I am so excited to be participating in Sunday Suppers for the first time. The Sunday Supper movement was started by the wonderful Isabel from Family Foodie as a way to encourage people to sit down together and enjoy family meals. Sunday Suppers bring together a whole bunch of talented bloggers every week to share themed recipes.
I really believe in the Sunday Supper movement and am amazed by these talented cooks and bloggers. As a small child, my family ate dinner together at the table every single night. My mom cooked meals and we sat and ate them together. As we got older and busier this became more and more rare. Now as an adult, I am more and more grateful for every time I can sit down and share a meal with people I care about.
The theme for this week’s #SundaySupper is Orange. I decided on this delicious take on mac and cheese. Generally I don’t like mac and cheese at all. I find it too heavy, greasy and fatty. So instead of going the traditional route, I subbed in some delicious (and seasonal!) butternut squash. The creamy squash adds a ton of texture and flavor. As a bonus the squash allowed me to cut back the cheese considerably, resulting in a comforting and filling meal that cuts back the calories, fat and sodium of the traditional dish. One large dinner serving has only 421 calorie and 12 grams of fat, making it a guilt free indulgence.
At Craig’s brilliant suggestion, I added some chicken sausage (you can substitute white meat ground chicken or turkey as well) for protein. The sausage added a great flavor and helped make this a complete meal. The recipe makes ample leftovers. I found this was a wonderful lunch and extras can also be frozen easily. We loved this so much I’m seriously considering adding it to my Thanksgiving menu this year (sans meat) as it’s a great make ahead dish and a crowd pleaser.
- 1 large butternut squash (approx 2lbs), seeds and membrane removed
- 1 lb whole wheat elbow macaroni
- 1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1/2 lb chicken sausage or white meat ground chicken
- 1 tsp mustard powder
- 1.5 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup whole wheat panko breadcrumbs
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside
- Cook squash. You can microwave it (cut into chunks and nuke for 6-8 minutes), boil it (until fork tender) or roast it (in chunks, approx 20-25 min)
- Preheat oven to 375
- In a cast iron skillet or frying pan, saute onion in olive oil 2-3 minutes
- Add sausage or chicken and break up into small chunks
- In a large mixing bowl mash squash with a potato masher until smooth
- Add ricotta, cheddar, mustard powder and cayenne
- Add sausage and onion mixture and pasta
- Toss everything until the pasta is thoroughly coated with the cheese/squash mixture
- Spread mixture in the skillet or a glass baking pan
- Top with panko
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes
- Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes, breadcrumbs will start to brown
- Serve!
This recipe yields approximately 8 servings
A big thanks to Pam from The Meltaways for hosting the event this week. Stop by and check out her site for some amazing recipes. Also a big thanks to Isabel from Family Foodie who founded and runs the Sunday Supper group. If you are interested in joining or learning more , contact her ASAP. She is doing some really fantastic work and I am so excited to be a part of it for the first time.
Can’t get enough Sunday Supper? Well then join us on Twitter today – just follow #SundaySupper. You can also many fantastic recipes on the #SundaySupper Pinterest board. Additionally, we’ll all be meeting up at 7pm EST tonight (Sunday) for the #SundaySupper live chat.
Please stop by and check out the other talented members of the Sunday Supper crew. This is an incredibly diverse and talented group of bloggers who are incredibly dedicated to bringing the Sunday Supper mission to you. So stop by, check out some recipes and leave lots of comment love!
