Creamy Pumpkin Macaroni & Cheese Recipe (20 Minutes, Gluten-free) Pasta Side Dishes Gluten-free Lunch Vegetarian Dinner

It's fall, ya'll! Fall may mean beautiful foliage and leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, hayrides and apple desserts to some, but for many, it's all about the pumpkin. You can put pumpkin in a lot of recipes you may not have thought of, like this creamy pumpkin macaroni and cheese recipe.

To make this easy mac and cheese recipe gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free pasta and flour. Here is your short shopping list for this creamy pumpkin macaroni and cheese recipe: gluten-free pasta, butter, flour (preferably gluten-free flour), milk, pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filing), cheese, Dijon mustard, nutmeg and garlic powder. While the pasta cooks, read about the health benefits of pumpkin.

Serve this fall-inspired mac and cheese as a creamy side dish with chicken, beef, lamb or pork, or as a vegetarian main dish with a salad.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 to 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 to 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 9.6 ounces (1 box) Ancient Harvest Corn, Brown Rice and Quinoa gluten-free rotini pasta (or your favorite pasta)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour (gluten-free flour preferred)
• 1 1/2 cups milk (divided)
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup grated cheese (a combination of gruyere, mozzarella and brie works well)
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Recipe Notes

• You can use whatever short pasta you enjoy for this recipe.

• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave.

Here's how to make it: 

1. Over medium heat melt butter with flour. Stir continuously until a slurry is formed. Then add 1 cup of milk, cheese, pumpkin, mustard and spices. Mix until cheese melts and everything is smooth.
2. Prepare your pasta, saving some pasta water. Once pasta is cooked, add cheese sauce, the remaining milk and a splash of pasta water. Season to taste and serve immediately. Sauce will thicken as it cools.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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