Homemade mac and cheese recipe with creamy pumpkin pasta sauce is the best comfort food. It’s so easy to make! This cheesy pumpkin mac and cheese recipe uses 1 cup pumpkin purée and 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese. It turns out so delicious, ultra creamy, and flavorful – my favorite homemade macaroni and cheese recipe for fall!
I know some of you don’t want the summer to end, but I’d like for you to take my hand and enter into Fall’s journey. It’s full of beautiful leaves, apple cider, chilly nights, cozy socks, ghosts and goblins, the color orange.
Oh pumpkin! Oh this recipe!
First, it was Pumpkin Brownies! Then it was Pumpkin Chili. Now I’m pulling out the big guns… Macaroni and Cheese in creamy pumpkin pasta sauce!
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
It’s that time again, pumpkin recipes all over the internet! I’m pretty sure you will see almost weekly pumpkin recipes until Halloween. I just can’t get enough!
Whenever fall hits, I’m on the lookout for every possible way to add pumpkin to our lives. We’ve even added it to our milkshakes — check out this Pumpkin Pie Milkshake Recipe. This time, it is stirred into a cheesy, velvety sauce.
Adding pumpkin purée to macaroni and cheese makes the whole dish creamier and so wonderfully delicious. Use homemade pumpkin purée or this recipe is perfect for using up leftover canned pumpkin during the fall. I usually break out this recipe after making a batch of my pumpkin donuts.
Not only does this recipe have pumpkin which is delicious, but it’s pumpkin macaroni and cheese. I know, drop what you’re doing. This is getting serious. Pumpkin. Melted Cheese. Pasta. Can it get any more perfect? I’m not sure, but I’d like to think this is close to it.
I promise you, the pumpkin in this baked homemade macaroni and cheese recipe doesn’t overwhelm this macaroni and cheese. It lends a creaminess and richness, plus it adds great nutrients. If your kids love their macaroni and cheese, this is a great way to sneak in some fiber and vitamins.
Bonus points: If you grow pumpkins, make sure you try my pumpkin purée recipe. It will make this dish incredibly fresh, earthy (in a good way) and flavorful. Plus, you will just feel like a pumpkin boss!
In this picture above, you can see some pumpkins we picked this summer, along with some fresh pumpkin puree I just made.
Preserving fact: Pumpkin freezes very well. I usually freeze pumpkin in 8 oz. or 16 oz. portions. Pumpkin purée easily lasts up to a year in the freezer.
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
Let’s whip up some pumpkin mac and cheese!
Start by gathering your ingredients. This creamy pumpkin pasta sauce recipe calls for 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.
First, cook elbow macaroni according to box instructions. Drain, set aside.
Now, melt butter in a medium-sized saucepan over low-medium heat. Stir in flour and continue to stir until smooth. Stir in milk and bring to a simmer. Continue to stir for 1 minute until it’s thickened. Remove from heat.
Spice it up with pepper, nutmeg and mustard.
Time to add the pumpkin purée with shredded cheese. Stir this mixture until cheese is completely melted. This, here, is your creamy pumpkin pasta sauce. I dare you not to just take a big spoonful right now.
Once your creamy pumpkin pasta sauce is ready, add your elbow macaroni into the creamy pumpkin pasta sauce. Stir until the pasta is completely coated in sauce.
Transfer the mix into a baking dish. The Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce might seem a bit runny. Don’t worry. It’s supposed to be like that. Once it bakes, it will set properly.
Top the pumpkin mac and cheese with 1/4 cup of the remaining cheese.
Bake at 350ºF for about 30 minutes. BOOM! MY GOODNESS! LOOK AT THIS MAGIC.
This pumpkin mac and cheese is just so beautiful and rich. It smells amazing too! That there is the smell of fall in your kitchen
Start serving and swooning! It will be a magical dinner!
Enjoy this Pumpkin Mac and Cheese with my creamy pumpkin pasta sauce!
Pumpkins, you guys rule. We are best friends forever.
Did you make and love this recipe? Give it your review below! 👇 And make sure to share your creations by tagging me or using the hashtag #brooklynfarmgirl on Instagram!
Pin for later:
Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
PrintIngredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Make elbow macaroni according to box. Drain, set aside.
- In a medium size saucepan melt your butter over low-medium heat. Stir in flour and continue to stir until smooth. Stir in milk and bring to a simmer. Continue to stir for 1 minute until it's thickened. Remove from heat.
- Stir in pepper, nutmeg, mustard.
- Add in pumpkin puree and 1 3/4 cups of shredded cheese, stirring until cheese is completely melted.
- Add macaroni to cheese mixture and stir until it's all coated. Pour into baking dish.
- Top with 1/4 cup remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Teresa says
I can’t wait to make this! It will be the perfect, unexpected, addition to our fall party! Is the baking dish you use a 9×9 or 13×9, want to make sure I get it right!;)
Thanks!!
Peter @ Feed Your Soul Too says
I think adding the pumpkin to this family favorite raises it to a whole new level. I featured it on my Friday Five – Pumpkin addition over @ Feed Your Soul Too – http://www.feedyoursoul2.com/2013/09/friday-five-pumpkin-addition.html
Pamela says
So nice of you, thanks so much Peter! Enjoy!
Gloria @ Simply Gloria says
I squeal at the sight of when Halloween has arrived at the craft stores and everywhere, too! I think it’s my favorite holiday….besides Christmas, and of course my bday! (hehe)
I love what you did with this mac and cheese, Pamela! You’re so creative!
I was actually thinking of you this past weekend while I was canning (bushels!) of tomatoes and salsa. (=
Pinning!
Pamela says
I totally agree about the best 3 holidays! Well my birthday instead of yours, but you get the idea! Hope that canning went great, yum! 🙂
Kristina says
Can canned pumpkin be used?
