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Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta (vegan!)

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Placing down a bowl of vegan creamy butternut squash pasta.

Hey, pasta lovers! If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, creamy, and utterly delightful vegan pasta recipe, you’re in the right place. Our Butternut Squash Pasta is here to dazzle your taste buds and provide that warm hug you crave during chilly evenings. No dairy, no problem – let’s dive into the comforting world of plant-based pasta magic!

fork lifting butternut squash pasta out of a bowl.

What You’ll Need to Make Butternut Squash Pasta

Butternut Squash (with Skin): That’s right, no need to peel off the skin! It’s not only a time-saver but also adds a lovely nutty flavor and extra nutrients. Slice, roast, and blend.

A Whole Head of Garlic: Roasting garlic adds a caramelized, almost sweet flavor to the sauce. Plus, the aroma while it’s roasting is heavenly.

Shallots: These little gems provide a delicate oniony flavor that complements the butternut squash beautifully.

Raw Cashews: Creamy, dreamy, and oh-so-healthy. Cashews are the secret to that luscious, dairy-free creaminess.

Pasta of Your Choice: Feel free to pick your favorite pasta shape. Whether you’re into the classic spaghetti or something quirky like fusilli, it’s all about what makes you smile. I used this gluten-free spaghetti, and it was delicious!

close-up image of butternut squash pasta in a bowl.

Tips and Tricks

  • Roast ‘n’ Toast: Roasting the butternut squash and garlic is the superstar move here. The caramelization adds a depth of flavor that’s hard to resist. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and red pepper flakes , and pop ’em in the oven.
  • Add a Splash of Lemon: For an extra layer of flavor and a touch of freshness, consider adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to your creamy butternut squash sauce. The hint of citrus can brighten up the dish and provide a delightful contrast to the richness of the sauce. Just a little goes a long way, so start with a modest amount and adjust to your taste. It’s a simple twist that can elevate your pasta to a whole new level of deliciousness!
  • Season to Perfection: Don’t forget to season well with salt, pepper, and maybe a pinch of nutmeg for that extra warmth. Taste as you go to get it just right.
Placing down a bowl of vegan creamy butternut squash pasta.
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Easy and Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta

If you’re on the hunt for a cozy, creamy, and utterly delightful vegan pasta recipe, you’re in the right place. Our Butternut Squash Pasta is here to dazzle your taste buds and provide that warm hug you crave during chilly evenings. No dairy, no problem – let’s dive into the comforting world of plant-based pasta magic!
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2-3 cups cubed butternut squash, skin left on or peeled off
  • 1 whole head garlic, peeled
  • 2 shallots, peeled and cut in half
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound pasta
  • 1 cup vegetable broth, or water
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews, unsalted
  • 2-3 fresh sage leaves

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
  • On a large baking sheet, toss together the cubed butternut squash, peeled garlic cloves from one whole head of garlic, peeled and cut shallots, fresh thyme leaves, olive oil, salt, and red pepper flakes. Bake for 30 minutes, or until butternut squash is very soft.
  • Remove baking sheet from oven and let cool slightly. While the squash cools, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add in a big pinch of salt and the pasta. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
  • Once butternut squash is slightly cool, add to a blender along with the vegetable broth, raw cashews, and sage. Blend until completely smooth.
  • Right before draining the pasta, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Then, drain the pasta and return to the pot along with the butternut squash sauce. Add ¼ cup of pasta water at a time to the pasta to thin out the sauce, as needed.
  • Serve immediately with additional fresh herbs.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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30 Minutes or Less

Dairy-Free Clam Chowder

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overhead image of a bowl of dairy-free clam chowder with gluten-free crackers on the side

This dairy-free clam chowder is irresistibly creamy, without any actual cream! This easy one-pot recipe is loaded with clams and restaurant-quality flavor.

a bowl of dairy-free clam chowder with a spoon in it

Clam chowder was one of those dishes that I quit cold-turkey when I went dairy-free. It was by no means easy, but it had to be done. Dairy-free clam chowder simply doesn’t exist on a menu anywhere (at least that I’m aware of). To me, and all my other non-dairy friends out there, I feel sorry for us!

