Pretty much every single recipe I can think of these days includes some sort of squash as the main ingredient. ย I guess it must be squash season! ย This is my second edition of upgrading a few of my older fall recipes. ย A few weeks ago I updated this Fall Quinoa Salad and today I give you Vegan Butternut Squash Mac N Cheese with Crispy Sage Breadcrumbs that is based off of this recipe.
This was my first time cooking with butternut squash this season and I forgot how amazingly delicious it smells when you cut into it! ย It is sweet and comforting, just like winter squash should be. ย Squash can be a little intimidating to cook with because it looks like it is hard to get into. ย There are a few different types of winter squash that you donโt have to peel in order to enjoy, but butternut squash has a pretty thick skin so you definitely want to peel this one.
The butternut squash starts to sweat a bit once you peel it so you have to hold on tight! ย Once you peel it, you will make a cut just above the larger bottom part that has all the seeds in it and then cut that part in half. ย Scoop all the seeds out and then cut the squash into bite size pieces. ย You can boil the squash kinda like you would do with potatoes but my ย absolute favorite way to prepare it is to roast it. ย It brings out such great flavor and is the perfect preparation for making this mac n cheese!
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Vegan Butternut Squash Mac N Cheese with Crispy Sage Breadcrumbs
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1 inch chunks (9-10 cups)
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon herbs de Provence or other dried herbs
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 1/2 cups plain unsweetened almond milk
- 12 ounces dried pasta
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, gluten free if necessary
- 2 tablespoons earth balance or butter
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped sage leaves
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place cubed butternut squash and garlic cloves on large sheet pan and toss with olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bake butternut squash until fork tender, about 50 minutes.
- Turn the oven down to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, add the roasted butternut squash, nutritional yeast, herbs de provence, nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon salt, onion powder, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and almond milk to a blender and blend until you have a creamy sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta and butternut squash sauce to a large bowl and mix until combined. Pour mixture into a large backing dish (about 9ร11). Use a spoon to smooth out the top. Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Once butter is melted, add the bread crumbs and sage and stir until combined. Evenly top the mac n cheese with the bread crumbs and bake until heated through and topping is crispy, 25-30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 90 mins
- Category: Entree, Gluten Free, Vegan
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Has anyone tried this without the yeast? Husband has a yeast allergy
HI Alyssa, it will work without the yeast, just wonโt give it as much of the โcheesyโ flavor, but still good!
Iโm going to make the vegan butternut squash mac & cheese. It looks great but one question- it says that one squash makes 9 to 10 cups. Is that right? Thanks!
Hi Vivien, it depends on how big your butternut squash is, but the one I used came out to about 10 cups when I chopped it all. When it roasts in the oven it will be less volume though ๐
This looks like a really great recipe! Iโm using at as a side for my vegan Thanksgiving this year! I was wondering thoughโin the ingredients are listed 3 garlic cloves, peeled, but then I canโt seem to find where they come into the recipe after that. Are they an intentional ingredient?
Hi Lauran, Iโm so sorry I didnโt see this until now (I was out of town)! I hope it worked out for you anyway though! The garlic should get roasted with the butternut squash in the oven. Iโll add that in, so sorry about that!
Wow! I just finished my second bowl of this. It was so good! I only had a small squash and used thyme so next time Iโll make sure to use a large squash and just sage. I didnโt have any breadcrumbs (GF here) so I added GF French fried onions that were perfect. Iโm battling a cold and really felt like some mac n cheese and this hit the spot! Thanks so much for this simple and yum recipe!
Hi Rachelle! Iโm so happy to hear you enjoyed this mac n cheese! I hope you feel better soon! ๐
Iโm roasting the squash as I write thisโฆIโm wondering if you could also be use the sauce in a vegan lasagna? Maybe with a cashew ricotta /spinach layer? Is the sauce thick enough for this??
Hi Virginia, sorry I didnโt respond until just now, but Yes, I think this sauce would work great in a lasagna!
