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    Hummusapien » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner » Butternut Squash Pasta with Goat Cheese

    ★★★★★ from 7 reviews

    Butternut Squash Pasta with Goat Cheese

    Published Oct 27, 2021 · Modified Sep 13, 2022 · by Alexis Joseph · 14 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Cozy up with this comforting Butternut Squash Pasta with goat cheese with pecan topping! A super flavorful vegetarian dinner for fall and winter nights.

    pot with squash pasta up close

    Lads and lassies! Say hello to your new favorite fall meal...butternut squash pasta. Ahhh, let’s let that sink in.

    I know “favorite” is a strong word, but I'm going there. I don’t use it lightly, so I assure you this recipe is indeed that tasty. Creamy and tangy and simply bursting at the seams with melty squash and crunchy pecans. The best!

    I just can't get enough. Jeff couldn't either! In fact, we were both feeling rather blue when the pot was empty.

    But listen, I've got some news! Food news. Did you know October is National Pasta Month? I kid you not. And couldn't we all use a fabulous excuse to celebrate right now? Let the party commence with this insanely satisfying and supremely creamy butternut pasta!

    I wanted to celebrate with this dish because I was craving a taste of home, and nothing takes me there quite like a home-cooked meal.  Can we all agree that sharing a quality dish of pasta is one of the simplest ways to show love? Or ya know, to say you’re sorry, to say you missed someone...the list goes on. Pasta solves problems, people!

    I was super pumped to make this for Jeff considering he’s pasta obsessed  – a comforting taste of home that shows how much I care. Weeee!

    plate of pasta with box

    Which pasta to use

    Today I’m shining the spotlight on my favorite fall produce paired with Barilla Gluten Free Penne. I adore this pasta because it lives up to the quality standards that pasta lovers have come to expect from Barilla.

    It's made with corn and rice and cooks to al dente perfection in 10 minutes. I can always count on Barilla's quality being top notch. When I served this to the hubs, he was floored that it was gluten free!

    I love me some bean pasta too as an alternative, but there's something extra impressive about a gluten free pasta that is indistinguishable from its wheat flour counterpart.

    A lot of my pals either can't tolerate gluten or choose not to consume it, so having yummy alternative options is much appreciated.

    pot with butternut squash pasta and wooden spoon

    How to make butternut squash pasta

    We're pairing pasta with the most lovely hunks of butternut squash roasted to caramel perfection. Then we'll layer in buttery sautéed shallots, garlic and sage with tangy goat cheese to form a luscious sauce.

    Top it off with an irresistibly crispy pecan and breadcrumb situation. Mega texture and flavor but also simplicity so the pasta can really shine!

    1. First, we roast our squash on the lowest rack for 30 minutes so it gets plenty brown. Flavor town.
    2. Meanwhile we cook our pasta until perfectly al dente, or about 10 minutes. We're reserving 2 cups of that nice starchy pasta water to form our simple sauce.
    3. Next we brown our breadcrumbs and pecans, which will make the most amazing topping.
    4. Now we start our sauce by sautéing our lovely shallot, garlic, and sage in some butter. The smell! Add in goat cheese and pasta water to form a creamy sauce.
    5. Mix in the roasted squash, then add the pasta. The cherry on top is the breadcrumbs for crispy crunch!

    Key ingredients and tips

    • Pasta: I love Barilla Gluten Free Penne cooked perfectly al dente. Rotini or fettuccine would also be nice.
    • Butternut squash: One of the stars of our pasta show! Sweet, caramelized squash for epic fall flavor. Delicata squash would be lovely here, too.
    • Shallot + garlic: I appreciate the delicate flavor of shallot, but onion can also be used.
    • Goat cheese: To me, fall and goat cheese are just meant to be. Give me all the tang! Goat cheese forms the base of the sauce and gives this dish loads of creaminess and flavor. Use a log of goat cheese versus pre-crumbled for the best consistency.
    • Pecans + bread crumbs: You're going to flip for this superbly flavorful combo. Nutty, crunchy, and oh so satisfying both mixed in and on top.
    • Butter: Oodles of yummy flavor and mouthfeel. You could also use vegan butter if you fancy. Salted or unsalted works.
    • Sage: It wouldn't be a fall pasta dish without fresh herbs, right? If you don’t have sage, it’ll still taste fab without!
    playte of butternut squash pasta with fork

    More cozy pasta recipes

    • Vegan Lasagna
    • Thai Pasta Salad
    • Healthy Spinach and Artichoke Alfredo Pasta
    • Healthy Southwestern Pasta Salad

    A weeknight wonder awaits!

