20 Amazing Recipes for Winter Squashes

Winter is here and so are the winter squashes.  The butternuts, the acorns, the delicatas – they’re here! Now I have my favorite recipes, but I know there’s more I could be doing with these wonderful vegetables, so I asked some of my fellow food bloggers for some of their favorite winter squash recipes.  And they did not disappoint.  Here are some of the best winter squash recipes that I can’t wait to try.  I hope they make your mouth water as much as they do mine!

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Amazing Acorn Squash

I remember the first time I got an acorn squash.  It was from the pickup of a CSA I was using at the time.  This particular CSA was awful, and I have found much better programs since (whew) but the one good thing from it was that it introduced me to the acorn squash.  Usually, I roast it stuffed with a sausage apple mix (which you can read about here).  I guess I’m not the only one, so there are some stuffed acorn squash recipes here, but also a few more, just for variety.

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage Stuffing

Really, Acorn squash basically looks like a bowl when you cut it in half, so can you blame people for wanting to stuff it?  Here’s a sausage and grain stuffing recipe I can’t wait to try – especially since I might have messed up my last grocery delivery order and ended up with an extra bag of quinoa. 

This recipe is

7 Green and Blue, or 5 Purple WW Points*

I cut the oil from 4 to 2 tablespoons and used turkey sausage. Also, this recipe says it served four, but for me three stuffed squashes is enough for six.

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Bourbon Maple Grilled Acorn Squash

Ok, so it feels a little weird putting a grill recipe up for a list of winter squash recipes.  I’m a cold weather wimp, so the grill isn’t getting a lot of action by the time the winter squashes come out.  But then again, it is still warm in some places, and you can find winter squashes in the summer, so why not! 

Not a griller?  Try roasting it in the oven.

This recipe is

 9 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points*

This is a high point food, definitely a splurge, or paired with a zero-point main dish. I used light margarine instead of butter to save a bunch of points.

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Balsamic Roasted Root Vegetables

I am not a fan of fennel, but I probably haven’t given it a fair chance.  I tried it once – raw, in a salad.  This salad just looks so delicious that I might have to give it another chance.  The fennel is joined by carrots, onion, and of course, acorn squash and roasted with a balsamic marinade. 

This recipe is

2 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Garam Masala Roasted Squash

I bought a jar of garam masala a while back when I had a recipe for roasted butternut squash that called for it.  I love the recipe, I make it frequently, but that’s all I use the garam masala for, and that’s a shame because I love the sweetness for the garam masala.  So when Mary Ellen sent me this, I had to jump on it!  Just one taste and it will be a favorite of yours too.

This recipe is

8 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Sausage Mushroom and Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

You didn’t really think I could make a list of acorn squash recipes and only include one stuffed squash, did you?  I love sausage and the combo of sausage and apple, but this version adds in mushrooms and Gruyere cheese. Plus, I love the addition of rosemary and sage to the mix.

This recipe is

10 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Best Butternut Squash

The squash that needs no introduction.  When I asked my fellow bloggers for winter squash recipes, 2/3rds of them were for butternut!  I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since on my own site I feature butternut more than the other squashes. Well, I wanted this to be a balanced post, so I had to narrow it down to five.  And let me tell you, that was harder than peeling a butternut squash with a regular vegetable peeler!  Here are a few that I can’t wait to try!

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food.  For me it’s a splurge dish because I love making it with lots of cheese and regular pasta.  Don’t believe me? Just check out my Buffalo Mac and Cheese!  That’s why if I’m making it, it usually for a family event with lots of kids that will leave little leftovers.  Here there’s no pasta, just lots of noodles from butternut squash. It’s still a bit of a splurge, but you can save points by using margarine instead of butter or almond milk instead of regular milk.

This recipe is

11 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Optional, Soy Free, Nut Free

Slow Cooked Beef & Butternut Squash

Butternut squash holds up so well in the crock pot, so recipes like this one are a great addition to your meal plan.  Stew beef slowly cooks and simmer with butternut squash in a mix of stock, wine, and Worcestershire sauce for an amazingly rich main course. If you are on a plan like WW Purple, it might feel a little splurgy, but pair it with some peas as recommended and roasted potatoes for no-point sides.

This recipe is

9 Green, 8 Blue or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash and Apples

Butternut and apples are a great combination I don’t do often enough in the winter.  I don’t know why.  I usually have butternut on hand, and always have apples.  Here’s a side dish that can be prepared in the oven or in the slow cooker.  The author is really into frozen squash, mostly to skip the process of peeling.  While squash is easy to find frozen or even already cut in the grocery section, it’s cheaper to buy it  whole and chop yourself.  I do this now thanks to my peeler.

This recipe is

 4 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Butternut Squash Casserole with Pecans

We had apple and butternut, but if you want a little more flavor, up your side dish game with this casserole.  Thick cut bacon adds a layer of savory flavor to this amazing dish that also adds the flavor of herbs like sage, thyme, and cinnamon. Save points by using cooking spray instead of oil to coat the pan in the first step and by substituting thin cut or turkey bacon.

