---
title: "Meatless Friday: Orzo with Butternut Squash"
description: Barb Szyszkiewicz shares a recipe for a simple, frugal dish that can serve as a main course or a hearty side.
image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Meatless-Friday-illo-1024x512.jpg
---

                                                

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[MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday)

# Meatless Friday: Orzo with Butternut Squash

Dec 18, 2020 7:00:00 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs)

![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Meatless-Friday-illo-1024x512.jpg)

*Barb Szyszkiewicz shares a recipe for a simple, frugal dish that can serve as a main course or a hearty side.*

Remember that as next Friday is Christmas Day, it's considered a solemnity, so you won't need to abstain from meat; the same is true for January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God! We'll be back on January 8 with more Meatless Friday meals.

---

 

This simple and delicious dish featuring a fresh fall and winter vegetable is made in two steps; you can roast the squash ahead of time if you wish.

![orzo with butternut squash-bszyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/orzo%20with%20butternut%20squash-bszyszkiewicz.jpg?width=2000&name=orzo%20with%20butternut%20squash-bszyszkiewicz.jpg)

#### Orzo with Butternut Squash

Makes 4 side-dish servings; double the recipe if serving as a main course

2 tbsp olive oil, divided  
4 cups butternut squash (about 1 pound)  
1 shallot  
1 onion  
3 cloves garlic  
3/4 cup orzo pasta  
1 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth  
1/2 tsp black pepper  
3/4 tsp salt  
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning  
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

**First, prepare the squash:**  
Preheat the oven to 400. Peel the squash, remove the seeds, and cut the squash into small pieces (about 3/4-inch dice). Season to taste with salt and pepper and toss in 1 tbsp of the olive oil. Roast on a shallow pan about 45 minutes or until golden and tender but not caramelized.

**Prepare the vegetables:**  
Peel and thinly slice the shallots.  
Peel and finely dice the onion.  
Mince the garlic.

**Prepare the orzo:**  
About 20 minutes before the squash is done, heat the remaining olive oil in a medium saucepan. Saute the onions 2 minutes; add shallots and cook 2-3 minutes more before adding garlic. When garlic softens but before it turns brown, add orzo to the pan and stir to combine. Add stock and seasonings; cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until orzo is thoroughly cooked. When the orzo is done, stir in Parmesan cheese and top with roasted squash.

> [CLICK TO TWEET  
> For #MeatlessFriday, a simple, frugal dish that can serve as a main course or a hearty side. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/gpb6z)

![MeatlessFriday_2048x1149](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/MeatlessFriday_2048x1149.png?width=1000&name=MeatlessFriday_2048x1149.png)

---

Copyright 2020 Barb Szyszkiewicz  
Image copyright 2020 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved.

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#### About the Author

![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg)

### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs)

Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor.

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