Cozy up with a fall-inspired twist on classic mac and cheese. This Smoked Gouda Pumpkin Mac & Cheese combines creamy pumpkin puree, smoky bacon, and rich Artikaas Smoked Gouda and Youngsters Hickory Smoked Gouda for a comforting, savory dish perfect for cooler days. Topped with crispy sage and extra bacon, this recipe blends seasonal flavors with indulgent Dutch Gouda!
INGREDIENTS:
Serves: 6
Total time: 1 hour
● 12 ounces cooked bacon, crumbled
● 16 ounces short pasta
● 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
● 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
● 2 1/2 cups half & half
● 1 cup pumpkin puree
● 1 teaspoon salt
● 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
● 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
● 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
● 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
● 2 tablespoons fresh sage leaves, chopped
● 18 ounces Artikaas Smoked Gouda, shredded
● 12 ounces Artikaas Youngsters Hickory Smoked Gouda, shredded
HOW TO MAKE IT:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Shred the cheeses and mix together, then divide in half.
- Cook pasta according to package directions (I recommend cooking 1-2 minutes less than the box time so it's slightly al dente). Drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Then add in the flour and stir to combine. Allow the flour to cook for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in the half and half.
- Then stir in the pumpkin puree, salt, white pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, nutmeg, and sage and continue to cook until the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Once the sauce has thickened, add in half the cheese and stir until the cheese has fully melted into the sauce.
- Add in the cooked pasta and stir to coat with the cheese sauce. Stir in 3/4 of the crumbled bacon.
- Add the pasta to a 9x13 inch baking dish, then sprinkle the remaining cheese over top.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. If desired, broil for 1-2 minutes.
- To make crispy sage leaves: Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a non-stick pan and heat gently over medium heat. Add a handful of sage leaves and watch closely for them to crisp up (1-2 minutes).
- Top the Mac and cheese with extra crumbled bacon and crispy sage leaves.