While you need consolation and decadence however want healthful and nourishing, Butternut Squash Pasta is the answer. Butternut squash is the key to the swoon-worthy sauce, making it the perfect addition to your wholesome recipe rotation.

The hidden veggies within the sauce make this an excellent pasta for teenagers…or anybody who’s veggie shy.
For this pasta, the key sauce (actually) that makes it particular is roasted butternut squash.
As this Roasted Butternut Squash demonstrates, cooking squash within the oven till it’s caramelized and tender unlocks its true potential.
- This pasta makes the many of the roasted squash’s nutty, candy, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness by mixing it into the sauce.
- From there, elevated additions like Roasted Garlic, brown butter, and gouda make it a forever-keeper you’ll be able to serve to firm.
This simple butternut squash pasta is on our home favorites record, and I do know it would earn its spot on yours.
Let’s make it!

Causes to Love Butternut Squash Pasta
Should you haven’t already been bought on the thought of butternut squash pasta, listed here are among the the explanation why I like this recipe a lot:
- CHEESE. Butternut squash pairs nicely with cheese, and whereas this isn’t a mac and cheese recipe per se (flip to Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese for that), the cheese and butternut squash elevate each other superbly.
- It’s Versatile. Not solely are you able to get pleasure from this recipe as a aspect or vegetarian fundamental, however you too can improve it by including a filling protein, like on this Butternut Squash Sausage Pasta.
- It’s Nutritious. This can be a creamy, comforting pasta dish with out heavy cream, which means it’s pretty healthful. Wholesome swaps hold issues gentle, and an array of veggies add worthwhile vitamin. (For individuals who like a little bit additional vitamin punch, see the FAQ part under for extra concepts of what so as to add.)

Tips on how to Make Butternut Squash Pasta
This roasted garlic and butternut squash pasta tastes luxurious, much more so than you’d anticipate from its comparably lean ingredient record.
Nearly all of this recipe’s creaminess and richness comes from the butternut squash itself.
Mixed with a contact of milk and cheese, the squash turns into a luxurious pasta sauce.
The Substances
- Pasta. Entire wheat pasta ensures that this dish is stuffed with filling fiber and added vitamins. I used rotini, however you should use any brief, tubular noodle you favor.
- Butternut Squash. Creamy, nutty, and naturally candy, butternut squash pairs nicely with a tacky sauce. It’s additionally filled with nutritional vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.
- Garlic + Onion. The small however mighty taste builders. These roast on the sheet pan proper together with the butternut squash.
- Milk. Helps make the squash sauce additional creamy. I used 1% milk, however you should use any milk you’ve gotten readily available.
- Butter + Sage. Cooking the sage leaves in browned butter provides earthiness, heat, and richness to the butternut squash sauce.
- Cheeses. Nutty, creamy Gouda and savory Parmesan are the proper tacky duo to take this butternut squash pasta from easy to spectacular.
- Pink Pepper Flakes. A contact of warmth is the proper complement to the candy and savory notes.
The Instructions
- Minimize the highest off of the garlic, drizzle it with olive oil, wrap it in aluminum foil, then place it on a baking sheet. Prick the squash throughout, slice it in half, scoop out the seeds, and place it on the baking sheet.

- Trim, peel, and halve the onion. Add it to the baking sheet.

- Roast at 400 levels F for 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool.

- Prepare dinner and drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

- Take away the squash pores and skin, then add the flesh to a blender with the onion and garlic cloves.

- Add milk and mix till easy.

- Brown the butter with the sage within the pasta pot.

- Stir within the squash sauce and Gouda.

- Stir all the pieces collectively. ENJOY!
Storage Ideas
- To Retailer. Refrigerate pasta in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low warmth, including a splash of milk as wanted for moisture. You may also reheat this dish within the microwave.
- To Freeze. Freeze pasta in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
Roast the butternut squash, garlic, and onion as much as 1 day upfront. Refrigerate them in an hermetic storage container till you’re prepared to complete the recipe.

