• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

cait's plate

helping you break free from diet culture

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • FOOD PHILOSOPHY
    • FITNESS PHILOSPHY
  • RECIPES
    • BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
    • LUNCH
    • DINNER
    • SNACKS & SIDES
    • DESSERT
    • THE BASICS
  • NUTRITION
    • INTUITIVE EATING SERIES
    • NUTRITION TOPICS
    • POPULAR DIETS
  • MOTHERHOOD
    • TODDLER FEEDING
    • PREGNANCY
    • BABY
  • FREE RESOURCES
  • NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP
  • CONTACT
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts

10 · Nov 11, 2016 · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

creamy baked pumpkin mac and cheese is combined with roasted brussel sprouts for a delicious fall meal the entire family will love!

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts - a delicious, autumnal twist on a classic // cait's plate

This weekend my sister and I were craving comfort food with a healthier twist and came up with this!

If the name alone doesn’t sell you on just how delicious this is, I’ll just let you in on this little tidbit: I’ve eaten this for dinner 3 out of the 4 nights since we made it.  And for all of you out there thinking pumpkin and brussel sprouts don’t go well together, I’m here to tell you that they definitely do.

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts - a delicious, autumnal twist on a classic // cait's plate

In fact, this could be a nice addition to the Thanksgiving table.  It combines two classic items into a warm, creamy and delicious single dish.  Regardless of when you decide to make it though, it will be fully enjoyed – I can promise you that.

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts - a delicious, autumnal twist on a classic // cait's plate

The pumpkin and brussel sprout combination take mac and cheese to the next level and put an perfect autumnal twist on a favorite meal!  I also love that it provides an excuse to squeeze a little extra nutrition into a classic comfort food dish.  Pumpkins are rich in nutrients like vitamin A and potassium while brussel sprouts are an excellent source of vitamins C, fiber and folate.

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts - a delicious, autumnal twist on a classic // cait's plate

We used whole grain pasta to bump up the fiber in the dish as well so you can be sure that this dish will hold you over.  Although to be honest, I almost wish it didn’t do such a good job filling you up because it’s so delicious you just want to eat more as soon as your bowl is empty!  But that’s another nice thing about this dish – it reheats well and makes at least 6 servings so you can enjoy it all week long!

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts - a delicious, autumnal twist on a classic // cait's plate

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts - a delicious, autumnal twist on a classic // cait's plate

baked pumpkin mac and cheese with roasted brussel sprouts

  • Author: Cait
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
  • Category: dinner
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

creamy baked pumpkin mac and cheese is combined with roasted brussel sprouts for a delicious fall meal the entire family will love!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 box whole wheat pasta
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup white cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • Dash of ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 cups brussels sprouts, sliced in quarters
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

For the Brussel Sprouts:

  1. Toss brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast at
  2. 400 degrees F for 15 minutes

For the Mac & Cheese:

  1. Turn oven down to 375 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9×13 baking pan
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions
  3. Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat. As soon as it begins
  4. to brown, add the flour and whisk for 1 minute
  5. Slowly whisk in the milk
  6. Continue whisking as you add the pumpkin and cheeses. Whisk in nutmeg,
  7. salt and pepper.
  8. Drain the pasta and return it to its pot. Add the cheese sauce to the
  9. pasta and toss to coat.
  10. Stir in roasted brussels sprouts
  11. Transfer pasta to prepared pan and top with panko
  12. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is very bubbly and panko is
  13. lightly browned on top.

Keywords: pumpkin mac and cheese, mac and cheese, pumpkin, dinner, vegetarian

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @caitsplate on Instagram and hashtag it #caitsplate

Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes
10

Related posts:

No related posts.

DINNER, FALL FAVORITES, MEATLESS, QUICK & EASY, VEGETARIAN, WHOLE GRAIN

please note: items in these posts may contain affiliate links which simply means I earn a small amount of money if you click on them (at no additional cost to you).  this money is always re-invested in cait’s plate so I can continue to create free content to you!

Popular Posts

  • 4-ingredient green smoothie (722)
  • peanut butter and jelly waffle sandwich (367)
  • black bean, corn, sweet potato & farro bowl (with creamy avocado yogurt sauce) (242)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly says

    Sep. 11th, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    This looks incredible. Hard to tell how big your serving is? 1/2 cup? 1 cup?

    Reply
    • Cait says

      Sep. 13th, 2017 at 1:21 pm

      Hey Kelly! I don’t measure my food but I would estimate I probably eat 1-1.5 cups at a time if I’m having nothing else with the meal (aka a side salad, etc.). But the serving size that’s right for you might be different from mine so I definitely encourage you to do what’s works best for you! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
Recipe Rating




