80+ Hearty and Healthy Butternut Squash Recipes for Fall
When fall comes around, there's no vegetable we desire more than butternut squash. 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.
Roasted Butternut Squash, Apples, and Figs with Sage Brown Butter
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The best part of this showstopping dish is the caramelized edges.
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Creamy Squash Soup with Salad Topping
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.