Pumpkin mac and cheese with bacon

Pumpkin mac and cheese with bacon is deliciously creamy, has a hint of warm spice and is topped with a buttery breadcrumb mixture and crisp bacon. Perfect for a comforting fall or wintertime dish!

What a weekend!

It was full of football, a long-awaited intermission in the atmospheric condition (from high 90s to a glorious depression 70s for the highs), movie nights and some Halloween decorating fun.

And now it's Monday and I'yard trying to become dorsum on the momentum train. It's non going then well then far…

And then let's shift gears and talk food instead!

My kids are both huge mac and cheese lovers, and who can blame them?

Previously I've shared salubrious chicken broccoli mac and cheese, kale and butternut squash mac and cheese and broiled taco mac and cheese casserole.

As yous tin see, I like to go creative.

So much and so that I've never posted my go-to regular baked mac and cheese or my piece of cake stovetop mac and cheese. Whoops! Those are coming your fashion later this calendar month!

I also like adding in some veggies or poly peptide where I tin and that's what I've washed again today.

This pumpkin mac and cheese with salary is deliciously creamy, loaded with a full can of pumpkin and topped with extra cheese, buttery breadcrumbs and crisp, crumbled, salty bacon.

Swoon!

Information technology's the perfect mode to welcome fall, to get pumpkin into even so another dish and to switch up your regular macaroni and cheese routine! 🎃❤️

It'southward likewise a great one for Thanksgiving, Christmas or but the holiday or winter season generally. It's and then cozy and comforting!

The hint of pumpkin and the warmth of the nutmeg… yum! And it tastes and so rich and looks so cheesy, thanks to that pumpkin mixed into the sauce.

And the salary crunch on top merely finishes information technology off!

My 6-yr-former son says, "Mom, this takes like restaurant mac and cheese!" He's my resident macaroni and cheese skillful, so that's high praise!

Now, I've got some notes, tips and FAQs coming up below on how to brand pumpkin macaroni and cheese. But tryin' to exist helpful.

If you desire to jump on down to the recipe, just scroll correct on through the rest of the text. The recipe carte is almost the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on baked pumpkin mac and cheese:

I prefer to cook my bacon in the oven while it preheats for the casserole. I included instructions in the recipe card on how to do that.
However, you could also have a separate skillet going to fry the bacon or you can cook the bacon in the microwave. Place information technology between a double layer of paper towels and start with about 5 one/2 minutes for 6 pieces of salary. Add together more than time as needed to get the bacon fully cooked. (Information technology will vary slightly depending on your microwave and the type of bacon you use.)
Brand sure to read the recipe instructions carefully, considering you'll have several pans going on one time to assistance this come together more than speedily.
Be certain you lot employ a can of pure pumpkin puree, non pumpkin pie filling.

I must say, too, that I don't recommend you skip the bacon. It adds a actually skilful savory, salty twist to this dish that balances the flossy pumpkin sauce.

If you are vegetarian and demand to avert the bacon, I'd suggest perchance using a stronger combination of savory cheeses in this dish to help with the residuum.

Likewise, I should notation this makes a lot! You could definitely halve the recipe and bake information technology in a one-quart baking dish or an 8×viii pan.

(Read on for storage and reheating tips though if yous'd like to make the full recipe and plan on having leftovers.)

OK, at present for a few commonly asked questions….

What pasta should I utilize for macaroni and cheese?

– Yous can use a small elbow pasta, a medium beat pasta, orecchiette or another modest shaped pasta. (Here's a cool list of all the different pasta shapes for a visual guide with a quick clarification for each one.)

– Feel free to cull a whole wheat or whole grain pasta, regular pasta or even a gluten-free pasta.

– I used a whole grain medium vanquish pasta here, just FYI.

– Exist certain to follow the cooking instructions and brand sure to terminate cooking and drain the pasta when it's just al dente. (Information technology'll cook a picayune more in the oven.) Then if the package says to cook for 9-11 minutes, finish at 9 minutes.

What cheese should I utilize for macaroni and cheese?

– A sharp cheddar is classic for mac and cheese. (This recipe uses all cheddar, specifically a white cheddar.)

– However, a combination of cheeses tin can be delicious besides.

– Gruyere is a groovy cheese for mac and cheese. I've made this with half gruyere (melted into the sauce) and half cheddar (sprinkled over height of the casserole).

– Cheddar and Monterey Jack are another good combo for making mac and cheese.

– American cheese is another favorite for how melty it gets.

Pro tip: Shredding the cheese yourself is ever preferable. Pre-shredded cheeses, while convenient, also contain additives to help prevent it from clumping and that affects the flavor.

Psst, I beloved and adore this actually cheap cheese grater. Information technology is super sturdy, has withstood a lot of force and years of shredding, and I e'er choose it over my much larger and more than expensive shredder.

What should I serve with pumpkin baked mac and cheese?

We dear this with a big dark-green salad for something fresh and light. 🥗
It'due south also great with steamed asparagus or roasted or sautéed Brussels sprouts or green beans.
Desire another protein main to go with this? Grilled or baked chicken or pork would be keen here. Try my balsamic pork tenderloin with thyme or spice-rubbed pork chops. 15-minute paprika chicken or spicy chicken patties would be great besides.

Tin I make this pumpkin macaroni and cheese recipe ahead?

Yep! You tin cook the bacon, cook the pasta, make the sauce, combine them and put it into the casserole ahead of time.

