Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (2024)

Thanks to its smooth, easy-to-peel surface and rich, sweet flavor, butternut squash has become the MVP of the gourd world. Like its relations—other winter squash such as acorn and kabocha—butternuts are at their best from early fall through winter. The big difference is that butternut squash are larger than most other winter squash, ranging in size from 6 to 12 inches long, and in weight from about 2 to 5 pounds. They have a hard, light-tan rind and golden orange flesh.

This vegetable stars in all kinds of favorite fall recipes, such as soups and pasta, and shines during the holiday season when used in side dishes (cue the creamy gratin). It's also used to make a showstopping and beloved Thanksgiving pie. We're fans, so you know we'll be roasting and baking butternut squash through the fall and into winter for purées, soups, and so much more.

What to Look for When Buying Butternut Squash

Choose a butternut squash that feels heavy for its size. The skin should be smooth and uniform in color with a matte surface. Ones with a fat neck and small bulb will have the smallest seed cavity and will yield the most meat. Avoid any that have soft spots, bruises, or mold.

How to Cut Butternut Squash the Right Way

How to Store

Once you find a good one, you'll be pleased to know that it's a keeper. This hardy squash can be kept for up to three months in a cool, dry place. But remember that butternut squash will not last as long in a warm kitchen. For optimal storage, keep them in the basem*nt or another cooler place if possible. Do not refrigerate the whole squash, but once cut, butternut squash can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated.

Now that you're ready to cook your butternut squash, check out our favorite recipes that put this autumnal ingredient on full display.

Our Very Best Winter Squash Recipes, Starring Acorn, Butternut, Delicata, and More

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Butternut-Squash Roast With Pistachio Yogurt and Grain Relish

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (1)

Let butternut squash be the star of dinner by making this magnificent roasted dish. Simply roast a halved squash and serve with cooked farro mixed with pomegranate arils and capers, atop a swoosh of yogurt puréed with pistachios for the most colorful and nutritious vegetarian meal around.

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02of 28

Baked Farro Risotto With Golden Vegetables and Goat Cheese

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (2)

Butternut squash is diced and grated in this delicious vegetarian main that comes together in an hour. Farro adds a nutty flavor, while the beets bring an earthy taste that perfectly evens out the sweetness of the butternut squash.

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03of 28

Brown-Sugar Butternut-Squash Pie

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (3)

Want a more unique Thanksgiving pie? Use butternut squash instead of pumpkin for the filling. The squash is roasted, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla, and amped up with evaporated milk before being surrounded by a fancy fishtail-braided crust.

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04of 28

Butternut-and-Boursin Shells

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (4)

Butternut pulls double duty in this quick weeknight pasta—caramelized, shredded squash goes into the sauce, and roasted squash cubes are tossed in before serving.

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05of 28

Spicy Squash Salad With Ginger-Lime Dressing

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (5)

A fiery, aromatic dressing with shallots, lime juice, Thai chiles, and ginger balances out the sweetness of steamed butternut squash perfectly.

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06of 28

Butternut-Squash and Kale Gratin

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (6)

Kale is sandwiched between layers of butternut squash, then topped with cream, Parmegiano-Reggiano, sage, and panko in this luxe gratin.

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07of 28

Winter-Vegetable Red Curry

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (7)

Canned goods including coconut milk and red curry paste transform butternut squash, carrots, and peppers into a hearty, flavor-packed stew. Serve with rice, grape tomatoes, and basil the first night, then turn the leftovers into a sensational potpie using store-bought puff pastry.

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08of 28

Orecchiette With Butternut Squash and Sage

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (8)

Never throw out butternut squash pulp and seeds again! Instead, toss them into this simple pasta dish. Ricotta and poppy seeds give it extra oomph.

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17 Kabocha Squash Recipes That Will Make You Fall In Love With This Winter Vegetable

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Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlic Dip

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (9)

Tahini, turmeric, and cayenne turn up the volume on this sweet and savory dip. It's just the thing for fall entertaining.

