Roasted Butternut Squash Arugula Salad
This beautiful roasted butternut squash arugula salad is bursting with fresh fall flavors including sweet apples, caramelized red onions, and toasted cinnamon pepitas. It’s perfect for autumn weekday lunches, a festive holiday table, or any night of the week!
5 star review
“Made this for dinner tonight. It was so yummy and filling. Thanks for sharing!”
– Dollie
Cozy-Weather Autumn Harvest Salad with Butternut Squash
Say hello to my latest fall salad obsession: roasted butternut squash arugula salad! This nourishing salad bowl is bursting with all the flavors of the season, and is just about perfect for any holiday table, or as a side to anything and everything. And butternut squash is quintessential to autumn, especially with its warm-spice-bestie, cinnamon (also a winning flavor combo in my slow cooker butternut squash soup).
Speaking of squash, roasting butternut squash in the oven makes it sweet and caramelized, and adds a boost of color & nutrition to a bed of verdant, spicy arugula. And I like to throw in a handful of red onions to the roasting pan for extra color and flavor, too! But what really takes this arugula salad with butternut squash over the top is a generous sprinkle of sweet and cinnamon-y roasted pumpkin seeds. They’re easy to make, as they roast right alongside the squash, and really elevate the whole salad experience.
I’ve made this butternut squash harvest bowl gluten-free, and dairy-free, but feel free to add a sprinkle of goat cheese or feta if that’s your thing. And as a side note, all parts of this salad can be made ahead and assembled the day-of, so it’s ideal for meal prepping weekday lunches!
Roasted Butternut Squash Arugula Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups butternut squash, chopped
- 1 medium red onion, sliced into half-moons
- 2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil, divided
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- ⅓ cup raw, unsalted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 medium crisp, sweet apple, thinly sliced
- 6 cups baby arugula
For the Dressing
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 small garlic clove, minced or finely grated
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F.
- Place the butternut squash, onion, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and ¼ teaspoon of the kosher salt on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing to combine.
- Roast for 20 minutes, flip, and continue roasting until golden, about 10-15 minutes more.
- Meanwhile, mix the pepitas, maple syrup, cinnamon, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt in a small bowl. Spread the seeds in a parchment or foil-lined pie plate or a small, heat-proof baking dish.
- Roast the pumpkin seeds for 10-15 minutes, stirring once, until lightly browned. Remove from the pan and allow to cool on a parchment-lined plate (if you leave them in the pan they may stick and be difficult to remove once cool).
- Make the dressing by whisking the lemon juice, salt, garlic, and olive oil in a small bowl until well combined.
- Assemble the salad by placing the arugula in a large bowl. Add the roasted squash, onions, and apples. Pour over half the dressing and toss to combine. Add additional dressing to taste (store any leftover dressing in the fridge for another use).Top with roasted pumpkin seeds, and serve.
Notes
- Pumpkin Seeds: Skip the homemade pumpkin seeds and look for a good store-bought pre-roasted option as well.
- Squash Swap: Swap butternut squash for sweet potatoes.
- Make ahead notes: Roast the squash & onions up to 4 days ahead, and store, covered in the fridge. Allow to come to room temperature before serving. Make the dressing up to 4 days ahead, store, covered in the fridge. Allow the dressing to come to room temp before serving, and whisk again to recombine. Make the seeds up to 5 days ahead, and store, covered after completely cooled. When ready to serve, assemble the salad per step 6-7.
Made this for dinner tonight. It was so yummy and filling. Thanks for sharing!
Dollie, yay, so glad you enjoyed this one! Thanks so much for leaving a review. 🙂