Wild Rice with Roasted Winter Squash

Name: Wild Rice and Roasted Winter Squash Salad
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3 cups chicken broth, (or vegetable broth); 3 Tbsp butter; ½ tsp sea salt; ½ tsp dried thyme; 1 cup wild rice; 3 cups winter squash, (peeled & cubed into 1/2 inch cubes); 2 Tbsp olive oil; ½ - 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp dried thyme; 1 dash black pepper; 1 cup pecans, (chopped); 1 cup Italian parsley, (fresh and chopped); goat cheese, (crumbled, for topping, optional); 2 Tbsp olive oil; 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar; 2 Tbsp maple syrup; ¾ tsp sea salt; 1 dash black pepper

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The Wild Rice with Roasted Winter Squash is a great recipe that is bursting with flavors, a vibrant color, and texture. This cozy vegetarian comfort food for fall can be served as a hearty rice side dish or a satisfying and rich main dish.

cooked wild rice with baked winter squash, parsley, pecans and herbs in a bowl.

One of my favorite fall foods is butternut squash. It’s so versatile, and it works in all sorts of dishes from soups to salads, and it shines in this Wild Rice with Roasted Winter Squash.

The wild rice simmered in a chicken broth is mixed, oven-baked winter squash, fresh herbs, crunchy pecans, and a simple dressing topped with creamy goat cheese is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

This dish is perfectly balanced with complimentary flavors and textures while still being healthy and wholesome. It makes for an easy side or meal any time of year but is a great addition to your Thanksgiving recipes.

Table of Contents

What is Wild Rice?

Wild Rice is an aquatic grass like long grain rice which is gluten-free, high in protein and fiber, and low in calories. It has a brownish-blackish color and has a stronger and nuttier flavor than white rice or brown rice.

It’s commonly grown in the Great Lakes region of North America and was originally grown and harvested by Native Americans. This rice has excellent texture and is a highly nutritious grain that can substitute for any dish that needs rice including rice pilaf. Pilaf is a rice dish in which rice is cooked with stock (veggie or meat) to bring out the flavor of the rice.

Wild rice must grow in a controlled wet environment which is why it’s more expensive than conventional rice and why it is often found in the grocery store as a “wild rice blend”.

If it’s your first time preparing long grain just know that wild rice cooks a bit longer than white or brown rice but it’s absolutely worth it. The liquid ratio is also different as it’s a 3:1 liquid: wild rice ratio.

Why you’ll love this Wild Rice Recipe

Filled with much flavor: This is a unique and super delicious meal that will tantalize your taste buds. It’s a savory dish exploding with flavor and texture.
Vibrant color: The orange-hued winter squash, wild rice, and pecans make this a colorful dish and one of my favorite recipes.
Versatile recipe: It can be served warm, chilled, or at room temperature. It tastes even better the next day or third day making it perfect for meal prep.
Perfect for vegetarians: This Wild Rice and butternut squash recipe is a great addition for vegetarians on the holiday table.
Use your favorite winter squash: Hubbard, butternut and acorn squash are all kinds of winter squash. Pick your favorite to use in this recipe.
Simple dressing: To allow the flavors of the roasted winter squash and other ingredients to shine.

Key Ingredients to Make Wild Rice with Roasted Winter Squash

ingredients laid out for wild rice winter squash.

Wild rice: These rice grains have a rich and nutty flavor with a crunchy texture
Winter squash: Roasting the winter squash brings out its creamy texture.
Chicken broth, or vegetable broth: Brings out bold and vibrant flavors of the wild rice.
Butter: Used to add sweetness to the wild rice when cooking it.
Dried thyme: Adds a distinct earthy and slightly minty flavor to the dish.
Chopped pecans: Add bursts of nutty crunch to the recipe
Chopped Italian parsley (or curley): Its mild herbal flavor is a great addition to the dish.

Along with these, you’ll need olive oil, sea salt, salt, and black pepper.

