Vegetable Lasagna with Butternut Béchamel
For a lighter take on this classic, we substitute hearty butternut squash for butter, which becomes velvety and creamy when blended with garlic and milk. Our saucy lasagna packs more than 2 cups of vegetables into each slice, is overflowing with melty cheese, and has half the calories of the original.
Butternut and Ginger Congee
This is comfort food. It's warm and creamy, even though there's no cream in it. Vietnamese like variation in their food—not just one flavor or texture. The crispy ginger slices and fresh herbs add just the right amount of zap to the dish. Shredded butternut squash will melt beautifully into the congee; use a box grater or the shredding disc of a food processor.
Butternut-Cauliflower Coconut Curry
A range of textures—crunchy peas, tender vegetables, and silky coconut broth—makes this cool-weather main incredibly satisfying. The chickpea mixture can also be a delicious gluten-free snack: After baking, toss with a little kosher salt, ground cumin, and ground red pepper. Serve with Cilantro-Chile Couscous.
Butternut Squash Queso Fundido
Butternut squash adds distinct flavor (and color) to this satisfyingly cheesy dip. To make it vegetarian, sub vegetable stock for the chicken stock. 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.
Baby Kale, Butternut, and Chicken Salad
Precut vegetables, rotisserie chicken, and chopped pecans save time when throwing together a quick lunch before school or work. A homemade dressing of molasses, olive oil, cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard keeps added sugar and calories in check. One of the healthiest and nutritious vegetables, butternut squash is full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Butternut Squash au Gratin with Wild Mushrooms and Crispy Bacon
This dish was inspired by Alain Ducasse's butternut squash au gratin at Benoit in New York City. The mashed butternut is blended with earthy wild mushrooms and bits of bacon to balance the squash's sweetness. We use more readily available beef stock for our version instead of the veal jus used by Ducasse, but the stock still delivers a savory umami note.
Butternut Squash Crown Roast
Prepare to watch jaws drop when you bring this dish to the table. Rather than serving a traditional main entrée, serve your guests a crown roast of butternut squash. Whether you save it for a dinner party, the holidays, or another special occasion, this dish is guaranteed to impress.
Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Tart with Olive Oil Crust
Elevate greens and squash to holiday status with a whole-grain olive oil crust. To speed up prep time, roast the squash and par-bake the crust simultaneously.
Fast Chicken Chili with Butternut Squash
Chili doesn't get much faster. Just 30 minutes delivers long-simmered satisfaction along with mashed beans, butternut squash lends color and starch to thicken. Rotisserie chicken also helps make this hearty chili superspeedy without sacrificing rich, deep, and complex flavor.
Spiralized Beet and Butternut Squash Noodles with Parsley Pesto
What's better than roasted beets? Spiralized beets, duh! The nifty gadget turns beets and butternut squash into twirly noodles tossed in a delightful herby sauce.
Chickpea Chili
Chickpeas give an unexpected twist to classic chili. On second thought, nearly all of the flavors in this recipe (including butternut squash) give an entirely different flavor to the typical Tex-Mex staple but—we have to say—it will soon become a classic.
Oven Pork Chop Pan Roast
Delicata squash, as the name implies, has skin so tender you don't have to peel it and makes this dish just that much faster to prep. You can substitute butternut or acorn squash—just peel it (or buy butternut prechopped).
One-Pan Broccoli-Bacon Mac 'N' Cheese
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.
This recipe is part of our Let's Cook! curriculum: Find more easy, healthy, affordable recipes anyone can make at CookingLight.com/LetsCook.
Curried Butternut Soup
This butternut soup is the perfect way to brighten up cold dark days, with its vibrant color and even better taste. For multiple-meal-use, just wait to add the toppings until it’s time to reheat.
Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Butternut Squash
Roasted chicken sits atop a tender mound of sweet and savory butternut squash to create a melt-in-your-mouth plate of perfection. Looking for an added bonus? This meal is a budget-friendly option that is hearty enough to satisfy every appetite in your household.
Butternut Stratas with Gruyère
If you don't have individual ramekins, you can bake the strata in an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray for 25 minutes.
Farro Stuffing with Butternut Squash, Red Onion, and Almonds
In this nontraditional stuffing, earthy flavors and starchy comfort come from whole-grain farro, not bread. You can assemble up to 2 days ahead. Take out of the fridge, let stand at room temperature 45 minutes, then bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Pomegranate and Tahini
Spiced Meatball, Butternut, and Tomato Stew
Add this comforting, 35-minute stew to your winter recipe rotation. These tender meatballs have a mild, warm spice. Chopped cilantro at the end adds a nice burst of freshness. You can substitute ground chicken, if desired.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Coconut and Chile
Coconut flakes combine deliciously with sweet butternut squash, while also complementing a splash of tart lime and a dash of fiery red chile.