Sunrise (Breakfast and Brunch)
Paula from Vintage Kitchen Notes is bringing her Orange Ricotta Pancakes
Erin from Dinners Dishes and Desserts is baking up some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Heather from Girlichef is bringing Pumpkin Doughnuts with Spiced Buttermilk Glaze
Nicole from Daily Dish Recipes is making Pumpkin Donut Puffs
Patti from Comfy Cuisine is bringing Classic Orange Marmalade
Sunithi from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz is making Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Muffins with Craisins and Walnuts
Wendy from The Weekend Gourmet is cooking up some Pumpkin Maple Oatmeal
Jamie from Mama Mommy Mom is bringing Butternut Squash Butter
Chelsea from Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence is bringing Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Chai Icing
High Noon (Soups, Salads and Sandwiches)
Renee from Magnolia Days is serving up some Butternut Squash Soup
Beate from Galactopdx is bringing her Carrot Ginger Soup
Jen from Juanita’s Cocina is making some Curried Sweet Potato Salad With Cranberries and Pecans
Megan from I Run For Wine is making Skinny Roasted Butternut Squash and Italian Sausage Soup
Sarah from What Smells So Good is filling our bowls with some Spicy Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
Alice from Hip Foodie Mom is coming with her Roasted Carrot and Red Quinoa Salad
Susan from The Wimpy Vegetarian is making Cider – Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
Tora from Tora’s Real Food is bringing Butternut Squash and Tomato Soup
Melanie from From Fast Food to Fresh Food is making Monty’s Pumpkin Soup
Lyn from The Lovely Pantry is bringing Roasted Pumpkin & Coconut Soup
Kim from Cravings of a Lunatic is whipping up some Mandarin Chicken Salad
Sunset (Dinner and Main Dishes)
Sarah from Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends is offering up some Pumpkin Ravioli
Shelia from Pippis In The Kitchen Again is serving her Roasted Squash and Ricotta with Honey
Pam from The Meltaways is making Spooky Stuffed Peppers
Patsy from Famfriendsfood is bringing her Carrot Souffle
Laura from Small Wallet Big Appetite is bringing Chicken and Sweet Potato Fritters
Mehereen from Chattering Kitchen is making Sichuan Orange Glazed Chicken with Toasted Sesame Seeds
Tammi from Momma’s Meals is making Hearty Pork Stew
Kristin from Kwistin’s Favorites is making Orange Chicken
Soni from Soni’s Food For Thought is cooking up some Rigatoni with Pumpkin Ricotta Sauce
Shelby from Diabetic Foodie is cooking up some Moroccan Vegetable Stew
Dara from Generation Y Foodie is bringing Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Brandie from Home Cooking Memories is sharing a DIY Baked Sweet Potato Bar
Amber from Mama’s Blissful Bites is bringing Rice and Fig Stuffed Mini Pumpkins
By The Bonfire (Sweets, Snacks and Sips)
Carla from Chocolate Moosey is making Pumpkin Tiramisu with Pumpkin Butter Caramel Sauce
Heather from Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks is offering up some Pumpkin Cake Truffles
Shelia from Cooking Underwriter is bringing Sweet Potato Bacon Beet Salsa
Anne from Webicurean is making some Drunken Pumpkin Bread
Karen from In The Kitchen With KP is making Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Leslie La Cocina De Leslie is making Sweet Potato Atole
Seet Fei from My Trials in The Kitchen is bringing Sweet Potatoes Mini Balls
Tara from Noshing With The Nolands is bringing Oranges En Suprise
Susan from The Girl in The Red Kitchen is making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scone with Pumpkin Glaze
Conni from Mrs. Mama Hen is making Orange Glazed Poundcake
Isabel from Family Foodie is baking up Moist Pumpkin Bread
Cindy from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings is baking up a Vegan Pumpkin Orange Cake
Brenda from Meal Planning Magic is whipping up some Creamy Pumpkin Dip
Laura from Family Spice is making some Unprocessed and Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
Kathya from Basic and Delicious is baking up Butternut Squash and Carrot Bread
Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake is serving up Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
Stephanie from The Cookie A Day Challenge is whipping up some Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches
Katie from She Like Ruffles, He Likes Truffles is bringing Pumpkin Harvest Cookies
Nancy from Gotta Get Baked is baking up some Orange Macadamia Dark Chocolate Cookies
Angie from Big Bear’s Wife is bringing Orange Soda Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
Katy from Happy Baking Days is bringing Carrot Cake with Orange Glaze
Sandra from Midlife Road Trip is bringing Orange ya glad it’s fall! Hungarian Apricot/Walnut pastries
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So first of all, this looks delicious!! I am going to attempt (though I may need some separate, extra help, email directions). Second, WHY are you torturing me with all those links? Pumpkin muffins, orange ricotta pancakes – my mouth is watering!
