Cranberry Pasta
Looking for a holiday season pasta that’s both festive and full of flavor? This Christmas cranberry pasta is a sweet-and-savory salad with holiday flavors, perfect for your Christmas table or winter recipe rotation.
Christmas Cranberry Pasta
As a nutrition consultant and chef, I’m always on a mission to help people create meals that are both satisfying and wholesome. During the winter season, I get so many questions about how to make dishes that feel indulgent but are still nourishing. One of my favorite discoveries over the years has been cranberry pasta. This dish perfectly balances sweet and savory notes with a holiday twist. Check out my healthy holiday recipes.
I’m not a big fan of pasta, but my husband was asking me to make one. I wanted to use ingredients that I already have in my pantry and in teh fridge. Since it was a cold fall evening, I decided to add dried cranberries. The sweet tartness of cranberries, paired with earthy rosemary and sage, instantly reminded me of the flavors we love at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, and the dish quickly became a winter season favorite for my other half.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is a sweet-and-savory pasta that can be used as a pasta salad with holiday flavors, making it perfect for the holiday season, winter recipe rotation, or as a festive side for your Christmas table.
- It is light and made with ingredients that you can find year-round.
- It’s versatile, easy to make, and loaded with layers of flavor. Whether you’re serving it as a main or a side, it’s the kind of winter comfort food that keeps everyone coming back for seconds.
- It’s also colorful, instantly brightening any holiday feast or weeknight dinner.
Ingredients for Cranberry Pasta
Did you know?
Cranberries bring a bright, tart sweetness that perfectly balances the savory herbs and olive oil in this dish. The chewy dried berries add texture and pops of flavor that make the pasta come alive. Paired with rosemary and sage, they transform a simple comfort food into a festive winter recipe that looks beautiful and tastes even better, a little unexpected, totally delicious, and perfect for the holiday season.
How to Make Cranberry Pasta
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sauté diced onion and bell pepper until soft.
- Add the garlic, rosemary, and sage, and cook for 2 minutes so they can release their flavors. Add red pepper flakes and black pepper.
- Stir in the dried cranberries to warm them slightly, bringing out their natural sweetness.
- Cook the gluten-free pasta according to package directions.
- Once the pasta is ready, toss it into the large mixing bowl, along with fresh spinach, salt and nutritional yeast. Mix everything gently, ensuring each strand of pasta is coated in the sweet and savory holiday flavors.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Fresh cranberries can replace dried cranberries if you prefer, but add a touch of honey or maple syrup to balance the tartness.
- Spinach can be swapped for arugula or kale
- Nutritional yeast can be replaced with Parmesan if dairy is fine for your meal.
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Chef Angie’s Tips
- Toast the dried cranberries briefly in the skillet to bring out their flavor.
- Put the spinach in the bowl, then transfer the hot pasta on teh top of it and let it sit for 5 minutes until the spinach wilts slightly.
- Add a little apple cider vinegar to balance the flavors.
- Season generously with salt and black pepper to balance the sweetness of the cranberries.
Ways to Serve
- Main or side dish for holiday dinners.
- It pairs wonderfully with roasted turkey or chicken.
- Serve it with, Cranberry Glazed Roasted Pork, Pork Tenderlion With Cranberry Sauce, or Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Perfect For Holiday Dinner.
- Serve it next to French Chicken Chasseur (Hunter’s Chicken Stew) Recipe, Tender Red Wine Braised Beef, Red Wine Braised Short Ribs.
- With Healthy Pomegranate And Apple Salad or Kale Salad with Pomegranate Seeds.
- It can also be served cold as a sweet and savory salad with holiday flavors for a Christmas party or potluck.
Storage
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Gently reheat in a skillet with a splash of olive oil or serve at room temperature. This also makes it a great option for meal prep during the busy holiday season.
Equipment
FAQ
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes, it keeps well in the fridge for a few days.
Can I make it vegan?
Absolutely, just stick with olive oil and nutritional yeast for that savory, cheesy flavor.
If you try this Christmas cranberry pasta, be sure to share it with friends or family and pin it for your holiday meal planning. It’s a winter recipe that’s festive, flavorful, and simple enough to become a holiday-season staple. Bring it to the table for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, and you’ll see just how quickly it disappears.
Cranberry Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dried cranberries
- 1 Red pepper
- 1 Orange pepper
- 1 Onion small
- 1 tbsp Garlic minced
- 2 tbsp Thyme chopped
- 2 tbsp Rosemary chopped
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup Nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet (save the rest for later) and sauté diced onion and bell pepper until soft.2. Add the garlic, rosemary, and sage, and cook for 2 minutes so they can release their flavors. 3. Add red pepper flakes and black pepper. Stir in the dried cranberries to warm them slightly, bringing out their natural sweetness.4. Cook the gluten-free pasta according to package directions. Once the pasta is ready, toss it into the large mixing bowl, along with fresh spinach, olive oil, salt and nutritional yeast. Mix everything gently.5. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
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