Easy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce is a cozy taste of fall in every bite! This creamy roasted butternut squash pasta with garlic and crunch from toasted pecans is the kind of dish you’ll reach for seconds. Rosemary and freshly grated nutmeg add a warm, earthy flavor to the sweet and savory roasted butternut squash.
Why you'll love roasted butternut squash with pasta:
If you're looking for butternut squash pasta recipes, you should try this one out!!
- It's easy to make: This recipe requires simple ingredients and basic cooking techniques, making it an accessible option for beginner cooks or those short on time.
- It's flavorful and satisfying: The combination of roasted squash, garlic, nutmeg, pecans, and rosemary creates a burst of delicious flavors in every bite.
- It's a great way to incorporate seasonal produce: Squash is a fall favorite and this recipe highlights its natural sweetness and versatility.
- It's a healthier pasta option: By using squash as the sauce base, this dish is lower in fat and calories compared to traditional cream-based sauces.
- It's customizable: Feel free to adjust the seasonings or add your own twist by incorporating additional vegetables or protein to make it your own. Plus, you can easily make it vegan by using plant-based pasta and omitting the cheese. Overall, this recipe is a delicious and nutritious meal that can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a tasty pasta dish!
Soft, caramelized roasted butternut squash is cooked up with garlic and olive oil to make a creamy, very flavorful sauce. It is creamy, without any cream. The earthy grated nutmeg and crunch from the toasted pecans could be the star of this very fall dish.
Gabby and I had a difficult time keeping our forks (or fingers) out of this pasta recipe! Every piece of pasta wraps around a lovely sauce that is infused with fresh rosemary and roasted butternut squash naturally sweetens it.
The sauce comes together in no time and it’s a really nice vegan/vegetarian recipe to make for the holidays. You truly won’t believe how easy it is to put together.
The hardest part is cutting up the squash!
I always have to do it the difficult way. But I will explain an easier way to deal with cutting up butternut squash.
If you have butternut squash, you'll also enjoy this No Bean Butternut Squash Chili or even this Roasted Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Lasagna.
Jump To
- Why you'll love roasted butternut squash with pasta:
- What ingredients are in easy vegan butternut squash pasta (full printable recipe below)
- How to make butternut squash with pasta?
- What is an easy way to prep butternut squash?
- Expert tips Easy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce:
- Some variations for butternut squash pasta
- What is a nice side dish for pasta with squash?
- How to store this squash pasta recipe:
- Can butternut squash pasta sauce be frozen?
- FAQ's
- Some other pasta recipes to enjoy:
- Vegan Butternut Squash
What ingredients are in easy vegan butternut squash pasta (full printable recipe below)
- butternut squash
- sea salt
- Freshly ground pepper
- extra virgin olive oil
- fresh rosemary
- garlic cloves
- trottole, cavatappi (rigatoni or penne would work)
- nuts (preferably pecans, hazelnuts, or, almonds)
How to make butternut squash with pasta?
(Full printable recipe is below)
Step 1: Gather up all your ingredients. I took a photo of the group with my squash already roasted up.
Step 2: First part of the recipe is to roast the squash. If you happen to find already cubed squash at your market, it is a time-saver.
Step 3: Drizzle on the olive oil and season with salt (and pepper, if you’re using). Add some fresh rosemary and cover with another sheet of foil paper and seal it like a pocket.
Get your squash roasting in the oven.
Step 4: While it roasts, toast up your nuts. I used pecans, because that was what I had on hand.
Step 5: When there is 10 minutes of roasting time left, start boil the salted water for the pasta. As soon as it boils, add in the pasta.
Step 6: Next step, remove the nuts from the pan and set aside in a bowl. Use the same pan to start the sauce.
Step 7: Heat up the olive oil and cook the garlic. As soon as the squash is ready, remove from the oven and add to the pan with the olive oil and garlic. Ladle in a spoonful or two of the pasta water to loosen up the squash. Stir occasionally for a few minutes.
Step 8: Use a potato masher your spoon to mash up some of the squash. Leave some of the pieces whole.
Step 9: Check the seasoning and add salt and freshly ground pepper. Add on some ground nutmeg.
