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I love a good hearty pasta salad! It’s the perfect balanced meal every time and so easy to prepare ahead of time! It’s great if you like to meal prep because pasta salads keep their shape so well.
As the crisp air of autumn settles in, there’s nothing quite like a hearty, flavorful dish that captures the essence of the season. Enter the Autumn Pasta Salad, a delightful blend of seasonal ingredients that brings a taste of fall to your table. This dish is perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or even a cozy dinner at home. With its vibrant colors and rich flavors, this pasta salad is sure to become a favorite in your fall recipe repertoire.
Autumn Pasta Salad combines the best of fall produce with the comforting elements of a classic pasta salad. Imagine tender pasta spirals mingling with roasted sweet potatoes, crispy kale dried cranberries, crunchy pecans and some salty sausage. The flavors are brought together with a tangy maple dressing that perfectly balances the sweetness of the sweet potatoes and cranberries with the sharpness of the mustard and balsamic vinegar. The result is a dish that’s both satisfying and refreshing, making it an ideal accompaniment to any autumn meal.
Not only is this Autumn Pasta Salad delicious, but it’s also incredibly versatile. You can easily customize it by adding your favorite fall ingredients, such as roasted Brussels sprouts, toasted pecans, or even some crumbled feta cheese. Whether you’re serving it as a side dish or as a main course, this salad is sure to impress. Plus, it can be made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld and deepen, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights or holiday entertaining.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the simple steps to create this Autumn Pasta Salad, share tips on how to roast the perfect butternut squash, and provide suggestions for additional ingredient variations. Get ready to embrace the flavors of fall with this delightful and easy-to-make pasta salad that’s perfect for any occasion.
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HERE IS HOW TO MAKE AUTUMN PASTA SALAD:
WHERE CAN I FIND THESE INGREDIENTS?
The ingredients to make Autumn Pasta Salad can be found in most local grocery stores, farmers’ markets, or specialty food shops. Here are some places to look for specific ingredients:
- Local Grocery Stores: Basic ingredients such as pasta, nuts, cheese, and common vegetables (like kale and sweet potatoes) can be easily found in the produce, dairy, and pasta sections.
- Farmers’ Markets: Seasonal vegetables and fruits, like roasted sweet potatoes, can be fresher and more flavorful when purchased from farmers’ markets.
- Specialty Food Shops: For unique ingredients or high-quality cheeses and nuts, specialty food stores often have a more extensive selection.
- Online Retailers: If you’re looking for specific or hard-to-find ingredients, online retailers such as Amazon, Whole Foods Market, or other grocery delivery services can be convenient options.
- Bulk Food Stores: For nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, bulk food stores or sections in your local grocery store can provide great value and variety.
By visiting these locations, you’ll be able to gather all the necessary ingredients to create a delicious and seasonal Autumn Pasta Salad.
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS?
The ingredients to create this easy and delicious fall pasta salad recipe are:
- Bow Tie Pasta
- Pecans
- Sweet Potatoes
- Kale
- Cranberries
- Sausage
- Crumbled Feta
WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
To make this pasta salad, you’ll need to roast a lot of the ingredients so you’ll definitely want a book baking tray to place everything in the oven. Aside from that, lots of chopping is involved because the goal of this recipe is to try to get every single ingredient in every spoonful!
Then of course, you would want to get a big bowl so you can toss the salad in without everything spilling! Trust me the bigger the bowl, the better! You’ll have to dump in so many ingredients and it’s just so nice to be able to mix everything up without making a huge mess.
Here are some of my Amazon favs!
CAN I SUBSTITUTE/ADD ANYTHING OUT?
This recipe is really great because you are customize it a lot to your liking! I use a homemade maple balsamic dressing for this however, you can use any dressing that you’d like and even store-bought ones to make your life easier!
I just used pecans for this recipe but you can also walnuts, almonds, pistachios, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds and honestly, the list goes on!
