Delicious butternut squash noodles - easy to make and even easier to enjoy. These delightful noodles bring together the goodness of butternut squash and the comfort of pasta. With easy-to-follow steps, you'll be enjoying a wholesome meal in no time. Say goodbye to complicated cooking and hello to a delicious and nutritious dish that everyone will love.
❤️ Why you'll love it
I love traditional pasta. A lot. However, they are high in points. They are high in gluten and are definitely low. Using veggie noodles, like spiralized butternut squash, I can have my favorite pasta recipes and still stay on track with my points.
- Easy Preparation: Creating these noodles is extremely easy. You can use a vegetable peeler or spiralizer. A vegetable peeler will change the thickness of your noodles.
- Healthy Twist: Swap traditional pasta for these nutrient-packed butternut squash noodles. It's my favorite way to get extra vegetables in our meals.
- Vibrant Colors: The rich orange hue adds a pop of color to your plate, making it visually appealing.
- Light and Satisfying: Enjoy a satisfying meal without feeling overly heavy afterward. Because the veggies are low carb and good for low-calorie diet, I don't feel like I am weighed down after eating.
- Versatile Options: Pair with various sauces and toppings to suit your taste preferences. The noodles can go with anything. I can make sauteed butternut noodles with sage brown butter or a red pepper sauce, the noodles taste amazing.
- Great for All Ages: Whether you're cooking for kids or adults, these noodles are sure to please. The whole family will love these veggie spirals on a busy weeknight
- A Flavorful Adventure: Experience the natural sweetness of butternut squash in every bite.
- Gluten-Free Goodness: Ideal for those with gluten sensitivities or following a gluten-free lifestyle.
The basic idea of this recipe works well with other vegetables too. You can make zucchini noodles, which you have seen in your local grocery store. You can also make noodles with sweet potatoes.
🥘 Equipment
- Vegetable spiralizer or vegetable peeler
- Frying pan
🧾 Ingredients
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Butternut squash noodles
- Fresh sage leaves
- Cinnamon
- Salt and pepper
🍳 How to Make Butternut Squash Pasta
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
After spiralizing the noodles or using pre-spiralized butternut noodles, heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Add the noodles and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning often to make sure they are cooking evenly. When the noodles are slightly soft, remove them from the pan and set aside, keeping them warm.
Add the rest of the olive oil to the pan and add the chopped sage leaves and cinnamon. Cook until fragrant. Stir often to prevent it from burning.
Add the noodles back to the pan and toss in the crispy sage leaves mixture. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve as a side dish or a light entree.
Ways to Serve Butternut Squash Noodles
Serve as a butternut squash spaghetti bake. Add ricotta cheese and mozzarella with red sauce, just like you would typically. I love this and it would work perfectly.
Add soy sauce, sesame seeds, and sauteed minced ginger. Use sesame oil instead of olive oil. Sesame butternut squash noodles are sure to be a favorite.
🍽️ What to Serve With
🥄 Variations
These noodles go great with just about anything. Healthy meals have never been so easy. Vegetable noodles are great because they are relatively flavorless, like wheat noodles, except for the flavor that you add to them.
- Pesto Paradise: Toss your butternut squash noodles with fresh basil pesto and cherry tomatoes for a burst of Italian flavors.
- Creamy Sauce Comfort: Use parmesan cheese and fat-free cream cheese combined with almond milk to create a light Alfredo sauce. Add a touch of garlic for a delicious creamy garlic butternut squash dinner.
- Spicy Delight: Add a kick by mixing your noodles with a spicy marinara sauce and red pepper flakes.
- Asian Fusion: Stir-fry with soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil for an Asian-inspired treat.
- Mediterranean Medley: Combine with olives, feta cheese, and olive oil for a taste of the Mediterranean.
- Herb Infusion: Toss in fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary, and top with grated cheese for a fragrant experience.
- Nutty Elegance: Sprinkle chopped nuts such as toasted pine nuts or walnuts for added crunch and flavor.
- Citrus Zest: Drizzle lemon juice and zest over your noodles for a refreshing citrusy kick.
- Veggie Extravaganza: Mix in a variety of sautéed vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and spinach for a veggie-packed meal.
- Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to make your butternut squash noodles a hearty and balanced meal.
- Bake Delight: Transform your butternut squash noodles into a comforting spaghetti bake. Layer them with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, and red sauce for a flavorful twist, similar to Weight Watchers Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe but with butternut squash noodles.
🍶 Storing
Refrigerator Storage:
- Place your butternut squash noodles in an airtight container.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness.
Freezer Storage:
- For longer storage, freeze the noodles in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag.
- They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Reheat:
- To reheat, gently warm the noodles in a pan over low to medium heat.
- Alternatively, you can microwave them in short intervals, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Avoid overcooking to maintain their texture and flavor.
💭Top Tips
- Prep Ahead: Cut and spiralize the butternut squash in advance for quicker meal preparation.
- Balanced Seasoning: Season the noodles before cooking to ensure even flavor distribution.
- Sauce Separately: If storing, keep the sauce separate to prevent the noodles from becoming too soggy.
- Doneness Check: Test the noodles' doneness by tasting them; they should be tender but not mushy.
- Creative Toppings: Experiment with different toppings like fresh herbs, grated cheese, or toasted nuts.
- Customize Thickness: Adjust the thickness of your noodles for varying textures in your dish.
- Sauce Adherence: Consider tossing the noodles in a bit of olive oil before adding your sauce for better adherence.
- Quick Reheating: For reheating, sprinkle a few drops of water over the noodles to help maintain moisture.
- Portion Control: Freeze individual portions for convenient, single-serving meals.
- Explore Pairings: Pair the noodles with a variety of sauces and proteins to keep your meals exciting.
❔FAQs
Can I use these noodles in cold salads? Yes, these noodles can be used in cold salads as a refreshing and nutritious alternative to traditional pasta.
How do I prevent the noodles from becoming too watery when cooking? After spiralizing, you can pat the noodles dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture before cooking.
How Many Weight Watchers Points in this Butternut Squash Noodle Recipe
Since there is a little bit of oil in this recipe, this is not a 0-point recipe, even though butternut squash usually is 0 points. However, even with this oil, these noodles are a low point option that has the most amazing taste. These noodles come in at 1 points per serving on all plans. The noodles themselves are 0 points, but the oil that I use to cook them with the sage and cinnamon is what gives them the added point. If serving them with a low point meal like chicken or lean beef, this makes an amazing side dish.
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Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need.
If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
More Butternut Squash Recipes
Butternut Squash Noodles
Ingredients
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil divided
- 4 Cups butternut squash noodles Spiralized juilinned or sliced with peeler
- 2 Tbsp fresh sage chopped
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat one teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add butternut squash noodles and cook for 4-5 minutes, turning frequently to ensure they cook evenly. When noodles are slightly softened, remove from pan and set aside. Keep warm.
- Add remaining olive oil to pan, along with chopped sage and cinnamon. Cook until fragrant, approximately 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Return butternut squash noodles to pan and toss to coat in sage-cinnamon mixture. Remove from heat and season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately with your favorite entrée or as a light main course.
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