Golden Honey Roasted Butternut Squash (Printable)

Caramelized butternut squash and quinoa combine with fresh vegetables and honey-lime dressing in a nourishing bowl.

# Ingredient List:

→ Roasted Butternut Squash

01 - 1 large butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cubed
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 2 tablespoons honey
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Quinoa

08 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
09 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Bowl Assembly

11 - 2 cups baby spinach or kale, chopped
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
14 - 1/3 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
15 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Honey-Lime Drizzle

16 - 2 tablespoons honey
17 - 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
18 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
19 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
20 - Pinch of salt and black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the cubed butternut squash with olive oil, honey, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast the squash for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and caramelized.
04 - While the squash roasts, combine quinoa, vegetable broth, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together honey, lime juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
06 - Divide quinoa evenly among four bowls. Top each with roasted butternut squash, chopped spinach or kale, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and pumpkin seeds. Sprinkle with feta cheese if desired.
07 - Drizzle the honey-lime dressing over each bowl just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted squash gets caramelized and sweet with just the right hint of warmth from cinnamon and smoked paprika.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, and most of that time is hands-off roasting.
  • It tastes fancy enough for company but easy enough to make on a weeknight when youre running on fumes.
02 -
  • Don't skip flipping the squash halfway through roasting or the bottom pieces will burn while the top stays pale.
  • Let the quinoa rest off the heat for those final 5 minutes or it can turn gummy and clumpy instead of light and fluffy.
  • Add the drizzle just before serving so the greens stay crisp and don't wilt into a soggy mess.
03 -
  • Roast the squash on the top rack of the oven for even more caramelization and those dark golden edges everyone fights over.
  • Toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet for a minute before adding them to the bowl for extra crunch and a deeper nutty flavor.
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