Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

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October 1, 2019 By Katie Moseman 30 Comments

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Rich, sweet roasted acorn squash is doused in maple butter and filled with maple butter roasted pecans to make it even more delicious.

Once the tremendous heat of summer fades into the coolness of fall, I feel free to enjoy cooking even more than usual. It seems like less of a drawback to turn on the oven, and instead of resenting its warmth, I look forward to it.

For that reason, I’m much more likely to experiment with baking during fall. It adds a pleasant seasonality to the rhythm of life here in Florida, where there are far fewer visual signals (such as turning leaves) with which to observe the change of seasons. Roasting is a wonderful cooking method and can be used for all kinds of vegetables from squash to Brussels sprouts.

Roasted squash is a well-known fall side dish, but I’m adding my own twist by incorporating some contrasting flavors. In addition to maple butter and crunchy pecans, I’ll be garnishing the finished roasted acorn squash halves with blue cheese crumbles. The piquancy of blue cheese and the sweetness of the squash bring an elegant balance to this dish.

Blue cheese crumbles are a wonderful garnish. You can sprinkle a little or a lot on salads, side dishes, soups, pizza, sandwiches, and main courses. It adds flavor without as many calories as blue cheesing dressing.

The combination of roasted squash, nuts, and sharp cheese works well in many combinations. Although maple roasted acorn squash is my personal favorite, there’s no reason why you couldn’t change it up. I think cubed butternut squash, walnuts, and goat cheese would be really good, too!

Tips for Making Roasted Acorn Squash

Be careful when slicing the acorn squashes in half. The skin is tough, but control the force of the knife so that it doesn’t slip and endanger you.
Did you know that Grade B maple syrup works wonderfully for cooking? Most of us are familiar with Grade A, which has a more delicate maple flavor, but Grade B is stronger and well suited for keeping its flavor even when cooked. Either grade will do for this recipe.
If you’re looking for the best of pecans, seek out Georgia pecans. (I may be biased; my mom is from Georgia and has gifted me with many a bag of Georgia pecans over the years.) And say it “PEEH-cans,” not “puh-CAHNS” if you want to sound authentic.
I usually have unsalted butter in my fridge, but if you have salted butter, simply omit any extra salt.

If you like this recipe, you’ll LOVE my new cookbook that’s all about veggies!

Watch the Video Below!

5 from 10 votes

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

Rich, sweet roasted acorn squash doused in maple butter and filled with maple butter roasted pecans, then topped with blue cheese crumbles.

CourseSide Dish

CuisineAmerican

Keywordautumn, comfort food, fall, thanksgiving, winter

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 282 kcal

Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

2acorn squash
2tablespoonsunsalted butter
2tablespoonsreal maple syrup
1pinchsea salt
1/2cupchopped pecans
Blue Cheese crumblesto taste

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a baking dish with foil or parchment for easy cleanup.
Halve the squashes, then scoop out and discard the seeds and strings.
Melt the butter with the maple syrup and sea salt, then stir to combine. Brush the cut sides of the squash with the mixture, allowing it to puddle in the center of each half.
Stir the pecans into the remaining butter/syrup mixture and set aside.
Bake the squash in the oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and scoop the pecans evenly into each squash half. Return the pecan-filled squash halves to the oven for 10 minutes.
When finished, garnish with blue cheese crumbles and serve warm.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

Reader Interactions

Comments

Cindy Gordon
November 11, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Now THAT looks delicious! I love the addition of blue cheese! I have to look for that! It would be so easy to add to dishes! My Mother in Law LOVES blue cheese, I’ll share this with her!
Reply
Bites for Foodies
November 13, 2016 at 2:38 pm
You’ve combined some of my favourite foods, root veggies and pecans!! Also, I LOVE salt…I probably eat way too much more than I’m supposed to!
Reply
Censie Sawyer
November 13, 2016 at 10:42 pm

