• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinners
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Thai
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegetarian

Inquiring Chef

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Easy Dinners
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Pasta and Noodles

    Stovetop Mac and Cheese with Squash and Chorizo

    Published: Sep 16, 2013 · Modified: Jan 27, 2023 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 24 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    stovetop mac and cheese

    pasta in a white bowl on a marble countertop with a fork

    Stovetop Mac and Cheese with Squash and Chorizo is an easy pasta dish with spicy chorizo and a cheesy roasted squash sauce - all brought together on the stovetop.

    The title of this dish is way too long for something so simple.  I've made this cheesy, slightly spicy pasta several times on a whim, using ingredients I already had in my kitchen.  Naming recipes is one of the oddest challenges of blogging.  You've got the recipe figured out, the photos taken, the post written, and yet you still have to come up with a title that summarizes this thing you've put all this work into.  Is it just me?

    Moving on.

    ingredients for stovetop mac and cheese

    This dish came to my mind for a few reasons, the most obvious of which is the fact that I wanted mac and cheese.  Clearly. The thing is, I've really taken to these lighter, amped up versions of mac and cheese that include some variety of squash or carrot or sweet potato (like with my favorite Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce).  They give the dish an extra depth of flavor that I love - not to mention lending the cheesy pasta a yellow, reminiscent-of-blue-boxed-variety hue even when you use all white extra sharp cheddar cheese.  (And extra sharp is the way to go here, for sure.)

    The rest of the dish is a reminder, at least for me, about how a few excellent ingredients can turn a good dish to great.  This pasta was transformed by a particularly good, very sharp, cheese that Frank found at our local grocery store, and what is possibly the best chorizo I have ever had.  The chorizo is a local find from a farmer's market vendor here in Bangkok who also sells an incredible bacon that I have been hoarding in my freezer for a special occasion (or Tuesday night BLT).

    pasta with vegetables in white bowls on a marble countertop

    There's something about the spicy chorizo, the sweetness of the squash, and the all-together goodness of cheesy pasta that really work in this dish.  It will be a fake fall favorite here, particularly since I'll be spending as much time as possible in the coming weeks roasting large batches of squash in order to remind myself that somewhere the weather is getting cooler.

    More Favorite Fall Recipes

    • Butternut Squash Soup with Turmeric and Ginger
    • Braised Red Wine Short Ribs with Parmesan Polenta
    • Herb Roasted Vegetables
    • Apple, Brie and Pecan Salad
    • Apple Cider Donut Mini Muffins
    • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Cheesecake
    • Slow Cooker Classic Beef Chili
    • Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup
    • Sweet Potato Soup with Miso
    • Pumpkin Spice Pretzel Bites
    • Sweet Potato Fry Nachos with Chorizo
    • Creamy Butternut Squash and Spinach Casserole

    Favorite Tools

    • Microwave Safe Bowl or Half Sheet Pan
    • Cuisinart Stockpot with Strainer
    • Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

    a forkful of cheesy pasta over a white bowl full of pasta

     

    Print Recipe
    No ratings yet

    Stovetop Mac and Cheese with Squash and Chorizo

    Pasta with spicy chorizo and a cheesy roasted squash sauce - all brought together on the stovetop.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Main Dish
    Keyword: easy dinner, easy pasta dinner, easy, weeknight-friendly, mac and cheese, stovetop
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 365kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $8.00

    Equipment

    • Microwave Safe Bowl or Half Sheet Pan
    • Stockpot or Large Saucepan
    • Large Skillet

    Ingredients

    • ½ pound squash (butternut, acorn, or kabocha), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
    • ½ pound pasta (spiral shapes are my favorite for this dish, but penne or elbow would be great too)
    • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
    • ½ cup finely chopped onions
    • ¾ cup finely chopped red pepper (about 1 red pepper)
    • 6 ounces chorizo, crumbled
    • 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
    • 4 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated

    Instructions

    • Cook the squash either in the microwave or oven. To cook in the microwave, place the squash in a bowl with ½ inch of water in the bottom. Cover the bowl with a plate and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes, or until the squash is very tender. To roast in the oven, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the squash cubes in olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread on a baking sheet. Roast until the squash is very tender, stirring halfway through, about 20-25 minutes. Cool to room temperature.
    • Cook the pasta according to package directions and drain, reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
    • In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium. When melted, add the onions and red pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chorizo and cook, stirring, just until the chorizo breaks down and releases moisture, 3-5 minutes. Add the flour and stir until it is incorporated with the vegetables and no white spots remain. Add the roasted squash, broth, and the reserved ½ cup of pasta water and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes. If large pieces of squash remain, use a spatula or spoon to gently press them against the sides and bottom of the pan to break apart. (You want most of the squash to dissolve into the sauce, with just a few small pieces remaining.)
    • Turn the heat off and stir in the pasta and cheddar cheese until evenly combined. Serve immediately.

    Notes

    The roasted squash in this recipe is open to any number of adaptations. I use whatever I have on-hand, sometimes even using roasted carrots combined with squash.
    This dish is unlikely to need additional salt if you salted your pasta water and if your chorizo is, like mine, rather salty to begin with. However, taste the dish at the end and add additional salt, if preferred.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 562mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

    « 5 Reasons I Haven’t Been Blogging
    Slow-Cooker Mango Sriracha Pulled Chicken »

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erin @ The Emerging Foodie

      September 16, 2013 at 8:42 pm

      Oh my goodness, I was right: this looks amazing! I loooove squash so this is top knotch. And chorizo? Whew, too much to handle. 😉 And yes, naming recipes is often challenging because you don't want them too long but you do want to get all the good stuff in there! I think your name is great, though!

