25 Winter Squash Recipes, Including Casseroles, Sides, Soups, Apps, and Desserts

They’re all cozy, comforting, and just right for dinner on a chilly evening.

squash gratin served in a silver dish
Photo:

Johnny Fogg

Whether your favorite is acorn or butternut, delicata or kabocha, we can all agree that winter squash is the perfect cold-weather ingredient. Our stellar selection of winter squash recipes will help you enjoy them all season long. These versatile vegetables (technically a fruit) take center stage in soups, salads, sides, pasta, stuffings, casseroles, and even desserts. Some of our recipes are for a specific winter squash, while others can be made with whichever squash you have on hand.

01 of 25

Sausage Casserole With Cheesy Rice and Squash

Squash Dish in Skillet

Murray Hall

A colorful, hearty, crowd-pleasing dish, this sausage casserole packs the comforting textures and hearty flavors of stuffed squash into an easy casserole with sweet sausage, bell pepper, canned tomatoes, rice, and mozzarella. We use delicata, but any thin-skinned winter squash will work.

02 of 25

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Winter Squash With Cranberries

Roasted Squash

David Malosh

This colorful roasted vegetable side comes together quickly and cooks hands-off in the oven. Brussels sprouts, winter squash, and tart cranberries roast together on a sheet pan. Then, they get a spritz of orange juice and a sprinkle of fresh herbs just before heading to the table.

03 of 25

Squash and Chocolate Spice Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Cake with frosting and a knife

Murray Hall

Totally irresistible, this sheet cake is similar to a carrot cake because it uses grated winter squash rather than cooked squash puree which is the usual for baking. Chunks of semisweet chocolate and five-spice powder bring sweetness and a kick and contrast deliciously with the rich, tangy frosting.

04 of 25

Spaghetti-Squash Shrimp Scampi

Squash and shrimp dish

Murray Hall

Spaghetti squash stands in for the usual pasta in this healthy take on the much-loved entree. The long strands soak up the garlicky white wine sauce and pair wonderfully with the rich, buttery shrimp.

05 of 25

Honeynut Maple Pie

Squash Pie

Murray Hall

Dainty but flavor-packed, the honeynut squash is delicious roasted but have you tried it in pie? The squash mingles with maple syrup, nutmeg, and cloves in the silky filling of this chiffon-like pie and we use our go-to all-butter pastry for the crust.

06 of 25

Crispy Squash Fries With Tahini-Yogurt Dip

Fried squash dish

Murray Hall

These chunky wedges of acorn, delicata, or carnival squash get a light, crackling batter that just happens to be gluten free. Enjoy them with our rich and creamy Tahini-Yogurt Dip as an appetizer or a side dish

07 of 25

Squash and Mushroom Miso Soup

miso soup with winter squash and mushrooms in bowl

Murray Hall

It's rich and savory yet also light and satisfying. this mushroom miso soup is packed with chunks of sweet, robust kabocha squash, enoki mushrooms, and wakame seaweed.

08 of 25

Baked Acorn Squash With Brown Sugar

cooked acorn squash on a platter

Grant Webster

Easy, healthy, and delicious, there's a lot to like about this simple side dish. Here, the squash bakes until soft and caramelized (you need to flip it once and add the sugar), leaving you time to focus on the rest of dinner. 

09 of 25

Roasted Sausages With Cabbage and Squash

sausages cabbage vegetables on baking sheet
Justin Walker

You've probably heard of bangers and mash, but have you tried bangers and squash? Simply arrange quick-cooking sausages with kabocha squash and cabbage on a sheet pan, then roast and toss with a quick vinaigrette.

10 of 25

Butternut Squash Soup With Coconut Milk and Ginger

vegan butternut squash soup topped with seeds
Bryan Gardner

Vegan soup for the win! This creamy-tasting but dairy-free dish starts with roasted butternut squash and adds fresh ginger for a little heat and a swirl of coconut milk for creaminess. Garnish with toasted squash seeds for crunch.

11 of 25

Acorn Squash With Mixed-Grain Stuffing

stuffed acorn squash mixed grain stuffing

Louise Hagger

For a vegan entree or a hearty side for Thanksgiving or any night of the week, serve these acorn squash halves. They're stuffed with a delicious mix of wheatberries and millet plus mushrooms, spices, and golden raisins, with a bright pomegranate relish served on the side.

12 of 25

Brown-Sugar Butternut-Squash Pie

102799958.jpg
Will Anderson

Roasted squash replaces the usual pumpkin in this seasonal custard pie, and a fishtail-braided crust lines the gorgeous outer edge. The cutouts on top are baked separately and scattered across the pie after baking. It takes a bit more time to put together, but it's sure to be the most stunning—and memorable—dessert on any autumn table.