I love acorn squash but I have never thought to prepare it with Maple butter. What a great flavor combination. Talk about a totally perfect fall recipe. Yum. I am going to make this next week.
Reply
Kristy @ Mommy Hates Cooking
November 14, 2016 at 11:39 am
Real Maple Syrup is one of my favorite things in this world! Especially this time of year, it is the ultimate form of comfort food. What a great idea to add cheese to roasted Acorn Squash!
Reply
Kim Croisant
November 15, 2016 at 6:28 am
What a perfect recipe for my Thanksgiving dinner. My husband loves Blue Cheese and I love pecans in anything!!! This combination is perfect, and I can only hope I can fit it in to my already planned menu. Thank you.
Reply
Amanda @ Adorkablii
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November 15, 2016 at 8:02 am
This actually sounds really good and I don’t like squash… HAHA. Maybe I’ll give it a go again to see if maybe I will like it this time around!! This is perfect for the holidays for sure and I am positive it’s something that would be a hit this Thanksgiving!
Reply
Margaret
January 2, 2017 at 12:22 pm
In Alabama we would never say peeh- cans. Only a yankee ? would say it that way. We say puh-cahns! I am making this for lunch today though.
Reply
- Katie Moseman
  January 2, 2017 at 12:27 pm
  Hi Margaret!
  It’s funny how in different areas of the South, it’s pronounced differently. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
  -Katie
  Reply
cakespy
October 25, 2017 at 7:55 am
DANG does this ever look good!! I love the idea of this maple butter business! <3 These little squashes are like nests of nourishing awesome.
Reply
- Katie Moseman
  October 25, 2017 at 8:24 am
  This is possibly my favorite vegetable recipe ever. We had our first cold day today (Florida!) and it sounds really appealing to me even at 8 in the morning.
  Reply
Darian
December 27, 2017 at 11:03 pm

Tried this today; to my surprise, it was delicious!
Reply
- Katie Moseman
  December 28, 2017 at 10:14 am
  So glad you liked it!
  Reply
Dorothea
November 30, 2018 at 1:11 pm

I’ve got this in the oven right now. Making it for my daughter and husband while I babysit. It smells delicious! Can’t wait to hear how the like it.
Reply
Beth
October 1, 2019 at 11:52 am
I’m excited to try this! My mom just moved in with us for a short time and she loves acorn squash.
Reply
Melissa Chapman
October 1, 2019 at 12:01 pm

That acorn squash looks amazing so I have to look for them where I shop. I love how you combined all those different flavors into a great fall dish.
Reply
Tasheena
October 1, 2019 at 12:40 pm

OMG! This recipe looks so yummy. Looking forward to giving it a try. I know my family is going to love it.
Reply
Denay DeGuzman
October 1, 2019 at 1:25 pm

What a gorgeous fall recipe! It looks so delicious. I’ve saved it to Pinterest to make it later this month. This acorn squash is stunning.
Reply
Amber Myers
October 1, 2019 at 2:19 pm

Wow, this looks so delicious! I’ve never had anything like this. I need to try it out for sure. These photos are making me drool.
Reply
GiGi Eats
October 1, 2019 at 3:48 pm
I 10000% need to pick up an acorn squash today!!
Reply
Marysa
October 2, 2019 at 8:05 am
My grandmother used to make acorn squash with maple syrup, so this recipe really takes me back to my childhood. I haven’t used maple butter before but it all sounds like a great combination.
Reply
Lisa Favre
October 2, 2019 at 11:26 am

This recipe looks absolutely incredible! I love squash and pecans so it’s totally meant for me – can’t wait to try and make it myself!
Reply
rika livingston
October 2, 2019 at 5:45 pm
I love squash! The maple butter and pecan flavors sound perfect for fall!
Reply
Karen Morse
October 2, 2019 at 8:27 pm
Okay, I need to give this one a try since I love butternut squash! I love the combination of the maple syrup with the saltiness of the cheese. It’s definitely going to bring out yummy flavors. Thanks for the recipe!
Reply
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
October 2, 2019 at 11:20 pm

Wow, I have never thought of something like this. I would really like to make this sometime!
Reply
HilLesha
October 3, 2019 at 1:34 am
This looks delicious in every sense of the word! I’ll have to give this recipe a try sometime in the near future.
Reply
Ericka
October 3, 2019 at 1:38 am
Wow! This looks so good! I’m going to making it for the family and see how they like it.
Reply
Shelley R Zurek
October 3, 2019 at 11:19 pm

My husband loves acorn squash and pecans. What a fantastic recipe for him, acorn squash with maple butter roasted pecans
Reply

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook Ina Garten acorn squash? ›

Place 1/2 tablespoon butter and ½ tablespoon maple syrup in the cavity of each squash. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and sprinkle the squash with 3 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 40-60 minutes, depending on the size of the squash, until tender when pierced with a small knife.

