Spooky Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
October 6, 2022
This Halloween make the kids this Spooky Pumpkin Mac and Cheese with the leftovers from pumpkin carving!
Searching for fun ways to add some vegetables into your kid’s mouth? Well, this is a great one! A smooth Pumpkin pasta sauce made with cream cheese, cream and a tad of parmesan goes a long way. The meal could end there, but I’ve made it extra cheesy with extra mozzarella gratin on top. Because who doesn’t like to see the lovely cheese strings in their Mac and Cheese? This Pumpkin Mac and Cheese recipe is going to keep you and your kids strong for the candy hunt!
For picky eaters pasta is usually a favourite… It’s also an easy dish to hide veggies in. I’ve added some lovely parsley and pumpkin seeds on top of the gratin but frankly many kids, like mine, don’t like too many textures in their pasta so feel free to skip the toppings if you’ve got picky eaters. As for my picky little eater, I give him the bottom part of the dish without the cheese or toppings, the most homogenous possible. Plus, it means mommy gets most of the lovely ‘gratin’. Everyone is happy this way!
Macaroni or Maccheroni
Maccheroni is the name Italians call long pasta, not necessarily a tube. While Macaroni or Elbow macaroni, in America, is a tiny curved tube and really popular with kids. In Europe, Elbow macaronis are not as popular so I’ve used a penne for this recipe. Either way, with any pasta you’ll cook for this dish, the importance is to cook them really Al dente or not yet done, so they don’t get overcooked in the oven.
The sauce looks like a lot in the pan before going in the oven, but remember it’s going to get absorbed by the pasta quite a bit, so you need plenty to keep it saucy!
Oh la la gratin!
To make a nice gratin on top, fresh mozzarella is best! It gives these lovely white strings we all dig! When adding the cheese, try to keep it in small pieces, this way it melts faster. Mainly because it is too long in the oven it could burn your pasta. If you’ve got a torch to finish the job even better! So let’s get cooking this Spooky Pumpkin Mac and Cheese!
Equipment
- oven proof pot or casserole about 20cm
Ingredients
- 500 g penne pasta or your favorite type
- 400 g cooked pumpkin
- 100 g cream cheese
- 150 ml cream
- 30 g parmesan grated
- ⅓ tsp nutmeg *optional
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Blend the precooked pumpkin, cream cheese, cream, parmesan and spices.
- Cook the pasta until almost cooked, *al dente.
- Mix the sauce with the pasta, add to an oven plate or casserole of your choice and top it with the fresh mozzarella, salt and pepper.
- Cook about 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden.
Nutrition
10 Comments
- Janessa
This pumpkin pasta is so cheesy and delicious! I love the hint of nutmeg.
- Jess
This is genius! I hate wasting anything and throwing away all the pumpkin after carving them makes me sad…but now I will no longer have to waste it thanks to your brilliant idea!
- Andrea
Love the Fall flavors of this delicious pumpkin mac n cheese.
This was really good! I had never had pumpkin in pasta before and so didn’t know what to expect. It was delicious! Thank you!