Recipes and Cooking Vegetables 16 Healthy Butternut Squash Recipes for Fall Comfort Food By Sheena Chihak, RD Sheena Chihak, RD Instagram Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 15 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 22, 2023 Reviewed by Jessica Jones, MS, RD Reviewed by Jessica Jones, MS, RD Jessica is a nationally-recognized Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, Writer, Speaker, and Digital Content Strategist. As the co-founder of the wellness content media company, Food Heaven, Jessica creates engaging food and nutrition content for over 80 global corporations, food companies, and media outlets including American Heart Association, Blue Apron, Adobe, Dove, and KitchenAid. Jessica also co-hosts the top 50 nutrition Food Heaven Podcast, which explores the intersections of nutrition, health, and wellness through a social justice lens. With over 3 million downloads to date, the Food Heaven podcast has been a pillar for accessible and inclusive health and wellness insights since 2015. In addition to being a go-to nutrition expert, writer, and columnist for SELF magazine, Jessica is the co-author of the 28-Day Plant-Powered Health Reboot and A Diabetes Guide to Enjoying the Foods of the World. Learn about BHG's Nutrition Review Board Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Andy Lyons Butternut squash season has finally arrived! While we love slow roasting this fall ingredient as much as anyone, busy weeknights aren't the easiest time to fit that in. Luckily, all of these healthy butternut squash recipes for sides and mains will add the veggie to dinner in 45 minutes or less! This doesn't mean you're limited to just sautéing. We have a few quick roast recipes you can still serve in almost no time. 01 of 16 Butternut Coconut Rice with Thai Seasoned Chicken View Recipe Andy Lyons If you're over cauliflower rice (or love it so much you want to try it with another veggie), dig into the butternut squash rice in this clever dinner idea using butternut squash. Everything cooks in one skillet so even cleanup is speedy for this protein-packed (22 grams per serving) fall dinner that takes just 30 minutes. 02 of 16 Orzo with Butternut Squash, Sage, and Bacon View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Combat the chilly fall with this warm, cozy orzo bowl. We don't know anyone who would turn down the combination of pasta, butternut squash, and bacon in this side dish. Cooking the butternut squash in a Dutch oven makes this recipe much faster than roasting. 03 of 16 Crispy Parmesan-Roasted Butternut Squash View Recipe Andy Lyons If you want a fuss-free side of butternut squash with dinner, you can't go wrong with roasting. This easy butternut squash recipe really lets your fresh squash shine. Just toss the cubes of squash with a drizzle of oil, a pinch of dried thyme, and a handful of Parmesan cheese, then let them roast to perfection to serve alongside your fall entrée. Test Kitchen Tip: Cut your prep time way down by using purchased, cubed squash pieces. 04 of 16 Radicchio and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad View Recipe Con Poulos If you let autumn pass you by without making this rainbow salad, you're seriously missing out. Instead of plain old lettuce leaves, use purple-red radicchio for your salad "greens," and mix in fennel and roasted butternut squash. In place of croutons, keep the fall theme going by topping off your salad with roasted pumpkin seeds. Add cooked steak, pork, or chicken to make it an entrée. Buy It: Pumpkin Seeds Roasted & Salted ($4, Target) 05 of 16 Cheesy Butternut Squash Cavatappi Bake View Recipe Andy Lyons If you have picky eaters at your table who normally wouldn't touch squash with a 10-foot fork, this easy, cheesy casserole sneaks it onto their plates. After cooking, mash the butternut squash and mix it in with pasta, Fontina cheese, and mushrooms. Once this casserole is finished baking, sprinkle on a few slices of crispy chopped bacon. Who could resist trying a bite? 06 of 16 Butternut Burrito Bowls View Recipe Blaine Moats One way to speed up cooking butternut squash is to spiralize it first. (Or use purchased butternut squash "noodles" to make it even faster.) That's the tactic we used here to make this healthy butternut squash recipe ready to eat in 30 minutes. The squash with seasonings and bell peppers skillet cooks for just 2 to 3 minutes. It's a nutrition-packed side dish perfect for serving alongside a fall roast or baked chicken. Buy It: OXO Tabletop Spiralizer ($48, Bed Bath & Beyond) Buy Now 07 of 16 Squash and Curried Noodle Soup View Recipe Blaine Moats Soup in just 30 minutes? Sign us up! Even though you can throw it together in almost no time, this soup is full of fresh ingredients and big flavors that'll make it taste like it's been simmering all day. Curry powder gives this recipe a kick, while fresh butternut squash and spinach make it healthy and tasty enough to serve for dinner every week. 08 of 16 Baked Butternut Squash with Thyme View Recipe Dana Gallagher Whether it's a weeknight dinner or you're prepping for the holidays, you can't go wrong with this simple side dish. Just add a sprinkle of salt and thyme, and let the butternut squash shine. 09 of 16 Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry View Recipe Blaine Moats Use this healthy butternut squash recipe as a foray into vegan meals. Chickpeas add loads of fiber (there are 12 grams per serving!) and a bit of protein. Serve with cooked rice or noodles for a heartier dinner. Buy It: Blue Diamond Ceramic Skillet with Cover ($35, Target) Buy Now 10 of 16 Butternut Squash and Mushroom Noodle Bowl View Recipe Jason Donnelly Sweet, spicy, and full of fall flavor, this recipe adds soy and ginger flair to your usual bowl of pasta and butternut squash. To keep dishwashing to a minimum, start by roasting the butternut squash 15 minutes, then add the mushrooms to the same pan to continue roasting. Toss the spinach and green onions on the pan after the roasting time is up. No need to dirty an extra pan and bowl for those steps. 11 of 16 Red Beans and Rice with Squash View Recipe Andy Lyons Hearty, warm, and filled with fall flavors, this cozy butternut squash dinner was meant for a night in. Serve butternut squash, red kidney beans, and chicken sausage over rice for a healthy comfort food dinner. It's almost like a tasty fall chili. 12 of 16 Spaghetti with Roasted Butternut Squash View Recipe Andy Lyons No canned spaghetti sauce here! Instead, serve your noodles with roasted butternut squash, crispy bacon, and pecorino cheese in a brown butter sauce. It's a seasonal twist on spaghetti you'll want to make all year. Trust us: You won't miss your store-bought tomato sauce. 13 of 16 Butternut Risotto View Recipe Kim Cornelison Tender, melt-in-your-mouth butternut squash is an ideal addition to creamy risotto when you want a taste of fall. A few threads of saffron add an extra layer of flavor, while sprinkling Parmesan cheese on top makes each bite a little more decadent. Serve this easy side alongside a roast or chicken breast for a cozy dinner. 14 of 16 Butternut Squash Soup with Ravioli View Recipe Andy Lyons Two pounds of butternut squash might sound like a lot, but it's worth the chopping and peeling for this silky-smooth soup. Of course, you can snag a bag of precut squash to speed things along, if time is extra tight. To make dinner a little more elegant, top with cheese ravioli and swirls of molasses to turn your bowl of healthy butternut squash soup into art. 15 of 16 Pappardelle with Butternut Squash and Blue Cheese View Recipe David Loftus Thick pappardelle noodles are just right for partnering with tender butternut squash. Plenty of fresh sage and crunchy pine nuts don't hurt this pairing, either. 16 of 16 Orzo Risotto with Roasted Vegetables View Recipe Andy Lyons Who says you need rice to make risotto? Not us. You can make risotto just as creamy and dreamy using orzo instead. To make it a healthy side dish (or even a main meal), add in delicious roasted vegetables such as butternut squash, mushrooms, and onions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit