If you love rustic, savory pastries bursting with flavor, you’re going to fall head over heels for this Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe. It’s got that perfect flaky, buttery crust with a delightful parmesan crust edge, wrapped around tender, sweet roasted butternut squash and fresh sage. I absolutely love how this turns out – every bite is like a warm hug on a plate, and it’s surprisingly easy once you get into the rhythm of making the dough and prepping your veggies. Stick with me, and I’ll share all the insider tips so your galette comes out perfectly every time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rustic Charm: This galette’s free-form shape gives it a beautiful, handmade look that’s perfect for any gathering.
- Flavor Harmony: The nutty parmesan crust perfectly complements the sweet, sage-infused butternut filling.
- Make Ahead Friendly: You can prep the dough or filling in advance, saving time on busy days.
- Satisfying Texture: Flaky buttery crust with a rich, crunchy parmesan edge that keeps everyone coming back for more.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients in this Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe come together to create that ideal balance of flaky pastry and flavor-packed filling. When choosing your butternut squash, go for a firm, bright one without soft spots. Fresh herbs like sage make all the difference, giving it that earthy aroma I love.
- All-purpose flour: Sifted for lightness—this helps keep your crust tender, not tough.
- Finely grated parmesan cheese: Use fresh Parmesan for the best crust crunch and flavor depth.
- Sugar: Just a touch to balance the savory notes in the dough.
- Salt: Don’t skimp! It amplifies all the flavors in both crust and filling.
- Large egg: Lightly beaten for the dough binding and brushing for that golden finish.
- White vinegar: Adds a bit of tenderness to the crust—trust me, it’s a game changer.
- Ice cold water: Keeps the butter from melting when you mix the dough, ensuring flakiness.
- Cold unsalted butter: Chilled and cubed for those flaky pastry layers you want.
- Olive oil: Adds richness to sauté the shallots with a gentle fruity note.
- Unsalted butter (for filling and garnishing): Makes the filling luscious and helps brown the sage leaves beautifully.
- Shallots: Sliced finely, they bring a mild onion sweetness to complement the squash.
- Butternut squash: Cubed – roasting it deepens the sweetness and softens it perfectly for the filling.
- Garlic cloves: Minced for aromatic pungency; don’t oversoak, just enough to balance flavors.
- Freshly chopped sage: There’s nothing like fresh sage here, it’s the flavor heart of this galette.
- Brown sugar: Adds caramel notes that contrast wonderfully with the savory herbs and cheese.
- Fresh sage leaves: For garnishing, fried in butter to add a crispy herbal pop.
Variations
I love experimenting with this Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe, and you’ll find it really forgiving for swaps. Try personalizing it to suit your taste buds or dietary needs — it’s all about making it work for you!
- Vegetarian Variation: Swap the butter in sauteing for olive oil to keep it lighter and plant-based – the flavor still shines.
- Herb Swap: If you’re not a sage fan, try rosemary or thyme; they both add a lovely earthiness and pair well with butternut squash.
- Cheese Swap: Grate Pecorino instead of Parmesan for a sharper flavor in the crust, which I’ve tried and loved for a slightly different twist.
- Seasonal Addition: Toss in some caramelized onions or mushrooms to amp up the umami – perfect when you want a heartier galette.
How to Make Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Crust Dough
Start by mixing your sifted flour, parmesan, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Then, add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to nearly crumble it into the flour—little pea-sized chunks of butter are what you want, so the crust ends up flaky and tender. Next, whisk together your egg, white vinegar, and ice water, and drizzle it in gradually while stirring until the dough just comes together. Don’t overwork it—when it barely sticks, wrap it up and pop it into the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is key; the cold butter creates those flaky layers we’re after.
Step 2: Prepare the Butternut Squash Filling
While the dough chills, sauté the shallots in olive oil and some of that unsalted butter until soft and fragrant—this takes about 5 minutes. Add the cubed butternut squash, minced garlic, chopped sage, and brown sugar, letting everything cook together until the squash starts to caramelize just slightly, around 10-12 minutes. The idea here is to soften the squash without turning it mushy, so it holds together when you slice the galette. Season with salt and pepper, then set aside to cool to room temperature.
Step 3: Assemble Your Galette
On a lightly floured surface, roll out your chilled dough into a roughly 12-inch circle. You want it rustic, not perfect—trust me. Then, carefully transfer the dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread your cooled butternut filling over the center, leaving about a 2-inch border all around. Now for the fun part: gently fold the edges of the dough over the filling, pleating as you go to form that characteristic galette crust. Brush the crust edge with the egg wash to get that beautiful golden color, then sprinkle additional parmesan cheese over the crust for that signature parmesan crust crunch.
Step 4: Bake and Garnish
Bake your galette in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for about 35-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling slightly. While it bakes, melt the remaining butter in a small pan and fry fresh sage leaves until crisp – this nugget is my secret garnish that adds aroma and a beautiful herbal crunch. When the galette is done, brush it lightly with a bit more butter and top with these fried sage leaves before serving.
Pro Tips for Making Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe
- Keep Ingredients Cold: I learned that keeping your butter and water ice cold is the key to flakiness—warm butter means dense crust!
- Don’t Overfill: Too much filling can make the dough soggy and hard to fold, so I always err on the side of less.