I’m glad you like it! I was so pleases with how it came out. Email anytime. And those pancakes are amazing.
This sounds like my dream recipe! Thank you so much for sharing.
Great way to add some extra nutrition into comfort food!!!
This is a great pasta dish – healthy and looks so delicious!
Oh my goodness, does this dish sound amazing! The butternut squash is such a yummy addition to the mac and cheese – I totally want to try this!
Your Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese looks amazing!
This truly looks incredible. What a great recipe. Thanks for sharing!!
I could sit down to a bowl of that right now! I love the idea of using squash and cutting back on the cheese–I’ll bet it’s super creamy anyway, and no one will miss the extra cheese!
Such a great twist on the traditional mac n cheese!. The butternut squash makes it so creamy and a bit healthier.
Spicy and cheesy – what could be better! Love the ricotta in it too
This looks interesting, I will have to try if I can convert to be gluten free.
Oh, I do think that this would make an amazing addition to the Thanksgiving table! Although, one of my sisters brings traditional mac ‘n cheese every year, and I don’t think she’d “not” bring it, so we’d just have to have 2 varieties. Love it!! =)
Even with less cheese, it looks melty and fabulous! What a great dish for a family dinner.
The perfect comfort food with a healthy twist! Perfectly delicious!!
Great combo for mac and cheese!
This looks like such a flavoursome dish
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
This dish would get (and keep) my family around the table! Yummm!
I’ve added pumpkin to our mac and cheese and the kids don’t notice it. Love the idea of butternut squash!
And I thought my mac & cheese days were over! Love the addition of the squash. Great recipe. Welcome to #SundaySupper!
I just love these comfort foods in this season!!Love the idea of using squash in this Mac n cheese along with sausage!!Such delicious flavors
Dara, welcome to the Sunday Supper group!!!! Your mac and cheese looks spectacular…I think even my picky daughter would eat this yummy pasta!
This looks like yummy (and healthier!) version of mac n cheese.
This looks soooo super amazing! I will have to return for more yummy recipes
This is gourmet adult mac & cheese although I think my kids will like it as well ! Love then use of ricotta cheese & cayenne ! yumm ! looking forward to checking out your other recipes, busy professional that I am
What a great mac n’ cheese. I have been thinking about adding squash to it. Try to sneak it by my hubby!
I love butternut squash yet I’ve never made mac and cheese with it. I am thinking that’s probably one of the BEST match that I can imagine… what a lovely comfort food. Perfect for Sunday supper to relax and enjoy family dinner!
This mac and cheese looks amazing! What a great idea to combine it with butternut squash! Bookmarked to try soon!
Welcome to Sunday Supper! You picked one of my favourite dishes as your first post. What an awesome way to cut back on calories by using the butternut squash. I don’t even want to know how many calories traditional mac ‘n cheese has!
Sausage, pasta and squash make an excellent combination. It’s a fact and I can vouche for it. I made a similiar dish myself. Fantastic dish!
This looks so good! I wonder if I could get my boys to eat this healthier mac and cheese… welcome to #SundaySupper!
I like your recipe.
I happy to find your blog.
Bye from Italy
Dara I am so thrilled you joined SS. This recipe is a great addition this week. You are an even greater addition, so happy you joined us.
This mac n cheese looks amazing! Comfort food at it’s best! You should have saved this one for THIS Sunday!
great post!
Your mac and cheese looks delicious!!
I made this tonight, true to recipe, and the results were outstanding. I may have been a little short on the cheddar cheese, but the flavor and consistency were just about perfect. Boyfriend loved it too. Thank you for sharing!
Christine I am so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe! Your feedback is appreciated.