Butternut Squash Pasta Bake – Yummy Toddler Meals

With a creamy butternut squash sauce and the simplest technique doable—zero chopping required—this Butternut Squash Pasta Bake is right here to make dinner just a little simpler. It’s like a veggie-packed mac and cheese with a crispy topping for further measure!

This submit is sponsored by Colavita.

Each fall and winter, I look so as to add extra cozy, nutritious recipes to our rotation and this pasta bake is a brand new favourite. It checks the entire bins for me: minimal prep time (and no chopping!), diet (from the inclusion of butternut squash within the sauce), taste (from the squash and in addition herbs and spices), and yumminess (from cheese and pasta!). It’s an awesome vegetarian meal for teenagers (and oldsters) that may additionally double as a vacation facet dish—it’s an awesome Thanksgiving recipe for teenagers!

This submit is my newest collaboration with Colavita, my favourite supply for Italian pantry staples. The corporate is family-owned and operated and makes pasta, olive oil, beans, sauces, and a lot extra. Use my unique code YUMMY25 of their on-line retailer for 25% off.

(You might also like Taco Pasta, Cheeseburger Pasta, Pink Pepper Pasta, and Tomato Pastina.)

Your toddler gained’t eat? Assistance is right here!

Join our e-mail updates to get ideas and concepts despatched to your inbox.

Elements You Want

Right here’s a take a look at the components it’s worthwhile to make this Butternut Squash Pasta Bake so what to choose up from the shop or have readily available.

• Pasta: Use a brief form of pasta equivalent to gemelli, penne, rotini, or elbows for best serving of the pasta bake on the finish.
• Butter: I like so as to add just a little butter to the pasta sauce for richness and taste. I exploit unsalted butter however salted will even work.
• Butternut squash puree: Use do-it-yourself butternut squash child meals puree or canned butternut squash puree. They each work the identical, although the canned possibility is simpler.
• Grated cheddar cheese: Including grated white cheddar cheese or yellow cheddar cheese provides taste and that creaminess we would like in a pasta bake.
• Grated Parmesan cheese: This cheese provides taste, together with the cheddar.
• Milk: I add complete milk (or heavy cream) to the sauce combination to make sure it could possibly simply stir collectively.
• Thyme, garlic powder, onion powder: This trio of herbs provides sufficient taste to the combination with out including any work. You need to use recent or dried thyme right here as they each work the identical on this recipe.
• Panko breadcrumbs: So as to add a crispy layer on prime of the pasta bake, I add Panko breadcrumbs which have just a little extra texture than conventional breadcrumbs. I’m utilizing seasoned ones right here for added taste, although plain ones work, too.
• Olive oil spray: The Colavita olive oil spray places the final touch on the highest of the pasta bake to make sure that the breadcrumbs bake up crispy.

Step-by-Step Directions

Beneath is an summary of the Butternut Squash Pasta Bake recipe so what to anticipate from the method. Scroll all the way down to the tip of this submit for the total recipe, together with the timing and quantities.

Step 1. Prepare dinner the pasta in response to the bundle instructions till al dente. Drain.

Step 2. Add the pasta together with the opposite components besides the Panko to a greased baking dish. Stir to mix.

Step 3. Even out the combination, then prime with the Panko. Spray with olive oil.

Step 4. Bake till the highest of the pasta bake is golden brown and the cheese is melted. Serve heat.

Find out how to Retailer

Retailer leftover Butternut Squash Pasta Bake, coated, within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Heat by means of to serve. You too can make this forward of time, then cowl with foil and heat by means of in a 350 diploma oven for 10-12 minutes or till the center is gooey and heat.

Greatest Ideas for Success

• Use do-it-yourself Butternut Squash Puree from cubed and roasted or steamed butternut squash or canned butternut squash puree. They each work the identical, although the canned possibility is simpler.
• Use a brief form of pasta equivalent to gemelli, penne, rotini, or elbows.
• Use recent or dried thyme. Each work the identical.
• I’m utilizing seasoned Panko right here so as to add just a little further taste.
• To make this dairy-free, use a favourite non-dairy cheese and plain unsweetened non-dairy milk.
• Use mozzarella cheese rather than cheddar in the event you choose. Prime with black pepper or crushed pink pepper flakes for adults and serve with a easy facet salad, spinach salad, Italian sausage, or sliced apples or pears.

I’d love to listen to your suggestions on this recipe in the event you attempt it, so please remark beneath to share!

Prepare dinner ModeStop your display from going darkish

• Preheat the oven to 425 levels F and grease an 8×8-inch pan.

• Carry a big pot of water to a boil.

• Add the squash and cook dinner for about 10 minutes or till tender when poked with a fork. Use a big slotted spoon to switch the squash to a blender, draining off the entire liquid.

• Add the milk, cheese, and a pair of tablespoons butter to the blender with the squash. Puree till utterly easy.

• In the meantime, deliver the water again to a boil and cook dinner the pasta in response to bundle instructions. Drain.

• Add the drained pasta to the ready pan and stir within the cheese sauce. Sprinkle with the panko. Spray with olive oil.

• Bake for 10 minutes or till the highest is golden brown and crispy. Serve heat.

• Retailer leftover Butternut Squash Pasta Bake, coated, within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Heat by means of to serve. You too can make this forward of time, then cowl with foil and heat by means of in a 350 diploma oven for 10-12 minutes or till the center is gooey and heat.
• Use do-it-yourself Butternut Squash Puree or canned butternut squash puree. They each work the identical, although the canned possibility is simpler.
• Use a brief form of pasta equivalent to gemelli, penne, rotini, or elbows.
• Use recent or dried thyme. Each work the identical.
• I’m utilizing seasoned Panko right here so as to add just a little further taste.
• To make this dairy-free, use a favourite non-dairy cheese and plain unsweetened non-dairy milk.

Energy: 332kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 13g, Fats: 10g, Saturated Fats: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g, Monounsaturated Fats: 2g, Trans Fats: 0.1g, Ldl cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 317mg, Potassium: 237mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 2146IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 174mg, Iron: 1mg