Step 10: When the pasta is one minute less than al dente ready, drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water, and add the pasta immediately to the sauce. Stir to combine with the sauce.
Step 11: Plate up the pasta and add some fresh chopped rosemary leaves. Check the salt and adjust if needed (to your taste). Drizzle on a little extra-virgin olive oil.
What is an easy way to prep butternut squash?
- An easy way is to roast the squash whole.
- Roast for 20 minutes on a foil lined baking sheet, or just until the flesh softens.
- Carefully remove squash from the oven and let it cool down for a few minutes.
- Slice the squash into halves, carefully removing the skin, and then into the size you need.
- Place the squash back into the oven for about another 20-30 minutes until it’s ready.
Pro Tip: Pressed for time or just don’t want to deal with a whole butternut squash? You can pretty much fine already peeled and cubed butternut squash in almost any market these days.
It truly is a time-saver. Look for already peeled and cubed butternut in the produce section.
Expert tips Easy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce:
- Spread out the squash evenly on the baking sheet so that each piece has room to roast properly.
- For a really easy and quicker idea, you can use pre-cut and peeled butternut squash from your local grocery store.
- Be sure not to overcook the garlic in the sauce or it could turn bitter. Keep an eye on it and remove from heat as soon as it starts to turn golden.
- The best way to mash the squash pieces is with a potato masher, keeping some pieces whole to add some texture.
- Make a creamier sauce by blending some of the squash with vegetable broth before adding it to the skillet.
- Grating in fresh nutmeg will give the dish a stronger and more distinct flavor, but you can also use ground nutmeg if that's what you have on hand.
- Very important to reserve some of the pasta water before draining it to use as a thickening agent for the sauce.
- Adjust the seasoning of the sauce to your taste!
- To add in some protein, toss in some cubed chicken or tofu to the sauce while it simmers.
- If you're not dairy-free or vegan, serve with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese on top.
Some variations for butternut squash pasta
Simple pasta dishes are easy to adapt. If you follow the recipe as is, it is totally vegan. Here are some idea to make this pasta a little different.
- If you're not vegan, go ahead and cook up some bacon. You could make my oven-baked bacon. You could also roast up some prosciutto slices.
- While the squash is roasting, you could also roast up the bacon or prosciutto (to save time). The prosciutto will roast up quickly, so set a timer for 10 minutes and check on it. Crumble it up and add to the squash sauce at the end.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute the ground nutmeg with 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
- For some added crunch, in the place of pecans, use walnuts or pine nuts.
- For some added protein: toss in some cubed cooked cooked chicken or shrimp to the pasta and sauce mixture.
- For gluten-free option, use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
- Sweet potatoes could be substituted for the butternut squash.
- For a creamy and cheesy twist, toss in some cumbled feta or goat cheese.
- Use vegetable broth instead of pasta water to thin out the sauce.
- For a vegan option, omit the cheese and add in nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
- In place of the rosemary, use thyme or sage.
- To give it a spicy kick, add in some red pepper flakes to the sauce while cooking.
What is a nice side dish for pasta with squash?
- For a vegetarian option, add some grilled tofu or tempeh chunks to the pasta before serving.
- Serve with a side of garlic roasted potatoes.
- Garlic bread or crusty bread slices for dipping in the sauce
- Serve with some greens like a simple green vegetable, steamed broccoli, asparagus, spinach, or my dandelion greens. Or try my Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad.
- Sprinkle on some toasted pine nuts or almonds on top.
- Finish off with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for an unami kick!
- Enjoy alone as a main dish, or pair with some grilled fish, shrimp, chicken, or steak.
How to store this squash pasta recipe:
Once the pasta has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s not a pasta recipe I would freeze, so I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Can butternut squash pasta sauce be frozen?
I do not recommend freezing this pasta recipe. BUT, you could freeze the sauce. As soon as it cools down, place it in a large zipped lock freezer bag (squeezing out the air)and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge. Next day, cook up your pasta and heat up the sauce.
FAQ's
Yes, the sauce is naturally gluten-free. Use your favorite GF pasta and combine it with the sauce.
If you’re not vegan (or dairy-free), grate on some Parmigiano Reggiano or pecorino cheese. If you’re vegan/dairy-free and are looking for a “cheesy” flavor, sprinkle on your favorite “parmesan” shreds (or whatever grated vegan “cheese” you like).
