A lot of people say that the healthiest way to eat is to choose foods that are in season. But even beyond that, there’s nothing more comforting and homey than the taste of sweet butternut squash as a side dish in fall and winter.
If you have kids or other people in your family who say they don’t like squash, they haven’t tried this recipe yet. This tasty, warm dish will make a squash lover out of anyone. Sweet butternut squash is so good, it’s almost like a dessert.
Sweet Butternut Squash Recipe
Butternut squash has a long history in America. This vegetable has been around for centuries. It was popular because it has a thick skin and stores very well for a long period of time. That made it a staple food during times when refrigeration hadn’t yet been invented.
Today, the long storage time of butternut squash is still just as highly valued. You can keep it in your pantry for months if you want, so you never have to worry about buying produce that goes bad before you can use it!
However, butternut squash is so delicious that you won’t want to leave it unattended in the back of your pantry. This recipe combines flavors like brown sugar, ginger, pineapple, and walnuts, which makes it more like a sweet treat.
Similar to pumpkin, butternut squash is versatile and tasty. You can serve it as a side dish or a dessert. You can even use butternut squash in a pie, similar to a pumpkin pie, or bake it in bread or muffins. Its texture will remain moist and provides the fiber that will keep you full and healthy.
In addition to being high in fiber, butternut squash also has a ton of vitamins. Butternut squash is especially high in antioxidants like vitamins A and C, and is high in potassium as well. It’s also a great source of vegan protein (though this recipe isn’t vegan).
Baked Butternut Squash
Baked butternut squash is truly one of fall and winter’s most underrated vegetables. It’s a perfect side dish to roast beef, turkey, or ham. Served with a green vegetable like peas or spinach, this is a nutritionally complete meal.
You can feel good about giving your family a meal that’s full of good nutrition. Dieticians and other nutritional experts recommend regularly eating fruits and vegetables of all different colors. It’s easy to get the green veggies and purple fruits (who doesn’t love berries?), but orange vegetables can sometimes be difficult to work into your diet.
That’s what makes this baked butternut squash such a great addition to your meal repertoire. It’s easy to make and will please a crowd. This is one food where even picky eaters may change their minds if you entice them to try just one bite!
You can also modify this recipe as you wish. Ginger gives the dish a bit of zing, which your family may prefer to leave out. Or you can add cloves and nutmeg to make it taste similar to pumpkin pie. One thing is for sure: sweet butternut squash is a winner.
Other Great Autumn Dishes to Try
One of the best things about the autumn season is sitting down to a hearty, warm meal. Few things can do a better job at bringing a family together. Here are a few suggestions for other great autumn dishes to try out.
Pork and apples is an absolute must-try, if you haven't already. Apples are plentiful in the fall, especially if you live in an area that produces a lot of them. We recommend apples that hover somewhere between sweet and savory. You definitely don't want to use baking apples for this recipe!
A good casserole is always on the table when we're talking about cozy autumn meals. We often don't find ourselves in the mood for a casserole in the spring and summer, so fall is a great time to break the casserole dish out again. There are so many different types of casserole you can make! Try one you haven't tried before.
Of course, no autumn season is complete without turkey. Instead of eating turkey and gravy as you always do, why not try including it in a soup or stew? This is a great way to make turkey exciting again, especially after everyone gets sick of eating turkey leftovers after Thanksgiving.
If you enjoyed this recipe, make sure to check out our Tater Tot Casserole Recipe and our Mashed Potatoes.
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Sweet Butternut Squash Recipe
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 45 Minutes
Description
Butternut squash has a long history in America. This vegetable has been around for centuries. It was popular because it has a thick skin and stores very well for a long period of time. That made it a staple food during times when refrigeration hadn’t yet been invented.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 Tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
- 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 (20 oz) can pineapple chunks (about 2 cups) drained
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried ginger
- 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Set the oven rack in the middle position. Preheat the oven to 425°F. line a 17 inch by 11 inch by 1 inch jelly roll pan with foil, shiny side up, and coat with vegetable spray. Place squash in a large bowl.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and stir with a wooden spoon until combine.
- Add pineapple, salt, pepper, and ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook until mixture is syrupy, about 15 minutes.
- Pour pineapple mixture over squash and toss to coat. Spread squash on prepared pan.
- Bake 20 minutes, shaking pan after 10 minutes for even cooking, until squash is soft when pierced with a small knife. 6. Sprinkle with walnuts and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 35 Minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/haoliang.