This Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta Bake is a delicious fall dinner! Loaded with cheese and an entire butternut squash, making it so creamy and flavourful!
I know if there is cheese on a dish my kids will eat it, and the more the better! Take this dish for example…Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta Bake. I get asked “what’s for dinner Mom?” and I say cheesy pasta. They don’t even need to know there is an entire butternut squash in their meal, do they? As long as they hear the word cheese and see it bubbling on our pasta bake they’ll eat it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t sneak in nutrition, I just leave out the details sometimes…details shmetails.
This dish is loaded with the flavours of soft cheese, crispy bacon, creamy butternut squash and a hint of sage. And it’s ooey gooey and cheesy. Winner winner cheesy dinner. Even my pickiest went back for seconds!
To Garnish or Not to Garnish?
If you want to get extra fancy, sprinkle on some dried sage as a garnish. The flavour is quite powerful, so just be warned (truth be told my kids did not like the sage garnish…I didn’t really either…but it looked nice for pictures haha!)
But the cheeeeeeeese. Oh the cheese. This dish is full of cheesy goodness. Does dinner get any better?
So here you go, Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta Bake. A perfect fall meal.
Recipe Tips:
- Squash: You can use canned fresh pumpkin or leftover squash from dinner the night before to make this recipe even easier! Just use about 2 cups of ready-to-go pureed squash or pumpkin.
- Make Ahead Tip! Roast the squash the day before you want to make this pasta.
- If it’s too thick: If you find the butternut squash sauce too thick, just puree in more cream! You might need to add a touch more sage so not to dilute its flavour with the extra cream.

Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 3 cups dried penne pasta
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups cream
- 1 tsp ground sage more if you like
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups cooked and crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, then chop the squash into chunks like in the picture above.
- Then lay the squash out on a baking sheet, brush with the olive oil and bake for about 35 minutes, or until the squash is soft.
- After the squash is done baking, use a spoon to scoop out the cooked squash, and add it to a food processor.
- To the squash in the food processor, also add the cream and ground sage, and puree until smooth. Set aside.
- In the mean time cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Once the pasta is cooked, toss it with the butternut squash mixture.
- Add half of the pasta mix to a 9 x 13 lasagna dish.
- Sprinkle on half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, then add the remaining pasta mix.
- Sprinkle on the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese as well as the shredded parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle on the cooked and crumbled bacon.
- Bake for 25 - 35 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling.
- Serve and enjoy!
More Delicious Fall Pasta Ideas:
Cheesy Jalapeno Popper Baked Penne
Easy Three Cheese Stovetop Macaroni
Macaroni and Cheese With Broccoli
Have a delicious day!
This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Kraft Cheesefest #KraftComfortCheese sponsored program. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.
22 Comments
Laura @ porch&table
September 26, 2014 at 9:39 AMTalk about comfort food! Any type of pasta bake is an automatic favorite of mine, but add a little butternut squash, and it’s sure to become a frequent recipe in our place!
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September 26, 2014 at 2:21 PMPasta bakes are my favourite form of comfort foods too!
Janice @Kitchen Heals Soul
September 26, 2014 at 9:54 AMThe best part about transitioning to fall is all the squash at the market. Love this pasta bake, with extra cheese for me 😉
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September 26, 2014 at 2:22 PMI agree! I love squash in everything…I think fall is my favourite food season! And YES to extra cheese!
Chelsea @ Chelsea's Healthy Kitchen
September 26, 2014 at 10:36 AMSquash is my favourite fall food! And cheese, well, who doesn’t love cheese? 😉 This looks fantastic!
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September 26, 2014 at 2:22 PMExactly…who doesn’t love cheese?! 🙂
Sarah | (Cooking for) Kiwi & Bean
September 26, 2014 at 10:45 AMBacon and butternut squash?! Ack! That sounds like a winning combo! Definitely going to try this!
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September 26, 2014 at 2:22 PMI know! Best combo ever right?! We loved this…such a great comfort food!
Melissa
September 26, 2014 at 11:02 AMI have a giant butternut squash sitting on my counter waiting to be used and have felt very uninspired. But this sounds like it could be the ticket!
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September 26, 2014 at 2:24 PMI’m always looking for ways to cook and bake with butternut squash so I always have them on my counter at this time of year too! The possibilities are endless!
Mama B @ My Edible Journey
September 26, 2014 at 11:11 AMThat looks phenomenal. If only my son wasn’t the only child I know who won’t eat foods with cheese on them (save for pizza from one specific pizza joint). I’m filing it away as a great potluck dish.
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September 26, 2014 at 2:25 PMThank you! I don’t know what I’d do if my kids didn’t like cheese hee hee! 😉 This would make a great potluck dish – great idea!
natalie aka hungryhippie
September 27, 2014 at 2:46 AMLooks absolutely delish!!!!
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September 27, 2014 at 2:42 PMThank you Natalie!
Cheryl Grandy
September 29, 2014 at 11:27 AMJust bought a butternut squash the other day and was wondering what to do with it – this is a great idea. Thanks.
Cheryl Grandy
September 29, 2014 at 11:33 AMI just bought a butternut squash and hadn’t chosen a recipe yet – this one is great. Thanks!
Alexis
October 7, 2014 at 5:10 PMWhat is Kraft Creamy Mozza with a Touch of Philly? Is it the same as cream cheese? This sounds really good but I’m not sure what to sub for the Creamy Mozza with a Touch of Philly. Thanks!
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October 8, 2014 at 8:42 AMHi Alexis! It’s just Kraft shredded cheese that has a little bit of cream cheese added to it, so it’s really creamy (you can find it next to the regular shredded cheese in the grocery store). If you can’t find it you can just use regular shredded cheese! Happy cooking!
Cheryl Grandy
January 20, 2015 at 2:22 PMI tried a variation of this and my husband (who doesn’t usually like squash) loves it. I didn’t have Kraft Creamy Mozza with a Touch of Philly so I used a package of cream cheese that I had in the fridge. Thanks for the recipe.
Maria Williams
October 31, 2018 at 4:43 AMI have made this many times, it is a slightly sweet taste, but not overpowering. The squash goes very well with cheddar. It’s very good !
Jo-Anna Rooney
October 31, 2018 at 10:52 AMI’m so glad you enjoy this recipe Maria! Squash is SO delicious in pasta!
Tiffinie Arnold
January 5, 2019 at 7:20 AMDoes this freeze well?