This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Butternut Squash Orzo Salad with Candied Bacon—Spicy, smoky, sweet, roasted butternut squash is tossed together with orzo pasta, torn kale, salty crisp candied bacon (so yummy), roasted pumpkin seeds, and creamy goat cheese (or use salty feta cheese). It’s then dressed well with a sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette. This is a wonderful salad to share all season long, with pretty colors and delicious flavor!
Half Baked Harvest At Home
20+ new recipes for wholesome comfort food made with everyday ingredients. Pre-order today! HBH At Home will be released on Tuesday, February 23rd!
It’s finally time again for big fall salads, warm bowls of pasta, apples in everything, and cozier foods. I love this time of year. We all know this, but I love the recipes I create for fall even more.
I don’t know what it is about these September, October, November, and even December months, but I never seem to lack recipe concepts. I get so excited to share my fall content throughout these months!
I’ve been waiting for weeks to share this warm butternut squash salad, and I’m so happy it’s finally here!
I spent a while on this recipe, perfecting the spices, adjusting the dressing, and even deciding on the perfect cheese. It took me about a week to develop, but the time was worth it.
This is a special butternut squash salad. It has spicy, smoky flavors, notes of cinnamon, and even a little sweetness. In general, it’s a really wonderful September salad that eases us into fall.
And I have to say, the candied bacon, squash, and goat cheese are a combination I didn’t know I would love so much—but it is delicious!!
Let’s get into the details
Step 1: roast the squash and cook the bacon
You want to start this recipe by cooking the squash, as it takes longer to cook. I toss the cubes of butternut squash with smoked paprika, chili powder, and a dash (or two) of cinnamon, then season with salt and pepper.
This spicy mix is great. It has a small amount of warm smokiness, spice, and sweetness.
I push the squash to one side of the pan, and on the other, I toss the bacon with rosemary, maple syrup, and cayenne, then scatter the bacon around the squash.
Bake the squash and bacon together until the squash is soft and the bacon is tender. They should cook in just about the same amount of time.
Step 2: cook the orzo and toss the salad
While the squash is cooking, boil the orzo, then toss it with the kale and toasted pepitas in a big salad bowl.
I like to toss the orzo with the kale while it is warm. The heat from the orzo helps to soften the raw kale.
Step 3: mix the vinaigrette
For the vinaigrette, I used one of my favorites: balsamic! We’re going to shake together high-quality olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fig jam, maple syrup, salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
Then I like to add some fresh thyme too. You could also use sage or rosemary.
Step 4: finish the salad
When the squash and bacon are done, add them to the salad. Add the creamy, crumbled goat cheese, maybe some extra vinaigrette, and then give it all a toss-up.
Personally, I like this salad best when it’s warm, but you can easily chill and serve it, too. Because we’re using kale, this is a great salad to meal prep/make in advance. The kale actually does better with some time to sit and absorb the vinaigrette flavors.
This salad will be great for upcoming fall dinners with friends. I might even add this salad to my Thanksgiving menu. Is anyone else already starting to plan their holiday meal? I can’t believe how fast the holiday season is approaching!
Looking for other salad recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Fall Harvest Roasted Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad
Shredded Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette
Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts
Autumn Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad
Lastly, if you make this Butternut Squash Orzo Salad with Candied Bacon, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Butternut Squash Orzo Salad with Candied Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cups cubed butternut squash
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 6-8 slices bacon, chopped, (omit if vegetarian)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary or sage
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
- 1 box orzo pasta
- 2 cups shredded or torn kale
- 1/2 cup roasted pepitas
- 6 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fig preserves, optional
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- salt and black pepper
- chili flakes
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. 2. On the baking sheet, toss together the butternut squash, paprika, chili powder, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Scoot the squash to one side of the pan. On the opposite side, toss the bacon with rosemary, maple, and cayenne. Scatter the bacon in an even layer around the squash. Bake for 15 minutes, until the bacon is crisping. Pull out of the oven and toss. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, watching closely, until the bacon is crisp and the squash tender.3. Meanwhile, cook the orzo as directed on the box. In a large salad bowl, combine the kale, warm orzo, and toasted pepitas.4. To make the dressing, whisk/shake together all ingredients in a jar. Pour the dressing over the salad and massage into the greens. 5. Add the roasted squash, bacon, and goat cheese, then gently toss. And done! Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
The 2 Tbs oil…does that get tossed with the butternut squash mix? It’s not mentioned in the directions. Thank you.
