Healthy Mac and Cheese (Kale and Butternut Squash Gratin)

This post has been updated for recipe, photos and content since its original publication in 2014.

Look no further for the best veggie mac and cheese. This one has it all — a creamy, cheesy butternut squash gratin with al dente pasta and tender blanched kale topped with a buttered crumb crust. Kale and butternut squash may seem an unlikely pairing, but in this healthy mac and cheese casserole, they’re absolutely delicious. You can roast your own butternut squash or use canned for this easy squash and kale mac and cheese. You can eat the mac and cheese directly from the pot, or bake it in a casserole with toasted breadcrumbs. Either way this healthy butternut squash recipe is dee-licious.

Ingredients For Healthy Mac and Cheese

• Butternut Squash
• Butter
• Flour
• Dry Mustard (optional)
• Kosher Salt
• Milk
• Cheese (can use Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Gruyere, Mozzarella)
• Kale
• Sourdough Bread
• Parsley

This butternut squash gratin starts with pureed squash. I prefer to make my own as its fairly simple and most of the work is done by the oven and food processor. However, if you’re pressed for time, you can use canned pumpkin instead… or thaw a bag of frozen butternut squash chunks and puree them in the food processor.

The best part about this butternut squash and kale mac and cheese is the creamy cheese and butternut sauce that clings to the macaroni and enrobes the kale. I could seriously eat it by the spoonful, but it’s even better in the kale and butternut squash gratin. The bright orange of the butternut squash adds a subtle sweetness to the luscious cheese sauce — and also adds a vibrant orange hue. I swear, it looks just like Velveeta.

To Make Veggie Mac and Cheese Sauce

1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium high heat.
2. Add flour, dry mustard and salt and whisk together until it’s thick and pasty and the flour mixture is bubbly.
3. Add milk a little at a time, stirring well to combine after each addition.
4. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce comes to a boil. Stir the sauce while it simmers for one minute, then remove it from the heat.
5. Stir in the grated cheese until it’s melted.
6. Add the butternut squash purée and stir to combine.

What did I tell you? VELVEETA! If I didn’t know better, I’d think this came from a box for sure. In fact, when my husband peered into the pot, he gave me an accusing “Cheater-Cheater” look and checked the trash can for the evidence that I was using a prepackaged mix. Nope.

I use elbow macaroni and plain curly kale in this butternut squash gratin. I think the elbow macaroni gives the healthy mac and cheese a traditional look and the curly kale holds up to the quick blanch and stays vibrant green. If you are on a gluten-free regimen, you can substitute your favorite gluten-free pasta, but look for short tubes like elbow macaroni, penne, even small shells so that the cheese sauce can cling and ooze into the cavities.

How To Make Kale Mac and Cheese

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
2. Add salt
3. Stir in the pasta and cook according to package directions.
4. NOTE: If you’re serving this like a skillet side dish, cook the pasta to al dente. If you’re planning to bake it in a casserole dish, cook the pasta to just before al dente (it will continue to cook in the oven).
5. A few minutes before the pasta is ready, stir in the chopped kale and finish cooking until the pasta is ready.
6. Drain the kale and macaroni well in a colander before transferring it back to the pot.
7. Add the butternut squash cheese sauce and stir well to combine.

If you just can’t wait to eat, feel free to serve the squash and kale mac and cheese directly from the pan. However, if you have a little more willpower, transfer the butternut squash gratin to a casserole dish and set the oven to 375°.

Every casserole can benefit from a crunchy, golden topping, right? Instead of using dry breadcrumbs from a canister, I make my own fresh, herb buttered breadcrumbs in about 30 seconds with a mini food processor. They’re way better than those shelf-stable wannabes and they add just the right texture and crunch.

Making Buttered Breadcrumbs

1. Break the bread into a few chunks and transfer to the bowl of a mini prep food processor.
2. Add a sprig or two of parsley and a pat of butter.
3. Pulse several times until crumbs form.

Garnishing Veggie Mac and Cheese

1. Sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs over the butternut squash gratin.
2. Bake for about 15 minutes to warm the casserole and crisp and brown the breadcrumbs.
3. Serve immediately.

More Mac and Cheese Recipes:

• Mac n Cheese
• Lobster Shells and Cheese
• Southwestern Style Leftover Turkey (and cheese) Casserole

More Healthy Casseroles:

• Tender Butternut Rutabaga Gratin
• Mexican Quinoa Bake from I Heart Vegetables
• Cauliflower & Mushroom Gratin
• Meatless Lasagna with Roasted Veggies from Girl Heart Food

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