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This creamy Vegan Casserole with Chickpeas and Butternut Squash is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish to satisfy everyone at your holiday table, vegans and omnivores alike! But this gluten-free casserole isn’t just for one day a year! Infused with the signature fall flavors of sage and thyme, you can enjoy this chickpea-butternut squash casserole all autumn long, either as a vegan side or a main course.
♪ I’m in a chick-pea state of mind. ♫
OK, fine…I’ve always got chickpeas on the brain.
I mean, chickpeas are my life!
OK, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but the chickpea is my favorite legume and all!
So, of course I’m always looking for ways to show some chickpea love on the biggest eating day of the year – Thanksgiving!
I’ve already got a veggie loaf starring chickpeas and a vegan gravy made from chickpea flour.
I even have a dessert hummus that tastes like pumpkin pie.
And, thanks to my blogger friend, Kate, over at Babaganosh, I now have this amazing vegan Thanksgiving side dish featuring chickpeas too. 🙂
But honestly, amazing is an understatement. And, I’m so excited that Kate suggested I post my vegan version of her genius creation on Watch Learn Eat!
This casserole is so delicious, you don’t just have to eat it on Thanksgiving. In fact, I’ve already made it twice this fall!
So, let’s get on with it, shall we?
Ingredients Needed
- Butternut Squash Chunks (I buy pre-cut cubed butternut squash for convenience, which is available at most supermarkets)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Vegan Half & Half (I used Natural Bliss by Coffee Mate, but you can use your favorite brand) or canned light coconut milk
- Vegetable Broth
- Ground or Rubbed Sage
- Dried Thyme
- Canned Chickpeas
- Vegan Parmesan-Style Cheese (I used Follow Your Heart, but you can use your favorite brand)
How to make this Vegan Casserole with Chickpeas and Butternut Squash
Preheat your oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add cubed butternut squash, onion and garlic to a mixing bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
Transfer to a baking sheet.
Spread everything out evenly on the sheet in one layer. Bake for 15 minutes. Then, carefully give the veggies a stir and return to the oven.
Bake for another 10-15 minutes until the squash is fork-tender. Remove from the oven and set aside for 5 minutes to cool. Increase the oven temperature to 425° F.
Add vegan half & half and vegetable broth to a high-powered blender. Carefully pick out the onion pieces and garlic cloves and add them to the blender.
Then measure 1 1/2 cups of butternut squash and add to the blender as well. Next, add sage and thyme.
Blend on high speed until everything is pureed.
Add the chickpeas to a casserole dish and top with the rest of the butternut squash chunks.
Pour the pureed butternut squash sauce over top.
Stir to combine.
Top with vegan Parmesan-style cheese, more black pepper and more thyme.
Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling and is heated throughout, but not starting to burn. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This casserole pairs perfectly with our maple Dijon baked tempeh, marinated tempeh or chickpea “meatloaf” alongside some mashed potatoes with almond milk and vegan cream cheese.
Vegan Casserole with Chickpeas and Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
- 20 oz. cubed butternut squash (I buy the pre-cut butternut squash for convenience, which can be found at most supermarkets)
- 1 small yellow onion, cut into large pieces
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- Sea salt to taste (I used 1 1/2 tsp.)
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste (I used approximately 1/4 tsp. for the butternut squash as well as more to top off the casserole)
- 3/4 cup vegan half & half, plain and unsweetened or canned light coconut milk
- 1/4 cup gluten-free vegetable broth
- 1 tsp. ground or rubbed sage
- 3/4 tsp. dried thyme, divided
- 2 (15 oz.) cans chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
- 1/4-1/2 cup vegan Parmesan-style cheese (I used 1/4 cup)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add cubed butternut squash, onion and garlic to a mixing bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
- Transfer veggies to a baking sheet. Spread everything out evenly on the sheet in one layer. Bake for 15 minutes. Then, carefully give the veggies a stir and return to the oven. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until the squash is fork-tender. Remove from the oven and set aside for 5 minutes to cool. Increase the oven temperature to 425° F.
- Add vegan half & half and vegetable broth to a high-powered blender. Carefully pick out the onion pieces and garlic cloves and add them to the blender. Measure 1 1/2 cups of the butternut squash chunks and add them to the blender, followed by sage and 1/2 tsp. thyme. Blend on high speed until everything is pureed.
- Add the chickpeas to a 1.5- or 2-quart *casserole dish and top with the rest of the butternut squash chunks. Pour the pureed butternut squash sauce over top. Stir to combine. Top with vegan Parmesan-style cheese more freshly ground black pepper to taste and 1/4 tsp. dried thyme.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling and is heated throughout, but not starting to burn. Allow to cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
Suggested Equipment/Tools
Notes
This recipe has been adapted from Babaganosh’s Thanksgiving Chickpeas with Butternut Squash Casserole.
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