I made this recipe last night and I LOVED it. I already have future requests for it from my family and itโs not even totally gone yet lol Do you happen to know the calories for this dish? Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
Yah! Thatโs awesome! Iโm so glad everyone loved it ๐
SO GOOD! Another fun use for this awesome โcheeseโ is to use it as a queso substitute. We made healthy nachos with blue corn chips, black beans, avocado, seared and crumbled tempeh, cilantro, tomatoes, fresh lime, etc. We also used nonfat Greek yogurt as a sour cream substitute, but vegans could omit that step. It was fabulous and it satisfied my inner desire to eat baseball park nachos like nobodyโs watching. ๐
Thanks Gillian! Oh yum! That sounds so good! Iโm obsessed with nachos so I will have to try it on them soon ๐
I just made this and it is to die for! Creamy, sweet, flavorful. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe. I canโt wait try more of yours. Iโm very picky with vegan recipes, and this was truly delicious.
Hi Erika! That is so great to hear! It is one of my favorite recipes and Iโm so glad you liked it! ๐
I will try this recipe. Mac and Cheese is a Thanksgiving favorite but hubby and I are going plant based this year so we will see
Iโm trying to eat vegan at least 3 times a week so this recipe is perfect timing, Izzy. I love any type of mac and cheese and butternut squash sounds like a lovely flavoring!
Iโm trying to limit my dairy too! Thanks, Geraldine ๐
Oh yes, I am all about the squash right now too! This pasta sounds so comforting and I love how simple, yet fancy the sage breadcrumb topping sounds. Iโll take a big bowl for dinner, please! ๐
I just want to use it in everything!! It was ok without the breadcrumbs but they made it so much better! I wish I could bring you some ๐
haha I feel the same way! All I want to do is make butternut squash recipes!! This pasta sounds amazing โ especially with the sage! Happy weekend Izzy!!
It just goes so well in so many recipes! I hope you had a great weekend, Ashley ๐
I just got into my VEG TIMES and saw your pretty face along side your delicious sushi bowl recipe! Hooray and congrats to you my dear! That is awesome!! I bet youโre on cloud 9!
Love that crispy sage breadcrumbs on this comforting recipe! So delicious! This would be a fabulous recipe to serve for Thanksgiving! Thank you, Izzy!
Awww, thank you, Traci!! It was really exciting to be featured!
This would be great for Thanksgiving! I might just have to make it again ๐
I love the sound of butternut squash mac โn cheese, Izzy! It sounds so hearty and filling. And sage breadcrumbs sounds like the perfect touch. I just made a sage stuffing a few weeks ago, so itโs one of my favorite spices to cook with! Love this!
Thanks, Gayle! The breadcrumbs were such a great addition! Sage is one of my favorites too ๐
I went out to dinner with some girlfriends, and the restaurant had butternut squash mac and cheese. Oh my goodness was it good! So excited I can make it at home now!
Iโve never seen it at a restaurant before but I would definitely have to order it!!
This looks absolutely delicious! Love your use of butternut squash- pinning ๐
Thanks, Medha! The butternut squash is so creamy!
Oh I love making vegan mac & cheese dishes, especially with nutritional yeast. Yes itโs definitely the time of year to eat all things squash. ๐
Me too, Katie! I just canโt stay away from all the squash ๐
Butternut squash mac is my WEAKNESS! And youโre totally reminding me that I havenโt made it since last fall! Thatโs changing asap, because I seriously cannot even stand how gooey and perfect your version looks, Izzy! Love those breadcrumbs too! xoxo ๐
Mine too, Sarah!! You gotta make it immediately! Thank you! ๐
This looks incredible! Those breadcrumbs on top <3 I love making "cheesy" sauces with butternut squash and I just so happen to have bought a huuuuge bag of nutritional yeast the other day, so this needs to happen.
Thank you, Kelly! Me too! It is just so creamy and makes the best sauces ๐
Iโve been eating winter squash with everything as well! I figured if I only get to do this once a year, I better make it worth it ๐ Love this vegan butternut mac and cheese, Izzy! So comforting!
It is just too good not to eat all the time! Agreed ๐