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Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese! A MEGA creamy Mac and cheese recipe with a fun Autumn spin! This easy mac and cheese recipe is made with canned pumpkin, cheddar cheese and topped with an earthy plank breadcrumb pecan topping for a bit of crunch. 
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword cheddar, fall, fall recipe, pumpkin, pumpkin mac and cheese, side dish
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8 side portions

Ingredients

  • 1 stick of unsalted butter divided
  • 1 medium organic sweet onion thinly sliced or diced
  • ½ cup of Sunshine Bay Sauvignon Blanc Wine
  • 1 lb of macaroni noodles
  • ¼ cup of all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups of whole milk
  • 1 can of Baker’s Corner Canned Pumpkin
  • 1 tsp. of granulated garlic
  • tsp. of nutmeg
  • tsp. of freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 ½ cups of grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup of seasoned panko bread crumbs
  • cup of finely chopped pecans

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a large rectangular casserole dish with butter or non-stick spray and set aside.
  • In a heavy bottom skillet add in 2 tablespoons of butter on medium-low heat. Once butter is melted, add in diced onions and cook for 35-40 minutes or until onions are caramelized and golden. Stir the onions periodically. About 5-10 minutes before finish cooking, add half a cup of dry white wine and cook until most of the liquid has dissolved. 
  • Bring a large pot of boiling salted water to a rolling boil. Add in macaroni noodles and cook until al dente. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining. This is usually 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain noodles with cold water and set aside.
  • In a large pot or dutch oven add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium high heat until melted. Begin to whisk in flour until creamy and thickened to create a roux for the sauce for 1-2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk. Bring mixture to a low simmer until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Whisk in pumpkin puree, garlic, nutmeg, black pepper and season with salt to taste. Stir in cheeses until melted. If mixture becomes very thick, add in ½ cup of pasta water at a time to loosen. Remove from heat and stir in cooked noodles and caramelized onions until well combined.
  • Transfer macaroni mixture to greased casserole dish. In a small bowl whisk together bread crumbs, pecans and 2 tablespoons of butter, melted. Top macaroni mixture with bread crumbs and bake for 5-10 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.