Golden Honey-Roasted Butternut Squash (Printable)

Caramelized squash and nutty quinoa combine with fresh veggies and honey-lime drizzle for a nourishing bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Roasted Butternut Squash

01 - 1 large butternut squash (about 4.4 lbs), 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 Make It:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cubed butternut squash with olive oil, honey, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
03 - Spread the seasoned squash in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through, until the squash is golden and caramelized.
04 - While the squash roasts, place quinoa, vegetable broth, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
05 - Whisk together honey, lime juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
06 - Divide the cooked quinoa evenly into four serving bowls. Top with roasted butternut squash, chopped spinach or kale, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and roasted pumpkin seeds. Optionally, sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese.
07 - Drizzle the honey-lime dressing over each bowl just before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The honey caramelizes the squash into these sweet, tender cubes that taste almost like dessert but still feel wholesome.
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, and most of that time is hands-off roasting.
  • It's endlessly flexible, you can swap greens, add protein, or skip the cheese without losing any of the magic.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the squash on the pan or it'll steam instead of caramelize, give it space and use two pans if you need to.
  • Let the quinoa rest off the heat for five minutes after cooking, it finishes absorbing the liquid and gets light and fluffy instead of mushy.
03 -
  • Cut the squash into even-sized cubes so they roast at the same rate, uneven pieces mean some will burn while others stay pale.
  • Taste the drizzle before you pour it, you want it to be bold enough to stand up to all the other flavors in the bowl.
Go Back