An easy recipe for sweet baked butternut squash with brown sugar, baked in the oven for a sweet vegetable side dish for a fall supper.
Save money by buying a whole butternut squash and trimming it yourself.
One of the things I love about fall is the abundance of apples, pumpkins, and squash at the farmers' markets and grocery stores.
There is something so comforting about cooking and baking with these ingredients that make the season special.
Some of my favorite recipes this time of year are Pumpkin Cheesecake cookies and Pumpkin Pepper Soup. Today's recipe uses a winter squash for a simple side dish idea.
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Why You Will Love this Recipe
I love the simplicity of this four-ingredient recipe. It is a little tricky to cut, so be careful when cutting it up. I do not peel my squash when baking in the oven, but you can if you prefer.
This is a super simple recipe that can be built upon, but sometimes I love the simplicity of just being able to enjoy its natural flavor.
You can find great deals on fresh butternut squash at the market this time of year and making Sweet Baked Butternut Squash in the oven tis a nice way to serve one of the healthier side dishes at your Thanksgiving table. Butternut squash is different from summer squash because of its hard skin and pumpkin-like features.
This glaze complements the squash nicely.
Glazed Butternut Squash Ingredients
- Butternut squash -look for those that have hard, tough rinds and are heavy for their size. A large squash will get you about 6 servings.
- butter
- brown sugar
- salt - kosher salt or sea salt
Equipment and Kitchen Tools Needed
- Cutting board
- sharp chef’s knife
- casserole dish (a baking sheet or sheet pan works too)
- small bowl or liquid measuring cup
Sweet Baked Butternut Squash Recipe Steps
The full recipe is in the recipe card below.
Preheat oven to 400 °.
Wash the exterior skin of the squash and pat dry. Even if you are going to only eat the interior, you always want to wash them to avoid contamination with a knife.
Cut off the ends of the squash and place in a large bowl to discard. If desired, peel the squash with a potato peeler.
Cut squash in half and remove seeds.
Cut squash into cubes (about 1 - 1 ½") and place into a casserole dish or baking pan.
In a cup or bowl, mix butter and sugar together, then pour over cubes and toss to coat.
Arrange the cubes in a single layer in the baking dish if you can.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Stir squash and bake an additional 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Sprinkle with salt and serve. Serves 4.
Pro Tips and Timesaver Shortcuts
- To make ahead, prepare the recipe but don't bake it until one hour before you want it ready. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
Recipe Variations, Notes and Substitutions
- This is one of my favorite easy side dishes to make this season, You can use maple syrup in place of brown sugar.
- For a more savory variation, skip the sugar and add 2 tablespoons of shredded parmesan cheese and couple garlic cloves (minced garlic) or ¾ teaspoon of garlic powder before baking.
- You can use a potato masher or mixer to whip up the finished product for whipped butternut squash. Add a couple of tablespoons of heavy cream for a nice, change to the side dish.
- You can also use this as a base for butternut squash soup
Don't forget to bookmark this recipe.
Baked Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 °.
- Wash the exterior of the squash and pat dry. Even if you are going to only eat the interior, you always want to wash them to avoid contamination with a knife.
- Cut off ends fo the squash. If desired, peel the squash with a potato peeler.
- Cut squash in half and remove seeds.
- Cut squash into cubes (about 1 - 1 ½") and place into a casserole dish or baking pan.
- In a cup or bowl, mix butter and sugar together, then pour over cubes and toss to coat.
- Bake in oven 20 minutes. Stir squash and bake an additional 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and serve.
Nutrition
More Easy & Delicious Side Dishes
Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries
Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
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What is your favorite fruit of the season?
Tamara
Yum. This could even work with the pre-cubed ones at Trader Joe's. And yes, I've been that lazy before!
This is one of the few vegetables my kids will eat.
Raquel
Absolutely, you can make it really simple with pre-cut cubes. Glad Scarlet and Des like some vegetables. 🙂