Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad
This autumn-inspired orzo pasta salad brings together sweet butternut squash, crisp bacon, thinly sliced Brussels sprouts, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and crumbled feta. Apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, whole grain mustard, garlic powder, and thyme create a tangy-sweet dressing that ties the contrasting flavors together, making it a colorful choice for fall lunches, potlucks, or holiday gatherings.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves10
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 50 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 18 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 56 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 57
- Heart Health
- 74
- Metabolic
- 46
- Digestive
- 42
- Inflammatory
- 40
- Performance
- 43
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment; place bacon on the sheet.
- 2
Bake bacon in the preheated oven until crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon from the tray and drain on paper towels. Reserve the drippings in the pan.
- 3
Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- 4
Add butternut squash, onion, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme to the pan with the bacon drippings and toss to coat.
- 5
Roast squash in the preheated oven until browned, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
- 6
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
- 7
For the vinaigrette, add vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a bowl. Whisk in olive oil until well combined. Set aside.
- 8
Add pasta, Brussels sprouts, walnuts, cranberries, and vinaigrette to a large bowl and toss to combine. Gently stir in the cooked vegetables and bacon. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Calories 457.49 kcal High 23%
- Protein 15.85 g Good Source 32%
- Carbohydrate 60.07 g 22%
- Total Fat 19.79 g High 25%
- Saturated Fat 4.05 g High 20%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 13.48 mg Low Source 4%
- Sodium 207.45 mg Moderate 9%
- Dietary Fiber 6.12 g Good Source 22%
- Total Sugars 11.01 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 133.55 mg Moderate 10%
- Iron 3.23 mg Moderate 18%
- Potassium 683.96 mg Moderate 15%
- Vitamin A 647.09 mcg Good Source 72%
- Vitamin C 44.86 mg Good Source 50%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Mustard
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad is an American side dish recipe made with 17 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr 5 mins, serves 10, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Apple Cider Vinegar, Bacon, Black Pepper, and Brussels Sprout. Each serving provides about 457.49 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad?
- It is an American salad recipe made with 17 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch or salad.
- What is Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad made of?
- The main ingredients are Apple Cider Vinegar, Bacon, Black Pepper, Brussels Sprout, Butternut Squash. The full list of 17 is above.
- How long does it take to make Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad?
- About 1 hr 5 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 457.49 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad healthy?
- Fall Harvest Orzo Pasta Salad has an easyChef Pro health score of 42/100. Per serving, it provides 457.49 calories and 15.85 g of protein, or 32% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 207.45 mg (9% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.05 g (20% of the Daily Value). It contains Tree Nuts, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Mustard, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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