SAUSAGE MAC & CHEESE IN A PUMPKIN

Sausage Mac & Cheese in a Pumpkin image

When family and friends eat this mac, I've heard they're tempted to sing, dance and cheer. It's just so darn good. -Andria Gaskins, Matthews, NC

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Dinner

Time 1h45m

Yield 8 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

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Ingredients

1 large pie pumpkin (5 to 6 pounds)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces uncooked cavatappi or fusilli pasta (about 3 cups)
1/2 pound bulk mild or hot Italian sausage
1 small onion, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1-1/2 cups half-and-half cream
1/2 cup chicken stock
6 slices process American cheese (about 4 ounces), quartered
3/4 cup shredded Manchego cheese
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup chopped roasted sweet red pepper

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. Wash pumpkin. Cut a 5-in. circle around stem; remove top and set aside. Remove strings and seeds from pumpkin; discard seeds or save for roasting., Sprinkle inside of pumpkin with salt and pepper; replace top. Place on a wire rack in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until tender. Remove top; let pumpkin stand on wire rack until ready to serve., In a large saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat 4-6 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain. , Drain pasta, reserving 1/3 cup pasta water. In same saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in cream and stock. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheeses until blended., Add spinach, roasted pepper, pasta and sausage mixture; toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water to moisten if desired. Spoon into pumpkin; serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 521 calories, Fat 28g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 87mg cholesterol, Sodium 1024mg sodium, Carbohydrate 47g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 22g protein.