And I, for one, am grateful. I think you will be, too! I love Thanksgiving for numerous reasons but the delicious food is probably my favorite part. The turkey, the stuffing, the casseroles, the pies, it’s all good. However… I often have to be rolled from the table because of all the heavy dishes. These squash recipes add some much-needed lightness. Even the less-healthy dishes have some great nutritional benefits. But the taste of these 20 Thanksgiving squash recipes is out of this world.
1. Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
This butternut squash recipe is sugar, spice, and everything nice, and it’s savory, too! Each bite is soft and tender, with little bits of crispiness on the edges. It’s as delicious as it sounds. Roasting squash draws out its natural sugars and deepens its flavors. If this dish was only roasted squash, it’d be great, but it’s so much more. This squash is tossed in maple syrup, olive oil, salt, cinnamon, and black pepper. It’s served with fresh rosemary on top. It’s scrumptious!
2. Maple Baked Butternut Squash
If you weren’t too sure about the cinnamon in the last recipe, try this one. It’s still sweet but the intensity is turned down a bit. Because this one is without cinnamon. It’s also baked in a stewing liquid of butter and chicken broth. So, hello flavor!
3. Mashed Butternut Squash
It’s true, potatoes aren’t the only thing you can mash. Squash works fabulously. And if you haven’t mashed some squash, you’re missing out! This dish is sweet, buttery, and simply delicious! Brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper dance along your tongue in a surprisingly sweet-savory tango. That’s not even touching on the texture, which is incredibly creamy. Serve it with some fresh thyme for an added touch of earthiness.
4. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
This is the ultimate fall dish and you’ll fall in love with it. The best part is that it’s delicious but also extremely healthy. So, you can eat as much as you want, totally guilt-free! This warm salad might even change the minds of those less-veggie-inclined around you. Every mouthful is savory, sweet, spiced, and full of fall goodness. And there are multiple textures to keep everything interesting.
5. Sausage-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Let’s add a bit of meat to this list. Because if you didn’t know, sausage of all kinds goes very well with squash. This dish is comforting, delectable, and perfectly filling. But since it calls for chicken sausage, it’s not too filling. So, you won’t feel heavy after you devour this delight! This dish features nutty and sweet roasted acorn squash. The squash is stuffed with apples, mushrooms, onion, garlic, spices, parmesan, and fresh herbs. Every forkful is slightly unexpected and totally wonderful.
6. Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash
And though acorn squash and sausage are absolute fire, the veggie version is chef’s kiss. It makes a great meal on its own, but it’s also a fabulous side dish. Stuffed with quinoa, herbs, alliums, and cheese, this thing is tasty! It also has cranberries for a pop of color, tang, and sweetness.
7. Roasted Acorn Squash
Simple, yet satisfying. That’s the best way to describe this roasted squash dish. All you need is squash, olive oil, salt, pepper, and maple syrup. Then, let the oven do the work.
8. Southern Squash Casserole
Get your stretchiest pants ready because this gooey, cheesy casserole is not light. But it is really darn good. It has everything you’d expect in a casserole. It has tons of dairy and a few veggies to give the impression of healthiness. Plus, there’s a buttery cracker crust. It’s so good!
9. Butternut Squash Soup
Have you really experienced fall if you haven’t enjoyed a bowl of butternut squash soup? No, I don’t think you have. So, here’s the perfect recipe to make sure your fall counts. Every spoonful is a luxe luscious experience. The texture is silky smooth and the flavor is fabulously rich. Oh, and it’s totally vegan. So if you make this for your friends, everyone can enjoy it.
10. Butternut Squash Salad
Let me introduce you to one of the most flavorful salads you’ll ever have. It features roasted squash, dates, warm spices, greens, goat cheese, pomegranates, and pistachios. Everything is topped with delicious apple cider vinegar, cumin, and date dressing. It’s fresh, healthy, and so incredibly flavorful.
