When the temperature starts to drop, that means your local store is about to be filled with winter squash. Despite the name “winter”, this category of hearty squash is harvested from late August through October. These squash get the name “winter” because they can be stored for months after harvest and are often eaten throughout the winter. Unlike summer squash, they are left on the vine to fully mature, developing a hard rind that helps it keep for a long time.
Versatile, easy to cook, and loaded with nutrients, budget-friendly winter squash are a tasty building block for a wide range of cozy, cold-weather meals. They’re also a convenient staple that can be stored at room temperature for up to a month, so it’s best to always have winter squash recipes at the ready.
If you’ve never cooked winter squash, or wonder which variety of the hard-skinned fruit (it’s true, squash is in the same family as melons) to choose, check out our winter squash primer. We’re breaking down the basics on the three most common types and serving up tasty recipes that feature this seasonal produce star.
Acorn Squash
This winter squash is named for its distinctive, acorn-like shape. The skin is typically dark green, sometimes with spots of bright orange, though some varieties are golden-yellow or white. When choosing an acorn squash, look for a hard exterior with deep grooves that’s free from nicks and soft spots. The relatively small size of acorn squash makes it ideal for halving, roasting, and serving as two individual portions. The hollow center and mild vegetal flavor of acorn squash also make it ideal for stuffing with a variety of fillings. Give these acorn squash recipes a try.
Cheese and Veggie Stuffed Acorn Squash
This impressive but easy stuffed squash works as a vegetarian main or substantial side dish. Rice and two kinds of cheese bulk up a veggie-packed filling inside roasted acorn squash topped with crunchy Parmesan-panko breading.
Get the recipe: Cheese and Veggie Stuffed Acorn Squash
Crispy Chicken with Rice Pilaf and Roasted Acorn Squash
The oven does most of the work for this simple meal starring crispy chicken cutlets that will appeal to kids and grown-ups alike. A side of acorn squash roasts to tender perfection along with panko-breaded chicken breast that uses creamy ricotta in place of the traditional egg dredge. An easy, budget-friendly rice pilaf cooks simultaneously, and it all comes together with just five minutes of prep.
Get the recipe: Crispy Chicken with Rice Pilaf and Roasted Acorn Squash
Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Acorn Squash
This recipe delivers all the cheesy, gooey satisfaction of the chicken enchiladas you love with fewer calories and more fiber. Time-savers like rotisserie chicken and canned enchilada sauce cut down the prep to just 10 minutes.
Get the recipe: Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Acorn Squash
Lentil-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Lentils and microwave-ready brown rice make this plant-powered recipe nutritious and filling. Shallot and Parmesan add savory depth to a flavorful stuffing rounded out with grated zucchini.
Get the recipe: Lentil-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
A few flavorful pantry ingredients and the slow cooker make it easy to create this bold veggie-packed curry. Coconut milk, fish sauce, and red curry paste add Thai-inspired flavor to tender pieces of acorn squash and chickpeas served over rice and finished with fresh basil.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is a popular favorite due to its velvety texture and natural sweetness. Its substantial size, elongated shape, and bulbous end make it easy to spot at the grocery store. Look for butternut squash that has uniform, beige-colored skin without any discoloration or bruising, and feels heavy for its size. Conveniently, butternut squash is also available pre-chopped (look for it with the other prepared veggies in the produce section), frozen, and canned as puree. The bright orange flesh of butternut squash is less fibrous than other varieties, resulting in an especially smooth texture when it’s roasted and blended.
Autumn Harvest Quinoa Bowl
Tender cubes of butternut squash add sweetness and color to this powerhouse grain bowl brimming with fall veggies. A mix of beets, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and spinach over microwave-ready quinoa gets a bright, tangy pop from dried cranberries and goat cheese.
Get the recipe: Autumn Harvest Quinoa Bowl
Slow Cooker Beef and Butternut Squash Chili
The slow cooker is an easy way to cook many types of winter squash, as the firm flesh can withstand long cook times without becoming too mushy. Here, cubes of butternut squash combine with beef chuck, veggies, and spices for a hearty, autumnal chili that’s perfect for tailgating or game day get-togethers.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Butternut Squash Chili
Butternut Squash Chicken Parmesan
This recipe serves classic Italian comfort food with a nutritious twist. Roasted butternut squash is the tasty vessel for a weeknight-easy chicken Parmesan made with frozen chicken tenders and jarred marinara.
Get the recipe: Butternut Squash Chicken Parmesan
Butternut Squash and Chorizo Tacos
You might not think of squash when it comes to taco night, but this five-ingredient recipe is a game-changer. Earthy butternut squash and black beans join meaty chorizo and creamy avocado for a perfect combination of flavor and texture in every bite.
Get the recipe: Butternut Squash and Chorizo Tacos
Sheet Pan Chicken with Butternut Squash and Apples
This simple sheet pan meal delivers big autumn vibes, starting with the aroma wafting from the oven as it cooks. Butternut squash, chicken thighs, and apples get an extra dose of seasonal flavor glazed with honey, fresh rosemary, and cinnamon.
Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Butternut Squash and Apples
Spaghetti Squash
This winter squash derives its name from the long, noodle-like strands of its flesh once it’s cooked and scraped with a fork. The outer skin of spaghetti squash is pale yellow in color with an oblong shape that resembles a small watermelon. Look for spaghetti squash that feels firm and heavy with a hard, dry stem. Avoid spaghetti squash with green spots or a tender stem, which can indicate that it’s not fully ripe. The texture and neutral flavor of spaghetti squash make it a natural stand-in for pasta, but that’s just the beginning of its tasty possibilities.
Beef Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
This lighter take on beef enchiladas doesn’t skimp on flavor or filling protein. Roasted spaghetti squash is stuffed with a hearty beef and cheese filling finished with store-bought enchilada sauce and your favorite Tex-Mex fixings.
Get the recipe: Beef Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo Rings
Two smart cooking hacks and a few time-saving ingredients help this flavorful dish, inspired by fettuccine Alfredo, cross the finish line faster. The microwave jumpstarts prep for spaghetti squash sliced into quicker-cooking rings stuffed with a creamy combination of rotisserie chicken, spinach, and jarred Alfredo sauce.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo Rings
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi
This meal-in-one seafood recipe is light on calories and prep, but big on flavor. The Instant Pot makes it easy to serve perfectly cooked, garlicky shrimp over strands of spaghetti squash in just 35 minutes with five minutes of easy prep.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai with Chicken
The Instant Pot comes in clutch again for this riff on pad Thai that replaces rice noodles with spaghetti squash. Fresh lime, fish sauce, and rice vinegar add vibrant flavor to a filling of chicken breast and egg topped with crunchy peanuts and fresh cilantro.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai with Chicken
Spaghetti Squash with Buffalo Shrimp
Throw a curveball at dinner with this one-of-a-kind mashup recipe that no one will expect. This Buffalo wing-inspired dish swaps chicken for shrimp tossed with hot sauce, blue cheese, and scallions, served inside roasted spaghetti squash.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti Squash with Buffalo Shrimp