What to Pair with Butternut Squash Pasta
Advisable Instruments to Make this Recipe
- Baking Sheet. It’s higher to roast butternut squash than boil it, so a baking sheet is essential.
- Blender. Important for creating the most effective butternut squash pasta sauce. This extra economical model can also be nice.
- Giant Pot. This high-quality pot is ideal for getting ready this pasta.
Excessive-Powered Blender
For extremely easy sauces, spreads, soups, and smoothies, this blender can’t be crushed. It’s nice high quality and can final you for years to come back.
We fortunately ate this dish a number of nights in a row, then missed it as quickly because it was gone.
You’ll find it irresistible! Ensure it finds its method to your desk quickly.
Incessantly Requested Questions
To make this recipe vegan, you’ll want to make use of a dairy-free milk and butter substitute. For the cheeses, you should use a dairy free model of Gouda and Parmesan. As a substitute, contemplate including butternut squash to this dairy-free Penne Alla Vodka.
To spice up the vitamin of this pasta dish, stir in some chopped child spinach, kale, Roasted Cauliflower Roasted Broccoli, or every other greens you get pleasure from.
- 1 giant head garlic
- 1 medium butternut squash 2 pound to 2 1/2 kilos
- 1 small onion
- 3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional for cooking the pasta
- 1/2 cup low-fat milk (I used 1%), plus further as wanted
- 1 pound entire wheat rotini pasta or related brief, twisty, tubular pasta resembling cavatappi, penne, or fusilli
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped recent sage plus further for serving
- 4 ounces gouda cheese shredded (about 1 cup)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed purple pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese about 1 ounce, optionally available
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Place a rack within the heart of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 levels F. Line a big rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Minimize the very high off a bulb of garlic in order that the highest of the cloves are uncovered (see Roasted Garlic for much more prep ideas). Place a sq. of aluminum foil giant sufficient to wrap round it fully on high of the ready baking sheet, set the garlic bulb in its heart, then drizzle the garlic with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Wrap the foil up and across the garlic so the garlic is totally enclosed. Scoot it to 1 nook of the baking sheet.
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With the tines of a fork, evenly prick the butternut squash pores and skin throughout. Trim off its stem finish and a little bit bit off of its backside finish so it might probably get up flat. Stand the squash up on its backside finish, then with a really sharp knife, slice it in half lengthwise from high to backside. Scoop out and discard the seeds and stringy bit. Place it minimize sides-up on the baking sheet.
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Trim off the stem ends of the onion and halve it lengthwise via the stem. Peel every half (discard the peels) after which place the halves cut-sides up on the baking sheet beside the squash.
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Drizzle the squash and onion with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Together with your fingers, rub the squash and onion evenly so the minimize sides are evenly coated with oil. Sprinkle the onion and squash with 1 teaspoon salt (it would seem like rather a lot). Roast till the squash is fork tender, about 40 to 50 minutes. Take away and let cool for 20 minutes.
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Whereas the squash cools, fill a big pot three-fourths of the best way with water and produce to a boil. Salt the water nicely, then add the pasta. Prepare dinner till al-dente in response to package deal directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water (DO NOT FORGET), then drain the pasta and shortly rinse it with cool water. Shake out as a lot water as you’ll be able to, then put aside to empty additional.
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As soon as the squash is cool sufficient to deal with, tear away the pores and skin and place the flesh right into a high-powered blender or meals processor in chunks. Discard any darkish, burned outer onion layers after which add the remaining onion to the blender. Unwrap the garlic and squeeze the cooked garlic cloves out of their pores and skin. Switch to the blender.
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Add 1/2 cup of the milk and mix till easy and creamy, including extra milk as wanted in order that the sauce will mix. The combination will likely be thick. Cease to scrape down the blender as wanted.
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Within the now-empty pasta pot, add the butter and sage. Prepare dinner on medium-low warmth till butter begins to show amber brown, stirring continually and scraping up any brown bits that type on the underside of the pot (this can take 2 to 4 minutes). Instantly add the blended squash combination and the gouda. Prepare dinner over medium warmth, stirring steadily, till the cheese is melted.
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Shake the pasta another time to take away any lingering water, then add to the pot. Add the purple pepper flakes. Stir to mix, including the reserved pasta water (or extra milk) to loosen it as wanted. Style and regulate the salt to your liking. Serve instantly, with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and extra recent sage.
- TO STORE: Refrigerate pasta in an hermetic storage container for as much as 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low warmth, including a splash of milk as wanted for moisture. You may also reheat this dish within the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Freeze pasta in an hermetic, freezer-safe storage container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Serving: 1(of 4), about 2 cupsEnergy: 746kcalCarbohydrates: 100gProtein: 25gFats: 27gSaturated Fats: 11gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 11gTrans Fats: 0.2gLdl cholesterol: 49mgPotassium: 795mgFiber: 15gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 20361IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 346mgIron: 2mg
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