11. Maple-Glazed Squash and Apples
Apple and squash just make sense. Why? Well, I suspect it has to do with their similarities. Both are fruits, both are delicious when roasted, and both are autumnal. Plus, both taste amazing with maple! This dish is warm, sweet, savory, and wonderfully delicious. A bit of apple cider vinegar adds extra apple goodness and a little acidity.
12. Roasted Yellow Squash
This recipe is easy as 1- 2- 3! Three simple ingredients and 30-ish minutes are all you need to make this tasty dish. (Plus a few seasonings, too.) It’s a quick and easy side dish. Perfect for when your Thanksgiving guests bring one plus one too many.
13. Baked Parmesan Yellow Squash
Here’s another ridiculously easy and delightful dish that’s ready to go in about 20 minutes. These little rounds only require a bit of seasoning and parmesan. And honestly, that’s all they need. Who needs fancy when something simple is just so yummy?
14. Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
If you eat the rainbow, you’ll live longer, or so they say (whoever they are). But really, it’s true. Because the more colors you add to your food, the more nutrients you get. And that’s why this delicious salad is so good for you! It’s absolutely bursting with beautiful fall colors. A maple balsamic vinaigrette ties everything together beautifully.
15. Roasted Patty Pan Squash with Parmesan
There are so many varieties of squash out there, and Patty Pans are so underrated. This dish is the perfect introduction if you’re unfamiliar. Because Patty Pan squash is truly the star! These are roasted simply, with a little oil, salt, pepper, and parmesan. That’s it! It allows you to fully experience the mild, sweet, and delicious taste of the squash.
16. Butternut Squash Basmati Rice
Simplicity does not equate to boring and flavorless. This rice is the proof. Each element is flavorful on its own, but together, they’re a total umami bomb. You start with basmati rice, which is my favorite kind of rice. I use it every time I make rice, whatever the type of cuisine. It’s nutty, perfectly tender, and utterly tasty. So when you combine such an amazing base with garlicky, herbaceous roasted butternut squash? You get flavor heaven.
17. Butternut Squash Stuffing
What is Thanksgiving without stuffing? While Stove Top stuffing will always be my first choice, this one could take it. Because it’s really, really yummy. And worth the extra effort. It’s practically a meal on its own. This stuffing features a delicious mix of fresh herbs, roasted butternut squash, and turkey sausage. It also contains butter, chicken broth, and your favorite dried bread cubes.
18. Creamy Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Pasta
Lots of the dishes on this list could be considered comfort food. But this pasta dish might just be the ultimate comfort food. And I could eat it every day. I shouldn’t, but I could. It’s that delicious. The sauce is made with roasted butternut squash, roasted garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, and butter. Browned butter, to be exact. And it adds a fantastic nutty, caramelized taste to the dish. The roasted veggies also add a bit of caramelization. You could bathe in this stuff, it’s so good and so creamy. Use your favorite pasta and let it swim in the delicious sauce. Top it off with roasted prosciutto, parmesan cheese, and more herbs.
19. Potato, Squash, and Goat Cheese Gratin
I’m sure you’ve had potato gratin before. You know, the kind loaded with cheese, probably ham, and lots of flavors. Well, this gratin is just as delicious but a tad more elevated. Okay, okay, it’s downright fancy. But it’s still very simple. Luxuriously creamy, tangy, savory, and cheesy, it’s everything you want in a dish. The potatoes are tender, and the squash is soft. My mouth is watering already. Is yours?
20. Roasted Beet and Butternut Squash Salad
When I look at this salad, I immediately think of gemstones. It’s full of beautiful emeralds, radiant gold, and stunning ruby. And by that, I mean beets, squash, and arugula. It’s glorious. And delicious. There’s also garlic, goat cheese, fresh herbs, balsamic vinegar, pepitas, and red wine vinegar. It’s healthy, flavorful, and scrumptious. This is a dish you can feel really good about serving your guests. Click on a star to rate it!
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