Hi Jane,
Yes, that is correct. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
looks lovely. Veggie here, what could you sub for the bacon?
Thanks so much, Kat! Sun-dried tomatoes would be great to use in place of the bacon. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
I swapped the bacon for pancetta cubes which made it easy and added lots of flavor, too! I would recommend putting in more kale than indicated. I doubled it and still felt like there wasn’t quite enough compared to the amount of orzo. Loved the dish overall though!
Hey Carrie,
Awesome! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! Have a great weekend! xT
Hi, how many ounces in your box of orzo- they aren’t all the same. Thank you!
Hey there,
I used 1 pound of orzo, it is 16 ounces. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Hey there,
Was thinking of using Precooked bacon. Should I leave it in the oven for as long or what do you suggest?
Hey Melissa,
I probably would follow the package instructions, if it’s already cooked it definitely doesn’t need 20 minutes in the oven:) I hope this helps, please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
Loved this warm fall salad! I did not use bacon but added red onions and zucchini from the garden to roast with the squash.
I sprinkled pine nuts on top as a garnish – was a great vegetarian dinner!
Hey Glyn,
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it! xT
Hey T! My fiancée and I are getting married on a pontoon at Lake Jocassee under the upcoming October harvest moon with a small group of loved ones in attendance. I want to feed them and was thinking of making this the night before, but am wondering what kind of main I could serve with it from a cooler. Any ideas or suggestions would be so appreciated. Maybe a savory wrap of some sort? This salad sounds perfect. Kale yeah!
Hey Ash,
Wow, that sounds awesome! Congrats!! Here are some recipes that you might enjoy:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/italian-salad-sandwich/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/chicken-avocado-sandwich/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/chicken-and-avocado-ranch-salad-wraps/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/pesto-chicken-and-avocado-bacon-salad-wraps/
I hope this helps! Wishing you all the best! xT
T, you are the sweetest! That first one sounds perfect and it said I could make it up to a day early which is perfect. Thank you so much for the help.
Can this be made a day in advance?
Hey Bekah,
Sure, that will work nicely for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
I’m making this butternut squash salad for a ladies luncheon on Wednesday. Can I substitute acorn squash because I have a ton of it or is butternut way better?
Hey Julie,
Totally, acorn squash would also be yummy! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
Beautiful recipe, such a delicious salad for a fall evening. Could eat this every week! Thanks Tieghan!
Thanks so much, Kristen! Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it:) xT
Fabulous! I subbed pearl couscous for the orzo because we were out, and kabocha squash for the butternut because we grew it in our garden. So delicious!
Hey Jessica,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, love to hear that it turned out well for you! Xx
So what happens to the bacon grease from
the bacon? It’s gets mixed with the squash when you toss?
I ended up cooking them on separate sheet pans so I avoided this issue. There was a lot of grease from our bacon so I think it would have made the squash very greasy.
Hey Allison,
I typically just leave it, if you feel like you have an excessive amount you can just drain it off of the pan:) I hope this helps! xT
Super excited to try this recipe tonight! I’m wondering if adding some diced chicken breast to this would be a good addition – thoughts?
Hey Aerin,
Totally, that will work nicely for you! I hope you love this recipe, thanks for giving it a try! xT
1 box of orzo??? They come in many sizes. Measurement please.
Hi there,
Typically one box of orzo is equal to 16 ounces. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Can you sub a different green for the kale?
Hi Trudy,
You bet, really any green that you enjoy will work here! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out well for you! xT
The ingredients list 2 tablespoons of oil, but there is no mention of using it in the directions. I assume the butternut squash is tossed in oil.
Hi Vicki,
Yes, that is correct, sorry for any confusion! I hope you love this recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xT