Sweet Potato Mac And Cheese (4 ingredients)
on Oct 31, 2024
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This sweet potato mac and cheese is a fun twist on the classic favorite and mixes creamy, cheesy goodness with the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes. It’s the ultimate comfort food—perfect for chilly nights or a tasty side dish that everyone will love!
Mac and cheese is a classic meal that little ones love, but I’ll take any chance I can to bump up the nutrients in a meal when I can! Sweet potato adds the perfect touch of subtle sweetness, while also thickening the sauce so that there’s no need to worry about making a complex roux base!
If you have extra sweet potatoes hand, turn them into these easy 3-ingredient sweet potato tortillas, chicken nuggets with sweet potato, sweet potato zucchini tots! Craving something sweet? You’ll love these simple-to-make sweet potato hand pies perfect for dessert or a snack!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need to make this sweet potato mac and cheese:
- Pasta Noodles: Feel free to use your favorite noodle shapes! I love using elbow noodles or cavatappi noodles, but any variety works well.
- Sweet Potato: For added thickness, subtle sweetness, and flavor. Mashed sweet potato is blended into a smooth puree for a creamy sauce.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese is a mac and cheese classic, but feel free to switch it up with any of your favorite cheese blends! I love grating the cheese myself because it melts so much better into the sauce, but any type of shredded cheese will work.
- Milk: To thin out the cheese sauce.
- Salt: Optional for added taste.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Substitutions & Additions
- Cheese: Feel free to swap out cheese with dairy-free shreds for a dairy-free option.
- Milk: I used whole milk for this recipe, but feel free to use any type of milk.
Step By Step Instructions
STEP 1: Boil and cook the pasta noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside (Images 1 & 2).
STEP 2: Measure out the mashed sweet potato and add it to a blender with the milk. Blend until smooth (Images 3 & 4).
STEP 3: Preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add in the blended sweet potato mixture. Add in the cheddar and stir until it is fully melted. Add in the salt and adjust the taste as desired (Images 5 & 6).
STEP 4: Stir in the cooked pasta noodles until all of the pasta is fully coated (Image 7 & 8).
Storage Instructions
Store leftover mac and cheese sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat in a medium saucepan over medium heart, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. You may also microwave portions for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through.
Tips For Success
- Feel free to adjust the flavor to your preference! Taste the sauce before adding the cooked pasta and add your favorite seasonings or more sauce to taste.
- Use a blend of your favorite cheeses for different flavor profiles. Cheddar is a mac-and-cheese classic, but feel free to mix it up!
- If the sauce seems a little thick, stir in a little extra milk.
Recipe FAQs
I love using elbow or cavatappi noodles, but feel free to use your favorite variety!
Microwave Method: Pierce the sweet potatoes several times with a fork and microwave for 7 to 8 minutes, until tender and soft inside.
Oven Method: Pierce the sweet potatoes several times with a fork and bake in a 425 degrees F oven for 45 to 50 minutes, until tender.
More Sweet Potato Recipes You’ll Love
Healthy Sweet Potato Waffles
Sweet Potato Fritters
Sweet Potato Tortillas
Sweet Potato Hand Pies
If you tried this Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! I love hearing from you!
Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta noodles (about 2 cups), elbow, cavatappi, or noodles of choice!
- ¾ cup mashed sweet potato
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, or shredded cheese of choice
- ½ – 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Boil and cook the pasta noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Measure out the mashed sweet potato and add it to a blender with the milk. Blend until smooth.
- Preheat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add in the blended sweet potato mixture. Add in the cheddar and stir until it is fully melted. Add in the salt and adjust the taste as desired.
- Stir in the cooked pasta noodles until all of the pasta is fully coated.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the flavor to your preference! Taste the sauce before adding the cooked pasta and add your favorite seasonings or more sauce to taste.
- Use a blend of your favorite cheeses for different flavor profiles. Cheddar is a mac-and-cheese classic, but feel free to mix it up!
- If the sauce seems a little thick, stir in a little extra milk.
