Halloween Mac and Cheese
A spooky twist on a classic mac and cheese that combines pumpkin, cheese, and creative toppings for a deliciously festive dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz elbow macaroni
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 3 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil salted water, add macaroni, cook until al dente (about 8 minutes), drain, reserve 1 cup pasta water.
- Make the cheese sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add milk gradually, whisking to avoid lumps; simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
- Incorporate pumpkin and cheese: Stir in pumpkin puree, cheddar, seasonings, and mix until melted.
- Combine pasta and sauce, fold until coated.
- Prepare for baking: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), transfer to a baking dish, add mozzarella and breadcrumbs on top.
- Ghostly appearance: Form mozzarella blobs for ghost shapes, optionally add olive slices for eyes.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Serve and enjoy: Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For presentation, use festive bowls and consider adding garnishes like parsley or chives.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Halloween, mac and cheese, comfort food, pumpkin, festive recipes