Autumn Comfort Mac Recipe

(from castro15’s recipe box)

Categories: Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 butternut squash (approximately 2 pounds), peeled and cubed into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 ounces pancetta, diced
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 12 ounces cavatappi* pasta
  • *Cavatappi are short (1-inch) tubular corkscrew or spiral-shaped pasta, native to southern Italy.
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups Tuscan blend shredded cheese mix
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons fresh-chopped sage
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
  • Topping
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted sweet cream butter
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons fresh chopped sage
  • 1/2 cup Tuscan blend shredded cheese mix

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
  2. In a large bowl, toss butternut squash pieces with olive oil. Spread squash pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway. Remove when squash is tender and caramel brown. Set aside and reduce oven heat to 350°F.
  3. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add cavatappi and cook approximately 8 minutes or until al dente. Drain well.
  4. On the stovetop, cook the pancetta over medium heat in a skillet for 6 minutes. Add shallots and cook 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.
  5. In a 2-quart sauce pan, melt butter. Add flour and, stirring constantly, cook approximately 2 minutes or until golden brown. Add milk and cream in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Stir in 2 cups of cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in 1-1/2 tablespoons of chopped sage. Add 1 teaspoon black pepper, or add to taste.
  6. Mix cooked cavatappi, cheese sauce and pancetta together in a large bowl. Gently fold in roasted butternut squash and crumbled goat cheese. Pour into a lightly greased 9″ × 13″ baking pan.
  7. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the microwave in a large glass bowl. Stir in sage, cheese and bread crumbs. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture in the pan.
  8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is bubbling.
  9. Turn on broiler and move pan to the top rack of the oven. Brown for 3 minutes or until golden brown.
  10. Remove from oven and wait 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle each serving with minced fresh sage, if desired.

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