This cozy Pumpkin Chicken Mac Bake brings together fall flavors and simple ingredients for a hearty, protein-packed meal. Creamy pumpkin, juicy chicken, and warm spices make it the perfect recipe for cooler weather—and it’s easy enough for busy weeknights or weekend meal prep.

It’s the start of a new week and that means there’s a new ingredient challenge. And this week it’s the most basic fall ingredient of them all. Hello, pumpkin! Pumpkin’s incredibly versatile and I urge you to explore with it this week. It’s great in sweet and savory dishes and it’s rich in vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C, and fiber. You can’t go wrong with this one.

We decided to have a pumpkin recipe challenge at work with our Black Iron Nutrition clients. I was excited and up for the challenge. I decided I wanted to make a high protein pumpkin bar. We got all kinds of healthy delicious ingredients, and then Krissy and I went to work in the kitchen trying to develop the perfect fall treat.