Butternut squash mac and cheese with caramelized onions, crispy bacon, and fresh sweet apples in a blue bowl. Wow, this instant pot butternut squash soup a whole pot of YUM, thank you so much!
I have a thing for butternut squash mac and cheese, mostly because I have a thing for secretly healthy things that don’t seem healthy. But the butternut squash is just the beginning. In case you didn’t notice by the longest blog title ever, there is a ton of good stuff in this mac and cheese, because sometimes I just need to add in everything. My stomach is happy and so are my skinny jeans and so is my husband. Now, for the moment of truth. Come on, you can uncover your eyes. This mac n’ cheese is almost guilt-free!
This healthy butternut squash mac and cheese has caramelized onions, crispy bacon, and fresh sweet apples. Butternut squash mac and cheese with caramelized onions, crispy bacon, and fresh sweet apples on a fork. Heat butter in a skillet over low heat. When melted, add onions and let caramelize for at least 30 minutes for the best flavor. Cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and return to pan over low heat. Add butternut squash, chicken broth, evaporated milk, and cream cheese.
Add onions and apples to the pasta. Stir to combine and add a tablespoon more broth or milk if needed. Just before serving, mix in cheese and stir until melted. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon bacon. Add a tablespoon of water, milk, or broth if you need to get it back to its original creaminess. If this is eating healthy, I like it.
I used to be a teacher, and now making food and writing about it online is my full-time job. I love talking with people about food, and I’m so glad you’re here. Instagram so we can find you! Sign me up for recipes, please! Yes, I am as cheesy as I appear.
I’m going to mull over how I could do a vegan version of this, as I’m in the middle of the Vegan Month of Food. You could totally do this vegan. You could swap some of the milk for a non-dairy milk and you could omit the cheese and cream cheese. I’ve been seeing a few recipes for butternut squash mac n cheese around the old blog world, but this one looks like the best by FAR! I first made butternut squash mac and cheese last year and fell in love immediately.
I know, the possibilities are endless! Love this recipe and will be making it once we are settled! This is a housewarming recipe to remind you of the fall days back in MN. Hope the move is going well! Man, I want to eat pretty much everything that you make. Please can I come and life with you?