Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad

Name: Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 cup quinoa (rinsed, cooked according to package instructions and drained in a colander); 2 cups cubed butternut squash*; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 cup chopped baby kale; 1 large green onion (chopped); 1/2 cup pomegranate arils; 1/2 cup toasted pecans; apple cider vineger dressing; Salt and pepper (to taste)

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by Marcie // October 8, 2019 (updated 3/30/21)

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Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad is a hearty vegan quinoa salad with roasted butternut squash, pomegranate and a tangy, sweet apple cider maple dressing!

butternut squash quinoa salad on a platter

**This post was originally published in October 2012. The photos, text and recipe have been updated.

Seven long years ago I attended a potluck at a barre studio, and the owner served a butternut squash quinoa salad. Quinoa was the trendy new thing back then, so I was really excited about that salad.

I really enjoyed it, and got right to work creating my own version.

And guess what? I still love this butternut squash quinoa today. I’m the only one in my house that eats quinoa, but I’m ok with that.

That just means there’s more for me. 🙂

close up of butternut squash quinoa salad

This butternut squash quinoa salad is truly fall in a bowl. It’s packed with gorgeous colors, fall flavors, and amazing textures that make it unforgettable.

Tender, roasted butternut squash is combined with hearty quinoa, baby kale, green onions, pomegranate arils and pecans, and it’s all tossed in a tangy, sweet apple cider maple dressing.

I love that this salad is versatile enough to be a main dish, side dish or lunch. It’s also perfect for entertaining as it can be made in advance.

The fact that it’s easy on the eyes doesn’t hurt either. 🙂

What is quinoa?

Quinoa (keen-wah) is considered an ancient grain, but it’s not really a grain at all. It’s actually a seed from a plant that’s closely related to beets and spinach.

While quinoa isn’t a grain, it’s often prepared like rice, barley and other grains. That’s where the similarities end, however, because quinoa is much more nutritious than most grains.

Benefits of quinoa

Below are some of the reasons why quinoa is dubbed a superfood:

it’s a good source of protein and contains all nine essential amino acids
it’s high in iron, magnesium, antioxidants and other minerals
it contains a large amount of flavonoids which have anti-inflammatory
it contains more fiber than any other grain
it’s gluten-free
it’s low glycemic index, which is good to control blood sugar

overhead of butternut squash quinoa salad on a platter

How to prep and cut butternut squash

It only takes about 5 minutes to break down a butternut squash. This can be done ahead, or you can always buy pre-cut butternut squash to make meal prep even easier.

Peel the butternut squash.
Cut the top and bottom off the squash, then cut the squash just above the round bottom portion. Stand the top and bottom portions upright on a cutting board and cut each in half from top to bottom.
Scoop the seeds out of the bottom portion with a spoon.
Lay each piece cut side down on the cutting board and cut into 1 1/2 to 2″ chunks.

How to make this recipe

This quinoa salad recipe is extremely easy to make. There are a couple of components, which may be made in advance.

butternut squash quinoa salad process shot

Roast the butternut squash

Toss 2 cups of cubed butternut squash with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes until tender and caramelized.

Cook the quinoa

Rinse the quinoa well and cook according to package instructions. Place in a colander, rinse with cold water and drain well.

Prepare the dressing

Place all ingredients in a mason jar and seal the lid tightly. Shake vigorously until emulsified.

Assemble the salad

Place the quinoa, baby kale, green onion, pomegranate, and pecans in a large bowl. Toss with the desired amount of dressing, serve and enjoy!

Recipe notes

The butternut squash may be substituted with your favorite winter squash like delicata, kabocha, pumpkin or red kuri squash.
If you’re not a fan of pomegranate, you may substitute it with dried cranberries.
Substitute walnuts for the pecans if desired.
This butternut squash quinoa salad is great for meal prep! Store in air tight containers in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Change things up by adding feta or goat cheese! Apples or pears would also be a great addition.
Purchase pre-toasted pecans for a time saver, or place pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until fragrant.

overhead shot of butternut squash quinoa salad with wooden servers

See all of my Salad Recipes for more inspiration.

More butternut squash recipes:

More quinoa recipes you’ll love:

Breakfast quinoa bowls
Quinoa chili
Quinoa enchilada bake by Vanilla and Bean
Quinoa oatmeal
Pesto quinoa bowls

If you make this recipe I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and rating below, or tag me @flavorthemoments on Instagram!