Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta

The Menu:
Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta


 

The Original Recipe:
Boy oh boy! Doesn't that picture look good! I had a huge butternut squash I wanted to use. I found this recipe on Pinterest (where else!?!) and decided to try it. In my honest opinion, I would just go with a homemade Alfredo sauce or even use a jar of store bought Alfredo Sauce. This sauce was nothing to blog about. I had to add nutmeg, parmasean, some of the sautee'd onions, and lot's of salt and pepper to get it to taste halfway decent. That being said, the top was delicious! I could of just eaten a bowl of the squash, onions and bacon by itself!! So, do yourself a favor. 1. Try this recipe 2. Use your favorite Alfredo sauce or buy some already made. Just skip the Alfredo part of the directions!
 
Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta via myrecipes.com

Ingredients 

  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash
  • Cooking spray
  • 6 sweet hickory-smoked bacon slices (raw)
  • 1 cup thinly sliced shallots
  • 8 ounces uncooked mini penne (tube-shaped pasta)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
  • 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp provolone cheese
  • 1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 425°.
  2. Combine 1/4 teaspoon salt, rosemary, and pepper. Place squash on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt mixture. Bake at 425° for 45 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Increase oven temperature to 450°.
  3. Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 1/2 teaspoons drippings in pan; crumble bacon. Increase heat to medium-high. Add shallots to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until tender. Combine squash mixture, bacon, and shallots; set aside.
  4. Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well.
  5. Combine flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a whisk; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add provolone, stirring until cheese melts. Add pasta to cheese mixture, tossing well to combine. Spoon pasta mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray; top with squash mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.

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