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How to Roast a Butternut Squash Recipe

4.6 from 142 reviews

A simple and straightforward method to roast a whole butternut squash, resulting in tender, sweet, and caramelized flesh perfect for soups, salads, or side dishes.

Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 whole Butternut Squash
  • Salt and pepper (optional, to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) to prepare for roasting the squash evenly.
  2. Prepare the Squash: Place the whole butternut squash directly on a baking sheet. You can optionally prick the squash with a fork a few times to allow steam to escape during cooking, but this is not required.
  3. Roast the Squash: Bake the butternut squash in the preheated oven for 1 hour. The skin will turn deep golden and the flesh should be soft when pierced with a fork.
  4. Cool and Serve: Remove the squash from the oven and allow it to cool before cutting. Once cooled, you can peel the skin off easily and season the flesh with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

  • Roasting the squash whole helps retain moisture and enhances the natural sweetness.
  • After roasting, the flesh can be scooped out and used in soups, purees, or salads.
  • If you prefer faster cooking, you can halve and seed the squash before roasting, but this recipe focuses on cooking it whole.
  • Be careful handling the hot squash after roasting.
  • Use a baking sheet with sides to catch any natural juices that may leak out during roasting.

Keywords: butternut squash, roasted butternut squash, simple roasted squash, roasted vegetables, fall side dish, healthy vegetable recipe