There's nothing I love more than a super creamy, cheesy mac and cheese, and incorporating butternut squash results in the most velvety delicious mac and cheese ever! I don't think I'm ever going to make mac and cheese without it again! 
I already have ideas for incorporating all kinds of different flavors and ingredients into this recipe. My main motivation is obviously so that I can keep making it over and over… and by that, I really mean keep eating it over and over 
Ingredients - 3 cups butternut squash (peeled & cubed)
- 1 ¼ cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 garlic cloves (peeled)
- 1 lb macaroni noodles (or cavatappi if you're fancy like that )
- ¼ cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup gruyere cheese (grated)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (grated)
- 2 tbsp parmesan cheese (grated – optional topping)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped – optional topping)
Reduce heat to medium and cook until squash is tender (app. 25 minutes). In the meantime, cook the macaroni noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside. If you have an immersion blender, this would be the perfect time to put it to use, if not, pour the squash into a blender, add the ricotta cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper, and puree. If using an immersion blender (like I did, how cute is mine? It's pink! You can get one on Amazon!) simply add the ricotta, nutmeg, salt and pepper to the pot and use the immersion blender to puree. 
If you transferred the mixture to a blender, pour it back in the pot on the stove over low heat. Add the cooked macaroni noodles, gruyere & mozzarella cheese to the pureed butternut squash. Stir until the cheese is melted into the sauce. Top with parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, if you would like. 
Velvety smooth, creamy & so so scrumptious! 
This is a great vegetarian mac and cheese recipe, but if you're a meat lover, some crispy chopped bacon on top of this dish is amazing (I'm telling you from experience ) 
Vegetarian Option: This recipe is vegetarian. Gluten Free Option: Use gluten-free macaroni noodles to make this recipe gluten-free.Source: http://ladiesblog.net/butternut-squash-mac-and-cheese.html
