Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

What is it?

A 12-ounce frozen pasta meal, this one uses mezzi rigatoni instead of elbows, so the ribs and hollow centers catch more of the sauce. The sauce is built on butternut squash bechamel, then folded with Gouda, cheddar, and Parmesan. Sage and nutmeg show up in the seasoning, with a little thyme in the background. Compared with Trader Joe’s standard mac and cheese, this version leans softer and a bit sweeter from the squash, while still staying in the same frozen-dinner lane. It’s a seasonal vegetarian item, and the pasta shape gives it a different texture from the brand’s usual macaroni-based versions.