Delicious Ways to Cook Butternut Squash

Caitlin Bensel

Tender, golden butternut squash adds not only rich flavor and color but also a huge dose of nutrients to a variety of side dishes, soups, stir-fries and desserts with these butternut squash recipes.

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Roasted Butternut Squash, Apples, and Figs with Sage Brown Butter

Sara Tane

Roasted Butternut Squash, Apples, and Figs with Sage Brown Butter Recipe

If you only want to use one sheet pan and make 4 servings, divide this recipe in half, and save the extra half of your par-cooked butternut squash for a soup, roast, or stuffing.

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Arugula Pesto Pizza

Photo: Caitlin Bensel

Arugula Pesto Pizza Recipe

Wide ribbons of fresh butternut squash become tender while the pizza bakes, a colorful and faintly sweet contrast to the peppery arugula pesto.

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Moroccan Butternut Squash and Chickpea Stew

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Moroccan Butternut Squash and Chickpea Stew Recipe

A well-stocked spice cabinet is key for this stew. Each serving packs nearly half of your daily fiber, essential for better digestion and weight control.

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Butternut Squash, Kale, and Black Bean Quesadillas

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Butternut Squash, Kale, and Black Bean Quesadillas Recipe

Mashing half of the beans provides creamy texture and helps to seal the quesadillas.

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Fall Vegetable and Lentil Salad

Jennifer Causey

Fall Vegetable and Lentil Salad Recipe

We love firm French green lentils, but you can also use standard brown lentils. You're not likely to find a whole butternut squash that's only 1 pound; just buy the smallest one you can find, and use 1 pound of it.

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Fast Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Thom Driver

Fast Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash Recipe

Rotisserie chicken helps make this hearty chili superspeedy without sacrificing rich, deep, and complex flavor.

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Butternut-Kale Frittata

Greg DuPree

Butternut-Kale Frittata Recipe

Frittatas are some of the most efficient vehicles for leftover vegetables. Here, we combine roasted butternut squash with quick-cooking kale for a fiber-rich breakfast duo. A touch of dairy lends custard-like creaminess to the egg mixture.

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Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese

Photo: Caitlin Bensel

Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese Recipe
Freshly grated cheese—not preshredded—is key to achieving the creamiest sauce. The anti-caking ingredients in preshredded cheese make your sauce less creamy.

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Butternut Queso Fundido

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Butternut Queso Fundido Recipe

If you prefer, you can roast a halved, seeded butternut squash at 350° for 45 minutes or until soft. Scoop 10 ounces of flesh, and use in place of the puree.

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Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables Recipe

A mix of colorful root vegetables may be your star side. Peeled, prechopped butternut squash saves time, but pieces tend to be irregular and small--we prefer peeling and cubing it yourself.

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One-Pan Broccoli-Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

One-Pan Broccoli-Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese Recipe

Butternut squash puree enhances the color here without distracting from the cheesy flavor, and it sneaks in another serving of vegetables. If you can't find frozen butternut puree, swap in an equal amount of mashed sweet potato or canned unsweetened pumpkin.

$8.15 for six servings

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Autumn Glow Salad

Greg DuPree

Autumn Glow Salad Recipe

This plant-powered salad delivers over 50% of your daily fiber and one-third of your daily potassium goal. Butternut squash is an excellent source of eye-healthy vitamin A and a good source of immune-boosting vitamin C and blood pressure-supporting potassium.

This recipe goes with: Butternut-Kale Frittata, Poached Egg Power Bowls

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Roasted Butternut with Sage and Thyme

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Thom Driver.

Roasted Butternut with Sage and Thyme Recipe

Sometimes the simplest dishes are the best. In this one, butternut squash combines with oil, sage, and thyme for a can't-be-beat weeknight side.

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Lemon-Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Lemon-Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables Recipe

A mix of colorful root vegetables may be your star side. Peeled, prechopped butternut squash saves time, but pieces tend to be irregular and small--we prefer peeling and cubing it yourself.

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Orange-Tarragon Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Orange-Tarragon Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables Recipe

A mix of colorful root vegetables may be your star side. Peeled, prechopped butternut squash saves time, but pieces tend to be irregular and small--we prefer peeling and cubing it yourself.

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Winter Squash Stew with Cilantro-Avocado Salsa

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Winter Squash Stew with Cilantro-Avocado Salsa Recipe

Winter greens would also make a lovely addition to this hearty stew; simply toss a few handfuls in when the squash is almost tender, and stir until greens begin to wilt.

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Maple-Mustard Roasted Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Maple-Mustard Roasted Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts Recipe

We give the large bone-in breasts a head start in the oven so they will be perfectly cooked by the time the vegetables are done. This cut is also rather juicy; you'll want to drain the liquid from the pan before adding the vegetables so they can caramelize evenly.

