Stuffed Butternut Squash is a hearty and nutritious dish made with sausage, vegetables, fruit, spices and protein! A comforting meal that combines sweet butternut squash and tart apples with savory ground beef and warm cinnamon.
Don't miss our butternut squash recipes and try this roasted butternut suash with apples and butternut squash soup next.
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🛒Ingredients For Sausage Stuffed Butternut Squash
- Butternut squash- once roasted, the flesh becomes so tender, almost creamy! And the sweetness and nutty flavors are even more pronounced. Select butternut squashes that are medium-sized, firm, and heavy for their size. This ensures they are ripe and will have a good flavor and texture after roasting.
- Olive oil
- Aromatics- you will need celery, yellow onion, and garlic to make a savory base for the filling.
- Sausage - use lean ground beef with 7 to 10% fat, which is enough to make the filling flavorful but not greasy. If you are using regular ground beef or sausage, make sure to drain excess oil before adding the apples, raisins, and seasonings. You can also use ground turkey or chicken for a low-carb option.
- Green apples- the best option would be to use tart and crisp granny smith. However, you can also use Golden Delicious or Crispin.
- Brown sugar- balances the savory element with its deep caramel sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon- this adds a warm and earthy flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the butternut squash. This spice also gives it a festive flavor and aroma that makes it so comforting to eat. Other spices you can try are cumin, nutmeg, allspice, and smoked paprika.
- Raisins- provides a pop of chewy sweetness to the dish. You can also use dried cranberry or apricots.
- Worcestershire sauce- this sauce is known for its robust umami taste, which gives the dish a more complex flavor. It also gives the filling a thick and silky texture.
- Salt- to taste.
For the full list of ingredients, please scroll down to where you'll find the recipe card.
🥘 How To Make Stuffed Butternut Squash
Preheat the oven. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400F.
Prepare the squash. Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise from the stem to the bottom. Scoop the seeds and pulp out of the cavity.
Roast the squash. Place the squash cut side on a baking sheet and roast for about 40 to 45 minutes until the cut edge starts caramelizing and the flesh is fork-tender.
Note: It may take longer with different ovens, depending on your squash's weight.
Make the ground beef filling. In the meantime, prepare the filling - heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Then, add diced yellow onion and sliced celery.
Season with salt and cook for 5-7 minutes until onion is golden. Incorporate minced garlic and stir until fragrant.
Add sausage and cook until the meat is completely pale brown.
Add the rest of the ingredients. Next, incorporate a diced apple.
Stir for 5 minutes until it softens and the liquid reduces.
Add raisins, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix to combine. Turn off the heat.
Assemble and bake. Once the butternut squash is ready, scoop out a bit of its flesh to create some space for the filling and mix it with the ground beef mixture.
How do I know if the butternut squash is cooked enough? You can check its doneness by poking a fork or knife into the flesh. If it goes in easily and smoothly, it is cooked through.
Stuff roasted butternut squash with the sausage filling.
If necessary, heat the stuffed butternut squash in the oven for an additional 10 minutes before serving.
This step ensures the dish is thoroughly heated and ready to be enjoyed.
📋Tips
- Select butternut squashes that are equal in size and cut them evenly into halves so they cook evenly in the oven.
- Do not leave the squash too long in the oven. If you overcook them, they will become too soft and mushy and will not be sturdy enough to hold the filling.
- If the squash is slightly irregular in size, you can trim off the bottom (just a bit) to create a flat end so it stays on the baking sheet without falling on the side.
- Add diced bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, peas, beans, or spinach if you are looking at incorporating more vegetables into your diet.
- Spread the ground beef evenly on the pan and let it cook undisturbed for a few minutes to allow it to brown properly.
- This recipe yields 4 servings when including a side dish. If not, and if you’re a big eater, this is a 2-serving meal.
- You can skip the final step of heating the assembled stuffed squash in the oven if you are in a hurry. However, cook the filling longer until the ground beef is a nice dark brown.
- Give the dish a cheesy finish by adding grated parmesan or cheddar on top before placing the filled squash halve in the oven.
Can I leave the apple peel on? Sure! Some people prefer the smoothness of peeled apples, while others enjoy the added texture and nutrition that the peel provides.
Storage Instructions
- 🍱To Store. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
- 🥶Freezing. Stuffed butternut squash can be stored in the freezer for approximately 2 to 3 months for best quality. While it may remain safe to eat beyond this timeframe, the texture and flavor may degrade over time.
- 🔥To Reheat. If frozen, let them thaw in the fridge overnight first. You can use the microwave or the oven at 350F for best results.
- To Make Ahead. You can prepare the stuffing ahead of time and refrigerate it. When ready to bake, stuff the butternut squash with the prepped mixture and proceed with the recipe.
👪What To Serve With Stuffed Butternut Squash
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📖Recipe
Stuffed Butternut Squash Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large butternut squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 celery stick, sliced
- 1 yellow onion, small and diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 pound sausage or lean ground beef
- 2 small green apples, or 1 large one, peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon raisins
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400F.
- Prepare the squash. Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise from the stem to the bottom. Scoop the seeds and pulp out of the cavity.
- Roast the squash. Place the squash cut side on a baking sheet and roast for about 40 to 45 minutes until the cut edge starts caramelizing and the flesh is fork-tender.
- Note: It may take longer with different ovens, depending on your squash's weight.
- Make the ground beef filling. In the meantime, prepare the filling - heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Then, add diced yellow onion and sliced celery.
- Season with salt and cook for 5-7 minutes until onion is golden. Incorporate minced garlic and stir until fragrant.
- Add sausage and cook until the meat is completely pale brown.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Next, incorporate a diced apple.
- Stir for 5 minutes until it softens and the liquid reduces.
- Add raisins, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix to combine. Turn off the heat.
- Assemble and bake. Once the butternut squash is ready, scoop out a bit of its flesh to create some space for the filling and mix it with the ground beef mixture.
- How do I know if the butternut squash is cooked enough? You can check its doneness by poking a fork or knife into the flesh. If it goes in easily and smoothly, it is cooked through.
- Stuff roasted butternut squash with the sausage filling.
- If necessary, heat the stuffed butternut squash in the oven for an additional 10 minutes before serving.
- This step ensures the dish is thoroughly heated and ready to be enjoyed.
Notes
- To Store. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
- Freezing. Stuffed butternut squash can be stored in the freezer for approximately 2 to 3 months for best quality. While it may remain safe to eat beyond this timeframe, the texture and flavor may degrade over time.
- To Reheat. If frozen, let them thaw in the fridge overnight first. You can use the microwave or the oven at 350F for best results.
- To Make Ahead. You can prepare the stuffing ahead of time and refrigerate it. When ready to bake, stuff the butternut squash with the prepped mixture and proceed with the recipe.
Nutrition
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