One Pan Sausage and Acorn Squash

This healthy sheet pan Sausage with Acorn Squash is quick and easy to toss together. Simply prep the veggies, add them to a baking sheet, and bake in the oven! That's it!  It's the perfect easy, fall meal and can be served on its own or served with a nice spring mix salad, brown rice, or some creamy polenta. 

Busy weeks call for sheet pan dinners and this new recipe with chicken sausage and acorn squash is on repeat in our house. First of all, it has the whole family eating acorn squash. Something about the crispy browned edges and melted Parmesan cheese has turned my normally squash-averse family into fans of this tasty veggie.

Secondly, it's all made on one single sheet pan. That's a weeknight dream since it means easy cleanup. Lastly, this meal is so versatile. Try it with different flavors of sausage, swap in some different veggies, add new spices, and there are endless meal options.

If I haven't fully convinced you to try this one pan sausage and squash recipe, I have one more tidbit that should push you over the edge. The leftovers! This recipe makes the best leftovers.

Smush them into some bread to make a killer sausage sandwich or pack them with your favorite grain or greens for lunches. I have even thrown them in some store-bought tomato soup. So good. This roasted squash and sausage keep well in the fridge and can be used in many different ways. You'll want to make a double batch. 

Key Ingredients For One Pan Sausage and Squash

• Your favorite sausage links: One of the key flavor components in this recipe is the sausage. Choose pre-cooked or smoked chicken or turkey sausage (more on that below). I used a smoked andouille chicken sausage but almost any flavor will work. Then slice it into bite-sized pieces so that the sausage can add flavor to the veggies as they cook. This also means it's ready to eat as soon as it comes off the sheet pan.
• Acorn squash: To make this meal as easy as possible, I used acorn squash since the skin is edible and it is an easy squash to prep. Delicata squash is another good option with edible skin. Other squash like butternut squash or kabocha squash would also work, just make sure to peel it first. If you are not a squash fan, swap in sweet potatoes or cauliflower.
• Peppers and onions: It's hard to beat the combination of peppers, onions, and sausage. Choose any color of bell pepper you like and also any variety of onions. I like the sweetness added by using a Vidalia or red onion, but a yellow onion or white onion works just as well.
• Italian Seasoning: I love using Italian seasoning in dishes since it adds a lot of flavor without needing to reach for a bunch of different dried herbs and spices. Depending on the flavors of the sausage, you can swap in different herbs including sage, rosemary, thyme, or oregano. This would be delicious with Cajun seasoning, seasoned salt, or any variety of spice blends.  

Best Sausage For Sheet Pan Cooking

There are so many different sausage options in the grocery store it can be hard to know which one to choose. Here are some important things to keep in mind when choosing sausage for one-pan meals.

• Cooked or smoked sausage: Always opt for pre-cooked or smoked sausage options when making a one-dish meal. Raw sausage can take quite a bit of time to cook and the veggies will overcook by the time the sausage is done.  Raw sausage also releases liquid as it cooks, which can steam the veggies instead of roasting them. If you need to use raw sausage, always begin cooking it before adding the veggies. They will likely need 10-20 minutes of extra cooking time, depending on the sausage and size. Another option is slicing it into smaller pieces so it cooks more quickly and searing it in a pan before adding it to a sheet pan. 
• Flavors: There are so many flavor options and almost anything will work. Some of our favorites include spicy Italian sausage, chicken apple, sundried tomato, spinach and feta, or jalapeno. Choose a flavor your family will enjoy and then match the spices to that flavor if needed.
• Turkey or chicken: To keep things light and healthy, choose chicken or turkey sausage for this meal. With that said, this will also work with beef or pork sausage, it just will likely have more fat and calories. 

Recipe Variations and Ideas

There are a lot of ways to change up this recipe with different seasoning blends, veggies, and flavors of sausage. 

• Holiday flavors: With the holidays coming up, I love to add some sweetness to this dish with dried cranberries. Add them to the dish while it cooks or sprinkle them on before serving. Pumpkin seeds, pecans, walnuts, or pine nuts are also a great way to add some crunch.
• Change up the veggies: While peppers and onions are always delicious with sausage, this dish also works great with cabbage, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, and carrots. Just adjust the cooking time if needed for heartier vegetables that take longer to roast.
• Add stuffing: Stuffed acorn squash is extremely popular around the holidays. Mimic the same flavor of stuffed acorn squash by serving this over a bowl of store-bought stuffing. Mix everything together and drizzle for a spin on sausage and squash stuffing. 

Side Dishes

This meal can easily be served on its own since it has plenty of protein, veggies, and a lower carbohydrate starch with the acorn squash. However, you may want to add a side dish to round out the meal. Here are some ideas:

• Add a starch: If you want to add an additional starch, consider serving it on a bed of brown rice, farro, quinoa, or polenta. 
• Mashed cauliflower: For a lower-carb option, think about using cauliflower rice or creamy mashed cauliflower. 
• Drizzle with sauce: Add even more flavor by drizzling the dish with some homemade pesto, green goddess dressing, or some lightened up ranch dressing.
• Get your greens: If you need some greens with the meal, consider making this yummy kale caesar salad or 10 minute garlic green beans.

Storage and Leftovers

You can store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Use leftovers to make sandwiches, salads, grain bowls, frittatas, and morning scrambles. This recipe does not freeze well.

Can you eat the skin of acorn squash?

Don’t bother peeling the squash before slicing and roasting it. Acorn squash skin is completely edible. Sometimes the skin is overly thick and hard to chew or just doesn’t taste right. You can easily peel off the skin after the squash has been roasted if you desire. It's much easier to peel after roasting than before.

Is acorn squash healthy?

Acorn squash is a very healthy carbohydrate. It contains lots of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and iron. It is also a great source of fiber and antioxidants.