We’re all in a whirlwind of pumpkin spice right now, and while some lean into PSLs and creative (and sometimes questionable) flavor mashups, my mind goes to warming, nostalgic autumnal dinners, and I home in on the mighty pumpkin.
As a chef and culinary instructor, I’ve hosted cooking classes on every type of winter squash, including pumpkin, and my pumpkin macaroni and cheese is always a hit with my students this time of year. Think sweet squash melded beautifully with a creamy cheese sauce, so yummy!
For myself, however, I occasionally want this delicious, pumpkin-y combination without all the prep involved: deseeding, dicing, sautéing, whisking, baking… It’s a labor of love.
This Aldi’s Specially Selected Fall Harvest Mac & Cheese provides exactly that. It satisfies my fall-time mac & cheese cravings without all the work.
Aldi Specially Selected Fall Harvest Mac & Cheese
Price: $2.99 for a 9.75-ounce box
Why I Love It: This boxed mac and cheese is perked up with pumpkin and butternut squash. I like being able to enjoy this comfy, cozy fall dish without any prep!
Why I Love Aldi’s Specially Selected Fall Harvest Mac & Cheese
Aldi’s Fall Harvest Mac & Cheese is what I expected: all the nostalgia of boxed macaroni and cheese with sophisticated upgrades. The cheesy powder is boosted with dried tomato paste, pumpkin flakes, and butternut squash granules, giving it a sweetness and deep orange color. There’s also a hint of onion and garlic, so the cheesy sauce has a more grown-up taste.
This is a fall-themed upgrade to the classic boxed mac and cheese, and it works.
In comparison with Aldi’s usual boxed mac, these noodles are a little bigger and have ridges. When they are cooked and you add the milk, butter, and sauce packet, you can see the tiny bits of pumpkin. Don’t skip the step of simmering for a couple of minutes to soften the dried vegetables completely.
If you’re serving it as a side, it’s ready as-is. To transform this into a heartier meal, I love stirring in a handful of chopped spinach or half a cup of frozen corn to thaw as the sauce thickens. It feels more homemade when I add extra vegetables, too. You can also make a complete dinner by adding cooked chicken or chorizo.
Aldi’s seasonal finds come and go quickly, so if you’re both a fan of mac and cheese and pumpkin, this is one you definitely don’t want to miss!
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Read the original article on Simply Recipes
Dining and Cooking