I made Ree Drummond's simple butternut-squash mac and cheese and it's my new go-to fall dinner

Erin McDowellOct 15, 2024, 21:25 IST

I tried making Ree Drummond's baked butternut squash macaroni and cheese.Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images; Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I tried making Ree Drummond's baked butternut-squash mac and cheese.
The Pioneer Woman's recipe calls for roasted butternut squash, onions, and breadcrumbs.

In honor of the fall season, I decided to try making one of my favorite autumnal dishes: butternut-squash mac and cheese.

Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, is well known for her family-friendly comfort food recipes. I decided to try her butternut-squash mac-and-cheese recipe. I anticipated that the simple recipe, which takes less than an hour to make, would be perfect for a fall or winter weeknight dinner after a long day at the office. It also only calls for a few low-cost ingredients, making it a cost-effective option for a crowd-pleasing dish.

I spent about $43 on the ingredients for the recipe, but I needed to buy some pantry staples you likely already have on hand, like butter, milk, and flour. The recipe is also intended to feed 12 people, which made it come out to less than $4 per serving if you had to buy every ingredient.

Here's how to make Drummond's butternut-squash mac and cheese, which has become one of my new go-to fall dinners.

I started by prepping my butternut squash. Instead of pre-cut cubes, which I usually buy, Drummond's recipe calls for a whole butternut squash cut in half.

The butternut squash.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After cutting it in half, I removed the seeds from the hollowed-out part of the squash with a spoon.

The cleaned-out butternut squash on a cutting board.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After preheating my oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, I placed the prepped squash on a baking sheet and drizzled it with olive oil.

The butternut squash drizzled with olive oil.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While the squash was roasting, I started cooking the onions.

The onions sauteéing in a stainless steel pan.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I cooked the onions, stirring them occasionally, until they were a deep golden brown.

The cooked onions.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While the onions and the squash were cooking, I also made the macaroni.

The box of macaroni.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After about 30 minutes, the roasted squash was tender and ready to remove from the oven.

The roasted butternut squash.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I used a fork to scrape out the insides of the squash, which was easy because the squash was so soft.

The mashed butternut squash in a bowl.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After the squash was done and set aside, I prepared the sauce in the same skillet I used to cook the onions.

Butter melting in the skillet.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The sauce calls for 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

The shredded sharp cheddar cheese.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Once the butter was melted, I added in the flour, cheddar cheese, and butternut squash.

Making the sauce for the macaroni and cheese.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I slowly added in 2 cups of whole milk, stirring as I went.

The sauce for the butternut squash macaroni and cheese.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Once the sauce was done, I added the cooked macaroni.

The mac and cheese in the skillet.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Then I added in the cooked onions and stirred it together.

The mac and cheese with the onions on top.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I then prepped the breadcrumbs, which were supposed to be sprinkled over the top of my mac and cheese.

The breadcrumbs.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I sprinkled the breadcrumbs over the top of the mac and cheese and then baked it for about 20 minutes.

The finished butternut squash mac and cheese.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Then, it was finally time to serve my mac and cheese.

Serving the mac and cheese with a spatula.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I thought this was one of the most flavorful mac-and-cheese recipes I've ever made.