Fall is my season… and fall bowls are my thing. Because roasted veggies and tahini sauce make everything better, imo. These roasted butternut squash bowls with healthy baked meatballs and garlic-y tahini sauce are so easy to throw together for the week.
Simply roast a big pan of squash and cauliflower (or your favorite fall veggies!) and bake the meatballs (no messy frying involved). While those are in the oven, whisk together the tahini sauce and voilà! Four generous servings for the week ahead, ready to grab-and-go. Read on for some notes…
Butternut Squash
I’m really into #lazyhealthy hacks, so if peeling and cubing a butternut squash seems like a lot of work (no judgment), you can find peeled and cubed squash in the produce aisle of most grocery stores. Alternatively, roast one of your favorite (easier) fall veggies, like cubed sweet potatoes.
Grass-Fed Meat
Quality matters. I call for grass-fed beef or lamb in this recipe because of the health benefits. Learn all about the benefits of grass-fed beef here or get started with my favorite convenient grass-fed meat delivery service, ButcherBox.
Vegan Options
Vegans, don’t worry! These roasted butternut squash bowls are totally adaptable. If meatballs aren’t your thing, simply leave them out or substitute them for tempeh, homemade vegan meatballs, or even falafel. Trader Joe’s has a gluten-free falafel mix that I’ve been dying to try. Have you had it yet?
Meal Prep + Meal Plan
This recipe is ideal for a quick meal prep session because it makes four generous servings without taking up a lot of time. Learn all about my (simple) meal prep strategy here and don’t forget to download my FREE printable shopping list and weekly meal planner.
Roasted Butternut Squash Bowls with Healthy Baked Meatballs
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 40 Minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roast
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Description
Easy roasted butternut squash bowls with healthy grass-fed baked meatballs and a lemony tahini sauce. The perfect cozy fall or winter recipe that you can meal prep for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 red onion, cut into 1/2 inch wedges
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Meatballs
- 1 lb grass-fed ground beef or lamb
- 1/2 white onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup finely chopped soft herbs (mint, cilantro, or parsley)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- a big pinch of salt and pepper
Tahini Sauce
- 1/2 cup tahini paste
- 1/4 cup warm water, plus more as needed
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Assembly
- 5 tablespoons dried cranberries, optional
- extra herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Roast the veggies. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the squash, cauliflower, and red onion in a large bowl, drizzle with three tablespoons of olive oil, and add in a teaspoon of salt. Toss well. Spread evenly between two baking sheets and roast for 40 minutes, stirring halfway through. Watch the red onion, as it may cook faster than the other veggies; remove earlier if needed.
- Meanwhile, prepare the meatballs. Combine all meatball ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands. Form into 20 balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) and place on a plate. Once the veggies are roasted, lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Remove the roasted veggies from one of the baking sheets and arrange the meatballs on the sheet. Bake until meatballs are no longer pink in the middle, about 15-17 minutes.
- While the meatballs are baking, make the tahini sauce. In another bowl, mix together the tahini sauce ingredients and whisk well. Add more warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until sauce reaches a pourable consistency. Salt to taste.
- Assemble the bowls. Divide the roasted veggies between four bowls. Add four baked meatballs to each bowl, drizzle with tahini sauce, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of dried cranberries, if using. Garnish with fresh herbs. Enjoy!
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