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Fall Pasta Salad with Butternut Squash and Brussels

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  • Author: cov3
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A delightful fall pasta salad filled with roasted butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, and Honeycrisp apples, drizzled with a tangy maple dressing.


Ingredients

  • 8 oz rotini pasta
  • 2 cups Brussels sprouts, diced
  • 2 cups butternut squash, diced
  • 2 cups Honeycrisp apple, diced
  • 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
  • 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 4 oz goat cheese (or feta cheese)
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)
  • ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil (for dressing)
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp kosher salt (for dressing)
  • ¼ tsp black pepper (for dressing)


Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200°C) and line a baking sheet with greased parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, toss the diced butternut squash and Brussels sprouts in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, thyme, kosher salt, and black pepper.
  3. Spread the mixture on the baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20 minutes.
  4. After 20 minutes, add the diced Honeycrisp apples to the baking sheet and roast for an additional 10-15 minutes until everything is fork-tender.
  5. While the vegetables bake, cook the rotini pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions, draining 1-2 minutes before the recommended cooking time.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, minced garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
  7. Once the veggies and pasta have cooled, combine them in a large bowl with goat cheese and optional dried cranberries.
  8. Drizzle the dressing over the mix and toss gently to coat all ingredients.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider adding chickpeas or white beans for a protein boost. Adjust salt levels if using feta cheese instead of goat cheese.