Baked acorn squash recipe with maple butter – Roasted acorn squash is a flavorful, colorful, and nutritious side dish that goes with everything! You’ll love how easy it is to make this great vegetable option. Acorn squash is cut into cubes, then tossed with brown sugar, salt, and maple syrup, then speckled with butter and roasted to perfection for 25 to 35 minutes. An easy and festive side dish everyone will love. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the baked acorn squash recipe
- 1 acorn squash
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Roasted acorn squash ingredients
These are the ingredients you’ll need for the roasted acorn squash recipe:
- Acorn squash: Look for solid green acorn squash that feels compact and heavy for its size.
- Seasonings: This roasted acorn squash recipe is simply flavored with brown sugar, maple syrup, and a pinch of kosher salt.
- Unsalted butter: Toss the acorn squash cubes with butter before roasting to keep it nice and moist.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
How to bake acorn squash
You’ll find the detailed step-by-step directions below, but here’s the summary of this baked acorn squash side dish:
- Prep: Peel and cube the acorn squash.
- Season: Toss the acorn squash cubes with brown sugar, maple syrup, salt, and butter.
- Roast: Arrange the seasoned acorn squash cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven until the acorn squash is lightly browned and fork-tender.
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
1. To make the baked acorn squash: Preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Peel acorn squash using a sharp vegetable peeler, and peel the difficult parts with a paring knife if necessary. Cut the acorn squash in half lengthwise; scoop out and discard the seeds with a large spoon. Cut the acorn squash halves into 1-inch slices, then cut each into 1-inch cubes.
2. On the rimmed baking sheet, combine the acorn squash cubes with brown sugar, maple syrup, and kosher salt, and toss until well-coated. Spread on a single layer on the baking sheet. Speckle the acorn squash cubes with the diced butter.
3. Roast the acorn squash in the preheated oven until squash is lightly browned and tender when pierced with a fork, 25 to 35 minutes – Tossing halfway for even roasting. Serve the roasted acorn squash with maple butter immediately as a side dish. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the baked acorn squash recipe
- Keep the seeds from the acorn squash and roast them with salt for a nice topping!
How to Peel Acorn Squash
The best and most efficient way to peel an acorn squash is with a vegetable peeler. You may need a sharp paring knife to peel the difficult parts.
How to Cut Acorn Squash
This recipe calls for cubed acorn squash. Simply cut the peeled acorn squash down the middle, scoop out the seeds, and cut the halves into 1-inch slices. From there, you can easily cut each slice into 1-inch cubes.
How to Season Acorn Squash
This simple roasted acorn squash recipe is simply seasoned with brown sugar, salt, pepper, and maple syrup. It’s easy to customize this easy acorn squash recipe by adding your seasoning. Try adding:
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Sage
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne pepper
- Paprika
- Honey
- Cumin
- Red pepper flakes
How Long to Cook Acorn Squash
Acorn squash, cut into 1-inch cubes, should be perfectly roasted after about 25 to 35 minutes in an oven heated to 400ºF (200ºC). When done, the acorn squash should be lightly browned and easily pierced with a fork.
How to keep baked acorn squash leftovers
You can keep baked acorn squash leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator.
How to Serve Roasted Acorn Squash
Pair this roasted acorn squash side dish with your favorite fall and winter main courses. Acorn squash goes well with roasted chicken, roasted turkey, pork roast, and even grilled steak.
More roasted squash recipes
- Garlic Butter Roasted Butternut Squash
- Roasted Butternut Squash
- Baked Spaghetti Squash with Lemon Garlic Sauce
- Baked Four Cheese Garlic Spaghetti Squash
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com