Roasted Acorn Squash with Cinnamon Butter is a tasty fall treat and an easy vegetarian side dish for Thanksgiving and the holiday season!
Roasted Acorn Squash
This easy roasted acorn squash recipe with cinnamon brown sugar butter is super simple to make, yet it is flavorful, satisfying, and deliciously comforting. I love making it on chilly autumn days. The warm flavors and the wonderful scent that fills the kitchen make me feel so cozy. It really is a treat but I feel good about what I am eating.
Roasted acorn squash makes a festive fall side dish, but it can also be served as an appetizer, snack, or even as a healthy dessert due to its sweetness. You can also sprinkle it with some pepitas or Maple Bourbon Pecans for texture, crunch, and plant-based protein. For a fantastic fall feast, try serving this squash as a side dish, appetizer, or dessert with some yummy Sage Butter Ravioli or Pumpkin Fettuccini Alfredo as the main course. Have some extra squash? Try making this Savory Acorn Squash for dinner one night.
For a quick and easy alternative to baking, I will also give instructions on how to make this recipe in the microwave, if you are ever short on time. I hope that you enjoy the roasted acorn squash with cinnamon butter!
Note: The printable recipe is located at the end of this post. Please visit The Scoop for my latest posts or you can search or browse my Recipe Index to find more yummy recipes.
What is an Acorn Squash?
An acorn squash is a variety of winter squash. Its shape actually resembles an acorn. It is dark green on the outside and has a yellow-orange flesh that has a mild, subtly sweet, and nutty flavor. In some areas, you can find acorn squash year-round, but the main season starts in early fall and goes through winter.
Acorn squash is delicious, healthy, and nutritious. It is a good source of fiber, potassium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and riboflavin. Squash is also low in calories, yet it is very filling. It is very versatile, it can be served alone and it also pairs well with other recipes.
How to Cook Acorn Squash
You can cook acorn squash in the microwave, on the stove, or by baking it in the oven. I have also given instructions on how to make this recipe in the microwave. However, baked squash is my absolute favorite!
To make the acorn squash, first, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. While the oven is preheating, prepare the squash and the cinnamon brown sugar butter.
How to Cut Acorn Squash
Before you cut the squash, first, rinse the squash and pop off the stem. Next, to make the squash easier to cut, microwave it for 2 minutes to soften it and allow it to cool for a minute. Use a large sharp knife to slice the squash in half, lengthwise. Pierce it in the center of a depression line, then cut through following the line.
Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp. Lightly score the flesh of the squash to allow the cinnamon butter to absorb better, just don’t cut too deep or you might cut through. Place the squash halves cut side up on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
Cinnamon Brown Sugar Butter
To make the cinnamon butter, in a small bowl, combine the softened butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt by mixing and mashing with a fork. Spoon the cinnamon brown sugar butter equally into the squash cavities and spread to coat all of the flesh, including the top.
Baked Acorn Squash
Place the baking sheet onto the center rack of your preheated oven. Bake the squash until the flesh is soft, about 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of your squash. My squash was perfect at 40 minutes, pierce with a fork to check for doneness. Once your squash has finished baking, carefully remove it from the oven and serve warm. Enjoy!
Microwave Acorn Squash
You can also microwave acorn squash instead of baking it. I personally prefer it baked. However, microwaved acorn squash is much faster. So use this alternative method if you are short on time. Follow all of the instructions up until the baking section, except for using a baking sheet. Instead, you will use a microwave-safe dish. Prepare the squash and cinnamon butter the same way. Then cook the acorn squash in the microwave for 8-10 minutes, or until you can pierce the flesh with a fork easily.
Acorn Squash with Cinnamon Butter
Ingredients
- 1 medium acorn squash
- 2 Tbsp butter softened
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar or 1 tbsp for less sweet
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Rinse the squash and pop off the stem. To make the squash easier to cut, microwave it for 2 minutes to soften it and allow it to cool for a minute. Use a large sharp knife to slice the squash in half, lengthwise. Pierce it in the center of a depression line, then cut through, following the line of the ridge. Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp. Lightly score the flesh of the squash to allow the cinnamon butter to absorb better, don't cut too deep or you might cut through. Place the squash halves cut side up on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
- To make the cinnamon butter, in a small bowl, combine the softened butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt by mixing and mashing with a fork. Spoon the cinnamon brown sugar butter equally into the squash cavities and spread to coat all of the flesh, including the top.
- Place the baking sheet onto the center rack of your preheated oven. Bake the squash until the flesh is soft, about 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of your squash. My squash was perfect at 40 minutes, pierce with a fork to check for doneness. Once your squash has finished baking, carefully remove it from the oven and serve warm.
Notes
How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave
You can also microwave acorn squash as an alternative to baking it. I personally prefer baked acorn squash. However, microwaved acorn squash is much faster. So use this method if you are short on time. Follow all of the instructions up until the baking section, except for using a baking sheet. Instead, you will use a microwave-safe dish. Prepare the squash and cinnamon brown sugar butter the same way. Then cook the acorn squash in the microwave for 8-10 minutes, or until you can pierce the flesh with a fork easily.Did you make this recipe?
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