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Home / Recipes

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

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By: Madeline Tague

Updated: February 12, 2025

This site may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Make a creamy vegan Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce with just a few simple ingredients. This simple recipe makes for the perfect fall comfort food.

Above view of butternut squash pasta in a serving bowl

One-pot

Easy cleanup

You’ll Learn: The surprising power of roasted veggies for creamy, dairy-free sauces

Worth It: It builds a freezer stash for stress-free meals later

Bonus: One bag of frozen squash goes a long way

Above view of butternut squash pasta in a serving bowl

A healthy fall Butternut Squash pasta

Butternut squash is one of my favorite fall ingredients because it is so versatile. It is great roasted on its own, but I like it best blended into sauces and soups.

I decided to roast the squash with tomatoes, onions and simple seasonings to give the sauce a deeper flavor. Once roasted, the veggies are blended with pasta water to make a creamy smooth sauce.

For another roasted veggie sauce, you can try this roasted veggie pasta sauce next.

What kitchen tools will I need to make this Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce?

  • Sheet pan
  • Parchment
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Large pot
  • Blender
  • Mixing spoon

What ingredients will I need to make this creamy vegan pasta sauce?

You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this healthy butternut squash pasta with just a few simple ingredients.

  • Frozen cubed butternut squash
  • Fresh chopped tomato
  • Yellow onion
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Dried thyme
  • Pasta
  • Pasta water reserved from cooked pasta
Above view of ingredients for butternut squash pasta sauce

Why use frozen butternut squash instead of fresh?

The only reason I use the frozen butternut squash is because it makes things way easier and saves time! I hate to peel, deseed, and chop fresh butternut squash.

I find it difficult and time consuming. Plus, frozen butternut squash is normally very affordable. It is most commonly available in the freezer section during the fall so I usually stock up on a few bags that I can use throughout the year.

If you prefer to use fresh butternut squash, that will work just fine! Follow the same steps as you would with the frozen squash.

Let’s make some Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce!

Step 1: Roast veggies in the oven

To begin, preheat oven to 450F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, place frozen cubed butternut squash, chopped tomatoes and sliced onion on the baking sheet.

Next, drizzle olive oil on top and season with salt, pepper, and thyme. Then, mix to cover the vegetables evenly with oil and seasonings.

Bake at 450F for 20 minutes.

Step 2: Cook pasta and reserve pasta water

Then, while the veggies bake, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Before you drain the cooked pasta reserve 1/3 cup of the pasta water and place in a blender.

Step 3: Blend sauce and mix with pasta

Next, take the cooked veggies hot from the oven and blend with the pasta water until a smooth sauce remains.

Finally, pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately with parmesan cheese or plant based parm alternative. 

Step 4: Enjoy!

How long will this plant based butternut squash pasta keep in the fridge?

I recommend storing the cooked pasta and sauce separately for meal prep. You can keep the cooked sauce in the fridge for up to 7 days. If you are eating some of the pasta immediately, you can toss some of the pasta in the sauce while its hot and store the rest separately.

Check out these other veggie pasta recipes!

  • Mushroom Alfredo Pasta
  • Asparagus Lemon Garlic Pasta
  • Baked Feta and Broccoli Pasta
  • Spicy Pumpkin One Pot Pasta

If you liked this recipe, try this Creamy Shredded Chicken Pasta Sauce next!

You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!

You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!

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Recipe

Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

4.93 from 51 votes
A creamy vegan butternut squash pasta sauce made with simple healthy ingredients.
Recipe By: Madeline Tague
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Cook: 30 minutes minutes
Print Review Pin It SaveSaved!
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 16 oz bag of frozen diced butternut squash
  • 1.5 cups fresh chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 yellow onion
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 lb pasta
  • 1/3 cup pasta water reserved from cooked pasta
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Place frozen cubed butternut squash, chopped tomatoes and sliced onion on the baking sheet
  • Drizzle olive oil on top and season with salt, pepper, and thyme 
  • Mix to cover the vegetables evenly with oil and seasonings
  • Bake at 450F for 20 minutes
  • While the veggies bake, cook the pasta according to package instructions
  • Before you drain the cooked pasta reserve 1/3 cup of the pasta water and place in a blender
  • Take the cooked veggies hot from the oven and blend with the pasta water until a smooth sauce remains
  • Pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and toss to coat
  • Serve immediately with parmesan cheese or plant based parm 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 6g, Calories: 367kcal (18%), Carbohydrates: 68g (23%), Protein: 11g (22%), Fat: 6g (9%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 398mg (17%), Potassium: 538mg (15%), Fiber: 5g (21%), Sugar: 5g (6%), Vitamin A: 8350IU (167%), Vitamin C: 22mg (27%), Calcium: 61mg (6%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

Did you make my Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce?

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Madeline Tague

Hi, I’m Madeline! I am so excited to share my healthy and approachable recipes with you. Here you will find simple, comforting recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast and let’s get cooking!
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4.93 from 51 votes

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Recipe Rating




149 responses

  1. Shaunee Jenness
    September 7, 2022

    5 stars
    I absolutely LOVE this dish. I get to have pasta without feeling guilty. Also love how easy it is to cook, and clean up afterwards!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 8, 2022

      thanks Shaunee! glad you like it!