Shiitake-Stuffed Butternut with Quinoa Streusel
Naturally-sweet butternut squash takes on an umami-packed filling of shiitake mushrooms, fresh ginger, garlic, and spinach. Toasted quinoa flakes and panko top the stuffed squash for added texture. On the side, we top broccolini with lime rind to balance the plate.
Cheesy Sorghum and Shaved Squash Pilaf
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.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Parmesan-Garlic Breadcrumbs
For a delicious fall side dish, combine roasted butternut squash with Parmesan-garlic bread crumbs.
Farfalle with Butternut Squash
A tasty bow tie recipe makes for a quick and easy weeknight meal. Packed with protein and fiber in the form of walnuts and butternut squash, this heart-healthy pasta dish can be on your table in 20 minutes!
Spiralized Butternut Squash Toast with Goat Cheese and Pomegranate Seeds
Toasted bread is a great vehicle to get veggies and protein-packed ingredients, from avocado to almond butter, into your diet. Spiralizing butternut squash makes it easy to top toast, and paired with creamy goat cheese and fresh pomegranate seeds, it makes for a supreme salty-sweet combination. Feel free to substitute whole grain bread or sprouted breads for another option.
Grilled Trout with Roasted Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Celery Leaf Pesto
Say hello to your new favorite seafood dinner! This sweet and nutty autumnal recipe will make everyone at the table swoon.
Lamb and Butternut Squash Stew
This delicious winter stew only takes 35 minutes to come together. Refrigerate the sautéed lamb mixture up to 3 days ahead, and then bake at 450° for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. To maximize flavor, serve with Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts.
Couscous with Winter Vegetables
In summer, substitute green beans, corn, and zucchini for the butternut squash and chickpeas. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast with a fried egg on top.
Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese
Instead of the traditional buttery, heavy sauce present in most mac and cheese recipes, we turned to an unlikely hero for a boost: butternut squash. Combined with nonfat milk and Greek yogurt, the squash adds a rich, nutty flavor, sneaks in some vegetable, and brilliantly mimics the color and creaminess of cheddar sauce. Over fifty 5-star reviews agree: butternut squash is a delicious addition.
Chicken and Butternut Gnocchi
Gnocchi are the base for a simple toss with sweet butternut squash, rich chicken thighs, spinach, and sage. Prepared gnocchi is a fast cook’s dream. They don’t need to be boiled separately, take on a beautiful sear, and will hold up after a thorough sauté and simmer with other ingredients. A dollop of prepared pesto binds and brightens the dish. Look for prepeeled and cubed butternut squash to save even more time. Instead of spinach, you could also try tender baby kale. For a bit of heat, add 1⁄4 teaspoon crushed red pepper to the pan before you simmer the squash.
Butternut Squash Pizza with White Sauce, Spinach, and Goat Cheese
Try swapping out the goat cheese for feta or Gorgonzola to switch up the flavor profile.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
The unique combination of flavors in this vegetarian recipe will leave your family asking for seconds. Make the sauce the night before to save on prep time. CandaceB writes, “Making the sauce really exemplified the play of sweet and spice. This will be a regular in our household!”
Bacon and Butternut Pasta
Broth, thickened with flour and enriched with crème fraîche, forms the savory sauce in this dish. We like the addition of earthy, hearty kale which helps balance the sweetness from the squash.
Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup
Moroccans take great comfort in their wonderful tagines—lamb or poultry slowly stewed with fragrant spices. This dish is basically a tagine thinned to soup consistency, with couscous to starch it up. Sugary butternut squash and meaty chicken thighs remind us how well sweet and savory flavors play together in Moroccan cuisine.
Chicken, Apple, and Butternut Stew
Cider, chopped apple, butternut squash, and parsnips lend appealingly forward sweetness to this fall harvest stew. Unfiltered apple cider has pectins that help thicken the stew. If you use filtered, clear cider, add another tablespoon of flour.
Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto with Sugared Walnuts
Brown sugar ups the autumnal flavor in this dish. Brightly colored roasted butternut squash stand out against the risotto like a sinfully delicious invitation to enjoy. Just a bit of slightly salty pancetta lends just the note to finish off the flavor medly.
Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash
Take your basic beef stew to the next level by making this simple, fragrant beef tagine featuring butternut squash.
Butternut Squash and Smoky Black Bean Salad
Sweet butternut squash receives a smoky, spicy kick in this recipe. You'll find chipotle chiles canned in adobo sauce on the Latin food aisle. Use just the sauce here; reserve chiles for another use.
Indian-Spiced Roasted Squash Soup
This flavorful soup is a vibrant hue with flavor to match. Top with a dollop of the yogurt-honey mixture for a showstopping bowlful.
Butternut Squash Soup with Spiced Seeds
This smooth and brightly hued soup is a gorgeous start to any meal. The spiced pumpkinseed kernels (also called pepitas) are a crunchy and flavorful topping.
"Farrotto" with Butternut, Gruyère, and Hazelnuts
Cubes of butternut squash hold their shape and bite, and stand out wonderfully against the farro background. Grated Gruyère cheese and chopped hazelnuts add the perfect touch of fat and salt at the end of this vegetarian main dish.
Curried Butternut Squash and Potato Latkes with Apple Salsa
Serrano chiles are more fiery than jalapeños. If you want to tame the heat, substitute a jalapeño or an even milder chile instead. If you want more spice, don't remove the seeds.
Butternut-Bacon Stuffing
Guests at holiday gatherings will adore this autumn-inspired recipe, stuffed with diced butternut squash and flecks of crispy bacon.
Butternut Squash, Caramelized Onion, and Spinach Lasagna
For a complete meal, serve with a fresh salad of grapefruit and fennel, and sip our Pomegranate Fizz.
Honey-Roasted Butternut Squash
This side is simple and fabulous. The cooking is mostly hands-off, and the prep is easy. Serve the tender butternut squash in large pieces to catch every last bit of the honey-butter drizzle.
Steamed Butternut Squash Pudding
This recipe was inspired by Blackberry Farm in Tennessee where chefs top it with sabayon featuring vanilla-infused whiskey. At the Farm, the chefs flavor a 1.5-liter bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey for three weeks. Our adaptation cuts the infusion time back to four days; you can let the mixture stand for even less time, though the vanilla flavor will be milder.
Butternut Squash Gratin with Blue Cheese and Sage
This rich and hearty casserole is the ideal accompaniment to simple roast chicken or beef tenderloin. The browned breadcrumbs and bits of blue cheese are as appealing to the eyes as they are to the appetite.
Winter Squash Soufflé and Greens
Serve this 138-calorie dish as part of a vegetarian meal, or pair with a serving of protein as nasuselbbid suggests, “This is such an easy and delicious soufflé to make. I have served this with both roast chicken and pork loin with great success. Makes a colorful and beautiful plate, too!“
Harvest Pie
This twist on pumpkin pie has all the season’s classic spices and is the perfect end to any autumn dish. Eat it straight from the oven or make ahead to bring to a holiday get-together. cdlaub writes, “I made this for Thanksgiving and it was requested again for Christmas."
Risotto with Butternut Squash, Pancetta, and Jack Cheese
This easy-to-make risotto is buttery, sweet, and creamy. While the pancetta makes it a savory meat-lovers' meal, momsdecoop also suggests making it vegetarian friendly, “This is a recipe I crave all the time and I don't have to feel guilty about it! I eliminated the pancetta and used veggie stock to serve this dish to vegetarians. They loved it.”
Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup
This three-step recipe (roast, blend, simmer) is an easy and flavorful way to warm up with a creamy vegetable-based soup on a chilly fall afternoon. And according to cathyr, the soup is not only tasty, but also makes for a bright presentation. “This soup was SPECTACULAR!,” she says. “Gorgeous color, luscious flavor, velvety texture! My mom and my neighbor both raved!”
Pesto Pizza with Butternut Squash
Topped with a medley of squash, pesto, and cheese, this pie delivers distinctive flavor without much effort. “I especially liked the contrasting sweetness, saltiness, and zippiness,” says jngermann. “I found it easy to make this in the afternoon, then reheat at a low temp for an evening supper club.”
Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta
Smoky bacon compliments the richness of butternut squash in this casserole to create a dish that can be enjoyed right away or prepared ahead for a party or weeknight meals. Susan says, “This was an instant favorite of family and friends. It is so savory, delicious, and satisfying!!! If I could give this recipe 10 stars, I would.”
Farro Minestrone with Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, and Chestnuts
Spelt (called farro in Italy) is an ancient, unhybridized form of wheat that adds fiber to this soup.
