Pumpkin Mac and Cheese Recipe

Sep 25, 2023

Garlic butter breadcrumbs are the perfect finishing touch!

For those who believe pumpkin belongs in more things than just a latte or a pie, this pumpkin mac and cheese will satisfy all your autumnal cravings. Creamy, cheesy, and savory, the pumpkin bechamel teams up with fontina and smoked gouda to create a luscious sauce that coats the entire noodle. For an addictively crunchy topping without turning on the oven, garlic butter parmesan breadcrumbs are toasted on the stove and sprinkled over the saucy pasta. All this fall recipe needs is some maple bacon brussels sprouts and a thematic slice of pumpkin cheesecake.

What does pumpkin mac and cheese taste like?

While dessert for dinner does sound like a dream, this pumpkin mac and cheese is not a sweet treat! Just like sweet potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash, pumpkin puree does have a slight natural sweetness. The earthy flavors mingle with herbaceous sage and warm nutmeg for a gently spiced savory pumpkin recipe of your dreams. Many people add an egg or two to their mac and cheese to make the sauce smooth and rich, but here the pumpkin provides the same velvety effect. The core of this recipe is, however, a creamy stovetop mac and cheese. A classic bechamel sauce is flavored with onion and garlic. Smoky cheese is folded into the pumpkin cream sauce before introducing al dente noodles. Finally garlicky, cheesy breadcrumbs are liberally sprinkled over each serving.

What kind of cheese is in pumpkin mac and cheese?

This recipe calls for two good melting cheeses; smoked gouda and fontina. There is also some salty parmesan in the breadcrumbs. The smokiness of the gouda plays well with the warm pumpkin and sage. The fontina keeps the sauce nice and smooth while the parmesan seasons the dish.

What other cheeses can you use in pumpkin mac and cheese?

The gouda can be replaced with cheddar or gruyere and the fontina can be swapped with monterey jack or munster. Funky pecorino or cotija are fun substitutions for parmesan.

plus 2 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided

cloves garlic, grated and divided

panko breadcrumbs

kosher salt, divided, plus more for pasta water

ground black pepper, divided

grated parmesan cheese

dry cavatappi pasta

sage leaves

medium yellow onion, grated

all-purpose flour

ground mustard

ground nutmeg

cayenne pepper

whole milk

(15-oz.) can pumpkin puree

fontina cheese, shredded

smoked gouda cheese, shredded

Tip: Play around with the pasta shapes! Any short, ridge-filled pasta will work beautifully with this creamy sauce such as medium shells, mezzi rigatoni, fusilli, farfalle, or regular ol' elbows!

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