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    Home » Recipes

    Roasted Butternut Squash Spinach Salad with Goat's Cheese

    Published: Aug 29, 2016 / Updated: Sep 5, 2018 / 12 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    My roasted butternut squash spinach salad with goat's cheese is a healthy, delicious, and filling fall salad!

    teal bowl of butternut squash and spinach salad with goat\'s cheese

    Ok, I'll admit I don't like goat's cheese. I used to, until I had this experience with it (warning: not for the faint of heart). Anyway, everyone else seems to like it, so I made this despite my taste aversion. My husband and sister thoroughly enjoyed this salad in its entirety, and I enjoyed sneaking pieces of roasted squash, so we're good here.

    We seem to have butternut squash in the grocery store year-round, but obviously it's more of a cold-weather food. Yeah, it's probably a bit early to post this, but that's ok.

    In the food blogging world we start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes in the middle of August. I do anyway. So this isn't much of a stretch! Stay tuned for another summer recipe on Wednesday, though. I'm so not done with warm weather ever yet, but I will try to sneak in a few fall recipes here and there. 😉

    close-up of butternut squash and spinach salad with goat cheese in a bowl

    The dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds add more autumn flavor and satisfying texture. Basil adds that wonderful herby freshness. The honey garlic dressing is super simple and further enhances the sweetness of the squash.

    You could peel the squash, but I decided not to. Less work. The skins are chock full of good stuff. I like when being lazy has health benefits. I was totally dreading cutting the squash because I had this idea in my head that it needed to be perfectly cubed, but my laziness resourcefulness took over again, and these half moons or whatever you'd call them are much easier to do and look perfectly fine 🙂

    bowl of butternut squash and spinach salad beside pan of roasted squash

    Hope you will enjoy this roasted butternut squash spinach salad recipe!

    My roasted butternut squash and spinach salad with goat's cheese is a healthy, delicious, and filling fall salad!

    Roasted Butternut Squash Spinach Salad with Goat's Cheese

    My roasted butternut squash spinach salad with goat's cheese is a healthy, delicious, and filling fall salad!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 small butternut squash
    • Olive oil
    • Salt & pepper to taste

    Dressing:

    • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
    • Pinch of ground cumin
    • Pepper to taste
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil

    Other:

    • 1 (16 ounce) package of spinach
    • 1/4 cup (or to taste) dried cranberries
    • 1/4 cup (or to taste) pumpkin Seeds
    • Goat's cheese to taste
    • 10 leaves fresh basil

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400F, and move the rack to the top third of the oven. Line a baking sheet with tin foil for easy clean-up.
    • Prepare the squash by cutting the ends off, then slicing it in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 1/2" slices width-wise so you end up with half moon shapes. Cut the pieces in half again to make them more bite-sized. Place squash slices on the baking sheet and toss with about a tablespoon of olive oil and some salt and pepper.
    • Meanwhile, combine dressing ingredients to make the dressing (I used a jar). Refrigerate until needed.
    • Once the squash is cooked, let it cool while you prepare the rest of the salad. Add spinach to a large bowl and then add the dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, goat's cheese (crumble it with your fingers), and basil (tear it into small pieces).
    • Toss salad with the dressing and squash and serve immediately.

    Notes

    • This makes a large salad (four entree sizes or 6+ appetizer sizes), so the recipe is easily halved. Squash can be roasted a day ahead and refrigerated until you need to assemble the salad.
    Keyword fall spinach salad, roasted butternut squash spinach salad
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Sausage Meatball Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes
    Quick and Easy Healthy Steak Tacos »

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    1. Ashley M says

      January 18, 2021 at 7:37 PM

      5 stars
      Love this salad! I always add pickled red onions!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 18, 2021 at 7:51 PM

        Wonderful!! Love that idea!

        Reply
    2. Scott Groth says

      September 1, 2016 at 7:49 AM

      What a colorful and delicious looking salad! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 1, 2016 at 9:02 AM

        Thanks, Scott!!

        Reply
    3. Julia @ Happy Foods says

      August 31, 2016 at 4:24 AM

      What a gorgeous looking salad! I didn't know you can actually eat the squash skin.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 31, 2016 at 7:26 AM

        Thanks, Julia! Yeah, the skin really isn't bad. I wouldn't keep it on for every use of the squash, but it sure saves time for some recipes.

        Reply
    4. Debs @ Wilde Orchard says

      August 30, 2016 at 2:38 PM

      Love this Natasha! Perfect for the approaching fall!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 30, 2016 at 3:45 PM

        Thanks Debs! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says

      August 29, 2016 at 10:16 AM

      I LOVE goat cheese!! But, then again, I love pretty much any cheese! This salad looks so scrumptious, Natasha. And that honey garlic dressing sounds perfect! We get squash pretty much year 'round here too and it's just delish, especially when you roast the seeds too 🙂 Pinned! Have a great week!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 29, 2016 at 10:23 AM

        Thanks!! Agreed, roasting squash is the way to go 🙂

        Reply
    6. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says

      August 29, 2016 at 9:34 AM

      OMG, You don't like goat cheese? I LOVE IT! Needless to say I didn't click on that link because I don't want to stop loving it! 😉 This salad is gorgeous, girlfriend! Gimme all the roasted butternut squash -- seriously my favs! But paired with spinach and goat cheese?! HEAVEN! I could eat this daily! Pinned! Cheers!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 29, 2016 at 9:36 AM

        Lol yeah... I used to love it before the incident hahaha. I don't know how likely it is to happen to anyone else, though... so I think you're good 😉 Thanks for pinning!!

        Reply

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