With winter fast approaching, one of the best things about the cold weather is cozy evenings at home while enjoying delicious hearty meals. Winter squash is the perfect ingredient for this time of year, and it’s incredibly versatile. It’s the ideal ingredient for vegans and vegetarians to base their meals around, and there are simply dozens of creative meals you can make from winter squash.
With many different varieties to choose from including butternut squash, pumpkin, hubbard squash, banana squash and many more, you’ll find these stocked at your local grocery store throughout the fall and winter. Today we’re going to share 25 different Winter Squash Recipes for using your winter this year, to create varied and exciting meals for the whole family.
25 Easy Winter Squash Recipes You Should Try this Season
1. Roasted Butternut Squash with Cider Vinaigrette
While butternut squash is great by itself as a side dish, some people find it much more enjoyable to eat when it’s flavored and seasoned. This roasted butternut squash from Country Living is the perfect side to serve with any meat, and by roasting the squash with mustard, parsley, red wine vinegar and apple cider, you’ll have a flavorful side dish that might even steal the show from the main course.
2. Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash with Maple and Rosemary
This recipe by Well Plated is a delicious twist on roasting butternut squash and is an extremely simple dish to make. Using olive oil, maple syrup, rosemary and cinnamon, you’ll create a flavorful dish that will be enjoyed by the whole family. It’s an easy way to get young children eating butternut squash, with its sweet and delicious coating. Butternut squash is absolutely delicious when it’s roasted, and by cutting it into small cubes, it makes the perfect side to nibble with any meal.
3. Baked Acorn Squash Slices with Brown Sugar and Pecans
If you are looking for a special side dish for Thanksgiving or the holiday season, this Well Plated recipe is an impressive yet easy to make option. The flavors are complex, and the brown sugar and butter will caramelize when they are cooked in the oven. The pecans will become golden and toasted, and with a pinch of cayenne, you’ll balance out the natural sweetness of the squash.
4. Roasted Winter Squash with Cilantro Chimichurri
This is a cheap and easy to make a side dish by Simply Recipes, where you can use a mixture of squashes to suit your tastes. The cilantro chimichurri helps to take this dish up a notch and will impress any dinner guest this winter. It perfectly balances sweetness, acidity and herbs and just requires an oven to make.
5. Butternut Squash and Feta Tartlets
If you are looking for a sweet yet salty appetizer for your Thanksgiving or holiday party, these are a fantastic option from Good Housekeeping. These bite-size tarts will be appreciated by everyone at your party, and balance the sweetness of the butternut squash chunks with a crumble of feta cheese.
6. Stuffed Squash with Turkey and Apples
If you are looking for a complete meal based around acorn squash, this is a fantastic option from Simply Recipes. Filled with ground turkey, sage, rosemary, wild rice, and apples, this dish is a well-rounded and filling dinner during the winter months. The tart apples and cranberry will help to bring out the sweetness in your squash, while the wild rice helps to add some texture to the dish.
7. Butternut Squash Apple Cranberry Bake
Perfect for your upcoming holiday gathering, this Simply Recipes bake will serve many guests and is simple and easy to make. After you’ve mastered cutting up butternut squash, you’ll be able to quickly garnish this dish. Pop it in the oven for an hour, and it will be ready to serve! Featuring apples and cranberries, this is a sweet and colorful bake to add to your holiday spread.
8. Breakfast Casserole with Butternut Squash and Kale
You may associate butternut squash with lunches and dinners; however, it’s an incredibly versatile ingredient and is the perfect base for a breakfast casserole. For this Simply Recipes dish, you’ll begin by tossing pieces of bread in a sage and garlic egg-milk mix. You’ll then make the casserole’s layers by adding butternut squash, kale and cheese. It’s a hearty and healthy way to start any day this winter.
9. Focaccia with Roasted Squash
If you are looking for a decadent bread to serve this winter, topping your homemade focaccia with roasted squash will impress your whole family. This recipe from Food and Wine makes two eight-inch round loaves, and you’ll top this delicious bread with strips of roasted butternut squash. The final touch involves adding a drizzle of honey and scattering of thyme to bring out the flavors of both the bread and squash.
10. Brown Butter Yellow Squash with Almonds
For a simple side dish that takes just twenty minutes to cook, consider trying this brown butter yellow squash with almonds recipe by Food and Wine. The toasted almonds add a crunch to this dish, and the brown butter helps to bring out the flavor of the yellow squash.
11. Shaved Yellow Squash with Arugula, Goat Cheese and Pecans
While squash is so often associated with warm dishes, it’s also a great salad topper. This salad from Food and Wine uses paper-thin slices of yellow squash to imitate pasta, which can easily be achieved by slicing it lengthwise using a mandoline. Complete the salad by tossing the arugula and goat cheese together in olive oil. Pecans are sprinkled on top to add a little crunch to the dish.
