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Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

40 minutes
pumpkin
By: Pamela Reed
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Easy oven baked pumpkin mac and cheese made with pumpkin puree and shredded cheddar cheese. Creamy inside with crispy noodles on top! This easy baked pumpkin mac is the ultimate comfort food during the Fall, with a very subtle pumpkin taste satisfying everybody at the dinner table!

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with crispy top.

Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Love mac and cheese? How about we embrace all things Fall and turn it into pumpkin mac and cheese?

It’s a creamy mac and cheese, first making the creamy pumpkin cheese sauce on the stovetop, and then baking it in the oven. Each bite of the elbow noodles is covered in cheese with subtle pumpkin flavor. It’s rich, savory, and slightly sweet with a touch of spice!

I know not everyone is a pumpkin flavor lover. To be honest my husband isn’t a big pumpkin fan, but he happily eats this for dinner because the pumpkin taste is very subtle. So if you want a dinner that will make everyone happy – try this recipe!

Want more baked pumpkin recipes? Try my Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Whoopie Pies and Pumpkin Dinner Rolls next!

fork going into mac and cheese to eat it.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese

  • Elbow noodles work great because the noodles catch the cheese sauce, but you can use shells of bowtie pasta if you prefer too!
  • Pumpkin puree, you can use canned pumpkin puree of if you’re feeling adventurous, carve up your sugar pumpkin and make homemade pumpkin puree!
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • For the cheese sauce: butter, flour, milk.
  • Spices: salt, pepper, nutmeg and ground mustard
shredded cheese in a bowl.

How to Make Pumpkin Mac and Cheese in the Oven

Boil elbow pasta noodles according to the box, drain, and place in a 9×9 baking dish.

elbow pasta in baking dish.

In a saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour and then add milk. Bring to a simmer until thickened. Stir in salt, black pepper, ground nutmeg, and mustard.

Next, add in the pure pumpkin puree and cheese. Stir until melted.

pumpkin cheese sauce in saucepan.

Pour the cheese mixture on top of the pasta in baking dish and mix to fully coat the noodles.

cheesy pumpkin mac and cheese in baking dish.

Bake, remove, serve, and enjoy your creamy mac!

golden brown baked mac and cheese.

Storing/Reheating Leftovers 

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Homemade pumpkin mac and cheese can last up to 4 days.

Reheat: To reheat, place the baking dish filled with leftovers into the oven and bake for around 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. To reheat quicker, heat it up in the microwave for 30 second increments until it’s fully warmed up.

pumpkin mac and cheese in baking dish with some scooped out.

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Homemade pumpkin mac and cheese made with pumpkin puree and shredded cheddar cheese. This easy pumpkin mac is the ultimate comfort food with a total cook time of 30 minutes!
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Easy Baked Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

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Easy oven baked pumpkin mac and cheese made with pumpkin puree and shredded cheddar cheese. Creamy inside with crispy noodles on top! This easy baked pumpkin mac is the ultimate comfort food during the Fall, with a very subtle pumpkin taste satisfying everybody at the dinner table!
By: Pamela Reed
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
serves 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Make elbow macaroni according to the package. Drain pasta and pour into a 9×9 baking dish.
  • In a medium size saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until smooth. Stir in milk, a little at a time and continue to whisk until thickened. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg and mustard and stir.
  • Add in pumpkin puree and shredded cheese, stirring until cheese is completely melted.
  • Pour pumpkin cheese sauce on top of pasta in the baking dish, stirring to completely coat the noodles.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown. Enjoy!

Video:

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 293kcal (15%)
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pumpkin mac and cheese
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

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  1. Desigfx.Com says

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  2. 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!!

    Reply

  4. 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!

    Reply

    • 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! 🙂

      Reply

  7. 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!! 🙂

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  8. 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!

    Reply

  10. 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!

    Reply

  11. Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen 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 🙂

    Reply

  14. 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

    Reply

  15. 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!

    Reply

  16. Kammie @ Sensual Appeal says

    OMG Genius!!!! Pumpkin rocks but in combination with mac & cheese?! Excuse me, miss Genius. I loveee it!

    Reply

  18. 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!

    Reply

  19. 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 🙁

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  20. 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 😀

    Reply

  21. 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!

    Reply

  22. 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

    Reply

  24. 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 =)

    Reply

  25. 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!

    Reply

  27. Christina (Sisters Running the Kitchen) says

    I love how easy this is to make! thanks for sharing. love me some pumpkin flavored everything.

    Reply

  28. 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!

    Reply

  29. 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!

    Reply