      Reply
  2. Patty C
    September 5, 2022

    Hi I can’t have added oils. Any ideas on how to modify this to omit the olive oil. This looks/sounds delicious and based on all the comments it IS!! 😋

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 5, 2022

      can you do butter? if so, I’d substitute the 2 tbsp of olive oil for some melted butter. if not, try roasting the butternut squash however you’d do it to fit your needs – however you roast other vegetables! it will likely be a little dry and you may need to use a bit more pasta water, but don’t add more until you blend and see. good luck!

      Reply
  3. Rachel
    August 28, 2022

    My sauce came out more like an applesauce consistency. Any ideas as to why? Definitely not the texture I was hoping for. I reserved plenty of pasta water and added almost 1 1/2 cups of water.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      August 29, 2022

      hmm it’s hard to know without knowing exactly how you made it – but it could just be that your blender didn’t blend it well? or possibly your veggies needed a little extra roasting – I could see if they’re not soft enough it wouldn’t get creamy. I’m so sorry it didnt work out!

      Reply
    2. Kate
      November 11, 2022

      Can you use conchigliette for this recipe?

      Reply
      1. Madeline
        November 14, 2022

        Hi there – yes, you can use whichever pasta variety you prefer.

        Reply
  4. erica.rose.larson@gmail.com
    August 25, 2022

    What kind of pasta is it?

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      August 27, 2022

      radiatore

      Reply
  5. Mattie
    August 12, 2022

    5 stars
    This recipe was so delicious!!!! I added a clove of garlic to the veggies as they were roasting and blended it too. I also purchased some arugula to put on top which took the dish to a whole other level.
    For increased protein I threw some ground turkey on the pasta which tasted delicious. Husband said it’s a top ten for him. Yummy! Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      August 13, 2022

      thank you!! sounds wonderful

      Reply
  6. Victoria
    July 27, 2022

    5 stars
    Really good and easy recipe.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      July 28, 2022

      thanks Victoria!

      Reply
  7. Shagirlie
    May 10, 2022

    5 stars
    I really enjoyed this recipe. I have never made a sauce with butternut squash and this was very easy. Roasting the veggies gave the sauce depth without having to stand at the stove stirring it forever. I did had 2 cloves of garlic to roast with the veggies but other than that I followed the rest of the recipe (I eyeballed the salt and pepper).

    I added the 1/3 cup of pasta water to the blender and held onto more jic and I’m glad I did. I used part of the additional pasta water reserve at the end when I was stirring the pasta and sauce together. The sauce is creamy without having to add dairy.

    I made a simple side salad to it and the meal was perfect. My husband loved it too!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      May 15, 2022

      yay! thank you!

      Reply
  8. Brittnay
    April 11, 2022

    5 stars
    Easy, quick and delicious.. even my picky 5 and 10 year old loved it! It’s a keeper.

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      April 12, 2022

      that’s always the best compliment! thanks Brittnay!

      Reply
  9. Diane
    February 7, 2022

    I plan to make this in advance so I won’t have pasta water. Do you think I can use broth instead?

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      February 8, 2022

      the pasta water is really about the starchiness – could you save a little in a jar? If not, broth will work but the texture may turn out a little different is all!

      Reply
  10. Lisa
    February 4, 2022

    5 stars
    Delicious! Topped it with plant based chicken and hubby (who is not a huge butternut squash fan) went back for seconds! Definitely staying in my rotation. Thank you!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      February 8, 2022

      yay love it when someone becomes a fan of something new! thanks Lisa!

      Reply
  11. Emma Blackney
    January 23, 2022

    5 stars
    I’ve been wanting to make this one for so long and finally did. Such an easy process and really yummy! Going to keep it in my back pocket to impress guests.

    Reply
  12. Elaine
    January 8, 2022

    5 stars
    Easy and delicious! My only recommendation would be to reserve more than 1/3 C pasta water just in case you need it. I used fresh butternut squash and weighed out 1 lb. – I found it slightly thicker than expected so was thankful I had extra pasta water to thin it out. Fantastic on pasta, would love to try this in a risotto as well. Will absolutely be making this again!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      January 9, 2022

      good tip, thanks Elaine!

      Reply
  13. Melinda
    December 6, 2021

    5 stars
    My whole family loves this sauce! My kids do not like traditional pasta sauce, and this has been a great, healthy substitute for us!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      December 6, 2021

      yay those sorts of comments always make me happy! thanks Melinda!

      Reply
  14. Melinda
    October 6, 2021

    5 stars
    This was sooo yummy and easier than I would have imagined. The roasting veggies smelled so good. 10/10, this will be in regular rotation. And so creamy without any dairy!!!

    Reply
  15. Miranda
    September 25, 2021

    Oh my godddd! I don’t even like butternut squash and I need this in my life!

    Reply
    1. Madeline
      September 27, 2021

      It’ll change you into a butternut squash lover, I hope!

      Reply
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