I grew up in New England, and creamy clam chowders were a major part of my summer diet. Everywhere I went, if clam chowder was on the menu – I was ordering a cup! I was such a big chowder-enthusiast that at one point I participated in a clam chowder contest. I was a taste-tester by the way, as this was looooong before my recipe developer/food blogger days. So I guess, yes, you could say I’m a bit of a clam chowder aficionado of sorts. I don’t mean to brag, but like, you get it. Therefore, I’d say I’m a bit (ok more than a bit *hair flip*) qualified to be providing you with this dairy-free clam chowder recipe today.

Plenty of clams, chunks of tender potatoes, and a handful of fresh herbs are enveloped in a creamy chowder base. This dairy-free clam chowder tastes incredible with a sprinkling of fresh parsley and crushed gluten-free crackers on top – YUM!

What You Need To Make Dairy-Free Clam Chowder

Bacon – Consider this our secret ingredient! Bacon adds the perfect savory, almost smokey flavor to this recipe. You’ll start by crisping up the bacon in your pot. Then, removing the bacon and cooking the rest of the dish in the pot with its delicious rendered fat. You can either enjoy the bacon separately, or crumble it on top of your finished chowder. I personally love the latter and enjoy coming across little pieces of bacon throughout my dairy-free clam chowder.

Clam Juice – If you’ve never made clam chowder before, you’re probably not familiar with clam juice. I mean, clam chowder is the only reason I’ve ever purchased clam juice in my life. Don’t let the sound of this ingredient fool you, it contributes a subtle briny flavor to this recipe. If you can’t find clam juice, you can use an additional cup of chicken stock instead.

Canned Clams – These are surprisingly easy to find at most grocery stores! You can use either chopped or whole clams in this chowder. The kind you’d order at a restaurant most often contain chopped clams. However, I think both taste equally as great in this dairy-free clam chowder recipe.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Make it Paleo: Use arrowroot starch instead of cornstarch for a paleo clam chowder.
  • Make it Whole30: Similar to paleo, use arrowroot starch instead of corn starch and make sure that your dairy-free milk is Whole30 compliant!
Dairy-Free Clam Chowder
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Dairy-Free Clam Chowder

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: New EnglandDifficulty: Intermediate
Servings

6

servings
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

This dairy-free clam chowder is irresistibly creamy, without any actual cream! This easy one-pot recipe is loaded with clams and restaurant-quality flavor.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices bacon

  • 2 celery stalks, chopped

  • 1 yellow onion, chopped

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • 4 tablespoons corn starch, see Notes

  • 1 cup chicken stock

  • 1 (8 ounce) bottle clam juice

  • 3 yellow potatoes, peeled and cubed

  • 1 sprig fresh thyme, see Notes

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 3 (6.5 ounce) cans whole or chopped clams

  • 1 cup dairy-free milk

  • Fresh chopped parsley, for serving

Directions

  • Cook bacon in a large pot or dutch oven until crispy, then remove and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Add chopped celery and onion to the pot and cook over medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Then add in the garlic and cook for just 1 minute.
  • Add in the corn starch and mix until well combined, pour in the chicken stock and clam juice, then add in the potatoes, thyme, salt, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
  • Pour in canned clams (with juice) and dairy-free milk, simmer for 3-5 minutes then taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Served with crumbled bacon and fresh parsley.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Corn Starch: You can use arrowroot starch instead if you’d like.
  • Fresh Thyme: If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried thyme instead.

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Dinner

Paleo Chicken Pot Pies (GF/DF)

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Overhead shot of three mini paleo chicken pot pies with a scoop taken out.

These paleo chicken pot pies are equal parts delicious and adorable! Extremely cozy, rich, and satisfying – this recipe will quickly become one of your favorites. These individual paleo chicken pot pies contain all of the flavor of traditional chicken pot pie, but are much lighter and healthier.

Overhead shot of three mini paleo chicken pot pies with a scoop taken out.

I was super worried about this recipe. It seemed like a bit of a stretch and I just wasn’t too confident that it would work. You guys, not only did it work, but it turned out INCREDIBLE! These paleo chicken pot pies quickly moved to my #1 favorite recipes I’ve ever made, knocking my healthy hot chocolate out of its spot. The crust on these pies is incredibly buttery, without actually containing any butter. The filling is super rich and creamy, without actually containing any cream. I honestly just can’t believe the sorcery of these paleo chicken pot pies! I had heard that miracles exist, but didn’t truly believe it until now.

