This hearty oven-roasted acorn squash is nice and savory with hints of caramel from brown sugar. It’s a traditional vacation facet excellent with turkey, ham or beef tenderloin and has lower than 5 elements!

Rising up my mother would make this for us on a regular basis as soon as the climate obtained chilly and the leaves began falling. Generally we’d maintain it easy, and others we’d add crunchy pecans, earthy cinnamon, and chewy cranberries.

Why You’ll Love Roasting Acorn Squash

Baked acorn squash is among the best facet dishes you’ll be able to add to your vacation menu this yr.

• Seasonal. Nothing screams fall and winter like freshly roasted acorn squash.
• Easy. You solely want 5 elements!
• Easy. As soon as they’re within the oven, simply let time do its factor till they’re fork-tender.
• Versatile. Add a splash of whiskey, leftover candy potatoes, or flip it into dessert with vanilla ice cream.

What’s Acorn Squash?

Acorn squash is a mildly-sweet kind of winter squash. It has deep ridges that run from the highest to the underside. The pores and skin/peel ranges from darkish inexperienced to yellow-orange, whereas the flesh is yellow. It’s formed like a large acorn, therefore the title. Its thick rind is ideal for roasting and turning it into hearty edible bowls.

Ingredient Notes

A sprinkle of salt brings out the acorn squashes’ pure sweetness much more. Scroll to the recipe card on the backside of the put up for actual quantities.

• Acorn squash – They need to have easy skins and no bruises or dents in them.
• Olive oil – You can too use avocado, coconut, or vegetable oil.
• Salt – Kosher salt is greatest.
• Butter – Go for salted or unsalted butter. Keep away from margarine.
• Brown sugar – I choose darkish brown sugar, however gentle brown sugar and coconut sugar work too.

Tips on how to Make Roasted Acorn Squash

It’s identical to making your favourite roasted veggies however with a candy taste profile. Scroll to the underside of the put up for the complete recipe card.

• Prep the oven. Preheat it to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set it apart.

• Season it. Rub the within of the acorn squashes with olive oil and season with salt. Place them on the ready baking sheet with the seasoned flesh facet going through downward.
• Roast them. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or till fork-tender. Take away them from the oven and put aside.
• Sweeten and serve. Flip the acorn squashes over. Add 1 teaspoon of butter and 1 teaspoon brown sugar to the middle of every one. Use a fork to softly scrape the flesh away from the perimeters, mixing with the butter and sugar. Get pleasure from!

Suggestions & Variation Concepts

This buttery roasted acorn squash goes from candy facet dish to dessert with the assistance of fluffy whipped cream and ice cream.

• Make it chocolatey. This positively turns the recipe right into a full-blown dessert. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips, chopped Pumpkin Brownies, and add a chocolate syrup drizzle.
• Prep forward. Roast the acorn squashes as much as 3 days upfront. Reheat them, and add the butter and sugar proper earlier than dinner for an additional fast facet.
• Decide them. All the time select squashes which can be equally sized in order that once you roast them, they’ll cook dinner evenly.
• Spike it. Add in 1/2 tablespoon whiskey or rum with the butter and brown sugar for a smokey kick of alcohol.
• Use a filling. Leftover Candy Potato Casserole, Prompt Pot Candy Potatoes, and Candy Potatoes with Oatmeal Pecan Streusel make an incredible filling for the acorn squash and assist scale back meals waste.
• Add ice cream. Flip the acorn squashes into ice cream bowls by including scoops of your favourite vanilla, praline, chocolate, or salted caramel ice cream. You’ll be able to even high them with whipped cream.
• Extra toppings. 1/4 cup caramel popcorn, candied pecans, dried cranberries, or chopped pecans will add extra taste and texture. A sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin spice works too.

What Goes With Acorn Squash?

This roasted acorn squash is a candy facet to your vacation menu. I really like serving it with my Thanksgiving Turkey, Maple Smoked Turkey, or Garlic Herb Turkey Breast. Dipping the turkey in Gravy provides further taste too. Different veggie sides embody my Asparagus with Lemon Zest and Roasted Inexperienced Beans & Mushrooms. For salad concepts, go for my Easy Arugula Salad or Kale Salad with Cranberries.

Whereas the acorn bowls are nice, chopping them would possibly make storage simpler.

• Fridge: Place them in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.
• Freezer: Wrap them in plastic wrap. Switch to a freezer bag. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge.
• To reheat it: Microwave in 30-second increments till heat. You can too use the oven at 300F for 30-40 minutes.

Extra Thanksgiving Sides

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