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10of 28

Squash Hash With Kale and Baked Eggs

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (10)

Not your usual hash skillet, this one is filled with festive fall vegetables forming a nest for sunny baked eggs. Try it for brunch or lunch.

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11of 28

Butternut Squash Soup With Coconut Milk and Ginger

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (11)

Vegan soup for the win! This irresistible dish starts with a base of roasted butternut squash, then adds fresh ginger for a little heat and a swirl of coconut milk for creaminess. Skip crackers or croutons, and sprinkle with toasted squash seeds for crunch.

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12of 28

Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (12)

Butternut squash lasagna, flavored with sage and grated nutmeg and layered with sheets of homemade pasta, is autumn in a baking pan.

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13of 28

Butternut Squash Quesadilla

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (13)

This recipe is just the thing for using up leftover roasted butternut squash. It's mashed, then teamed with pickled jalapeños and two types of cheese—goat and mozzarella—for the quesadilla filling.

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Roasted Vegetables With Quinoa

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (14)

Sweet butternut squash along with hearty Brussels sprouts star in this delicious take on the quinoa bowl.

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Shaved-Butternut-and-Carrot Salad With Dates and Sunflower Seeds

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (15)

Carrots are no surprise in a winter salad, but paper-thin shavings of uncooked butternut squash are a revelation: They have a very gentle garden sweetness and a crisp texture.

View RShaved-Butternut-and-Carrot Salad With Dates and Sunflower Seedsecipe

16of 28

Butternut-Pear Soup

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (16)

The flavor of pears is wonderful with earthy squash. Another great combo: This soup plus a grilled cheese sandwich makes a cozy, comforting lunch.

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17of 28

Butternut Squash Mash

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (17)

This simple and healthy side dish needs only five ingredients, all of which you probably already have in your kitchen.

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18of 28

Chili-Lime Roasted Butternut-Squash Salad

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (18)

Chili powder, lime juice, honey, and cilantro add an unexpected zing to roasted squash in this memorable fall salad.

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19of 28

Spicy Butternut Squash Meatloaf

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (19)

Mix up your meatloaf routine with this flavorful variation combining butternut squash, pancetta, and sage.

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20of 28

Butternut Squash Soup With Shrimp

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (20)

Turn creamy squash soup into a satisfying main course with the addition of shrimp, plus a garnish of sour cream and fried sage.

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21of 28

Chickpea and Butternut Squash Stew

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (21)

This North African-inspired chickpea and butternut squash stew gets its depth of flavor from homemade harissa.

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22of 28

Lacinato Kale Salad With Roasted Squash

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (22)

Not your everyday side salad, this one marries raw kale with roasted butternut squash and shallots, toasted hazelnuts, and aged goat cheese shavings. The dressing is simple: just lemon juice and flaxseed oil.

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23of 28

Butternut Squash and Bacon Quiche

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (23)

Arrange thin slices of butternut squash, whole bacon strips, and sage leaves over custardy filling to make this piece of edible art, a slab quiche that serves as both the main dish and the centerpiece.

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24of 28

Gluten-Free Butternut Squash, Apple, and Hazelnut Muffins

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (24)

Combined with grated apple and steamed squash, hazelnut flour, which is rich in healthy fats, ensures a perfectly moist texture in these autumnal treats.

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Butternut Squash Pudding

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (25)

A rich savory side dish or vegetarian main, this recipe combines roasted and mashed butternut squash with béchamel sauce, eggs, butter, and parmesan cheese.

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26of 28

Butternut Squash Crumble

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (26)

Call it a casserole or a gratin if you prefer, this savory crumble has a crunchy topping like your favorite apple dessert but its filling skews savory. Chunks of butternut squash are sautéed, then cooked in a round baking dish, topped with a rich herbed crumble topping, and everything is baked till golden. The recipe calls for chicken stock but swap in vegetable stock to make a vegetarian dish.