This recipe is

 9 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free

30 Minute Fall Flavors Sheet Pan Meal

We’ve got stuffed squashes and crock pot meals, so of course I had to make sure I got a sheet pan dinner in too!  Here chicken sausage joins with the apple and butternut on a sheet pan to make a quick and complete meal.

This recipe is

 5 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Delicious Delicata Squash

The newest addition to my kitchen, or at least the newest winter squash!  The delicata is a wonderfully sweet squash that cooks nicely to make a fantastic side dish for your plate.  These really are some of the best winter squash recipes out there, all featuring a new favorite in my kitchen!

Roasted Delicata Squash with Thyme

Simple recipe for roasted delicata squash.  Just the squash, some oil and a few spices.  Yes, I know the title says thyme, but there’s some salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika there too. 

This recipe is

2 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Roasted Delicate Squash with Parmesan and Dill

Another version of the roasted squash, but this time instead of a spice mix, the squash is topped with, wait for it, parmesan and dill.

This recipe is

3 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Apple-Delicata Squash Porridge

OK, so I don’t often include Instapot recipes on my site.  I have an Instapot and to be honest, I’m not really a fan.  I mean, my slow cooker cooks things slowly, so I thought an Instapot would cook things, well, not instantly, but quickly.  I haven’t found that to be the case, so I don’t use it very often, but this recipe looks interesting and sounds good, so I might just have to break it out. 

This recipe is

2 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Sauteed Cow pea greens and squash

A beautiful looking salad side dish.  I love the addition of pine nuts, which I always enjoy but rarely think to use when I am creating recipes for myself!  Oh, and if you can’t find cow pea greens (because I’ve never seen them) you can substitute collard or greens.

This recipe is

6 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free

Stuffed Delicata Squash with Beef and Cranberries

Did you think I would go through a whole section without a stuffed squash recipe?  But just take one look at those wonderful fresh cranberries and tell me your mouth isn’t watering for a bite of these stuffed squash with beef and cranberries.

This recipe is

9 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Spectacular Spaghetti Squash

The final winter squash I am featuring is the spaghetti squash!  At first, yes, maybe a bit intimidating.  After all, it’s a giant yellow sphere – what do I do with it?  Well, lots to do with it!  Steam it, roast it, toss it in a slow cooker or instapot and then scrape out the insides for the basis of your meal.  While it’s not exactly the same as eating spaghetti, it is a nice, low-calorie, low-point, low-carb, gluten and grain free alternative to pasta and rice. In fact, some of these posts that made my list of best winter squash recipes are still a little high on the points side, but I know much lower than if I used pasta!

Plus, you can stuff it! Like I did with my Breakfast Spaghetti Squash.

Paleo Pad Thai

I love Pad Thai.  It was my introduction to Thai food and still one of my favorites.  What do I not love about Pad Thai – the points!  By swapping out the rice noodles for spaghetti squash gives me my Thai fix without spending (as many) points.

This recipe is

Green Blue Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free

Shrimp Spaghetti Squash Alfredo Bowl

This is another great example of how spaghetti squash will take the calories, carbs, or points of some of your favorite dishes down.  I love fettucine alfredo, but it is a heavy meal.  Here the pasta is swapped out for the squash, leaving me free to indulge in the creaminess of alfredo sauce.

This recipe is

Green Blue Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Low Carb Spaghetti Squash with Sundried Tomatoes

I love sun dried tomatoes.  I put them in salads, I add them to my morning eggs, and of course, I put them on pasta, even if that “pasta” is spaghetti squash.  Little shreds of sun-dried tomatoes can pack a lot of flavor into each bite!  And I love the sautéing of squash with garlic first – such flavor!

This recipe is

Green Blue Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Spaghetti Squash Bites

I don’t know about you, but I always have leftover shreds of spaghetti squash the next day. Usually because I’ve scrapped some out to make a boat and needed more room for the stuffing. So what to do with the leftovers? How about squash for breakfast?  Take some shredded squash, combine with egg whites, cheese, and bacon and you have a muffin tin breakfast with a serving of vegetables!

This recipe is

Green Blue Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free

Garlic Cilantro Spaghetti Squash Bowls

You don’t have to make the spaghetti squash the entire meal. Here’s an amazing side this that’s zero WW points!

This recipe is

0 Green, Blue, or Purple WW Points

Gluten Free, Dairy Optional, Soy Free, Nut Free

So there they are! 20 of the best winter squash recipes on the net! What do you think? Did you find a new favorite on this list? Did I miss one? Let me know in the comments below!

I’m so glad to have these new recipes. I have been enjoying adding them to my personal meal plans, and soon some will start appearing on the Hoppin Meal Plans. Don’t forget to check out the store for our most recent meal plans.

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