This roasted butternut squash salad features caramelized squash, crunchy apples, creamy goat cheese and hearty grains for a healthy, flavor-packed side dish or vegetarian main course. It's the perfect fall or winter salad, and it makes for a stunning (make-ahead!) side dish on a holiday table.
Roasted butternut squash salad
Roasted butternut squash is the foundation for this salad. It gets tossed with maple-roasted pecans, brown rice (or any whole grain you like), crisp apples, creamy goat cheese and a roasted garlic dressing. It’s savory, sweet, full of texture and flavor and is just as fitting as a side dish to a special feast as it is for a healthy Tuesday night supper. I love it so much that I featured the recipe in my book, Build-a-Bowl!
How do you serve this salad?
First of all, this salad can happily sit at room temperature for several hours (making it perfect for entertaining). You can serve it alongside roasted chicken or fish, you can bring it to a potluck, OR you can save it for nutritious lunches throughout the week (e.g. best work lunch EVER). It’s as crowd-pleasing and adaptable as Tom Hanks circa 1994.
How to roast butternut squash
This recipe calls for a 2-pound butternut squash, which you will need to peel and chop (you can knock out that step a day or two in advance and refrigerate the chopped squash). If that is daunting, you can buy pre-cut squash—just cut it further into ½-inch chunks if needed. Adding a splash of balsamic vinegar to the squash before cooking helps it to caramelize, while chopped sage provides flavor. Whole garlic cloves are roasted with the squash, as they will be used for the dressing (see below!).
Squash salad with quinoa, rice or farro
You can use any whole grain you like in this recipe. Brown rice is a favorite (shown here), but you could go for quinoa, farro, barley or wheat berries (check out Build-a-Bowl for instructions on how to best cook different grains!). If you're looking for a shortcut, buy pre-cooked frozen brown rice, which you can find in most grocery stores.
Can you make the salad ahead?
Yes! The salad can happily sit at room temperature for up to 2 hours. All of the components, including the roasted butternut squash, maple pecans, roasted garlic dressing and whole grains can also be made the day before, then assembled before serving.
Roasted garlic dressing
The secret elixir that ties this salad together is a roasted garlic dressing. It’s made with sweet roasted garlic cloves (which are cooked alongside the squash), apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and a bit more sage. The dressing generously coats the squash and grains, infusing them with flavor.
Maple roasted pecans
Maple roasted pecans are one of my favorite ways to add a sweet-salty crunch to dishes, from soups, to salads, to these crustless pumpkin pie custards. Here they bolster the flavor of the salad and provide texture. (They’re also awesome on their own as a snack or cocktail nibble!)
Ingredient swaps for this recipe
- You can swap out the butternut squash for roasted delicata squash or sweet potatoes.
- Instead of using apple, you can try cubed pear (just note that the pear will brown faster than the apple) or even roasted cauliflower for a more savory approach.
- Crumbled feta or shaved Parmigiano Reggiano are delicious swaps for the goat cheese.
- You can swap out the pecans for walnuts.
- Baby arugula is a nice addition to the salad, if you’re craving some greens.
- For some more protein, throw in some white beans or shredded chicken!
Find more nutritious one-bowl meals in my book, Build-a-Bowl!
*This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting From Scratch Fast!
Other squash recipes to try:
- Roasted Acorn Squash Slices with Maple Brown Butter Vinegar Sauce
- Roasted Squash Soup with Coconut & Curry
- Maple Dijon Roasted Delicata Squash
- Roasted Squash Salad with Goat Cheese & Pomegranate Seeds
- Quinoa, Apple & Spinach Stuffed Honeynut Squash
- Butternut Squash Latke Cake
Stay connected
I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @fromscratchfast so that I can share your creations!
Get the recipe!
Butternut Squash Salad with Apples, Goat Cheese & Grains
*Take note that you’ll need cooked grains for this recipe.
Ingredients
Roasted squash, maple pecans and dressing
- 2- pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice (4 cups diced)
- 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh sage, divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon plus ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ cup pecans
- 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup, divided
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
To assemble
- 3-4 cups cooked brown rice (from 1 cup uncooked), or other whole grains, such as quinoa, farro or barley
- 1 crisp apple, such as Fuji, Granny Smith or Pink Lady, cored and cut into ½-inch dice
- 2-4- ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- Fried sage leaves (optional, see notes below)
Instructions
Make the roasted squash, maple pecans and dressing
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line one large baking sheet and one small baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the diced butternut squash on the large baking sheet and add the garlic cloves, 1 ½ teaspoons of the sage, the balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix everything around on the pan to coat. Roast, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and caramelized around the edges, about 30 minutes. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Let cool (reserve the roasted garlic cloves for the dressing). Do Ahead: The squash can sit at room temperature for several hours or it can be refrigerated overnight.
- While the squash bakes, make the maple pecans. Pour the pecans onto the small baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the maple syrup. Season with salt. Toss the pecans to evenly coat in the syrup, then spread them in an even layer. Slide the pan in the oven (this can be alongside the squash) for about 5 minutes, or until the nuts are a shade darker in color and aromatic. Cool completely (the nuts will harden as they cool). Coarsely chop. Do Ahead: The maple pecans can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
- Squeeze the roasted cloves out of their skins into a small bowl, and mash them to a paste with a pinch of salt. Add the apple cider vinegar, the remaining ½ tablespoon maple syrup and the remaining ½ teaspoon sage. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the remaining ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil. Do Ahead: The dressing can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Assemble the salad
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, roasted butternut squash, apple and chopped pecans. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as needed. Gently fold in the goat cheese. If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with fried sage leaves just before serving.
Notes
- To fry sage leaves, heat ¼-inch of neutral vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add about ¼ cup of sage leaves. They should start to bubble immediately. Cook, flipping once, until the leaves start to crisp up but not brown. Transfer the leaves to a paper-towel-lined plate and season with salt. Store at room temperature, uncovered, for up to 3 hours.
- For a speedier version of this salad, you can use defrosted frozen cooked brown rice (you can find it in the freezer section of most grocery stores).
Brady says
Made this salad for my dad's birthday and served it over farm fresh mixed greens and without the farro/rice (just because I didn't have it). It was a really wonderful combination of flavors. The maple pecans were a fab touch! Super excited to receive the book in Jan.. preordered a few copies the other day!
Nicki Sizemore says
Thank you, Brady! This just made my night. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
Ginger Ingram LaBella says
Nice to hear from you Nicki. Loved reading your catch-up message, and the recipe looks and sounds great. I've been in love with sage for the last year and a half of so -- ever since my husband and I got to eat it everywhere we went in Italy around that time. So this one looks like a keeper for me! Be well.
Nicki Sizemore says
Thank you, Ginger! Your Italy trip sounds delicious 🙂 So nice to hear from you, and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sandra Ruggiero says
Not only can you make delectable food, but you are hilarious as well. And yikes, yes, please pour me a glass of wine too!
Looking forward to trying this salad.
Nicki Sizemore says
Glad you like my desperate sense of humor, Sandy! Happy Thanksgiving to you!