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Braised Chicken With Butternut Squash and Cranberries

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (27)

This lightly spiced braised chicken dish makes a wonderful fall dinner. Chicken legs cook with coriander, nutmeg, and fresh sage. Chunks of butternut squash, red onion, and dried cranberries make it a colorful meal.

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Macaroni and Cheese With Butternut Squash

Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (28)

One of our favorite ways to sneak in a vegetable, this mac and cheese includes butternut squash that’s cooked in milk and stock before being mashed. And, it's extra rich creamy thanks to the addition of ricotta.

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Our Best Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Fall (2024)

FAQs

How to cook butternut squash Martha Stewart? ›

Halve butternut squash lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place cut sides up in a roasting pan (to help it sit level, slice a thin strip from skin sides). Fill each cavity with butter and pure maple syrup; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Roast until fork-tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

In a large bowl mix the cubed squash, garlic cloves and ginger with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mix. Season with salt and pepper and scatter in a single layer in a roasting tray. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes until tender all the way through.

What flavors go well with butternut squash? ›

You could do roasted butternut squash with pecans, cranberries, cinnamon, brown sugar etc. This Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans and Cranberries is a fall-fabulous dish that will add a lovely twist as a dinner side dish.

How to cook butternut squash Paula Deen? ›

directions
  1. In a medium saucepan combine squash, onions, carrots,broth, and salt. Simmer, uncovered, until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
  2. Puree soup in a blender or food processor with the butter. Whisk cream into soup. Serve in wide, shallow bowls with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Is it necessary to peel butternut squash before cooking? ›

It's important to note that while many people choose to remove butternut squash skin (and this is best practice for soup making, where you want smooth results), you can 100% eat roasted butternut squash skin. Slice butternut squash into crescents and roast it with the skin on.

Is there a difference between roasting and baking squash? ›

Most recipes say to either bake or roast butternut squash—but what's the difference? While both cooking methods will turn the tough, raw gourd into a soft, sweet ingredient, roasting butternut squash is the more common process for achieving browned, crispy edges and a creamy interior.

What is the difference between a butternut squash and a butternut pumpkin? ›

In the kitchen the pumpkin is tougher, both skin and flesh. The butternut squash is also much softer and sweeter and can be easily mistaken for a sweet potato in both taste and texture. However, these differences also depend on the variety and origin of the pumpkin and squash.

How does Jamie Oliver cook butternut squash? ›

Method. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Wash and dry the whole squash, then place on a baking tray. Pierce once or twice with the tip of a sharp knife, then bake in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until golden and very soft.

Do you cook butternut squash cut side up or down? ›

Transfer the butternut squash, cut-side up into a baking dish and brush with olive oil or melted butter, coating the entire surface of the squash. Season with salt and pepper and brown sugar (if desired). Roast in the oven for approximately 45 minutes, or until soft, and fork-tender.

Should you roast butternut squash cut side up or down? ›

Cooking butternut squash halves
  1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Cut off ¼" from the top and bottom of the butternut squash. ...
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the butternut squash halves cut side down. Bake for 50-60minute or until tender.
Oct 23, 2021

What is the best season for butternut squash? ›

When is butternut squash in season? Butternut squash are harvested in late summer and autumn, but because they keep so well, they can be found all year round.

Why does my butternut squash taste bland? ›

If you pick too early, the flesh will not be fully developed and the squash will lack flavor and not be that wonderfully vegetal sweet that is the wonder of butternut, honeynut, delicata, acorn, pumpkin and kabocha, among dozens of other winter squash.

Is it better to steam or boil butternut squash? ›

The squash also retains most of its nutrients when it is steamed and has a wonderfully sweet butternuttiness to it. Steamed butternut can also be used in a variety of ways – added to salads, mashed, puréed or enjoyed as is with a simple seasoning of your choice.

How to cut and bake butternut squash? ›

Prep: Peel and cube the butternut squash. Season: Toss the butternut squash cubes with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Roast: Arrange the seasoned cubes on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven until the squash is lightly browned and tender.

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