      Reply
      • Jess

        September 17, 2013 at 7:31 am

        So true, Erin. Sometimes I'm tempted to have recipe titles with 10 words (too much), but it's so hard to sum some things up!

        Reply
    2. Lorie Estelle

      September 16, 2013 at 9:04 pm

      I'll be making this to use the squash from my sister's garden!

      Reply
      • Jess

        September 17, 2013 at 7:30 am

        Oh my - I've been seeing pictures on Facebook of the abundance of producing being pulled from her garden this year! Looks incredible!

        Reply
    3. cassie

      September 16, 2013 at 9:36 pm

      Love everything about this one, Jess. The chorizo and squash combination sounds so comforting!

      Reply
    4. Ashley

      September 16, 2013 at 11:17 pm

      Oh my, I want this now!! Jess this looks amazing! I love that it's a squash type sauce and with chorizo? And all that cheese!

      And you're completely right about simple dishes - it's funny how they always seem to be the best.

      Reply
      • Jess

        September 17, 2013 at 7:29 am

        Squash make such a good, creamy sauce - I may never got back to ordinary mac and cheese again, Ashley.

        Reply
    5. MM

      September 16, 2013 at 11:59 pm

      I kinda like your last comment for a title........"Mmmmmm Saucy" o r perhaps
      "Mmmmmm Saucy n Spicy" 🙂

      Reply
      • Jess

        September 17, 2013 at 7:29 am

        Haha - so true - that would have been a great title!

        Reply
    6. Tracy | Peanut Butter and Onion

      September 17, 2013 at 12:39 am

      OMG, I'm dying over here, I just had lunch and I ma stuffed, but if you offered me a bowl of this I would find room.

      Reply
      • Jess

        September 17, 2013 at 7:28 am

        Haha - I always feel that way about cheesy pasta, Tracy. It's like dessert - I can find room for more. 😉

        Reply
    7. Holly

      September 17, 2013 at 1:21 am

      Oh wow. This looks so delicious. I'm going to go get some butternut squash to try this out! I have some chipotle peppers left over from another recipe that I might add to this too...

      Reply
      • Jess

        September 17, 2013 at 7:26 am

        Holly - awesome idea! I kept the spice pretty tame, but chipotle peppers would be amazing in this - I must try that next time!

        Reply
    8. sally @ sallys baking addiction

      September 17, 2013 at 5:54 am

      I adore butternut squash Jess! This cheesy bowl of delicious carbs is right up my alley. Kevin would love it too!

      Reply
      • Jess

        September 17, 2013 at 7:26 am

        Me too - few things rival a bowl of cheesy carbs, Sally! (Except maybe those pumpkin-y carbs you just posted - yum!)

        Reply
    9. Sues

      September 17, 2013 at 11:19 am

      I'm so excited for a fall full of squash! And chorizo! And this dish is seriously beautiful.

      I always have trouble naming my recipes, too! Especially when they're packed with so many awesome ingredients, you want to call out every one!

      Reply
    10. Anne ~ Uni Homemaker

      September 17, 2013 at 1:36 pm

      I have a weakness for mac and cheese! I love the idea of using chorizo in here Jess. Delicious! 🙂

      Reply
    11. Claire @ Claire K Creations

      September 17, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      Haha I think my compost quiche post today is an example of trying to come up with a creative name! Love the look of this and oh how I love fake fall at your house. Looking forward to seeing what else it brings.

      Reply
    12. Monica

      September 18, 2013 at 6:27 am

      What a great combination. It looks sooo good!

      Reply
    13. Meri

      September 18, 2013 at 10:20 pm

      This recipe looks INCREDIBLE! I am a huge mac cheese fan and this variation on the classic looks so tasty, I can't wait to try it. I shared the deliciousness with my readers here: https://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2013/09/hump-day-distractions.html Thanks for the inspiration!!

      Reply
    14. Katie (The Muffin Myth)

      September 21, 2013 at 3:42 pm

      Yum! I have a pumpkin mac and cheese that I do in the autumn and love how the silky pumpkin reduces the amount of cheese. It's a baked version, though, and I like the looks of this stovetop situation (sans chorizo for me). I'm going to stash this on the 'must make' list for the coming weeks. Thanks Jess!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Welcome! We're Jess and Frank. Since 2010, we have been serving up easy, original recipes here on Inquiring Chef.

    More about us →

    Latest Recipes

    • miso vegetable soup in a grey bowl
      Miso Vegetable Soup
    • lemongrass chicken and rice on a white tray
      Lemongrass Chicken
    • cauliflower baked ziti in a white oval baking dish
      Vegetarian Baked Ziti with Cauliflower
    • a round One-Bowl Chocolate Guinness Cake on a wooden tray
      Chocolate Irish Guinness Cake

    Trending Recipes

    • hand holding a chocolate chip cookie with a bite out of it
      Crispy and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • stir fry over rice in a white bowl with chopsticks
      Honey Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
    • square image overnight oats in mason jars with berries on top
      Mason Jar Overnight Oats
    • beef and broccoli stir fry on a white plate with chopsticks
      Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir-Fry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

    Contact

    • Email Us

    Copyright © 2023 Inquiring Chef