When I told my family I was playing with this recipe, I got a HUGE amount of pushback. Why?
Because there was no meat. Seriously?
It is not like we are vegetarians by any means, we eat meat all the time and there is no way I can live without my beef. But to have meat in EVERY SINGLE MEAL?
So of course, what did I do? I made the salad and slapped a packet of pre-made tuna in front of them and insisted if they wanted meat, that is as close as they were getting.
Turns out, THEY DIDN’T EVEN NEED THE MEAT. Literally. That’s what they said.
So, here we stand, with a vegetarian dinner that is super healthy and absolutely delicious, and no, it doesn’t require meat.. 😉
Now that my rant is over, I’ll tell you a bit about this delicious roasted butternut squash quinoa recipe.
As you many of you know, I am a lover of squash. When fall time comes around? I’m ALL about the squash (especially this Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe…)Â so it is no surprise that I played around with butternut squash in order to make a delicious healthy salad.
And that is exactly what this salad is. Full of healthy food and nutrients, it is perfect and SO FILLING. I promise you, if you put this roasted butternut squash and quinoa salad over a bed of spinach, you will be full after one serving.
(P.S. If you are a believer of the Fab Four Diet, this is a really good recipe that fits the Fab Four Lifestyle… just saying… don’t know what the Fab Four Lifestyle is? Head over to my review of the book Body Love to find out!)
This recipe was actually quite easy to make, however it does take some time. Not necessarily time where you are working on the recipe, but time where the quinoa cooks and the squash roasts and then they cool. I honestly made the squash and quinoa around 2 PM and finished the recipe around 5 PM.
However, that was just my preference and how my day panned out with what I was doing.
This roasted butternut squash and quinoa salad can be put over spinach, however I recommend doubling the vinaigrette recipe so you have some extra.
Related Post: Apple and Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash
This is also a good meal prep recipe as you can make and mix everything except the quinoa mixture with the dressing. Mix them together when you are ready to eat and *poof* you have a meal prep meal.
To get the full recipe, head below!
Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad
*This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase from one of my links I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Please note- I only recommend products that I use and love myself!Â
Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
Butternut Squash and Quinoa Mixture
- 3 Cups Butternut Squash, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- Himalayan "Pink" Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 1 Teaspoon Rosemary Herb Seasoning
- 1 Cup Tricolor Quinoa, uncooked
- 1/3 Cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/3 Cup Red Onions, diced
- 3 Tablespoons Sunflower Kernels
Vinaigrette Dressing
- 1/2 Cup Olive Oil
- 1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Honey
- 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Honey Mustard
- 1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Garnishment
- Feta Cheese Crumbles
- Extra Sunflower Kernels
Instructions
Quinoa and Squash Mixture
-
Preheat the oven to 400F. Dice up butternut squash to about 1/2 an inch cubes. Place the squash cubes in a large bowl and mix with olive oil, himalayan salt and black pepper to taste, and rosemary herb seasoning.
-
On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spread the chopped squash across the sheet. Place in the oven and roast for approximately 20-25 minutes. Or until the squash is tender. Set aside to let cool.
-
While the squash is roasting, cook the one cup of uncooked tricolor quinoa according to your package instructions. Let cool.
-
When both the squash and quinoa are cooled (approximately 30 minutes or more), mix together in a large bowl and add cranberries, sunflower seeds, and onions.
Vinaigrette Dressing
-
Mix the ingredients together and stir well.
Assembly
-
Mix the dressing with the quinoa mixture and stir together until the quinoa is evenly coated. Garnish with more sunflowers and some feta cheese crumbles.
-
If you are eating over spinach, make two sets of dressing, one to go over quinoa and the other to drizzle your preferred amount of quinoa/spinach salad.
Meal Prep
-
If you are choosing to meal prep, prepare as normal, simply do not mix the dressing and quinoa. Wait to mix them until you are ready to consume. Simply store in an airtight container.
Other Products That I Used and Loved With This Product
Knife: This knife is amazing! Uncooked butternut squash is incredibly difficult to cut and this knife had no issues!
Oven To Table Serving Set: This is the bowl that you see my roasted butternut squash and quinoa salad recipe in the pictures above. I love this serving set. You get 8 different dishes and can bake them up to 400F. Plus, they are super pretty. Just saying..
This roasted butternut squash and quinoa salad recipe is so good and perfect for Fall! I absolutely love butternut squash so this recipe encompasses my love perfectly. It is full of flavor despite the limited spices ( trust me) and I can assure you, it is well worth the longer than normal prep time!
And, despite having no meat, it was a hit with my family.
Let me know what you think in the comments below! I love to hear your feedback.
Happy Cooking!Â
