With 3 veggies, yummy flavor, and an easy method that can be done ahead of time, this Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce is a favorite family dinner to share. The squash is roasted with onions and garlic for ample flavor—but it’s still mellow enough for selective eaters!
This post is sponsored by Colavita
I love making vegetable sauces for pasta in all flavors and colors and this roasted butternut squash sauce is a favorite in the cooler months. It’s a great source of fiber and plant-based protein, too.
Quick Look: Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes
- Serving: 8
- Flavor Profile: Slightly caramelized butternut squash with hints of onion and garlic
- Difficulty: Easy, perfect for everyday family meals and toddler meal prep
- Why to Make: It’s a flavorful way to turn a pile of veggies into a yummy dinner
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT
Table of Contents
You can make the sauce ahead of time, stash it into the fridge or freezer, and warm it up when you need it. You can make it with or without dairy as needed for your family for healthy family meals. And you can even add more flavor by adding thyme or sage.
Why this Recipe Works
By roasting diced butternut squash (either cut from fresh or precut from the store) with onions and garlic, then blending it with flavorful, but accessible ingredients, you can make a creamy vegetable sauce that’s rich in vitamin A and fiber.
This post is my latest collaboration with Colavita, my favorite source for Italian pantry staples. The company is family-owned and operated and makes pasta, olive oil, beans, sauces, and so much more.
(You may also like Roasted Vegetable Pasta Sauce and Red Pepper Pasta Sauce.)
Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce.
- Butternut Squash, onion, and garlic cloves: You can roughly chop these from fresh or you can use precut or frozen ones from the store to save some effort.
- Colavita Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: This coats the veggies to help them caramelize and soften and also adds beneficial fats to the recipe.
- Broth or pasta cooking water: You can use either of these to help the sauce mixture blend easily.
- Cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese or white beans): I like to add one of these to the sauce mixture to help make it creamier and more satisfying from protein or fiber (or both).
- Colavita pasta: I’m using small soup shells here, but you can use this creamy sauce on any pasta shape you prefer.
- Grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and/or black pepper (optional, to taste)
TIP: You can add some fresh herbs or dried herbs thyme or sage to the veggies before popping the pan into the oven to add more flavor to the dish.
How to Make Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce
Here’s a preview of how to make this Pasta with Butternut Squash Sauce so you know what to expect. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full recipe, including the timing and amounts.
Step 1. Roughly chop the vegetables.
Step 2. Toss with olive oil, then roast until tender and starting to turn golden around the edges.
Step 3. Add to a blender with the rest of the sauce ingredients.
Step 4. Blend smooth, adding a little more broth to make it smooth and creamy.
TIP: You can toss with Pasta or store for future use.
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How to Store
Make the butternut squash sauce up to 5 days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or, you can freeze it for up to a year in a small freezer container. You can also store the leftover pasta with the sauce in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Sprinkle with water or broth before reheating to return the same creamy consistency as it will thicken as it cools.
Best Tips for Success
- Use a whole butternut squash, then peel, remove the seeds, and dice it. Or simply by buying it precut from the grocery store.
- Add fresh sage or fresh thyme to the sheet pan with the veggies to add more flavor as they roast.
- Serve with Baked Chicken Meatballs, Crispy Fish Sticks, or a side salad as you like.
More Easy Butternut Squash Recipes
Vegetables
How to Cut Butternut Squash
Muffins
Butternut Squash Muffins
Vegetables
Mashed Butternut Squash
Breakfast
Butternut Squash Oatmeal
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!
Favorite Butternut Squash Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed butternut squash
- 1 yellow onion (peeled and roughly chopped; about 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic (peeled)
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ cups broth (or pasta cooking water)
- ½ cup cottage cheese (or ricotta cheese or white beans)
- 1 pound pasta
- Grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and/or black pepper (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place the butternut squash, onions, and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and salt, and toss to coat. Roast until the vegetables are tender and golden brown, about 24-26 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the pasta according to package directions. (If not using broth: Remove 1¼ cups of the pasta cooking water and set aside to reserve.) Drain the pasta, and return it to the pot.
- Transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender with the broth (or pasta cooking water) and cottage cheese.
- Blend until smooth and creamy, adding as much of the pasta cooking water (or broth, if using) as needed to make a smooth sauce.
- Add as much of the sauce to the cooked pasta as you like and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately with additional salt, and Parmesan, and/or black pepper as you like.
- P.S. You can also make the sauce even creamier by adding a little heavy cream and stirring well.
Notes
- Make the sauce up to 5 days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or, you can freeze it for up to a year in a small freezer container.
- Store leftover pasta and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat as you like.
- Use frozen or precut vegetables to save on chopping.
- Dairy-free: Use white beans in place of the cottage cheese and a little nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- For the easiest way to peel and chop a butternut squash, check out my guide on How to Cut Butternut Squash.
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