This creamy Butternut Squash Pasta is the perfect make-ahead pasta dish you can serve on Thanksgiving, thanks to its perfectly roasted butternut squash, broccoli and cauliflower florets, and pasta that's all coated in the tastiest homemade ranch dressing!
It's truly a crowd-pleaser and there are so many reasons to love this recipe! It's not only versatile but also super easy to make even if this is your first time ever cooking!
Spoil your loved ones this Thanksgiving with this delicious Butternut Squash Pasta salad that they're going to request you to make again and again!
Want to learn how to make this delicious Butternut Squash Pasta? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
- What is Butternut Squash Pasta?
- What Makes This Butternut Squash Pasta Recipe Special?
- What You Need to Make Butternut Squash Pasta at Home
- How to Make Butternut Squash Pasta (Step-by-Step
- Recipe Variation Ideas for Butternut Squash Pasta
- How to Store Leftover Butternut Squash Pasta
- Similar Fall Recipes You'll Love
- Recipe Card
What is Butternut Squash Pasta?
Butternut Squash Pasta is a delicious combination of butternut squash roasted and tossed in a delicious pasta for the perfect combination!
This is seriously the best make-ahead recipe for Thanksgiving that you have just got to try this year! Everyone has loved it every single time I've made it on Thanksgiving, and it is a total crowd-pleaser!
My recipe features the perfect combination of roasted butternut squash, along with broccoli and cauliflower tossed in a homemade ranch sauce which makes this salad taste absolutely incredible.
To take it to the next level, I serve this pasta dish as a salad! There is so much variety when it comes to pasta salads. You can never go wrong with a hearty pasta salad because it is loved by almost everyone. And the variations are endless. Add any other ingredients you love to a bowl of pasta and it will surely taste great.
I usually enjoy salads with homemade oven-toasted bread, but not with this salad. The pasta in this salad covers the carbs, which would be a double duty on your tummy. This carby pasta salad substitutes the bread and is very filling on its own. Give it a try this Thanksgiving!
What Makes This Butternut Squash Pasta Recipe Special?
Tasty and refreshing: This creamy butternut squash pasta is full of delicious ingredients that make it light and refreshing, yet filling! With delicious, roasted butternut squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and a homemade ranch dressing, this salad will seriously make your day,
Versatile and make-ahead: You can make this butternut squash pasta salad ahead of time for Thanksgiving, and you only need panty-staple ingredients for it. Plus, it goes with just about any Thanksgiving turkey dish you'll make and everyone is absolutely going to fall in love with it!
Packed with flavor: Very few dishes are so good that everyone in the family loves them. This is one of those special kinds of recipes that is going to win everyone’s hearts, seriously!
What You Need to Make Butternut Squash Pasta at Home
Making this delicious Butternut Squash Pasta at home is easier than you think! It's the perfect make-ahead recipe that'll make your day! Here's what you need to make it:
- Pasta: I've used fusilli pasta as it goes really well in this salad, but you can use any other you like including rigatoni, orecchiette, or penne pasta.
- Cauliflower: We'll be adding some cauliflower to our delicious pasta recipe as it's not only healthy but super tasty and the flavors work great together!
- Broccoli: You'll also need 2 cups of broccoli florets for this recipe that are bite-sized to have the best flavor combination!
- Roasted butternut squash: You'll first of all need to roast the star ingredient of this delicious pasta dish - butternut squash! Click the link to know exactly how to roast it until it's fork-tender on a sheet pan or baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Homemade ranch dressing: My recipe for homemade ranch dressing is the perfect way to make your veggie pasta dish incredibly delicious and creamy! It truly is the perfect butternut squash pasta sauce that you can make without even using a blender! We'll be using ½ cup in this recipe.
- Poppy seeds: Adding poppy seeds will take this delicious pasta salad to the next level, thanks to its nutty, crunchy flavor that brings this dish together!
- Seasonings: You'll also need some salt and pepper to season this dish to the right level!
How to Make Butternut Squash Pasta (Step-by-Step
First thing first let's roast our butternut squash! To do this, wash and peel your butternut squash, then use a knife to cut it into cubes, and then roast Butternut Squash. Let it cool completely before adding it to the salad.
Check out how to roast butternut squash in my recipe for full instructions and tips!