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Greek Butternut Squash Salad

Time Inc. Video Studio

Greek Butternut Squash Salad Recipe

Salty feta cheese and olives are the perfect flavor balance to sweet, caramelized butternut squash in this simple, satisfying side dish. Bulk the salad up with rotisserie chicken and serve over bulgur, rice, or couscous for a hearty fall entree.

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Maple-Butternut Puree

Caitlin Bensel

Maple-Butternut Puree Recipe

Instead of sweet potatoes, try equally starchy, carotene-rich butternut squash for your next mash. A food processor will get the mixture silky smooth. You can also change the profile by swapping maple syrup and fresh ginger for a little ground cinnamon and curry powder or minced fresh sage and grated Parmesan cheese.

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Baby Kale, Butternut, and Chicken Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Claire Spollen

Baby Kale, Butternut, and Chicken Salad Recipe

This bright, colorful salad features soft squash that is perfect in the fall for salads and soups. Bake butternut squash in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Keep a batch on hand for a side, soup, or hash stir-in.

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Steak with Mixed Olive Tapenade, Butternut Squash, and Green Beans

Scott Rounds

Steak with Mixed Olive Tapenade, Butternut Squash, and Green Beans Recipe

This bountiful plate comes together in a snap thanks to savvy finds from the supermarket like frozen precooked butternut squash, olives from the olive bar, and spiralized beets (available in the produce section). If you can’t find the beets, you can add 1/3 cup precooked, sliced beets to the cooked and drained green beans. Cutting the steak in half will also speed up cooking; be sure to let it rest a few minutes before slicing.

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate and Tahini

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate and Tahini Recipe

For a delicious fall side dish, combine roasted butternut squash with arugula and pomegranate arils and coat the mixture with a tahini dressing.

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Skillet Squash Blossom

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Skillet Squash Blossom Recipe

The best part of this showstopping dish is the caramelized edges.

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Creamy Squash Soup with Salad Topping

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Creamy Squash Soup with Salad Topping Recipe

Some butternut squash soups can be too sweet; here, almond butter, lime juice, and slightly spicy salad mix-ins keep the flavors lively. For a heartier dish, add a few cooked medium shrimp (warmed first in a little hot water) to each bowl.

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Kale Salad with Roasted Squash, Dried Cranberries and Pistachios

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Kale Salad with Roasted Squash, Dried Cranberries and Pistachios Recipe

Toss kale, roasted butternut squash, pistachios, and dried cranberries with a red wine vindegar and Dijon mustard dressing to make a delicious fall salad.

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Fettuccine with Squash & Pistachio Pesto

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Fettuccine with Squash & Pistachio Pesto Recipe

Cooking with store-bought cubed squash saves time on weeknights. You can sub in almonds or walnuts for the pistachios.

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Roasted Rosemary Chicken Quarters with Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts

Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford; Food Stylist: Katelyn Hardwick

Roasted Rosemary Chicken Quarters with Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts Recipe

This fantastic sheet pan chicken supper is simple to throw together and packed with robust fall flavor. While it’s a great dish to add into your weeknight dinner rotation, this roasted chicken dinner is impressive enough for casual entertaining. Feel free to swap out the butternut squash for sweet potatoes if you’d prefer. And to find even more inspired sheet pan meals, you’ll definitely want to pick up a copy of One Sheet Eats: 100+ Delicious Recipes All Made on a Baking Sheet.

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Mushroom and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Mushroom and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto Recipe

While old-school stovetop-stirred risotto is undeniably delicious, the pressure cooker also delivers astonishingly good results: perfectly creamy, al dente risotto without constant stirring.

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Sticky Walnut Topping

Jennifer Causey

Roasted Butternut Squash with Sticky Walnut Topping Recipe

Molasses complements the sweetness of the roasted butternut squash and gives the slices a deeply bronzed look.

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Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Earthy, fragrant spices like allspice, cloves, and cinnamon make wonderful accents for the natural sweetness of butternut squash. Make sure to simmer the squash until very tender--the softer it gets, the silkier the puree.

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Spaghetti with Squash, Walnuts and Parmesan

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Spaghetti with Squash, Walnuts and Parmesan Recipe

Try this fall-flavored spin on spaghetti made with butternut squash, walnuts, bread crumbs, and Parmesan.

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Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Tart with Olive Oil Crust

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Tart with Olive Oil Crust Recipe

To speed up prep time, roast the squash and par-bake the crust simultaneously.

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Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi

Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi Recipe

Pillowy store-bought potato gnocchi are a great stand-in for dumplings in this easy and comforting dish. Buy precut butternut squash to save time, but slice any larger pieces of squash in half to ensure that it cooks evenly.

