This vegan butternut squash pasta is creamy, wholesome and full of comforting savory flavors. Packed full of caramelized roasted vegetables and warming spices, this meal is perfect for an easy and fuss-free lunch or dinner.
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It feels like the coldest winter ever this year. We've had a week of snow and sub-zero temperatures and I'm doing everything I can to stop myself from freezing.
This vegan butternut squash pasta has become my go-to winter recipe to warm me up - it's comfort food at its finest. Plus, using the oven to roast the squash also heats up my kitchen!
About this vegan butternut squash pasta
If you love pasta and you love butternut squash then this one's for you. The two marry together perfectly. Each piece of rigatoni is coated in the slightly spicy and perfectly creamy sauce, quite literally melting in your mouth.
Roasting the squash makes it tender and caramelized, then it becomes incredibly earthy and creamy when blended. I'm going to say it again - creamy.
It's crazy how a sauce without any additional cream or cashews can be so rich. The secret ingredient is silken tofu, which dissolves to add creaminess and decadence.
Plus, this is a great example of how delicious dinners can also be healthy. Packed full of hidden vegetables this butternut squash pasta is rich in nutrients and vitamins - perfect for those cosy winter evenings indoors.
Ingredients and substitutions
All the ingredients for this vegan butternut squash pasta are budget-friendly and easy to source.
Vegetables: butternut squash, red bell pepper, carrot. This is my favorite combination of roasted veggies but you could experiment a little, for example, by swapping the butternut squash for pumpkin.
Olive oil. To ensure the vegetables roast properly.
Pasta. I use gluten-free rigatoni, but you can use whichever is your favorite.
Silken tofu. Unlike firmer types of tofu, you don't need to press silken tofu. It will dissolve into the sauce to add creaminess and decadence.
Red chili pepper. I take the seeds out to ensure it's not too spicy.
Maple syrup. You could also use agave syrup as an alternative.
Nutritional yeast. Also known as 'nooch', this is a staple ingredient in vegan cooking which adds a cheesy, nutty taste. (I like this brand.)
Plant-based milk. I prefer oat milk, but you can use any variety.
Spices: cumin, paprika, garlic powder, turmeric and salt. You can adjust the amounts depending on your personal preference.
Onion. Fresh!
Tomato paste. For nice depth of flavor.
Vegan cheese. I know vegan cheese isn't to everyone's taste, so this ingredient is optional.
Spinach.
How to make this vegan butternut squash pasta
First, remember to preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 C). Then line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
Next add the butternut squash, bell pepper, carrot and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a mixing bowl and stir together well. Transfer the vegetables to the baking tray and bake for 25-30 minutes, until fully softened and crispy.
When the vegetables are almost done, start cooking the rigatoni (or any other pasta of your choice) according to the instructions on the packaging.
Then, transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender together with the silken tofu, red chilli, maple syrup, nutritional yeast, plant based milk, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, turmeric and salt. Blend this until it's smooth.
Heat the rest of the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat and add the onion. Cook this for 4-5 minutes, until softened, then add the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes more.
Pour the sauce into the pan and add the vegan cheese, together with the spinach. Stir this until the spinach wilts.
Finally, drain the pasta and add it to the frying pan, stirring for a few minutes more. Serve your vegan butternut squash pasta with fresh herbs of your choice.
Serving Ideas
Thanks to the tofu-boosted sauce and all those roasted veggies, this butternut squash pasta is a satisfying meal on its own. Still, something crisp and fresh on the side balances out all that creaminess. A kale avocado salad with lemon Dijon dressing brings a bright, tangy contrast, while roasted Brussels sprouts and apples keep the cozy fall and winter theme going.
Feeding a hungry crowd? Add a basket of warm vegan dinner rolls for mopping up every last bit of sauce. For toppings, finish each bowl with fresh basil or parsley, a crack of black pepper, a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like extra heat, and a handful of toasted pumpkin seeds for crunch. An extra sprinkle of nutritional yeast or grated vegan parmesan on top never hurts, either!
Storing and freezing instructions
Regardless of whether you want to refrigerate or freeze, keep the sauce separate. If you store the sauce with the pasta and spinach, then the pasta will go soggy and this impacts on the flavor.
The sauce will last up to 4 days in the fridge, or 2 months in the freezer, just be sure to defrost fully before heating.
This is a really great option for a vegan meal prep recipe!
Tips and tricks for success
Chopping a squash can be a mammoth task. For this butternut squash pasta, I cut mine in half, lengthways, then scoop out the seeds and peel it. I find this makes it much easier to cut into cubes.
Or, if that still sounds too hard, using frozen squash from the supermarket is also fine, just roast it according to the pack instructions. I do think fresh has a bit more flavor though!
Feel free to experiment with the vegetables and spices. You could swap the butternut squash for pumpkin or the carrot for parsnip. If you want the pasta sauce spicier, keep the seeds in your chili pepper, or if you want it sweeter, add more maple syrup.
Other comforting butternut squash recipes
If you love this butternut squash pasta, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes:
- Spicy Butternut Squash Soup
- Vegan Butternut Squash Pot Pie
- Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese With Tofu
- Vegan Butternut Squash Risotto
I'd love to know: what's your favorite warming winter recipe? If you make this delicious vegan butternut squash pasta then please tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies) so I can see your creations! Remember to comment below if you have any questions and leave a star rating if you love this recipe.
📖 Recipe
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 1 large red bell pepper, de-seeded and chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 10 oz rigatoni, or any pasta of choice - ensure gluten-free if necessary
- 10 oz silken tofu
- 1 red chili pepper, de-seeded
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 cup plant-based milk
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- ⅓ cup vegan cheese, grated, optional
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C (400 F) and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
- Add the butternut squash, bell pepper, carrot and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a mixing bowl and stir together well. Transfer the vegetables to the baking tray and bake for 25-30 minutes, until fully softened and crispy.
- When the vegetables are almost done, start cooking the rigatoni (or any other pasta of your choice) according to packaging instructions.
- Transfer the roasted vegetables to a food processor together with the silken tofu, red chili, maple syrup, nutritional yeast, plant based milk, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, turmeric and salt. Blend until smooth.
- Heat the rest of the olive oil in a large pan over a medium heat and add the onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened, then add the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes more.
- Pour the sauce into the pan and add the vegan cheese, together with the spinach. Stir until the spinach wilts.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the frying pan, stirring for a few minutes more. Serve with fresh herbs of your choice.
Video
Notes
Nutrition (estimated per serving)
Rebecca says
This is one of the best fall recipes I’ve ever made. It was SO so so good. Thank you!
Lis says
Could I do this with firm tofu? Looks so good!!
Jenny says
absolutely delicious and so filling! we added soya pieces and it was unreal. thanks for sharing this recipe!
Nicky says
This is so tasty, I don't write reviews but it's that good I had to. Substituted fresh chilli for dried chilli flakes and added a bit more spinach. Yum. Thank you for sharing