With its vibrant orange color and sweet caramelized flavor, roasted butternut squash is an antidote to cold and dreary days. So it’s no surprise that it’s the most popular recipe in the South during the winter season. Whether you enjoy it as a simple side dish, pureed into a soup, or even folded into macaroni and cheese, it will brighten up your plate and add a dose of fiber, potassium, and other nutrients.
It’s easier to prepare than you think, too—even the tricky business of cutting and prepping the squash. Once you’ve mastered our simple technique, you can even use it to roast other types of winter squash, like acorn, spaghetti, and kabocha.
Why This Recipe Is So Popular
It’s a cinch to make. Clear step-by-step instructions and an easy technique make this recipe a winner. In fact, you don’t even have to peel the squash!
Tips For Making Butternut Squash
- Easy to prepare: Simply slice the squash, remove the seeds, brush the cut side with oil, and roast it. That’s it!
- Essential tools: The key is to use a sharp chef’s knife and to make sure that your cutting board is secure when you slice the squash, and not wobbly.
To keep your cutting board from wobbling, place a damp paper or kitchen towel under the board to keep it in from shifting.
- Simple to serve: When the squash is done cooking and has cooled, you can scoop the flesh right out of the skin and use it how you please.
What To Make With Roasted Butternut Squash
Here’s the real reason why this recipe is so popular: you can use roasted butternut squash as a building block for so many dishes. Here are a few of our favorite ways to put this to work:
- As a side: Mash it with a little butter (or olive oil), salt, and pepper for a simple side dish that goes with everything.
- As a creamy soup: Puree it with broth, aromatics, and cream in this easy butternut squash soup—roasting the squash will make the soup even more flavorful.
- As a simple substitute: Think of it as a replacement for canned pumpkin puree, and use it to make a quick bread or cake.