One thing I didn’t add to this recipe that would be super delicious is adding some crunchy fruits! This would have been great with pears and apples like in my Fall Harvest Salad with Maple Dressing!
If you don’t want to add meat to this, you can remove the sausage or substitute it for some veggie or vegan sausages! I love using bow tie pasta but of course any short pasta works!
WHAT DOES AUTUMN PASTA SALAD TASTE LIKE?
Autumn Pasta Salad is a delightful blend of flavors that celebrate the rich and earthy tastes of the fall season. Here’s what you can expect from each bite:
- Savory and Earthy: The roasted vegetables, such as kale and weet potatoes, bring a sweet and earthy depth to the dish.
- Nutty and Crunchy: Nuts like pecans or walnuts add a satisfying crunch and a toasty, nutty flavor that complements the soft pasta and vegetables.
- Tangy and Creamy: The dressing, often made with a combination of vinegar, mustard, and perhaps a touch of maple syrup, adds a tangy and slightly sweet contrast. The feta gives this a great creaminess to the salad!
- Sweet and Tart: Dried fruits such as cranberries contribute a sweet and tart note, balancing the savory and tangy components of the salad.
- Umami: The salty sausage adds a layer of savoury umami that makes the salad even more satisfying.
Overall, Autumn Pasta Salad is a harmonious mix of flavors and textures that evoke the warmth and comfort of fall, making it a perfect side dish or light meal for the season.
HOW LONG DOES IT KEEP FOR?
Autumn Pasta Salad can last for up to 3-5 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Ensure it’s kept chilled to maintain freshness and flavour. This salad is PERFECT for meal prepping! I had this in the fridge for 5 days and the quality did not go down at all! If you want to omit the dressing from the main batch and just add a few spoonfuls before eating, that’s totally fine too! I actually find that the dressing slightly marinates everything though which I like!
INSPIRATIONS FOR THIS RECIPE?
Yes! Growing up, I loved having pasta salads. I just found them to be so quick and easy and great on the go! I also loved them for picnics! I knew I wanted to make one for Fall and it was going to be a hit!
If you ever get sick of cold pasta salads, you can also heat this up in the microwave and the feta gets all melty and delicious! Some days I just want a warm meal and I love that I can heat this up and its just as delicious!
ANY OTHER NOTES?
No other notes for this one! Enjoy this hearty Fall pasta salad!
Autumn Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Bow Tie Pasta cooked
- 1/2 Cup Italian Sausage cooked
- 1/2 Cup Crumbled Feta
- 1/2 Cup Sweet Potato cut in small cubes
- 1/2 Cup Kale shredded
- 1/4 Cup Pecans crushed
- 1/4 Cup Dried Cranberries cut in halves
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Maple Balsamic Dressing
- 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
- 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400F and prepare a parchment-lined baking tray.
- Coat your sweet potato and kale with some olive oil then place it on your baking tray with your sausage. It can be mixed up or not! Either way works fine as they will be mixed in the end anyway.
- Put the tray in the oven to roast for 20-25 minutes. Since the sweet potato is cut small, it should roast quickly with the rest of the ingredients!
- While your veggies and sausage are roasting, prepare the dressing and boil the pasta. Add your maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg into a small bowl and whisk everything together. Boil your pasta for 7 minutes or until al-dente! Strain the pasta and set aside along with your dressing.
- Once your veggies and sausage are nice and roasted, remove from oven and let cool.
- Grab a large bowl and add in your cooked bow tie pasta, cooled kale, sausage, sweet potatoes, crumbled feta, pecans, and cranberries and toss altogther.
- Spoon in as much dressing as you'd like and toss once more.
- Serve and enjoy!
Bring the flavors of fall to your table with this Autumn Pasta Salad. It’s perfect for any occasion, from family dinners to holiday gatherings. Try it today and savor the delicious blend of seasonal ingredients. Happy cooking!
Xo,
Lynn
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This recipe has such a great range of flavours and textures! It’s perfect for the fall season and would be great for lunch or dinner.