Next, while the butternut squash is cooling, let's cook the pasta! In a large pot or large skillet of boiling water, boil the pasta according to package instructions. Make sure to cook it till it's al dente.
Drain the water and allow the pasta to cool as well. You can reserve some pasta water to adjust for the consistency later if you'd like.
In the meantime, rinse and cut broccoli and cauliflower into small pieces. Place all the ingredients into a large glass bowl. Add mayonnaise, sea salt, and ground pepper to it.
Finally, add poppy seeds and mix everything well. Be very careful not to mash the roasted butternut squash. At this point, you can add more salt and pepper if necessary to adjust it according to your taste.
You can also adjust the consistency of the sauce and how well it has coated the pasta by adding a tablespoon or less of reserved pasta water to the bowl and mixing it well.
Your delicious Butternut Squash Pasta is ready to be served! The salad tastes great for a couple of days if kept refrigerated, and everyone loves it. Win, win! Make it on Thanksgiving this year and give your family an extra special treat!
Recipe Variation Ideas for Butternut Squash Pasta
This delicious Butternut Squash Pasta salad recipe is absolutely perfect as it is, but if you're looking to change things up and customize the flavors, here are some ideas you can try:
Cheese: If you're a cheese lover (or your family is) you can add any cheese you love best on top of it! A little parmesan cheese goes really well with the flavors of this pasta dish.
Other veggies: You can add any other vegetables you like! So experiment with your favorite combo and make this recipe your own!
Nuts: If you like, you can add cranberries and any toasted nuts such as walnuts to make it extra festive! My kids don't like these additions, so I didn't include them in the recipe but feel free to if you prefer
Fresh herbs: You can also garnish it with your favorite chopped herbs such as fresh thyme or any other ones you prefer.
Vinaigrette: If you're looking to make this lighter, you can make a vinaigrette with olive oil and vinegar and drizzle it on top along with some lemon juice instead of the homemade ranch dressing.
How to Store Leftover Butternut Squash Pasta
This pasta salad dish is absolutely delicious and perfect to make ahead! You can easily store it in the refrigerator. To do this, make sure it's cool or at room temperature, then place it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge for up to three days.
The ingredients don't freeze as well as so I don't recommend putting it in the freezer since it's super easy to make anyway!
Similar Fall Recipes You'll Love
- Red and Green Cabbage Cucumber Salad Recipe
- Creamy Cheddar Broccoli and Tomato Salad Recipe
- Pear Apple Pomegranate Pecan Spinach Salad Recipe
- Crab Salad Recipe
- Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad Recipe
- Sunflower Salad Recipe
- Purple Cabbage and Tomato Salad
Check out the SALAD category for many more delicious salad recipes.
Recipe Card
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta (Super Easy Make-Ahead Recipe)
Ingredients
Butternut Squash Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 1 lb. - organic Fusilli pasta
- 2 cups - organic cauliflower florets
- 2 cups - organic broccoli florets
- 2 cups - organic butternut squash (cubed and baked, see THIS recipe )
- ½ cup - ranch dressing (I used Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe)
- 1 tsp. - poppy seeds
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
How to Make Butternut Squash Pasta
- First thing first let's roast our butternut squash! To do this, wash and peel your butternut squash, then use a knife to cut it into cubes, and then roast Butternut Squash. Let it cool completely before adding it to the salad.
- Check out how to roast butternut squash in my recipe for full instructions and tips!
- Next, while the butternut squash is cooling, let's cook the pasta! In a large pot or large skillet of boiling water, boil the pasta according to package instructions. Make sure to cook it till it's al dente.
- Drain the water and allow the pasta to cool as well. You can reserve some pasta water to adjust for the consistency later if you'd like.
- In the meantime, rinse and cut broccoli and cauliflower into small pieces. Place all the ingredients into a large glass bowl. Add mayonnaise, sea salt, and ground pepper to it.
- Finally, add poppy seeds and mix everything well. Be very careful not to mash the roasted butternut squash. At this point, you can add more salt and pepper if necessary to adjust it according to your taste.
- You can also adjust the consistency of the sauce and how well it has coated the pasta by adding a tablespoon or less of reserved pasta water to the bowl and mixing it well.
- Your delicious Butternut Squash Pasta is ready to be served!
Notes
- I used Homemade Ranch Dressing. Also, you can add cranberries and any toasted nuts of your choice (my kids don't like any of it, so I did not include them in the recipe).
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