    Print
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    pot with squash pasta up close

    Butternut Squash Pasta with Goat Cheese

    ★★★★★ 5 from 7 reviews
    • Author: Alexis Joseph
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Total Time: 35 minutes
    • Yield: 4-5 servings 1x
    • Category: Main Meals
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Cozy up with this comforting Butternut Squash Pasta with goat cheese and pecan topping. A super flavorful vegetarian dinner for fall and winter nights!


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 12 oz box penne pasta (reserve 2 cups pasta water)
    • 4 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced small (20 oz)
    • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 4 tbsp butter, divided
    • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten free if needed)
    • ½ cup pecans, finely chopped
    • ¾ cup shallot, diced
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 3 tbsp fresh sage, chopped (optional)
    • 2 oz goat cheese (use log style versus pre-crumbled)
    • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 400F and move the rack to the lowest position. Line your largest baking sheet with parchment paper.
    2. Place squash on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil plus a good pinch of salt and pepper. Bake on the lowest rack for 30 minutes, tossing halfway.
    3. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
    4. Warm 1 tbsp butter over medium heat in a large pot (I used my 5.5 qt dutch oven). Add breadcrumbs, and pecans and cook for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown and fragrant. Transfer mixture to a small bowl.
    5. In the same pot, melt remaining 3 tbsp butter. Add shallot and a pinch of salt and cook for 4 minutes. Add garlic and sage and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add goat cheese, squash, and 1 cup of the reserved pasta water, stirring to form a creamy sauce. If mixture looks too thick, add another ½ cup water.
    6. Remove from heat and stir in pasta, tossing to combine. Fold in ½ cup of the breadcrumb mixture. The pasta will absorb liquid as it sits, so serve immediately or add more pasta water as needed to loosen. Top with remaining breadcrumbs before serving!

    Notes

    Inspired by this recipe.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @hummusapien on Instagram. I love sharing what you make!

    This post is sponsored by Barilla. Photos by The Nutritious Kitchen.

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Melissa says

      January 27, 2022 at 5:23 am

      This butternut squash goat cheese pasta is insane! It tastes like a rich decadent comfort food straight out of a fancy 5 star restaurant. Going to be making this all winter long! It especially makes me happy because I've been obsessed with Trader Joe's pumpkin pasta sauce and they broke my heart by discontinuing it this year, I used to literally (be that person) and buy 10 jars at a time. It's so hearty and less acidic than traditional tomato sauces, so it seems to digest better for me. This pasta tastes so similar to my favorite pumpkin flavor. Will be making again + again. Thank you Alexis!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 27, 2022 at 4:42 pm

        Awww you made my day! I'm so glad this was a winner. And boo when TJ's takes away products we love! Thanks so much for the review, Melilssa.

        Reply
    2. Lisa says

      January 26, 2022 at 11:36 pm

      Delicious! My whole family enjoyed it and my 1 1/2 year old sat quietly scarfing it down. Definitely will be making this again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        January 27, 2022 at 4:48 pm

        Hahaha I love it. I need to make it for my son next!

        Reply
    3. Lindsay Remley says

      January 04, 2022 at 10:21 pm

      This is family friendly, easy and so yummy. We substituted the penne for the banza penne and it was great. Definitely adding this into our regular rotation!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Sarah says

      November 17, 2021 at 7:34 pm

      This was SO delicious and flavorful and truly an easy weeknight meal! It was a big hit for the whole family, including our 4 year old! Will definitely make this again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        November 18, 2021 at 1:44 pm

        Yayyy I'm thrilled to hear it!! Thanks a ton!

        Reply
    5. Robin says

      October 30, 2021 at 5:54 pm

      This is sooooo good! I made with Barilla Chickpea casarecce noodles, which are made with one ingredient, Chickpea flour, so super clean!! I added more goat cheese as I am a goat cheese freak 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        November 03, 2021 at 11:19 am

        I'm so glad, Robin! Thank you so much!

        Reply
    6. Robin says

      October 30, 2021 at 5:52 pm

      This is sooooo good! I made with Barilla Chickpea casarecce noodles, which are made with one ingredient, Chickpea flour, so super clean!! I added more goat cheese as I am a goat cheese freak 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Kori says

      October 28, 2021 at 5:30 pm

      Looks and sounds like the perfection of fall!

      Reply
    8. Dylan says

      October 27, 2021 at 6:24 pm

      Mmm we made this last week and it was the perfect Fall meal! Love those cozy flavors!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Rachel says

      October 27, 2021 at 4:07 pm

      This is so yummy and delicious! My entire family enjoyed it. I will definitely continue to make 😀

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        December 27, 2021 at 8:37 pm

        You made my day, thanks a ton Rachel!

        Reply

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    Well HELLO there, pal! I'm Alexis. Welcome to Hummusapien, a fantastical food blog brimming with nourishing (always delish!) recipes from a Registered Dietitian plus life tidbits to inspire you to live your most joyful, balanced life. Grab a super hot cup o' joe and let's get cookin'.

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