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Butternut Squash and Corn Soup

Photo: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Janna Lufkin

Butternut Squash and Corn Soup Recipe

The last of late-summer's corn, cooked so it still has a light crunch, accents this silky squash soup. Clare Carver of Big Table Farm winery in Oregon uses rich homemade chicken broth, but store-bought works too.

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Cheesy Sorghum and Shaved Squash Pilaf

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kay Clarke

Cheesy Sorghum and Shaved Squash Pilaf Recipe

Long, slender ribbons of butternut squash make for a beautiful and unusual presentation; just be gentle when stirring so you don't break all those gorgeous pieces. Try to grab a squash with a long neck--that straight surface works best for ribboning. If you can't find sorghum, you can use farro.

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans and Sage

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans and Sage Recipe

For a delicious fall side dish, combine roasted butternut squash with pecans and sage.

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Roasted Squash Salad

Photo: Travis Rathbone; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth

Roasted Squash Salad Recipe

Top winter greens with roasted butternut squash for a clean, light meal.

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Harvest Pie

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Harvest Pie Recipe
Butternut squash stands in for pumpkin in this pie, which received Cooking Light's highest Test Kitchens rating.

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Butternut Squash Spice Cake

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Butternut Squash Spice Cake Recipe

Watch out, carrot cake. An intriguing mix of spices, plus coconut sugar for subtle sweetness, put this butternut squash cake over the top. (And did we mention the bourbon?) You'll need 3 round cake pans (8 in. each).

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Coconut and Chile

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Roasted Butternut Squash with Coconut and Chile Recipe

For a delicious fall side dish, combine roasted butternut squash with coconut flakes and red chile and coat the mixture with a lime juice mixture.

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Spiced Apple Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: Seth Smoot; Styling: Kendra Smoot

Spiced Apple Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Roasting a whole squash takes longer than one that's cut up, but Smoot finds it easier (and safer) to peel and cut the squash after it's cooked.

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Steak Salad with Butternut Squash and Cranberries

Photography: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower.

Steak Salad with Butternut Squash and Cranberries Recipe

A summer classic leans into fall with roasted butternut squash, tart-sweet dried cranberries, and fresh rosemary. Find peeled, diced fresh butternut squash in the produce section. You can sub crumbled goat cheese or feta for the blue cheese and walnuts or pecans for the hazelnuts.

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Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Greg DuPree

Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Recipe

Madras curry powder adds warmth and earthiness to the otherwise sweet butternut squash, apple, and maple syrup in the soup. It has a bit more heat than regular curry powder, though either can be used here. Frozen, precooked squash will save time; you can also roast 1 (1 1/2-lb.) peeled, diced butternut squash ahead and refrigerate for later in the week. We opt for a sweet, Golden Delicious apple to contrast the tangy Greek yogurt; you can also use a Fuji or Braeburn apple.

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Parmesan-Garlic Breadcrumbs

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Roasted Butternut Squash with Parmesan-Garlic Breadcrumbs Recipe

For a delicious fall side dish, combine roasted butternut squash with Parmesan-garlic bread crumbs.

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75 Ways to Cook Butternut Squash

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Roasted Butternut Squash, Apples, and Figs with Sage Brown Butter

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Arugula Pesto Pizza

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Moroccan Butternut Squash and Chickpea Stew

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Butternut Squash, Kale, and Black Bean Quesadillas

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Fall Vegetable and Lentil Salad

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Fast Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash

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Butternut-Kale Frittata

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Roasted Veggie Mac and Cheese

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Butternut Queso Fundido

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Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

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One-Pan Broccoli-Bacon Mac 'n' Cheese

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Autumn Glow Salad

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Roasted Butternut with Sage and Thyme

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Lemon-Herb Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

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Orange-Tarragon Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

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Winter Squash Stew with Cilantro-Avocado Salsa

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Maple-Mustard Roasted Chicken with Squash and Brussels Sprouts

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Greek Butternut Squash Salad

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Maple-Butternut Puree

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Baby Kale, Butternut, and Chicken Salad

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Steak with Mixed Olive Tapenade, Butternut Squash, and Green Beans

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate and Tahini

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Skillet Squash Blossom

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Creamy Squash Soup with Salad Topping

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Kale Salad with Roasted Squash, Dried Cranberries and Pistachios

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Fettuccine with Squash & Pistachio Pesto

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Roasted Rosemary Chicken Quarters with Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts

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Mushroom and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Sticky Walnut Topping

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Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

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Spaghetti with Squash, Walnuts and Parmesan

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Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Tart with Olive Oil Crust

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Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi

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Butternut Squash and Corn Soup

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Cheesy Sorghum and Shaved Squash Pilaf

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans and Sage

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Roasted Squash Salad

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Harvest Pie

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Butternut Squash Spice Cake