Description

This Fall Pasta Salad is vibrant, hearty, and bursting with autumn flavors—roasted squash, crisp apples, smoky bacon, tangy cheese, and a maple-Dijon dressing. It’s the showstopper dish that makes everyone ask for seconds.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb short pasta (fusilli, farfalle, or penne)
2 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1 crisp apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), diced
½ cup dried cranberries
⅓ cup pecans, toasted and chopped
4 oz crumbled feta or goat cheese
3 cups baby spinach or arugula
2 green onions, sliced
For the Maple-Dijon Dressing:
⅓ cup olive oil
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
¼ tsp black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss butternut squash with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on a baking sheet for 20–25 minutes until caramelized and tender.
Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
Heat remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chopped bacon until crispy. Drain on a paper towel.
Whisk together dressing ingredients: olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.
In a large bowl, combine pasta, roasted squash, crispy bacon, diced apple, cranberries, toasted pecans, and green onions. Toss with most of the dressing.
Fold in spinach and crumbled feta or goat cheese. Add extra dressing if needed. Let salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

For best texture, add spinach and nuts shortly before serving. Customize with sweet potatoes, roasted chickpeas, or vegan cheese to fit any dietary preference.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Roasting
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 480
Sugar: 7g
Sodium: 540mg
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 18g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 44g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 12g
Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: fall, pasta salad, butternut squash, bacon, maple dressing, potluck