13 of 25

Coconut, Fish, and Pumpkin Stew

Caribbean Fish-and-Pumpkin Stew recipe
Lennart Weibull

Calabaza squash is such a staple of Caribbean cooking that it's also known as West Indian pumpkin. We love how it lends a deeply rich, creamy character to this warming, nicely spiced fish stew.

14 of 25

Macaroni and Cheese With Butternut Squash

macaroni and cheese with butternut squash
Sang An

Ricotta and pureed Butternut squash add extra creaminess to this classic, comforting dish with a twist. We guarantee it'll be a hit with grown-ups and children!

15 of 25

Roasted Squash and Parsnip Soup

Squash soup

Mikkel Vang

Honeynut is a relatively recent cultivar in the winter squash family, bred precisely for its concentration of flavor. It looks like a diminutive butternut. Note that the larger squash will work well as a substitute if you can't find honeynut for this soup, which has a complex flavor and crisp, crunchy garnishes at the finish.

16 of 25

Spaghetti Squash With Turkey Meatballs

mld105909_1010_meatballs1.jpg

Spaghetti squash lives up to its name in this speedy dinner recipe. It reduces the carbs and pairs wonderfully with ground turkey meatballs for a comforting but healthy meal.

17 of 25

Orecchiette With Butternut Squash and Sage

orecchiette-with-butternut-squash-166-exp-1-d111450.jpg

Deliciously different, this easy weeknight pasta comes together in 40 minutes and is the perfect balance of cubes of sweet butternut squash, creamy ricotta, and fragrant fresh sage. Poppyseeds make a crunchy garnish.

18 of 25

Chopped Winter Salad

chopped winter salad with mushrooms and pomegranate
Kate Mathis

Make the most of an abundance of autumn produce with a beautifully composed chopped salad. This one features roasted squash and mushrooms atop a bed of wintry bitter greens. It serves eight as a side dish or four for dinner. Leave off the feta to make it vegan-friendly.

19 of 25

Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin

squash gratin
Johnny Fogg

Sliced winter squash, leeks, broken lasagna noodles, chopped brie, and a touch of cream add up to a rich, creamy, over-the-top comfort food casserole. Add a green salad, and dinner is done.

20 of 25

Roasted Squash With Cherry Tomatoes and Eggs

squash-with-baked-eggs-139-d113081.jpg
Bryan Gardner

To make this playful twist on hearty breakfast hash, split winter squashes (acorn or butternut) right down the middle and scoop out the seeds to make edible "bowls" for tomatoes and eggs.

21 of 25

Sourdough Stuffing With Apples, Acorn Squash, and Hazelnuts

sourdough dressing with apples acorn squash and hazelnuts
Paola + Murray

In this mash-up (pun intended) of beloved Thanksgiving sides, we combined the best of turkey dressing/stuffings (namely, toasted cubes of crusty bread) with a few other favorite Turkey Day ingredients, including acorn squash, apples, celery, and roasted nuts.

22 of 25

Simple Roasted Spaghetti Squash

roasted-spagehetti-squash-med107845.jpg
Standard

Spaghetti squash is a culinary chameleon. Though it looks a lot like other squash when it's raw, it takes on a new character once cooked. Roasted whole and then split down the middle, the flesh is easily shredded into long strands. Seasoned with little more than salt, pepper, and either butter or oil, it makes a tasty side, but what really makes this a vegetable worth getting to know is its versatility. Try it in any number of other dishes.

23 of 25

Butternut Squash and Sage Lasagna

mld104002_1008_sage_squash.jpg

Layers of sage-flecked squash and rich, creamy ricotta serve as both filling and sauce would make a showstopper of a main course at a meatless Thanksgiving feast.

24 of 25

Kabocha Squash Soup

Roasted Kabocha Squash Soup
Martyna Szczesna

Because winter squash famously takes well to flavor of all kinds, you can prepare it with seasonings that are as sweet and mild or hot and spicy as you like. Here, kabocha gets a nice kick from toasted dried chiles and ground spices (cinnamon and cumin). A sour cream garnish helps balance some of the heat; add just a drizzle or a few big dollops, depending on your preference.

25 of 25

Roasted Acorn Squash With Pomegranate Glaze

Roasted Acorn Squash with Pomegranate Glaze
Victoria Pearson

Pomegranate seeds and glaze add bright color and flavor to the acorn squash in this cheery side dish.

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