Roasted Whole Butternut Squash

If you are looking for an easy way to make butternut squash, this whole roasted squash is the recipe for you! No peeling, no difficult chopping, just 5 minutes of prep work and it’s ready for the oven.

It comes out caramelized on the edges and perfectly tender. Serve it as a side dish right out of the oven with a delicious butter and brown sugar glaze. Or use the squash flesh for baked goods, oatmeal, pasta sauce, and more.

Trust me, once you make butternut squash this way, there is no turning back. It is so much better than boiling the squash or using frozen mashed butternut squash.

Why We Love Whole Roasted Butternut Squash

• Versatile: Serve it plain as a side dish, mash it, make soup, stuff it, or make pasta sauce
• Easy: No peeling, no chopping, only 3 ingredients needed
• Cozy fall flavors: Roasted squash is the perfect fall side dish for weeknights and holiday dinners

Looking for more ways to enjoy butternut squash? Try this Roasted Squash Salad, Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash, or amazing Butternut Squash Tacos.

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

• Butternut squash: Look for butternut squash that is heavy for its size. It should be light orange-beige in color without any soft spots. It’s normal for it to have some imperfections or scratches. This recipe and glaze would also work for acorn squash, delicata squash, or honey nut squash. Just adjust the baking time.
• Olive oil: In order to get brown and caramelized, the squash needs to be coated with some kind of fat. Olive oil is the most common but you could also use melted butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, or another oil of your choice.
• Salt and pepper: To bring out the natural flavors of the squash, kosher or sea salt is a must. Black pepper is a nice contrast to the sweetness of the butternut squash.
• Optional glaze: For holiday meals, we always make a sweeter roasted squash with a glaze made of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Flip the squash over during the last ten minutes of cooking and add the glaze.

Cooking Tips

Follow these cooking tips to make perfect squash every time.

• Roasting time: Keep in mind that roasting time can vary depending on the size of the squash. Start checking the squash at the 45-minute mark but know that large squash can take around 75 minutes.
• Wrapping in foil: Some people wrap the squash halves in foil when roasting. This will actually steam the squash. Only wrap the butternut squash in foil if you do not want any browning or caramelization. Even if I am using the squash in soup or mashed, I still like the extra flavor it gets from roasting it on a baking sheet.
• Save the seeds: Butternut squash seeds can be roasted just like pumpkin seeds. Wash and dry the seeds. Toss with oil and seasoning. Then roast at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes. Use it for snacks, salad toppers, or with oatmeal.

Seasoning Ideas

Think of this recipe as a blueprint for making perfectly roasted butternut squash halves. Then you can season it any way you like. Here are some favorites:

• Herbs: Fresh herbs pair really well with butternut squash. Add fresh parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, or oregano.
• Spices and seasoning: The sweet flavor of the squash works really well with smoky and earthy spices like cumin, curry powder, coriander, cinnamon, smoked paprika, or chili powder. It also works with warm spices like cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice.
• Garnishes: When I am serving this for holidays, I love to get creative by adding garnishes including toasted pumpkin seeds, creamy goat cheese, pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, or candied pecans.
• Glaze: Finish the squash with a glaze using maple syrup or honey, butter, and spices. Add balsamic vinegar for some acidity to balance the sweetness.

How to Cut Butternut Squash

The hardest part of this recipe is cutting the squash in half, which actually isn’t that hard with the right technique.

1. Trim the stem: Start by trimming the stem side (small end) by holding the squash and trimming about ½ inch off the top of the squash. You can also trim the bottom end, but it isn’t necessary.
2. Cut the squash in half: Cut the squash in half vertically using a sharp knife. You will have to apply some pressure and sometimes using a rocking motion can help. Go slowly and apply pressure as you cut.
3. Scoop out the seeds: Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and squash bits attached to the seeds. Discard them or clean them and save them for roasting.

How to Serve Whole Roasted Butternut Squash

There are so many ways to serve and use whole roasted squash.

• As a side dish: This squash, especially with the glaze, is a perfect side dish on all its own. We serve it at almost every holiday and it is always a hit.
• Stuff the squash halves: Whenever I make roasted squash, I always cook some extra halves to stuff for another meal. Normally I just add a simple combination of cooked brown rice, ground turkey sausage, and spinach. It’s filling and delicious.
• Make soup: When it comes to fall soups, this slow cooker butternut squash soup is a favorite. Use your roasted butternut squash soup to cut the cooking time down to less than one hour.
• Make pasta sauce: Scoop out the roasted squash and blend it with milk or cream, Parmesan cheese, and lots of black pepper for a rich and creamy pasta sauce. For a lighter option, use vegetable broth or the pasta cooking liquid to thin the squash into a sauce.
• Use it for desserts and baking: Use the roasted squash in place of “pumpkin” in any of your favorite fall desserts and baked goods including pies, breads, muffins, brownies, and cakes. It is also delicious in oatmeal instead of pumpkin.
• Make grain bowls: Roasted squash is delicious in grain bowls like these Roasted Vegetable Bowls and Polenta Bowls.

Main Dish Ideas

This roasted squash is great for a special occasion dinner and also easy enough to make for a weeknight family meal. Here are some main dishes that work really well with butternut squash.

• Turkey: Serve this alongside this Slow Cooker Turkey Breast or Turkey Tenderloin.
• Chicken: Serve it with Rotisserie Chicken, Rosemary Chicken, or Chicken Drumsticks.
• Fish and Seafood: The earthy flavor of the squash works really well with fish like this Lemon Pepper Salmon or Blackened Mahi Mahi.
• Vegetarian: Pair this with some Sheet Pan Pesto Chickpeas or add it to a grain bowl with roasted vegetables and creamy goat cheese.

Make Ahead and Storage

This dish is great for prepping in advance. The butternut squash can be roasted up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge once it has cooled. You can also cut and prep the squash up to 3 days in advance.

Reheat the squash in a baking dish in the oven. Set the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 10-15 minutes until heated through.

If you are storing the flesh of the squash, it will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months.