Golden Honey-Roasted Squash Bowl (Printable Version)

Caramelized butternut squash paired with quinoa, fresh greens, and a tangy honey-lime drizzle for a hearty dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Roasted Butternut Squash

01 - 1 large butternut squash (approximately 2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cubed
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 2 tablespoons honey
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Quinoa

08 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
09 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Bowl Assembly

11 - 2 cups chopped baby spinach or kale
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
14 - 1/3 cup roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
15 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)

→ Honey-Lime Drizzle

16 - 2 tablespoons honey
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (approximately 1 lime)
18 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
19 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
20 - Pinch of salt
21 - Pinch of ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - Set the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cubed butternut squash with olive oil, honey, ground cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated. Spread squash in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast the squash for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until golden brown and caramelized.
04 - While the squash roasts, place quinoa, vegetable broth (or water), and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together honey, lime juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
06 - Divide the cooked quinoa evenly among four bowls. Top each with roasted butternut squash, chopped spinach or kale, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and pumpkin seeds. Add crumbled feta cheese if desired.
07 - Drizzle the honey-lime dressing over each bowl just before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent an hour fussing when really you just tossed things on a pan and walked away.
  • The honey-lime drizzle does something almost magical to plain quinoa and makes even kale taste like a choice you wanted to make.
  • Leftovers somehow get better the next day, which almost never happens with grain bowls.
02 -
  • If you skip rinsing the quinoa, it will taste bitter and ruin the whole bowl.
  • Don't crowd the squash on the pan or it will steam and stay pale instead of getting those caramelized edges.
  • The drizzle should go on at the last second so the greens stay crisp and don't wilt into mush.
03 -
  • Roast the squash on the top rack for deeper caramelization and crispier edges.
  • Double the drizzle and keep extra in the fridge, it's incredible on everything from salads to roasted vegetables.
  • If you're meal prepping, don't add the feta or drizzle until you're ready to eat or everything gets soggy.
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