Quinoa Butternut Squash “Mac” & Cheese

It feels very weird to be posting a blog on a Saturday night, but I feel like this recipe needs to be shared with the world before the Super Bowl so that you can all make it for your football parties tomorrow night. Plus, I’m trying out this new thing called “being low-key on the weekends and catching up on sleep and relaxing” so my evening is wiiiiide open for working on the blog.

This recipe is a tasty way to lighten up traditional mac and cheese and, served in small cups, makes for a healthy Super Bowl dish.

Quinoa Butternut Squash “Mac” and Cheese

This will make 4 meal-sized servings, or 10-12 small appetizer-sized servings. Nutrition facts are for one meal serving.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa (dry)
• 3 cups butternut squash cubes/chunks
• 2 tbsp vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1 ½ tbsp butter
• 1 ½ tbsp flour
• 1 cup low-fat milk
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp breadcrumbs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Prepare quinoa according to package directions (typically you just boil water, toss in the quinoa, simmer it for 10-15 minutes).
3. While quinoa cooks, boil butternut squash until soft. Drain and put in blender with Greek yogurt and vegetable broth. Puree.
4. Over medium-low heat, melt butter in a pot. Whisk in the flour until combined. Add in the milk, squash puree and salt and pepper to taste. I have a hot pepper obsession, so I like to throw in a heft dash of cayenne pepper as well.
5. When combined, take off heat and stir in cheddar cheese until it’s fully melted.
6. When the quinoa is finished, stir it into your butternut squash cheese mixture. Transfer to a baking dish.
7. Mix the parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs together and sprinkle them over the top.
8. Bake for 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 360
–Calories from Fat: 155
Total Fat: 17g
–Saturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 50mg
Sodium: 386mg
Total Carbohydrate: 34g
–Dietary Fiber: 4g
–Sugars: 6g
Protein: 17g

Need some other healthy ideas for what to serve at your Super Bowl party? Here’s what I’m making for the potluck I’ll be going to (in addition to the quinoa mac and cheese):

Vegetable Bean Dip

Avocado Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

Who are you rooting for tomorrow? Any big party plans? I’m obviously a Pats fan, but if they can’t be in the Super Bowl then I want the team who beat them to snag the championship. So, it pains me, but GO RAVENS!

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