Roasted Squash Chili Mac
Colorful veggies, three cheeses and spicy herbs make a hearty mac 'n' cheese.
Cook's Note: The casserole can be covered and refrigerated before baking for a make-ahead meal.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter, plus more for the casserole dish
- 1 pound butternut squash, peeled and diced (or look for diced raw butternut squash in the produce department)
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- Freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 pound rigatoni, penne or macaroni with ridges
- 2 tablespoons chili powder, such as Gebhardt's, or a blend of ancho or chipotle
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cloves garlic, made into a paste
- 1 fresh chile pepper, such as Fresno or jalapeno, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp yellow Cheddar
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- One 14-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack or other hot-pepper melting cheese
Preparation
Pre-heat oven to 425°F. Lightly butter a casserole dish.
Put the squash on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with EVOO and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Toss to combine. Roast until the edges are browned, 17-20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water to just shy of al dente, 7 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chili powder, oregano, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, garlic and chile pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, then whisk in the milk. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. Add the Cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano and stir until melted.
Combine the squash, chili-cheese sauce and beans, then transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Top with the pepper jack cheese. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the top is browned, 15 to 20 minutes more.
Cook's Note: The casserole can be covered and refrigerated before baking for a make-ahead meal.
