Add pumpkin to mac and cheese bites, with a piece of broccoli for a stem to make a delicious fall treat that kids are sure to love.
Jump to RecipeFall recipes call for pumpkin in everything. And this time, we tried it in our mac and cheese. But, of course, we wanted to make it a bit more festive. Since it’s getting close to Halloween, I made these mac and cheese bites in the shape of a pumpkin with pumpkin in the recipe.
We’ve made other pumpkin-shaped treats before, but this one is more savory. The broccoli “stems” add a bit of extra nutrition to it, too.
Mac and Cheese Bites with Pumpkin Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 box macaroni and cheese
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1/2 bunch broccoli
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400F. Prepare mac and cheese according to the box.
Add the milk, butter, and pumpkin puree to the finished mac and cheese. Stir in the egg.
Grease the bottom and sides of a 12-cup muffin pan. Place one piece of broccoli in each muffin cup with the stem-side up.
Scoop about 2 tbsp of mac and cheese into each muffin cup, covering most of the broccoli leaving just the stem exposed.
Bake for about 15 minutes, until the bites are set. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing. Serve warm.
Leftovers
Leftover mac and cheese bites can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven at 350F for about 5-10 minutes. It will work best if they are placed back in the muffin pan so they don’t lose their shape when heated again.
Recipe
Originally Published On: September 20, 2021
Mac and Cheese Bites with Pumpkin
Ingredients
- 12 oz macaroni and cheese
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 egg
- 1/2 bunch broccoli
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F
- Prepare mac and cheese according to the box
- Add the milk, butter, and pumpkin puree to the finished mac and cheese
- Stir in the egg
- Grease the bottom and sides of a 12-cup muffin pan
- Place one piece of broccoli in each muffin cup with the stem-side up
- Scoop about 2 tbsp of mac and cheese into each muffin cup, covering most of the broccoli leaving just the stem exposed
- Bake for about 15 minutes, until the bites are set
- Let cool for 5 minutes before removing
- Serve warm
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Ohhhh I bet these would be a huge hit with my kids! I love the idea of adding pumpkin!
Adding the pumpkin gives it that fall flavor while still being the mac and cheese they love!
I love this! What a creative way to use up leftover pumpkin puree and I like the mystery vegetable too lol. Looks scrumptious!
By the time the kids realize there’s a veggie they’ve already eaten it! 😉
I gasped when I saw the title of this recipe! My daughter loves any form of past and loves pumpkin (we both do), so I know this will be a hit! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sounds like the perfect recipe for y’all to make together 🙂
These sound fantastic!! I love mac and cheese. Never had it in bite sized pieces before. I love the addition of broccoli to them.
The bite-sized are perfect for an appetizer or little kids hands.
I love the look of these, they not only look cute but I can imagine how tasty they must be!
They are delicious, and perfect when you need a cute little appetizer.
These look so nice and tasty. I will have to pin this and try these out, as I am always on the look out for healthy snacks
They are healthier than regular mac and cheese with the broccoli in it, and fun for kids, too.
I’d have never thought to put pumpkin into mac and cheese so I may have to see what that tastes like, although pumpkin flavoured things aren’t quite as easy to find in the UK x
Pumpkin is everywhere in the US right now. But if you can find canned pumpkin, that’s all you need for this recipe.
I never knew that Mac and Cheese could do so well with pumpkin. Can it be any kind of pumpkin or just a certain kind?
It does go surprisingly well. I used regular pumpkin puree. I’m not sure flavored pumpkin (such as filling for pumpkin pie) would do as well because the seasonings won’t go with the cheese.
What a super cool idea. My son loves mac n cheese!
Then I bet he will love these!
The holidays are coming and this is perfect! Omg yum and cute too!
They are great for an appetizer or for kids at a holiday party.
I am so excited that pumpkin season is arriving once again. These bites sound absolutely delicious!
Yes! All the stores have pumpkins and fall flavors out now 🙂
Oh wow, I love mac and cheese!!! I cannot wait to try it with pumpkin. sounds amazing
It’s great to give it that taste of fall 🙂