Pumpkin Spice Mac and Cheese

Capturing the best of fall flavors, this recipe for pumpkin spice mac and cheese is sure to please all of your senses.

Prep Time20

Cook Time50

Total Time1 10

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Pumpkin Spice Mac and Cheese Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 550kcal

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cook macaroni in a large pot of salted, boiling water according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Melt butter in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat.
Add the flour and pumpkin pie spice. Stir and cook with a rubber spatula for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture is bubbly and beginning to brown slightly.
Adding just a little at a time, slowly whisk in the milk and simmer until the mixture begins to thicken.
Whisk in the pumpkin puree.
Add half of the grated cheese to the sauce mixture (¼ cup at a time), whisking between each addition until the cheese is melted and smooth.
Remove the sauce from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a greased 9x13 glass baking dish, sprinkle a handful of the remaining cheese across the bottom.
Layer ½ of the macaroni, ½ of the sauce, and half of the remaining cheese, and then repeat with a final layer of macaroni, sauce, and cheese.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until mac and cheese is beginning to brown on the top and is bubbly.
Serve immediately.

It’s best to grate your own cheese rather than use the pre-grated version in the bag. That’s because it usually has a preservative on it, which means it doesn’t melt quite as well.
For quicker prep, you can mix together the macaroni and cheese sauce in one big pot and then spread it into the casserole dish and top with cheese, rather than layering the ingredients.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your mac and cheese at the lower end of the recommended baking time.