Pamela says
It sure can! 🙂
Jocelyn @ BruCrew Life says
Pumpkin in mac n cheese??! I totally just died!! Holy yum!
Pamela says
Enjoy Jocelyn!
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
We love mac ‘n cheese – and this is a super interesting twist! I can’t wait to try this! I wish I could grow a pumpkin, but they’d never stand a chance. I kill any and all plants!
And I’m pretty sure fall is on it’s way! We had 2 days this week in the 90s, and today I’m not sure if we are going to see 60 degrees! It’s coming!! Yay! Fall is my most favorite ever!! 🙂
Pamela says
Thanks Gretchen! This is one of my favorite pumpkin recipes! We are definitely feeling Fall today, I’m sitting here with a blanket on!
Megan {Country Cleaver} says
This is speaking to me on a primal level or something – because pumpkin and mac and cheese are like my spirit foods. I am a goner!
Pamela says
I love that you described them as spirit foods, enjoy Megan! 🙂
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says
What a great idea! This sounds delicious!
Pamela says
Thanks Lindsay!
Emily from Reaching Beyond My Reach says
This sounds absolutely intriguing. I’m going to have to give it a spin. I can’t wait! Thanks for sharing!
Pamela says
Enjoy Emily!
[email protected] says
Looks so rich and cheesy! This is going on my to make list for sure. I am so ready for fall, but winter doesn’t ever need to come 🙂
Pamela says
Winter is Coming! (Game of Thrones fan?). Enjoy Christin!
Billie says
Such an excellent idea! I love mac & cheese, can’t wait to try it with some pumpkin, thanks!
Pamela says
Enjoy Billie!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
Savory pumpkin – yum, yum! 🙂
Pamela says
Thanks Jennifer! I agree! 😉
Ash-foodfashionparty says
I have my teen sitting right next to me and he is excited to make this one. Great recipe Pamela, and your pictures are so beautiful
Pamela says
Super awesome news, enjoy this mac and cheese!
veganmiam says
You’re a genius, Pamela! These pumpkin puree provide a lovely orange color to the mac and cheeze, and I would love to make a vegan version of that. Your recipe is very easy to veganize! Thank you for sharing this awesome idea!
Pamela says
Enjoy! Let me know how it turns out veganized! 🙂
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal says
OMG Genius!!!! Pumpkin rocks but in combination with mac & cheese?! Excuse me, miss Genius. I loveee it!
Pamela says
Thanks Kammie! I’m a total mac and cheese aholic, but this pumpkin just shakes it up and makes it even better!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
This dish might be the soul reason why I love pumpkin season so much!
Pamela says
Enjoy Nicole! I think it’s a great dish that can make people fall in love with pumpkin!
Kelly Senyei | Just a Taste says
This looks so spectacular! Love this twist on my all-time favorite food and can’t wait to make your recipe this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Pamela says
Let me know how you like it Kelly, enjoy!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
Woa – what an incredibly amazingly original recipe! My daughter loves Mac n cheese – what a nice way to sneak in some vitamins into it – thank you so much for sharing this! Oh by the way, here in Georgia, I saw Christmas decorations on display at Costco- I think they skipped halloween 🙁
Pamela says
Woah, Christmas decorations! I have one store here that leaves them up all year to buy, I kinda love the idea because I love snowmen, but they can’t skip over Halloween! Enjoy this macaroni and cheese Shashi!
Juliana says
Great idea, pumpkin in mac and cheese…love the color and the flavor…yum!
Thanks for the recipe Pamela and have a wonderful week ahead 😀
Pamela says
Thanks Juliana! Have a great one yourself!
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe says
I love your pumpkin enthusiasm! And I am salivating at the thought of this macaroni & cheese with a fall twist. I love this season too!
Pamela says
Thanks Amanda, it truly is my favorite time of the year!
Stephanie says
Oh my! I am totally making this for dinner this week. I can a massive amount of pumpkin puree in my friend that needs to find its way into my belly asap
Pamela says
Enjoy Stephanie! Get that pumpkin in your belly!
Tessa @ Feral Kitchen says
What an interesting version of mac and cheese! Looks creamy and delicious. Brilliant idea Pamela!
Pamela says
Thanks Tessa!
The Squishy Monster says
This is incredible! Keep those pumpkin recipes comin’! I’m all about it. Love the nutritional boost of this decadent mac and cheese…wish I had kids so I could fool ’em =)
Pamela says
I know, I love the idea of fooling kids with pumpkin.. it’s one of the things I look forward to most! 😉
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen Notes says
Oh pumpkin inisde the mac and cheese! So comforting and delicious. For some reason pumpkin and pasta are very much alike but go so well together!
Pamela says
I totally agree Paula, I love the combination!
Julie @ Table for Two says
Totally my kind of comfort food!!
Pamela says
Enjoy Julie!
Christina (Sisters Running the Kitchen) says
I love how easy this is to make! thanks for sharing. love me some pumpkin flavored everything.
Pamela says
Thanks Christina! Enjoy!
Koko says
You are a geniussssssssss! What a great way to add one of my favourite things…that happens to be a VEGETABLE to macaroni and cheese! I will absolutely without a doubt be making this at some point this Fall! Keep the pumpkin coming!
Pamela says
Thanks Koko! If you’re on board, the pumpkin will continue!
Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) says
Oh wow, I can’t even believe I’ve never tried putting pumpkin in mac and cheese! You’ve inspired me, now I need to!
Pamela says
Ashley, I love your icon picture – made me smile! Enjoy!
Debra says
This is the second great mac’n cheese recipe I have seen today. The pumpkin outs it on top though. Love it!
Pamela says
Thanks Debra! Pumpkin always adds points! 😉