Easy Butternut squash Mac and Cheese Pasta For Babies & Toddlers

Butternut squash season is here and there’s so much you can make with them.

My butternut squash Mac and cheese for babies and toddlers is a simple recipe that will get your kids begging for more.

This butternut squash pasta for babies and toddlers uses parmesan cheese to amp up the dish’s flavor, without being overpowering. 

You can taste the sweetness and flavor of the butternut squash in every bite.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more info please see the disclaimer

Why I Love Butternut Squash Pasta For Baby & Toddlers

I love making butternut squash pasta for baby and toddlers because it takes me very little time to whip it up in the kitchen.

It’s a great way to include veggies into your kid’s diet without being sneaky about it. 

They will still get to taste the sweetness of the butternut squash while enjoying this pasta recipe.

I started making this recipe because I needed a new way to enjoy butternut squash that wasn’t the typical roasting and fries.

That’s when I decided to use it to make mac and cheese because my baby has always loved pasta. 

So I figured what better way to use butternut squash than to combine it with pasta to make mac and cheese?

You should also try – Timesaver Butternut Squash Risotto For Baby & Toddlers (No Stirring required)

Important Recipe Notes on Baby-led Weaning Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese 

Prepping the butternut squash –  steaming

Steaming is the fastest way to prep the butternut squash for cooking. You will need a steamer basket like this one on Amazon to steam your butternut squash properly. It prevents nutrients from leaking out of vegetables when cooking.

You should steam the butternut squash until they’re soft enough to be pierced with a fork.

Prepping the butternut squash – boiling

If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can also boil the butternut squash until they’re soft. If you’re going to use this method, then avoid adding too much water to the pot.

This will prevent all the nutrients from seeping into the water and going to waste. Studies have shown that boiling results in the loss of more nutrients compared to steaming. 

I suggest adding ½ cup of water to the pot of butternut squash at a time and checking periodically to add more water if necessary. 

That way the butternut squash isn’t submerged in a pool of water and risks losing tons of flavor and nutrients. 

You should boil the butternut squash until they’re soft enough to be pierced with a fork.

Prepping the butternut squash – Roasting

Roasting is one of the best ways to cook butternut squash. The char that the butternut squash gets from roasting adds a special flavor to the mac and cheese. 

If you have the time to do it, then I suggest this method for cooking the butternut squash.

Do not use powdered parmesan cheese

The best way to make butternut squash mac and cheese for babies and toddlers is to use freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Powdered parmesan cheese has been heavily processed to make it shelf-stable, so they don’t have a lot of flavor.

For the best result, I suggest buying a block of parmesan cheese and grating it yourself. It will give this meal the deepest flavor possible.

Recipe Substitutions For Butternut Squash Pasta For Babies

Cheddar cheese can replace parmesan cheese

If you don’t have parmesan cheese on hand, then you can replace it with freshly grated cheddar cheese.

The butternut squash pasta will come out more gooey and cheesy when done this way. 

Sometimes I prefer to use cheddar cheese just to give a variation to my recipe. It keeps my kids interested in trying new things.

Milk can replace heavy cream 

When I made this butternut squash pasta recipe, I didn’t have heavy cream on hand. So I decided to use whole-fat milk instead of heavy cream.  

Although the butternut squash pasta didn’t come out as gooey as it usually does, it still tasted just as delicious. 

So now I use milk as a common substitution for heavy cream in the recipe. 

If you’re going to do this, then I suggest using whole-fat milk. Whole-fat milk is more creamy than other types, so it’s the closest to heavy cream.

Jump to Recipe

Ingredients For BLW Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Pasta 

Butternut Squash – you don’t need to remove the skin before cooking them. The skin comes off more easily when they’re soft.

Garlic and onion – give this dish some extra flavor

Pasta – I like to use large pasta such as penne and elbow pasta for mac and cheese because they’re easier for babies to hold. You can prep the pasta by cooking it ahead of time to reduce the total cooking time. 

Milk – Milk makes this butternut squash mac and cheese more creamy. See notes under the substitution section for more details. 

Parmesan cheese – use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best results. See notes under important recipe notes for more details. See the substitution section for an alternative.

Chicken broth – Chicken broth helps to enhance the flavor of this mac and cheese recipe. I use it to bring out more of the sweetness of the butternut squash.

Bouillon cube – This gives the mac and cheese some more flavor. You can choose to not use it if you prefer. 

Step-by-step instructions 

Add the cheese and pasta

Cooking Directions For Butternut Squash Pasta for Baby & Toddler

• Prep the pasta according to the package instructions. While it’s cooking, steam the butternut squash and chop the onion and garlic. 
• Place a pan on medium heat and add the canola oil. When it’s hot, sautee the onion and garlic until fragrant. Reduce the heat to medium-low
• Peel and mash the butternut squash and add them to the pan. Add the milk or heavy cream, bouillon cube, and chicken broth. Allow the mixture to cook for 4 minutes.
• Add the cooked pasta and the cheese to the mixture. Stir to combine and allow it to cook for another 8 minutes. 
• Turn off the heat and allow the mac and cheese to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.

What To Serve With Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese For Babies & Toddlers

Serve with some protein 

You can serve this butternut squash mac and cheese with protein for your baby or toddler. Some great protein ideas are breaded chicken breast, also called Italian chicken cutlets. 

You can also serve it with tofu balls as a plant-based protein alternative.

Serve with some fruits

Fruits go very well with butternut squash mac and cheese. Some great fall fruit choices are mangoes, oranges, blackberries, and raspberries.

How To Serve Butternut Squash Pasta For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

You can allow your babies between this age group to scoop them with their hands to feed themselves.

9-12 months old

Babies between 9 and 12 months old can either be served this mac and cheese with a preloaded fork or allowed to eat with their hands.

12- 24 months and older

Toddlers between this age group can begin practicing eating independently with a fork. If they get frustrated, then allow them to eat with a preloaded fork or their hands.

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Storage Tips

Can I refrigerate Baby-friendly Butternut squash mac and cheese?

You can refrigerate these baby-friendly butternut squash mac and cheese for up to a week. Make sure you store them in the coldest part of your refrigerator for the best outcome.

Can I freeze baby-led weaning butternut squash pasta?

I’ve never tried to freeze these baby-led weaning butternut squash pasta before. I have however frozen other types of pasta successfully in the past.

I assume that it’s possible to freeze these in small batches for later use. I suggest you use small Pyrex containers to freeze individual servings if you’re going to do this.

This will allow you to defrost what you need rather than the whole batch.

Reheating BLW Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

In the oven

If you’re going to reheat these butternut squash mac and cheese, I believe it’s best to defrost them first.

This way, you can place them in the oven and heat them slowly at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they’re heated through.

In the microwave 

You could also reheat these mac and cheese in the microwave, as long as you’ve defrosted them completely.

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying. 

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating. 

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Related recipes 

• Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta For Baby – Super Simple!
• Easy Pumpkin Bread For Baby-led Weaning

Did you make this baby-led weaning dinner recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!