Key Ingredients for the dressing

Red wine vinegar: The distinct sharp and tangy yet, mildly sweet flavor adds a unique, savory flavor to the dressing.
Maple syrup: Adds a sweet flavor to the dressing.
Crumbled goat cheese for topping (optional): Adds a creamy, salty tang to the dressing.

Along with these, you’ll need olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to Make Wild Rice with Roasted Winter Squash

Step 1: Cook the wild rice

Put cold water in a medium pot and bring broth, butter, salt, thyme, and wild rice to a rolling boil on medium heat. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 40-45 minutes until rice becomes slightly puffed up. Drain off excess liquid and allow it to cool a bit.

Step 2: Prepare oven and baking sheet

While rice is cooking, preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.

Step 3: Prepare the winter squash

Wash, peel, and cube the winter squash and add the squash cubes to the large sheet pan in a single layer.

Step 4: Drizzle and bake the squash cubes

Drizzle with olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper, and roast for 40 minutes or until soft, fork tender, and slightly golden brown. Remove from oven and cool for 5-10 minutes. Toss squash until evenly coated then line in an even layer.

roasted winter squash with herb on a baking sheet.

Step 5: Mix the rest of the ingredients

Add chopped pecans, chopped parsley, wild rice, and roasted butternut squash to a large bowl and mix well.

Step 6: Prepare the dressing

In a separate small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper until combined.

Step 7: Add dressing to the rice mixture

Pour dressing over the rice mixture and mix well.

Step 8: Garnish and serve

Top with optional crumbled goat cheese. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

How to store leftover wild rice pilaf recipe

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, warm rice in an oven at 350 F oven temperature or in an air fryer.

Expert Tips

The cooking time may vary so add water if rice has absorbed all the liquid and is still not done cooking.
You can substitute the chopped pecans with almonds, pistachios, or pepitas.
If you use a wild rice blend, be sure to follow the package directions on the box.
You can save some time by buying pre-chopped squash.
Make sure the winter squash roasts on an even layer so they can cook properly.

Recipe FAQs

Is wild rice healthier than brown rice?

Wild rice is healthier than both brown rice and white rice as it contains more fiber and protein. It also contains more zinc, and potassium, antioxidants and is also significantly higher in folate and most other B vitamins. It also has fewer calories than brown rice.

What is a wild rice blend?

This is a wild rice mixture made up of an exciting blend of grains of rice, which give you complementary firm, fluffy cooked textures and robust, nutty, earthy vibrant flavors.

It normally includes a mix of wild rice, brown rice, and a few other grains for color and variety, such as red rice, black rice, and white rice. You can find wild rice blends pre-packaged in a bag or box.

How do you cook wild rice?

Wild rice is very simple to cook. The most basic way to cook rice is to boil, cover, then simmer gently on the stove until done, much like traditional rice. What is different is the rice-to-liquid ratio and the length of time it takes to cook. Typically it is a 3:1 liquid: wild rice ratio for cooking and takes 45-60 minutes to fully cook.

Can l add meat to this recipe?

While this is a vegetarian dish you can add your favorite meat choice such as chicken, sausage, or lean ground beef. You can also add meat to the leftovers for different flavors.

a bowl of cooked wild rice with goat cheese, parsley, winter squash and dressing.

How to serve the Wild Rice with Roasted Winter Squash

This is a delicious meal on its own or you can serve it as a side dish alongside baked chicken drumsticks or chicken wings. It is also the perfect side to serve at your Thanksgiving holiday dinner. Some other holiday sides to serve are Gluten-Free Apple Crisp with Ice Cream, Hearty Turkey Soup, Russian Walnut Roll and mashed potatoes.

More Rice Recipes

The Fried Cauliflower Rice with Veggies recipe is both delicious and healthy and the perfect breakfast food.
The Veggie Bowl with Rice and Guacamole is tasty, has a vibrant color, and has so much nutritional goodness
This Chicken and Bell Peppers Rice Bowl with Spices is a great and simple recipe that makes for a perfect summer comfort food or a great weeknight meal.

Other Rice Recipes to Try

If you tried this Wild Rice and Roasted Winter Squash Salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!