View Details ›

Does acorn squash need to be peeled before cooking? ›

Good news: you don't need to peel acorn squash. Its hard, grooved skin softens significantly as it cooks, and it's edible, too. If you do want to remove the skin, wait until after you cook it, at which point it will peel right off.

How long to cook acorn squash in the oven at 350? ›

1. Place squash halves, cut sides down, in a baking dish. 2. Bake in a 350°F oven 45 to 50 minutes or until tender.

Learn More ›

Is the skin of roasted acorn squash edible? ›

Acorn Squash: Whether cut into slices or stuffed and baked whole, acorn squash skin is totally tasty. When roasted, the skin becomes soft enough to eat by the forkful, For those who prefer it skin-free, the meat separates from the peel easily after cooking.

How healthy is acorn squash? ›

This squash has a lot of antioxidants, which can boost your immunity and help your body to fight off certain diseases. Acorn squash contains antioxidants like vitamin C that help strengthen bones and blood vessels. It also has vitamin A, which helps improve the health of your lungs, heart and other vital organs.

Show Me More ›

Can you eat the green skin on acorn squash? ›

Yes, You Can Eat the Skin of Acorn Squash and Other Winter Squashes—Here's How. Some varieties, like acorn squash and honeynut, have tender, tasty skin. Others, not so much.

Is it OK to eat raw acorn squash? ›

Skip eating most hard-skinned squash raw. "Hard skinned squash is difficult to eat raw," Marz says. "They are usually much larger in size, have a harder flesh, and are much more fibrous." Examples of hard-skinned squash that should not be eaten raw include: pumpkins, delicate, butternut, Hubbard, and acorn.

Find Out More ›

What is the easiest way to cut an acorn squash and a half? ›

Cut around the tip of the squash and up the other side.

Once you've made that first cut, things get easier. Continue cutting the squash around the tip, and move up the other side. It's fine to lift your knife and reposition the squash as you go, especially if it feels like your knife gets stuck.

Discover More Details ›

How do you make acorn squash easier to cut? ›

You can quickly soften an acorn squash before cutting it by using a microwave. Using a knife or fork, make a few small incisions in the squash to allow steam to escape. Place the squash in a microwavable bowl and heat on high for three minutes.

Learn More ›

Why is my roasted squash mushy? ›

Squashes behave very differently when cooked in the oven or on the stovetop. Generally, a squash that is roasted in the oven is going to have a much softer texture, one that can get mushy if mixed with other ingredients, but making it ideal for a purée, soup, or being mashed.

How do you cut acorn squash too hard? ›

The first and most important thing to have on-hand is a very sharp chef's knife or a longer, thick utility knife. Lay the squash on it's side. Raise a knife 3-4 inches above the squash and give it a little chop to break into it. Using your other hand, press down on the top of the blade and slice all the way through.

Learn More ›

Why is my roasted squash dry? ›

Don't skimp on the oil.

Some are super-soft and creamy, sort of like a baked sweet potato, while others are a bit more dry and chalky. To prevent these squash from becoming too dry in the oven, make sure to coat them generously with oil.

Keep Reading ›

How do I make my acorn squash soft enough to cut? ›

how to soften acorn squash before cutting

Boil. Place the whole squash in boiling water for about 15 minutes.
Steam. In a double boiler or a pot with a steamer or colander on top, place the whole squash in and add a lid on top. ...
Microwave. Pierce the squash with a knife or fork to make a few holes for steam to escape.

Oct 14, 2022

How do you clean and cook acorn squash? ›

Cut squash in half through the stem and scoop out seeds. Cut into 1-inch chunks keeping the skin on. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet with a lid over medium-high. Add squash in an even layer and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown in spots, about 10 minutes.

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

Tips for Making Roasted Acorn Squash

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe Video

Reader Interactions

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FAQs

How do you cook Ina Garten acorn squash? ›

How do you cut acorn squash too hard? ›