12. Winter Squash and Spinach Lasagna
If you are looking for a meat-free lasagna recipe this winter, this is recipe from Good Housekeeping is a great option and utilizes frozen squash puree and spinach. With mozzarella and cottage cheese, it makes a rich and creamy dish to serve to the whole family. Lasagna is a filling dinner for the winter season and is perfect for a night in front of the television. You can reheat it throughout the week for extra meals, so consider making a few extra portions to save for another day.
13. Roasted Squash and Pumpkin Seed Mole Bowls
For vegans and vegetarians, this Good Housekeeping recipe is a hearty and flavor-packed meal for any time of the year. With the sweet chunks of butternut squash, even meat-eaters will enjoy this as a replacement if they are looking to cut down on meat consumption. The heat of the jalapeno in the sauce adds flavor and excitement to this dish. Garnish with cilantro and lime to serve this great low-calorie dinner that will leave you feeling satisfied this winter.
14. Pumpkin Pie Bars
No list of winter squash recipes would be complete without a dessert, and what better way to celebrate the season than with a pumpkin pie inspired treat by All Recipes. This recipe uses cake mix to keep things quick and easy and will taste exactly like pumpkin pie. With a crumbly streusel topping and served with whipped cream, this is the perfect sweet treat for the whole family to enjoy.
15. Spaghetti Squash Tacos
One of the most popular Mexican dishes gets a winter twist with these spaghetti squash tacos. This dish from Nikkidinki cooking is the perfect way to enjoy Mexican food at home. These tacos are great for vegans and vegetarians. Pair them with corn tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, and fresh salsa and serve them like you would a traditional taco. By stripping the spaghetti squash into small strands, it will be a manageable topping to use with any Mexican dish.
16. Butternut Squash Cajun Fries
For an alternative to greasy potato fries, use butternut squash to create this tasty and sweet All Recipes side. Serve as usual with ketchup or your dipping sauce of choice, and they can be enjoyed with burgers, chicken and many other dishes.
17. Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread
Take inspiration from Maine this fall and bake this delicious pumpkin bread by All Recipes. It’s the perfect gift for family to take home this holiday season and retains its moisture well. It actually tastes better the day after baking, when you’ll be able to fully appreciate the spices and pumpkin in the bread.
18. Lentil Stew with Butternut Squash
It’s time to bring out your slow cooker to create this delicious stew from Ambitious kitchen. Rich in vitamins A and C, the butternut squash helps to bring a little sweetness to this dish. By setting up your slow cooker before you head to work for the day, you’ll return home to a delicious, warming meal that’s the perfect choice for vegetarians this winter.
19. Bacon, Gruyere and Butternut Squash Frittata
This frittata is a versatile dish that makes a great choice for a weekend brunch or dinner any night of the week. Combining the tastes of salty bacon, gruyere cheese, and butternut squash, this dish by Delish is packed full of flavor and is sure to be a hit with the whole family.
20. Butternut Squash and Mushroom Enchiladas
Another great Mexican-inspired dish for the winter is vegetarian enchiladas from Delish. These are sure to be enjoyed by kids and teens alike. Combining hearty squash and mushrooms and then topped by two forms of cheese, they are a quick yet filling meal for any night of the week.
21. Mashed Butternut Squash
Make sure you master this basic mashed butternut squash by Spend with Pennies, and you will be able to incorporate it into so many different meals. With a sweet, nutty flavor, add butter on top to create the perfect, creamy side.
22. Butternut Squash, Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Casseroles are ideal for the cold winter nights that are upon us, and this recipe from Spend with Pennies is full of delicious vegetables and chicken. Combining the sweetness of butternut squash and cranberries, with wild rice and bits of tender chicken, this one-dish entrée covers all of your food groups, making it a nutritious and satisfying meal.
23. Butternut Squash Soup
There’s nothing like a winter’s evening in front of the fire with a good book and a bowl of soup. If you are bored of tomato soup by now, add this butternut squash soup by Spend with Pennies to your staple recipes for the winter. The butternut squash is roasted until it’s tender, and then once all the ingredients are blended together, you’ll be left with a delicious, velvety soup.
24. Butternut Squash Hummus
Hummus is perfect for a year-round dip, served with veggies or crackers. Add butternut squash to hummus, and you’ve got an ideal option by The Healthy Maven for a fall dinner party or buffet. The butternut squash makes a really creamy and flavorful addition to plain hummus.
25. Vegan Mac & Cheese with Butternut Squash
This recipe from The Healthy Maven is great for vegans who miss their mac and cheese and is packed with different vegetables and flavors. Adding the butternut squash creates an extremely filling dish, making it a good comfort food option for the winter.
As you can see, the options for cooking with winter squash are simply endless. All of these recipes can be adapted to incorporate your favorite squash, and you’ll be spoiled this winter with the endless choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes!
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