Footer

more from instagram:

it took a while for me to get to a point where I r it took a while for me to get to a point where I realized I was chasing something that wasn't working for me.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
we're constantly told that thinner is better, that being healthy takes willpower and discipline.  that ‘pain is weakness leaving the body.’⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
it took me years of being miserable as I tried to adhere to all of diet culture's rules before I got to my 'ah-ha' moment.  what I was doing was not only making me unhappy, but it was harming not only my physical health, but my mental health too.  and wasn't I supposed to be doing all of this in the NAME of health?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I wish I could go back to my younger self and tell her it wasn't worth it.  all the rigidity, missing out and being so unhappy - all in the name of doing what I thought would lead to my happiest, healthiest life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
we’re taught we can’t trust ourselves to know what’s best.  that we need to follow someone else’s plan for us in order to live a happy, healthy life.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
but for whatever it’s worth to anyone out there that might need to hear this: I’m always my happiest, healthiest self when I lean into my own body and my own experiences - not someone else’s idea of what it should be.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#caitsplatenutrition #caitsplate #antidietculture #nondietdietitian #bodyrespect #breakthedietcycle #dietsdontwork #antidietculture #foodfreedom #intuitiveeatingjourney #intuititveeating #disorderedeatingrecovery
it's not officially fall for me until I've had thi it's not officially fall for me until I've had this harvest wrap.  it's quick, easy and the perfect melt of my favorite fall flavors.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
here's what I put in it:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* mixed greens⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* roasted sweet potatoes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* diced apple⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* diced pear⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* chickpeas (could also use chicken!)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* red onion⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* dried cranberries⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* walnuts (can also use pecans)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
* goat cheese (feta would also be great)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I drizzle the whole thing with olive oil and balsamic glaze.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
printable recipe on @caitsplate: https://caitsplate.com/vegetarian-harvest-wrap/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#caitsplatefood #caitsplate #vegetarianlunch #easymeal #fallfood #f52community #thefeedfeed #vegetarianrecipes #vegetarianmeals #vegetarianfoodshare
walk through the grocery store and you’re bound walk through the grocery store and you’re bound to find “natural” prominently featured on any number of products.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
the idea of something being “natural” has infiltrated marketing messages in everything from our toiletries & cleaning products to food & beauty items.  that companies have found this term so useful for sales is no wonder - it’s heavily promoted in our society as being “better” for us.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
yet, we’re often told by this same health and wellness culture not to trust our natural, internal signs and signals.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
we’re told to push through exhaustion even if what our bodies really need is rest, we’re told to ignore our signals of hunger and fullness in deference to a pre-set plan, we’re constantly told to fix, resize and reshape our bodies from their natural states.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
it’s worth noting that there’s little profit to be made off us trusting and honoring our body’s innate signals and states.  if we could simply trust our own bodies, we would have no need to buy solutions to “fix” our wellness “problems.”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
it then begs the question, is it truly our health and wellness, or simply the chance to profit, that motivates so much of the messaging in our health and wellness culture?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
part of freeing yourself from diet culture is unraveling the pervasive messaging we often take as hard truth and picking it apart based on our lived experience and knowledge.  this can help us determine what truly serves our overall wellbeing versus what is simply padding the pockets of the industry.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#caitsplatenutrition #caitsplate #dietsdontwork #intuitiveeatingjourney #ditchthediet #bodyrespect #foodfreedom #nondietapproach #bodyacceptance #nondietdietitian #nofoodrules #antidiet #antidietculture #breakfreefromdieting
white bean & veggie farro soup! a latest spin on white bean & veggie farro soup!  a latest spin on one of my favorite soup recipes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
super simple to pull together, perfectly comforting and great to make ahead and reheat for easy meals (my favorite kind 🙌)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
recipe is linked in my profile (@caitsplate)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
https://caitsplate.com/white-bean-veggie-farro-soup/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#caitsplatefood #caitsplate #f52community #soupseason #vegetarianrecipeshare #meatless #souprecipe #easymeal #easycooking #recipeshare
one of the things I hear most often from individua one of the things I hear most often from individuals looking to break free form diet culture and embrace intuitive eating is “I feel like all I’m doing is thinking and analyzing my food behaviors and all I want to do is stop thinking so much about food.”

this is completely understandable.  when food and food rules have owned your life for so long, and you finally embrace the thing that’s supposed to help you break that cycle, it can feel like a lot.

the difference is, while intuitive eating may require a deeper dive at the outset, it ultimately sets you *free* from all the over-thinking and analyzing of food & food choices, setting you up for a peaceful relationship with food that can last a lifetime.

dieting and food rules feel simple at the outset, but keep us in a never-ending cycle of distress around food.

#caitsplatenutrition #caitsplate #intuitiveeating #disorderedeating #disorderedeatingrecovery #bodydysmorphia #redefiningbeauty #i_weigh #antidietculture #nondietdietitian #intuitiveeatingjourney #antidiet #nondietdietitian
pumpkin turkey meatballs! done in less than 30 mi pumpkin turkey meatballs!  done in less than 30 minutes with less than 10 ingredients.  a perfect easy fall meal!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
grab the recipe details on @caitsplate (link in profile): https://caitsplate.com/pumpkin-turkey-meatballs/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#caitsplatefood #caitsplate #pumpkinseason #pumpkinrecipes #easymeal #easydinner #dinnerrecipes #dinnertonight #f52community #thefeedfeed

Disclaimer: Statements on this website are meant for general use only and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease. Readers are advised to consult with their healthcare providers prior to making any changes to their healthcare management. The information contained in this site is intended to serve as an inspirational aid and should be used in conjunction with advice from your healthcare professional. It is a supplement, not a substitute, to the knowledge, skill and expertise of healthcare professionals involved in patient care. All information contained in this site is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without giving appropriate credit to the original source.

Copyright © 2022 · Seasoned Pro