This post is sponsored by ALDI, all opinions are 100% my own.
Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash, caramelized onions, mixed with salty crispy bacon, pecans, and a creamy Goat Cheese Pasta, yeah its as good as it sounds!
This weekend we had my brother and his wife over for an early Thanksgiving Dinner. Cason had been looking forward to it all week because he really wanted to “play dump trunks” with his Uncle. So much so that he decided to skip his nap that day because he was so excited.
I was looking forward to having them over because we hadn’t seen them in a while AND it gave me another chance to go to ALDI’s and test out some of their holiday products.
Let me tell you, if your looking to plan a fun holiday party then ALDI is the place to go. Great quality products for cheap!
I was able to make my Green Beans with crispy pancetta {except I subbed in bacon on this one hehe}, my brussels sprouts, a Citrus Garlic Herb Butterball Turkey that turned out super moist and juicy, and my mom’s famous sweet potato casserole.
I also bought a couple of pairing wines for dinner as well, the Zum Reisling {one of my favorites}, Burlwood Pinor Noir, a Chianti Red Wine and of course a sparkling apple cider for little man.
The food was delicious, the wine was perfect, and the company was the cherry on top. Good food and family always equals a great time!
Something else that equals a great time in my book is goat cheese.
I am kinda sorta maybe totally obsessed with the stuff. I’m from Wisconsin, the cheese capital of the world, and goat cheese is definitely in my top 3 favorite cheeses to use and eat!
Why?
Because it is creamy, somewhat pungent, and can be used in almost anything. {including cheesecake… in fact my sweet friend Allie from Baking a Moment made this amazing Blackberry Goat Cheese Cheesecake}
Todays recipe is more savory than sweet but it does have one of my favorite fall vegetables in it.. Butternut Squash and thats kinda sweet! I was just thinking I haven’t made any recipes this fall with Butternut Squash in it.. which is completely absurd to me.
So I figured it was time, enter this Butternut Squash Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta.
Guys… I first found this recipe when I was watching Giada De Laurentiis on the FoodNetwork, who I am completely in love with. I’m pretty sure she is a culinary genius. If we ever go back to Vegas I am so going to her new restaurant, Giada.
Anywho, as I was watching her show and she made this Butternut Squash Pasta, it had roasted butternut squash, caramelized onions and goat cheese in it. That was all I needed to hear… I was out the door getting the goods to make it that night.
Since my first time making this I have changed up the recipe a bit to fit our liking. I add more goat cheese to mine because who doesn’t need more cheese plus the pasta tends to dry out fast so adding more cheese makes it moist longer. 🙂
I added bacon … oh yeah baby! Some pecans for crunch and then dry sage .. because sage is like the ultimate fall spice!
Absolutely delicious! This is hands down my favorite fall comfort food, just add in a bottle of Pinor Noir and it will bring you to your happy place. At least it does me .. now all I need are some corny Hallmark Christmas Movies and it would be the best night ever!
Creamy Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Pasta
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stove + Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This tossed creamy goat cheese pasta recipe with crunchy pecans, smokey bacon, sweet butternut squash, and onions is perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 3–4 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4” cubes
- 1 red onion, cut into 1/2” cubes
- 3–4 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 1 lb mezzi rigatoni
- 10 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 5 bacon strips, diced
- 3/4 cup pasta water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Spread out butternut squash and red onion on a baking sheet. Season with olive oil, salt, pepper. Toss to coat and spread vegetables out in a single layer.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, until vegetables are tender, tossing halfway through.
- In the meantime, heat a skillet to medium-high heat. Add diced bacon and cook until crispy, stirring occasionally, about 4-5 minutes.
- Remove bacon from the pan and place it on a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up some of the grease.
- Bring a large pot of water to boiling, add pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente {follow directions on the back of the box, usually 8-10 minutes}
- Once pasta is done, reserve 3/4 cup of the cooking water and set aside. Drain the rest of the water.
- Add butternut squash, onions, pecans, bacon, goat cheese, cooking water, and sage to pasta pot. Toss to coat everything, season with salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cups
- Calories: 488
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 256 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 33 mg
Filed Under:
Want More Pasta Recipes?
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26 comments on “Roasted Butternut Squash Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta”
Subbed honeynut and it got so nice and melty! Love the idea of goat cheese + pasta water making sauce, so easy.
Hi Ann! I am so happy you enjoyed this recipe!! Cheese and pasta are one of my favorite combos!
Is there another kind of cheese crumbles that would work if I can’t find goat cheese?
You could try cream cheese, it won’t give you a tang like goat cheese but will melt the same.
Made this with GF pasta and loved it. My husband did too. It’s a keeper!
This is an awesome recipe. I used spaghetti squash instead and it was great! Thank you
I made this last night with Ezekiel pasta and herbed crusted goat cheese – delish!! Although I stupidly overcooked my bacon and undercooked the pasta – but it was all still delicious!! It was for sure easy since I bought pre-chopped butternut squash from my grocery store (so worth the pricetag). I would for sure make this again and again. Oh! My wine pairing was a Trivento Malbec. YUM!!
I know, I love pre-chopped, just a little bit more but saves so much time! So glad you liked it Katie and good call on the Malbec! YUMMY!
Krista
Does your website have a button that just prints out all your fabulous recipes?? Looks amazing!
Yes, it should be in the recipe part! There is a Print option. 🙂
I am SO craving a bowlful of this butternut squash and goats cheese pasta right now – it looks so creamy, comforting and delicious!
oh girl you need to try it, everything about it just speaks to your tummy! seriously can’t get enough of this stuff!
This was an awesome dish- We really loved the flavor combos! Question though- My butternut squash became a squash ‘sauce’ when it was all mixed together. Thoughts on what went wrong? Maybe I overcooked the squash or did not cook long enough to get it crispy-er on the outside? Can’t wait to make it again though!
hhmmm… you may have overcooked it or cut it too small. I usually try to cut it so the squash is about the size of a nickle or quarter. Either way I hope the flavors rocked Melissa!
this sounds simply perfect. as a squash lover at heart, i love everything about this! what a great dish for a dinner party too. and i bet the leftovers are phenomenal.
Thanks so much Amanda! Means alot! And yes the leftovers are phenomenal… always the best part. 🙂
These flavors sound amazing and your photography is incredible! Way to knock it out of the park 🙂
BLUSHING.. thanks so much Lynn!
Adding bacon was a genius idea, there is just something about bacon with cheese… mmmm!!
I know right! Bacon and anything equals deliciousness!
I am soooo in love with anything goat cheese and this pasta totally has me drooling! All the flavors… ! Yum 😀 😀 😀
I know I liked you for a reason.. hehe. 🙂 Goat Cheese buds!
I adore all things goat cheese. And butternut squash and bacon. So I am definitely going to make this dish. Sounds and looks ah-mazing!!
PS….Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family 🙂
Thanks girl! You and the hubbie will totally love it!
Hope you have a fantastic thanksgiving to girl!
This looks truly amazing!! I am just in love with all the flavors in this pasta. And now I have to try that wine that you mentioned. I love Aldi’s!
Girl.. do it. The pasta and the wine.. I’m drinking some tonight. 🙂