Comprehend and refrigerate until you are ready to bake. (Store the reserved cooked bacon in a baggie at room temperature.)

Bring the casserole out of the fridge as the oven preheats, to assist information technology come to room temperature.

Make the buttery breadcrumb mixture, spread it over the casserole and bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes (a little longer to help everything get prissy and hot).

Top with the reserved bacon and y'all are set!

OK, now let'south talk over any leftovers you may have and what to do with them.

Can I reheat baked mac and cheese?

You definitely can and I take many times before.

The crunchy bits on top will exist softer – as will the bacon pieces – only it's still delicious when information technology's all hot and bubbly again.

You can reheat single servings hands in the microwave, starting with about 45 seconds to a minute, so stirring and calculation additional time until it'southward nice and hot. This keeps everything moist as well.

Yous tin can also transfer leftovers to a smaller casserole dish and warm information technology in the oven. I normally cover information technology with aluminum foil and bake at 325 for fifteen-20 minutes, then uncover and bake five-10 more minutes until it's heated through. Merely be conscientious not to dry out the dish with this method.

Can I freeze leftover mac and cheese?

– Absolutely! Freezing leftovers is a nifty way to cut down on food waste material, particularly when a dish like this makes a lot. You'll have dinner set to become another night!

– Simply allow the leftovers cool down, then transfer to a freezer condom plastic purse or container, label information technology, and keep in the freezer for iv-5 months.

– Defrost it overnight in the fridge and and so reheat in the microwave or in a small casserole dish (details to a higher place).

– The crunchy breadcrumb topping will lose its crunch, as will the bacon, but it'south still delicious.

Serious condolement food with serious fall flavors! That'south just how I want to kicking off the calendar month.

I promise you have an absolutely lovely beginning of October! 🍂

And happy cooking!

XO,

Kathryn

Prep Fourth dimension 25 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Full Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

6-8 slices bacon (I adopt a thick cut salary)
1 (1 lb.) box macaroni or medium shell pasta
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk, divided (two%, skim or an alternating milk like soy are fine)
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided (see notes)
1 (14.5 oz.) can pumpkin puree
3/4 teaspoon kosher common salt
1/two teaspoon black pepper
1/four teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400.
Line a baking canvass with aluminum foil and place salary slices on the foil. Place the baking canvas in the oven every bit the oven preheats, to start to cook the salary. Check the bacon after nearly 15 minutes then go along an eye on it until it's cooked. Remove and transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain then crumble. (Go out the oven on to bake the mac and cheese.)
Meanwhile, bring a big pot of h2o to a eddy. Add a small handful of salt and add together pasta.
Cook pasta co-ordinate to packet directions, to the everyman cook time suggested. (For example, if information technology says 9-11 minutes, cook for merely 9 minutes.) Remove and drain pasta and prepare bated.
Meanwhile, in a large pot, melt two tablespoons of butter over medium oestrus. Add flour and cook for two minutes, whisking constantly.
Slowly add in 2 cups milk, whisking constantly, until the mixture is polish.
Add together 1 i/2 cups of cheese and stir until melted. Lower heat to depression, add pumpkin, table salt, pepper, nutmeg and remaining loving cup of milk. Stir until well combined and the sauce is smooth. Remove from heat and add cooked pasta. Stir well to coat all of the pasta and become everything combined.
Transfer the pasta and sauce to a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining one ane/two cups of cheese.
In a modest basin, combine breadcrumbs with the 3 tablespoons of melted butter and stir to combine.
Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture on superlative of the goulash. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Sprinkle with reserved, crumbled bacon and savour!

Notes

Bacon: I prefer to cook my bacon in the oven as it preheats for the casserole, every bit instructed to a higher place.

Nonetheless, you could likewise accept a split up skillet going to fry the bacon or y'all can cook the bacon in the microwave. Place it between a double layer of paper towels and get-go with about 5 i/two minutes for 6 pieces of bacon. Add more time as needed to go the bacon fully cooked. (It will vary slightly depending on your microwave and the type of bacon you lot use.)

Make sure to read the recipe instructions carefully, because you'll take several pans going on once to help this come together more quickly.

Pasta blazon: You can utilise a small elbow pasta, a medium shell pasta, orecchiette or another small shaped pasta. You tin can use a whole wheat or whole grain pasta, regular or a gluten-gratis pasta.

Cheese: This recipe uses all cheddar, specifically a white cheddar. Withal, I've made this with half gruyere (melted into the sauce) and half cheddar (sprinkled over top of the casserole) and that was delicious equally well, if you accept some available.

Recipe size: This makes a lot! You could definitely halve the recipe and bake it in a one-quart baking dish or an 8x8 pan.

Leftovers: Leftovers, once cooled, can be stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 5 months. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven.

Make-ahead notes: You tin melt the bacon, cook the pasta, make the sauce, combine them and put it into the casserole ahead of time.

Encompass and refrigerate until yous are fix to bake. (Store the reserved cooked bacon in a baggie at room temperature.)

Bring the goulash out of the fridge every bit the oven preheats, to help information technology come to room temperature.

Make the buttery breadcrumb mixture, spread it over the goulash and broil at 400 for 25-30 minutes (a little longer to help everything get dainty and hot).

Top with the reserved salary and y'all are set!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 438 Total Fat: 28g Saturated Fat: 15g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 80mg Sodium: 793mg Carbohydrates: 26g Cobweb: 2g Sugar: 2g Protein: 20g

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Source: https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/pumpkin-mac-and-cheese-with-bacon/