Barilla Mac and Cheese with Penne Pasta, Roasted Acorn Squash, Bacon and Brussels Sprouts
Barilla Mac and Cheese with Penne Pasta, Roasted Acorn Squash, Bacon and Brussels Sprouts
A savoury mac and cheese loved by all ages, featuring squash, bacon and cheddar
1 hours total
Even the adults will love this perfect and easy Mac and Cheese recipe by Frédérike Lachance-Brulotte of @folksandforks. It's a hearty harmony of sweet, savoury, and sharp from the acorn squash, bacon, cheddar... and any cheese of your choice! Not forgetting a perfectly al dente base of Barilla Penne pasta, of course. It's THE pasta dish to make for the kids, or for any dinner parties!
Lasagne and Oven-Baked Recipes
Ingredients
Serves 6
| 1 box | Barilla Penne pasta |
| 1 | acorn squash, halved and emptied |
| 4 | slices bacon, quartered |
| 15 | Brussels sprouts, cut in 3 |
| 3 tbsp | honey |
| 3 tbsp | olive oil |
| 1 | onion, finely chopped |
| 3 | garlic cloves, finely chopped |
| 1/4 cup | butter |
| 1/4 cup | flour |
| 3 cups | milk |
| 1/2 cup | cooking water |
| 1 tsp | nutmeg |
| 1 cup | old cheddar, grated |
| 1/2 cup | grated cheese of your choice |
| Bacon breadcrumbs (optional) |
For the bacon breadcrumbs
| 1 cup | cubed bread (leftover baguette, ciabatta or country loaf) |
| 2-3 | slices of bacon, quartered |
| Fresh or dried herbs of your choice (thyme, rosemary, etc.) | |
| 2 tbsp | olive oil |
Disclaimer
Individuals with allergies or specific dietary concerns should verify that the ingredients they utilize for the recipes comply with their restrictions. *Such a line meets the VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE, LACTOSE-FREE AND KOSHER needs
Method
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Step 2
Baste acorn squash flesh with olive oil. Add salt and pepper and put on a baking sheet, flesh towards baking sheet. Place Brussels sprouts around squash and coat with a drizzle of oil and honey. Add salt and pepper, then top with slices of bacon. Cook in the oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until soft. Then remove flesh and transfer in a bowl. Mash squash until puréed. Set aside.
Step 3
While squash is cooking, cook Barilla Penne pasta until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of cooking water. Set aside.
Step 4
In a pot, cook garlic and onion in butter at low heat. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper. Once onion becomes translucent, add flour to form a roux, then gradually incorporate milk using a whip. Continue cooking while whipping until béchamel becomes smooth and thick.
Step 5
Incorporate mashed squash in béchamel and add cheddar cheese and ½ cup of cheese of your choice. If the sauce becomes too thick, use cooking water to thin it out.
Step 6
Once the sauce is ready, add Brussels sprouts, bacon and pasta and mix well.
Step 7
Sprinkle with grated cheese, then add bacon breadcrumbs.
Step 8
Cook in the oven for 20 minutes at 375°F, then cook at broil until cheese is golden brown.
Step 9
After placing the squash and Brussels sprouts in the oven, on another baking sheet, place the bread cubes, then mix with the olive oil and the herbs. Place the bacon slices on top, then bake for about 15 minutes or until the bacon and croutons are cooked through.
Step 10
When ready, roughly chop the contents of the baking sheet to make breadcrumbs, then set aside.
Penne Rigate
Penne is one of the most famous Italian pasta shapes and is beloved across Italy. Penne, which means 'pen' in Italian, gets its name from its shape. The tube shape with angled ends was inspired by the quill of an old-style ink pen. Its ridged tubes are perfect for capturing sauces and the rugged texture adds depth to dishes, making it a popular choice for baked pasta dishes and hearty sauces.
- Shape Short en-ca
- Cook time 11 mins
- Pack size 410 g
- Range Classic Blue Box
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