You are not going to believe how good this Chorizo Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese tastes, it’s the best mac n cheese I’ve ever eaten! Really, you are going to have to make it to see and I promise you won’t be disappointed.
It all started when I spied a recipe by Camilla at Fab Food 4 All for One Pot Butternut Squash & Chorizo Casserole which got me thinking about the combination of Butternut Squash and chorizo, then I found a Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese from Ciara at My Fussy Eater. Both of these are excellent recipes just not the one I wanted to make. Thank you both for the inspiration, I’m not sure Chorizo Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese would have been developed without your help!
I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make the butternut squash sauce and if you want to make a double batch while the oven is on, then Ciara says you can freeze it for a quick and tasty after work meal, on the table in under 30 minutes. It’s certainly inspired me to to try using butternut squash as a sauce in other ways although, whether I’ll be able to get past this recipe for Chorizo Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese, I don’t know!
Chorizo and Butternut Squash Macaroni Cheese
Ingredients
- 225 g chorizo ring
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 200 g macaroni or other pasta of your choice
- 200 ml whole milk
- 100 g grated cheddar or other hard cheese
- 1 tsp butter
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- An additional 50g of grated cheese optional
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200C
- Cut the butternut squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Brush the cut edge of the squash with oil and place cut side down on a roasting tin.
- Roast in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the squash is soft all the way through.
- While the squash is roasting, peel the skin off the chorizo and cut into small dice (1-2 cm)
- Heat a frying pan to medium and put the chorizo into the pan, the red paprika oil will start to come out of the chorizo, you want the chorizo pieces to be slightly crispy round the edges, keep them moving so they don't burn. Once cooked take off the heat.
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
- Once the squash has cooked remove it from the oven and scoop out the soft flesh straight into your blender (I used my ThermoCook) or food processor.
- Add the milk, cheese and butter and process until all the ingredients are blended and you have a thick sauce, if too thick add a little more milk.
- Drain the pasta and mix with the chorizo, including the oils, and butternut squash sauce. Taste and season as required.
- You can serve immediately or put into an ovenproof dish, cover with grated cheese and either bake immediately (200C) for 15 minutes. Or you can leave it till later and reheat from cold at 160C for 30-40 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
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Mac n Cheese is a popular supper dish and there are lots of ways you can you can dress up a simple mac n cheese for extra interest, here are some ideas from top UK bloggers:
Cauliflower and Broccoli Mac n Cheese – Fab Food 4 All
Smoked Salmon and Leek Macaroni Cheese – Kavey Eats
Gastrogeeks Amazing Roasted Aubergine Macaroni Cheese – Kavey Eats
Killer Mexican Mac and Cheese – Supper in the Suburbs
Pastitsio – Greek Macaroni Pie – Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Bet this tastes fab Janice as I love the butternut squash and chorizo flavour combination:-)
It really does taste amazing, Camilla. Thanks for the inspiration 😊
This sounds absolutely delicious! I will have to try it with chorizo next time!!
Thanks so much for letting me share your recipe, the chorizo is a more adult version, but so good.
Oh yes I love this combination, there’s something magical about chorizo and butternut squash isn’t there? Love macaroni cheese too!
It was the first time I tried squash sauce Kavey, but I’m sold!
this does look pretty exceptional I must say…but chorizo and cheese… need I say more?… I think this weekend may be a macncheese weekend x
Mac n cheese does seem to have that effect on people, Dom 😊
I love butternut squash and pasta together – they are meant for one another. But this adds so many more layers of deliciousness! Mac and cheese is definitely the best comfort food there is.
Thanks Lucy, it’s true the chorizo adds even more yumminess to already delicious Mac n Cheese
I love the sound of the sauce made with butternut squash! This is perfect comfort food, I am certain to try this this autumn, thanks for the inspiration.
It’s gorgeous, Lucy. Well worth making.
I made this for our tea tonight and it was lovely! I spotted your recipe a couple of weeks ago and thought it sounded good but when I mentioned it to my husband he really did turn his nose up at it. It was so tasty! Really difficult getting my kids to eat veg so it was great watching them eat it and not have a clue! I think the butternut makes it look a lot more cheesy than it actually is too which is good. Thank you. I will make it again.
I’m delighted that you and your family enjoyed the Butternut Squash and Chorizo Mac n Cheese. It’s certainly a favourite with all my family. It’s really not possible to taste the squash. Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this recipe.