I used trottole pasta, which is a corkscrew shaped pasta. Cavatappi (another corkscrew shaped pasta) would be great. You could use rigatoni, penne or whatever short pasta you like.
Spaghetti could also work with this recipe.
Originally posted October 2022 and updated for content November 2023.
Some other pasta recipes to enjoy:
Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below:)
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Vegan Butternut Squash
Equipment
- 1 large sauce pan
Ingredients
- 2- pounds 2 ½ cups butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tsps sea salt more, to taste
- 2 freshly ground pepper to taste
- 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2-3 garlic cloves chopped
- ½ cup roughly chopped toasted nuts (preferably pecans, hazelnuts, or, almonds)
- ground nutmeg I used fresh nutmeg to grate
- 1 pound cavatappi or other curly pasta
- 1-½ Tablespoons coarse salt for the pasta water
Instructions
- ROAST THE BUTTERNUT SQUASH:
- Heat the oven to 425° F.
- Prep a large baking sheet with foil paper.
- Toss squash, extra-virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt on a baking sheet. season with pepper. Arrange the butternut squash cubes in one even layer so that they cook up evenly.
- Cover the squash with another layer of foil paper and seal the edges to make a pocket. You could also bake without the top layer of foil paper, you’ll just have to keep a better eye on it so it’s not browning too quickly.
- Bake until light gold and tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
- COOK THE SAUCE AND PASTA:
- When the squash is almost finished, start to boil the water for the pasta.
- Bring a large heavily salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, toast the nuts on medium-high heat(I used pecans). Keep stirring and set aside the nuts when they’re ready.
- Once the water’s boiling, add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions.
- As the pasta cooks, make the sauce: In the same sauté pan or large skillet, heat up 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Add in the garlic on medium-high heat and cook until it turns a little golden (be sure to not brown or burn it). Adjust the heat if needed and remove the pan from heat if it’s already turned golden.
- Once the squash is roasted, remove from the oven and add to the skillet with the olive oil and garlic, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.
- While the pasta is boiling, ladle out some of the pasta water and add it to the skillet with the squash. Use a potato masher or your spoon to break down some of the squash (keep some of the pieces whole).
- Season with salt and some freshly ground pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- Add some ground nutmeg (I had fresh nutmeg and grated it right into the pan).
- Drain the pasta, reserving some more of the pasta water (about ½ cup should be fine).
- Add the pasta immediately to the pan with the sauce. Stir to combine.
- If the sauce is too thick, loosen with a little bit of the pasta water and stir to combine.
- Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper to your taste.
- Toss in the toasted pecans and some freshly chopped rosemary. Drizzle on a little bit of extra-virgin olive oil. Plate up and ENJOY!
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Notes
- Sauce: The sauce is made with the butternut squash and some of the pasta water. PLEASE read the recipe directions. I do explain to ladle out some of the pasta water from the pot of water while the pasta is cooking into the skillet with the squash. Add 1-2 ladles to start out (depending on how thick or thin you would like your sauce). It will thicken up the longer it is cooking up.
- Variation: Sprinkle on some vegan “cheese” shreds, or grate on some real cheese (if you’re not vegan or dairy-free).
- Crispy bacon: Crumble on some crispy bacon or prosciutto.
- Vegan bacon: If you’re vegan/meat-free, use vegan bacon.
- Serving ideas: Serve with my roasted Brussels sprouts or my Sicilian Fennel Orange Salad.
- How to store and reheat leftovers: If cooking a pound of pasta, you’ll use up most of the sauce. If you’re cooking up less pasta, use only the amount of sauce you’ll need. The rest of the sauce could be stored in airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Annie says
Really enjoyed this vegan pasta. I reserved one cup of the pasta water and combined it with the squash at the end and it was so tasty!
Lora says
Hi Annie-How nice you took the time to write me and let me know you enjoyed this pasta recipe. It happens to be one of my all-time favorite vegan sauces!!XX
Jules says
Delicious! I'm a huge fan of roasted squash. I happened to have some already roasted up so was so fast to make this sauce. I tossed on some grated cheese...yum!!