10 Ways to Love Butternut Squash This Fall

Winner, winner, squash for dinner! Butternut squash is such a versatile ingredient when it comes to dinner. It can be a sauce for pasta, a creamy soup, or the star of a weeknight risotto!

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia is the Community Manager for Simply Recipes and has contributed numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
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Published October 10, 2019
Claudia Cash
10 Ways to Love Butternut Squash

I’ll admit that I put off cooking with butternut squash for a long time. Like, a really long time. For years I just skipped over it at the grocery store and didn’t give it one ounce of my attention.

One year I decided that each month I would tackle a new fruit or vegetable to work with, and that’s when I worked up the courage to cook with my first ever butternut squash. My first attempt at cutting it was absolutely comedic. I will spare you the details, but I think at one point I was so frustrated I just wanted to smash it with a hammer.

I don’t want you to go through the same frustration I did! Try these methods:

Once I discovered the rich flavor of this beautiful squash, I was hooked. I bought several more after tasting it for the first time and was even more delighted when I found out that they keep basically for-ev-errrr if stored in a cool place!

This squash is so amazing I just want to shout from the rooftops, “Winner, winner, butternut squash for dinner!”

  • Butternut Squash Risotto

    Butternut Squash Risotto
    Elise Bauer

    This is a simple risotto with easy ingredients! We serve it with chopped chives, but if your heart desires, go ahead and crisp up some sage leaves in simmering butter and crumble them over top.

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  • Butternut Squash with Brown Butter and Thyme

    Butternut Squash with Browned Butter and Thyme
    Elise Bauer

    You’ll quickly learn that butternut squash and browned butter are best friends and better together! This dish is ready in under an hour and takes less than a handful ingredients.

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  • Pasta with Butternut Squash Parmesan Sauce

    Butternut Squash Pasta Dish
    Elise Bauer

    Who knew that puréed butternut squash could make such a velvety, rich sauce? Pair it with spaghetti noodles and savory Parmesan, and you’ve got a simple yet sophisticated meal.

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  • Curried Butternut Squash Soup

    Curried Butternut Squash Soup
    Elise Bauer

    If you find a butternut squash lingering around in your pantry, put it to good use with this soup! To make the squash easier to peel, stick it in the microwave for 30 seconds first. It’ll soften the peel just enough to make it easier to work with.

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    Continue to 5 of 10 below.

  • Harvest Salad with Miso-Maple Roasted Butternut Squash

    Harvest Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
    Sabrina Modelle

    This is a perfectly delightful salad made from all of the best veggies fall has to offer. Roast a giant batch of butternut squash so you can enjoy this salad all week long.

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  • Butternut Squash Lasagna

    Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna
    Sally Vargas

    This is not your typical vegetarian lasagna. It’s far from tasteless thanks to a creamy white sauce, salty Parmesan, rich butternut squash, and fontina cheese. It’s a show-stopper for sure and perfect for a dinner party.

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  • Butternut Squash Soup

    Butternut Squash Soup in a pretty fluted bowl on a metal surface
    Elise Bauer

    Green apples are the secret ingredient for a fabulous butternut squash soup. The tartness of the apple brightens up the flavor of the squash and balances out its natural sweetness.

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  • Butternut Squash with Walnuts and Vanilla

    Butternut Squash with Walnuts and Vanilla
    Elise Bauer

    Butternut squash takes on a sweeter flavor profile thanks to caramelizing the squash by roasting it, and the addition of vanilla. We’ve also added in walnuts, thyme, and ginger. It seems like an odd combination, but it works! Trust us.

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    Continue to 9 of 10 below.

  • Pasta with Butternut Squash, Bacon, and Brown Butter

    Butternut Squash Sage Pasta
    Alison Conklin

    This dish doesn’t need any further introduction because your taste buds should be going wild at just the mention of butternut squash, bacon, and brown butter all in the same dish. What adds to all that deliciousness? It’s ready in under an hour!

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  • Three Sisters Casserole with Cornbread Topping

    Vegan three sisters casserole
    Megan Gordon

    This is certainly a vegetarian home-run! If you’re short on time, there are a few ways to break down this casserole to make it easier. 1) Make the filling up to 3 days in advance. 2) Make an extra batch and freeze for later. 3) Use pre-diced and cut butternut squash.

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