- Roll Gently: Rolling the dough evenly but gently keeps those butter pockets intact for those flaky layers.
- Use Parchment Paper: It makes transferring your galette to the baking sheet and cleanup a breeze—I never skip this step!
How to Serve Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe

Garnishes
I’m all about simple but impactful garnishes here—those crispy sage leaves fried in butter add a pop of color and texture I can’t get enough of, plus a little extra savory aroma that makes your kitchen smell like magic.
Side Dishes
Pair this galette with a crisp green salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette, or some roasted root vegetables if you want to keep the cozy autumn vibe going. My family also loves it alongside a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup for the ultimate seasonal meal.
Creative Ways to Present
When I’ve served this at dinner parties, I like slicing the galette into wedges and placing each piece on a small slate board with a drizzle of balsamic reduction and a few microgreens. It makes for such a charming presentation that everyone asks for the recipe afterward!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers (and you just might!), wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store in the fridge. I usually eat mine within 2 days to keep that crust crisp and the filling fresh, but it can last up to 3 days without losing charm.
Freezing
I’ve frozen unbaked galettes before by wrapping the assembled galette well and popping it in the freezer. When ready, bake directly from frozen — just add about 10 extra minutes to the baking time. Freezing the dough separately also works well if you want to prep in stages.
Reheating
Reheat slice(s) in a 350°F oven for about 10-15 minutes to revive that flaky crust without drying out the filling. I avoid microwaving because it tends to make the crust soggy, and you don’t want to lose that signature crisp parmesan crust edge.
FAQs
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Can I use pre-made pie crust instead of making the dough from scratch?
You can, but making your own dough here is what creates that flaky, buttery texture with the delicious parmesan crust edge. Pre-made crusts often don’t have the same fresh flavor or structural integrity, so I recommend trying the homemade crust at least once — you might surprise yourself!
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How do I keep the galette crust from getting soggy?
Chilling the dough before rolling, cooking the filling until just tender (not watery), and folding the dough carefully are my top tricks. Also, brushing the crust edge with egg wash and parmesan helps create a barrier that seals in crispness.
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Can I make this galette vegan?
Absolutely! Swap the butter in the dough and filling with a vegan butter substitute or coconut oil, use a flax egg or omit the egg wash (you can brush the crust with olive oil instead), and replace parmesan with a vegan cheese or nutritional yeast for that savory flavor.
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What if I don’t have fresh sage? Can I use dried?
Fresh sage really shines here, especially when fried in butter as a garnish. Dried sage is more potent and less fragrant, so use sparingly in the filling and skip the garnish or use fresh herbs if possible. It won’t be quite the same, but still tasty!
Final Thoughts
This Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe is truly one of my favorite cozy meals to make and share, especially when the weather starts to cool. From the flaky, cheesy crust to the sweet, aromatic butternut filling, it’s a dish that feels fancy but is totally doable for any home cook. I remember the first time I made it—I was nervous about the dough, but once I nailed the chilling and rolling, the rest came together like a dream. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do—your friends and family are going to be so impressed, and honestly, you deserve a little kitchen pride with every flaky bite!
Print
Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Savory Tart
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Parmesan Crusted Butternut Galette is a savory tart featuring a flaky, buttery crust enriched with Parmesan cheese. The filling combines tender butternut squash, shallots, garlic, and sage, caramelized with brown sugar for a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Finished with a golden egg wash and sage leaves, this galette makes an impressive appetizer or light meal perfect for fall and winter gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 cup ice cold water
- 1 1/2 cups cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces (3 sticks or 24 tablespoons)
- For brushing: 1 egg + a few drops of water, beaten together
For the Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 shallots, sliced
- 3 cups cubed butternut squash
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped sage
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 fresh sage leaves
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine the sifted all-purpose flour, finely grated Parmesan cheese, sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold unsalted butter pieces using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add wet ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the lightly beaten egg, white vinegar, and ice cold water. Gradually add this mixture to the flour and butter mixture, stirring gently until a dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the crust tender.
- Chill the dough: Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up for easier handling.
- Prepare the filling: Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced shallots and cook until soft and translucent. Stir in the cubed butternut squash and cook until tender, about 8-10 minutes.
- Flavor the filling: Add minced garlic, freshly chopped sage, and brown sugar to the skillet. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring to combine and let the sugars caramelize slightly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a roughly 12-inch circle. Transfer it to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Assemble the galette: Spoon the butternut squash filling onto the center of the dough, leaving about a 2-inch border around the edges. Dot the filling with the remaining 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter.
- Fold the edges: Gently fold the edges of the dough over the filling, pleating as needed to create a rustic crust that partially covers the filling.
- Brush and decorate: Brush the exposed dough edge with the beaten egg wash (egg with a few drops of water) to promote browning. Arrange fresh sage leaves decoratively on top of the filling or crust.
- Bake the galette: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake the galette for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly and cooked through.
- Cool and serve: Allow the galette to cool slightly on a wire rack before slicing and serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- For a flakier crust, ensure all butter and water are as cold as possible before mixing.
- Wrapping and chilling the dough is crucial to prevent shrinkage during baking.
- You can substitute fresh sage with dried sage if fresh isn’t available, but use less as the flavor is more concentrated.
- Serve the galette with a simple green salad or a dollop of crème fraîche for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/4 galette)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg


