Description
A creamy, flavorful Butternut Squash Feta Pasta that combines roasted butternut squash and tangy feta cheese into a smooth sauce, tossed with your favorite chunky pasta for a comforting and delicious meal perfect for fall and winter.
Ingredients
Scale
Roasted Butternut Squash and Sauce
- 1 butternut squash, peeled and diced into 1-inch chunks
- 8 ounces feta cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 sprigs of fresh thyme, finely chopped
Pasta
- 1 pound chunky shaped pasta
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit to get it ready for roasting the squash and feta.
- Prepare the roasting dish: Combine the peeled and diced butternut squash and feta cheese in a 9×13 baking dish or on a sheet pan ensuring even distribution.
- Season the ingredients: Drizzle the squash and feta with 2 tablespoons of olive oil then sprinkle evenly with kosher salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and freshly chopped thyme for balanced flavor.
- Roast the squash and feta: Place the baking dish or sheet pan in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the squash is tender and the feta softens.
- Cook the pasta: While the squash roasts, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Prepare the sauce: Stir the reserved pasta water into the roasted butternut squash and feta mixture, then blend using an immersion blender or transfer to a stand blender and puree until mostly smooth and creamy.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Toss the cooked pasta with the butternut squash feta sauce until well coated and heated through.
- Storage and reheating tip: If refrigerating leftovers, add a tablespoon of water when reheating to loosen the sauce. Store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Notes
- Use a chunky shaped pasta like rigatoni or penne so the sauce clings well.
- For a vegan version, substitute feta with a plant-based feta alternative.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Adding fresh thyme brings an herby brightness to the dish.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave with added water for best texture.