What You Need To Make Paleo Chicken Pot Pies

Almond Flour – Almond flour creates the base of this paleo chicken pot pie crust. If you don’t already have almond flour and plan on doing more paleo baking, I definitely recommend you buy some. Though be sure to use almond flour, and not almond meal.

Palm Oil Shortening – This is the paleo equivalent to vegetable shortening. Therefore, if you’re not paleo you can use vegetable shortening instead. In my experience, shortening makes the BEST pie crusts – better than butter. Though if you’d like, you can use cold butter instead of shortening.

Arrowroot Starch – This is the paleo equivalent of corn starch! Since we don’t use heavy cream in this recipe, we rely on a thickener, such as arrowroot starch, to thicken up the filling. If you’re not paleo, you can use corn starch instead.

Coconut Milk – I promise your pot pies won’t taste like coconut! This is another ingredient that will help thicken the filling. Coconut milk also makes these paleo chicken pot pies taste super rich and comforting.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

  • Add Dairy: Use 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter instead of palm shortening and 1/2 cup of whole milk instead of coconut milk.
  • Make it Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and about 8 ounces of white button mushrooms in place of the chicken in this recipe. If using mushrooms, chop and then add them in with the vegetables in step 5.
Paleo Chicken Pot Pies
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Paleo Chicken Pot Pies

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Intermediate
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

40

minutes

These paleo chicken pot pies are equal parts delicious and adorable! Extremely cozy, rich, and satisfying – this recipe will quickly become one of your favorites. These individual paleo chicken pot pies contain all of the flavor of traditional chicken pot pie, but are much lighter and healthier.

Ingredients

  • For the pie crust:

  • 1 Cup Almond Flour

  • 1/2 Cup Tapioca Starch

  • 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder

  • 1 Teaspoon Salt

  • 1/3 Cup Palm Shortening, see Notes

  • 1 Egg

  • Cold Water, as needed

  • For the filling:

  • 1 Tablespoon Olive oil

  • 1/2 Yellow Onion, chopped

  • 3 Garlic Cloves, minced

  • 1/2 Cup Carrots, chopped

  • 1/2 Cup Celery, chopped

  • 1 Teaspoon Fresh Thyme, see Notes

  • 1 Teaspoon Salt

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

  • 2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Starch, see Notes

  • 1 Cup Chicken Broth

  • 1/2 Cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk, unsweetened

  • 2 Cups Cooked Chicken, cubed

  • 1/2 Cup Peas (fresh or frozen)

  • For the egg wash:

  • 1 Egg, whisked

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
  • Mix together the almond flour, tapioca starch, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-01
  • Add palm shortening and gently break apart with a fork until mixture is crumbly.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-02
  • Fold in the egg and gently mix until a dough forms. If mixture is too dry, add 1 tablespoon of cold water at a time until it forms into a ball. Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-03
  • Roll dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 1/4-inch thick, then place in the freezer.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-04
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot or skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until vegetables are just barely tender.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-05
  • Add in arrowroot starch and cook for 1 minute before adding in the chicken broth and coconut milk. Simmer for 3-4 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-06
  • Add in the cooked chicken and frozen peas, mix to combine. Transfer filling to 4 ramekins.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-08
  • Remove pie crust from freezer and remove one side of parchment paper. Carefully cut into circles large enough to cover each ramekin. Gently transfer each circle to each ramekin, patching the dough as needed.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-09
  • Brush each pot pie with egg wash and cut a 2-inch slit in the center of the crust.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-10
  • Place on a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.Paleo-Pot-Pie-Process-Photo-Low-Res-11

Notes

  • Palm Shortening: You can use vegetable shortening or cold unsalted butter in place of the palm shortening in this recipe.
  • Fresh Thyme: If you can’t get your hands on any fresh thyme, use 1 teaspoon of dried thyme instead.
  • Arrowroot Starch: You can use corn starch instead or arrowroot starch in this recipe.

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Like this recipe?

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