Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 8 servings
- Calories
- 848
- Total Fat
- 53
- Saturated Fat
- 31
- Carbohydrates
- 54
- Dietary Fiber
- 4
- Sugar
- 6
- Protein
- 38
- Cholesterol
- 157
- Sodium
- 805
- Total: 40 min
- Active: 15 min
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the baking dish
Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni or shells
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
One 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
16 ounces extra-sharp yellow Cheddar, grated (about 6 cups)
6 deli slices yellow Cheddar (about 5 ounces)
Directions
- Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and rinse under cold water.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, until the mixture is smooth and golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the half-and-half, Dijon, cayenne, nutmeg, garlic powder and 2 teaspoons salt and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce begins to boil and thicken enough to hold a trail by the whisk, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Stir in the pumpkin puree and grated Cheddar until the cheese just melts. Stir in the pasta, adding enough of the reserved pasta water as needed to make a creamy sauce.
- If your broiler is in the top of the oven, move the oven rack to the center. Preheat the broiler.
- Transfer the mac and cheese to the baking dish, top with the Cheddar slices and broil until the cheese is melted and the top browns in places, 8 to 9 minutes.