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Homemade Butternut Squash Bake Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 98 reviews

This Homemade Butternut Squash Bake is a hearty, flavorful one-dish meal featuring roasted butternut squash and red onions, combined with orzo pasta, cherry tomatoes, and a rich pesto topping. Cubes of golden halloumi cheese add a savory, satisfying finish. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this bake blends sweet, savory, and herbaceous flavors with an easy roasting method.

Ingredients

Scale

Roasted Vegetables and Orzo

  • 1 red onion, cut into wedges
  • 1 lb butternut squash, cubed (fresh or frozen)
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups dry orzo pasta
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/2 lb cherry tomatoes

Topping

  • 2 tbsp pesto
  • 8 oz halloumi cheese, cubed (about 2 cm pieces)

Instructions

  1. Prepare and Roast the Vegetables: Preheat the oven to 200℃/400°F fan (or 220℃/425°F/Gas Mark 7). In a large roasting dish, combine the red onion wedges, cubed butternut squash, and crushed garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle paprika, and season generously with sea salt and black pepper. Toss everything to coat well, then spread out evenly. Roast uncovered for 30 minutes.
  2. Add Orzo, Tomatoes, Pesto, and Halloumi: Remove the dish from the oven after 30 minutes. Add the dry orzo pasta, vegetable broth, cherry tomatoes, and pesto to the roasted vegetables. Mix thoroughly to submerge the pasta in the broth. Place cubed halloumi on top, then return the dish to the oven and bake uncovered for 15-25 minutes or until the halloumi is golden and the orzo is cooked. Check at 15 minutes to avoid overcooking. If drying, add a splash of water.
  3. Serve and Enjoy: Once halloumi is golden and orzo tender, remove from oven. Gently stir to blend flavors, let cool a few minutes, then serve. Optionally, garnish with fresh basil or parsley for added freshness and color.

Notes

  • Using good-quality pesto enhances the herby flavor of the dish.
  • Check orzo cooking progress at 15 minutes since times vary by brand.
  • If the bake looks dry during cooking, add a splash of water to maintain moisture.
  • Fresh basil or parsley sprinkled over before serving adds brightness and color.
  • This dish is vegetarian but contains dairy due to halloumi cheese.

Keywords: butternut squash bake, roasted vegetables, orzo pasta bake, halloumi cheese recipe, vegetarian bake, easy dinner recipe, pesto pasta bake

Find it online: https://nataliereeve.com/homemade-butternut-squash-bake-recipe/