One of the best meals I’ve had in awhile! This creamy butternut squash and cauliflower mac and cheese sauce is out of this world good!
A sauce made out of veggies? Yes please! And, I swear it tastes cheesy without the cheese! It’s perfectly savory, creamy, and full of flavor. And so nutritious!
So perfect with some pasta shells (I used gluten free) and steamed broccoli. You can toss in any veggies you love, and a protein if you wan it! It’s super versatile, easy to make, and picky eater approved!
This recipe was based off my original baked cauliflower mac and cheese, which I am equally obsessed with! This one skips the baking portion, and has some butternut squash added for a fall twist (plus a nutrient boost and a gorgeous orange color).
This can be kept totally dairy free by using a vegan butter, too! I love the butter flavor that this adds, so I recommend either sticking to regular or dairy free butter (instead of an oil).
I could eat this every day I swear! It would never get old. I know you guys will love this one! xo
Let me know what you think if you make this by leaving a rating and comment below! Thank you so much! š
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The Best Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese (dairy free, gluten free)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
Description
The best healthy mac and cheese! Made with cauliflower and butternut squash!Ā
Ingredients
- 2 tbspĀ ghee, butter, or vegan butter
- 1/2Ā of a yellow or white onion, finely diced
- 3Ā large cloves of garlic, minced
- 1Ā head of cauliflower, roughly chopped
- 1 cupĀ low sodium vegetable broth
- 3Ā tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1.5 tspĀ sea salt
- 1/2 tspĀ black pepper
- 1/4–1/3 cup butternut squash pureeĀ
- Plain unsweetened dairy free milk as needed, up to 1/2 cup (can sub regular milk)
- 1 lb of your favorite pasta
Optional additions:
- Steamed broccoli
- Parmesan for topping
- Chicken, ground turkey, or any protein
Instructions
- Start by making the sauce. Heat a heavy bottom pot over medium heat. Once hot, add ghee or butter and stir in onions. Allow to cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in minced garlic and allow to cook for about 30 seconds, then stir in the chopped cauliflower.
- Add the vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, sea salt, and pepper to the pot and give everything a good stir. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until cauliflower is fork tender, about 10-12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook your pasta according to directions on box.Ā
- When cauliflower is soft, remove from heat and allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Carefully add everything from the pot for the sauce to a blender, plus the butternut squash puree and 1/4 cup of milk of choice. Blend everything until smooth, and add more milk as needed.Ā
- Mix the sauce with the pasta and any add ins of choice. Top with parmesan (optional) and enjoy!Ā
Gayle
This was amazing! Made this with pumpkin instead of butternut squash, used leftover beef pho broth which made this taste amazing. Didnāt need any milk. Put this over miracle noodle macaroni. Topped it with crispy roasted cauliflower and a Parmesan cheese. We all loved it and will make again!!
★★★★★
Mia Zarlengo
Ok this sounds amazing!! Love how you tweaked it! So glad you enjoyed it thank you Gayle! š
Harley
This was amazing!! Thank you so much for the recipe.
emilly
how many calories are in this? i use an app to track them so it helps me make sure iām not eating to much but i canāt put it in without knowing that š
Marquel
Is the butternut squash purƩe cooked? I bought precut butternut squash. Do I cook it and then purƩe?
Mia Zarlengo
Yes mine was from the can so itās cooked! Youāll have to steam your squash until tender then purĆ©e!
m r
can i use butternut squash soup instead of purƩe?
Mia Zarlengo
It will be a bit more thin but will work! You can also sub steamed butternut squash!
Tori
Sooo good! I couldnāt find butternut squash purĆ©e so I just roasted some and then added bite sized pieces in the blender with the rest of the sauce and it came out great! I love how versatile this recipe is, I added ground turkey and broccoli, but could easily add any protein/veggie combo! Thanks Mia! š
★★★★★
Amy
I have been changing my eating habits and you recipes have done in handy, though Iām still not ready to cut of dairy. What can I use instead of nutritional yeast to add the cheesy flavor?
Mia Zarlengo
Parmesan would work!
Abby
This is AMAZING!!! I love the Panera Mac and cheese and this tastes almost the same! I didnāt have milk so I used around a tbs plain Greek yogurt and some water and it made it so creamy!
★★★★★
Mia Zarlengo
What a sweet compliment thank you sooo much Abby!! š