the noodles.

Make sauce: Place the butternut squash, onion, garlic, milk, cashews, dietary yeast, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, pepper and paprika to a blender. Mix till clean and creamy.

Combine collectively and serve: Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked pasta, stir to mix and serve instantly!

A pot of butternut squash mac and cheese.

Substitutions & Variations

Gluten-free: In case you want this dish to be gluten-free use gluten-free pasta like brown rice pasta, lentil or chickpea pasta.
Butternut squash: Don’t have butternut squash readily available or can’t discover it? Use candy potatoes or make this vegan mac and cheese as an alternative, which makes use of gold potatoes and carrots within the sauce as an alternative of butternut squash. You would additionally make this pumpkin pasta when you have pumpkin puree readily available!
Baked: Need some added texture? Make the recipe as directed and pour the pasta right into a 9×13 baking dish, sprinkle with breadcrumbs or almond meal and bake within the oven for about 15-20 minutes till the highest begins to brown and crisp up.
Non-vegan: Desire a extra conventional, non-vegan mac and cheese? Attempt considered one of these recipes as an alternative: wholesome baked mac and cheese or wholesome mac and cheese.
Low-carb: Desire a low-carb choice? Make this baked cauliflower mac and cheese with this creamy butternut squash sauce for a vegan choice.
Spice it up: Add in some sliced jalapeño, purple pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce when you’d like to show this right into a spicy mac and cheese. You too can add nutmeg or garlic powder to amp up the flavors.
Add veggies: Wish to amp up the veggie rely? Add cooked broccoli, peas, zucchini, spinach, kale, or mushrooms to this dish!

Two bowls of mac and cheese with a cloth napkin, forks, and bowls of cashews and nutritional yeast, plus a pepper grinder.

What to Serve with Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

This butternut squash mac and cheese makes an excellent choice for a plant-based dinner, however I additionally suppose it might be superb served alongside some protein or extra sides for a extra filling meal. Listed below are some concepts:

A bowl of vegan butternut squash mac and cheese topped with fresh pepper.

How one can Retailer Leftovers

Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. To reheat, add mac and cheese to a saucepan and warmth over medium-low, till warmed, stirring usually to forestall burning. Ensure so as to add a little bit little bit of milk or water to skinny out the sauce and forestall the noodles from burning or sticking to the underside of the pan. You too can warmth leftovers within the microwave when you’re in a rush!

Extra Pasta Recipes

Extra Butternut Squash Recipes

You should definitely try all of the butternut squash recipes in addition to all of the vegan recipes on EBF!