Pumpkin Mac & Cheese With Bacon & Sage

pasta / quick meals

It is definitely fall in my house, especially when I’m making this pumpkin, ooey-gooey mac and cheese with bacon and fresh buttery sage!

Trust me, in the fall I LOVE making all pumpkin goodies: pumpkin bread, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin muffins, you name it! But tbh, I am so much more of a savory girl than a sweet girl any day of the week. So when this pumpkin mac and cheese turned out better than I expected, I was pumped! And adding bacon was just what it needed to bring the savory level up a notch.

Pumpkin Mac & Cheese With Bacon & Sage

(serves 2)

ingredients:

• 6 oz pasta

• 3-4 pieces of bacon

• 2-3 tbsp butter

• 1/2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp chopped sage

• salt + pepper

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

directions:

1. boil your pasta according to package.

2. make your bacon in the frying pan you are going to use to make the pumpkin cheese sauce. once the bacon is done cooking, set aside, but leave the bacon grease in the pan.

3. lower the heat and add the butter and olive oil. let melt and add in the chopped sage. saute for 3 minutes.

4. stir in the pumpkin puree and cook for another few minutes. slowly add in your heavy cream, adding in half at a time and whisking while pouring. let it start to thicken before adding the other half of the cream.

5. add in your shredded cheddar cheese, salt, pepper and whisk until it forms your sauce.

6. stir in 1/4 cup of the pasta water and whisk again before adding the noodles into your pan with the cheese sauce.

7. chop up the bacon. serve the pumpkin mac and cheese with the bacon crumbles on top and some more pepper and sage leaves.

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