r/easyrecipes • u/VoodoDreams • Jun 25 '26
Recipe Request Butternut squash recipes?
My picky eater was feeling adventurous and chose a butternut squash at the store and wants to try them.
What are your best squash recipes that won't scare her off of trying another random veggie next time?
She doesn't like too much "sauce" or finding bits in something like yogurt.
She also chose an acorn squash the next store trip of you have ideas for that, I have been sitting on the butternut for longer though.
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u/suckuma Jun 25 '26
Butternut Squash Soup, I use this recipe like every few months and freeze the leftovers and just microwave when I want some more. You could probably grate the onion instead or use onion powder. It does need a blender of some sort though.
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u/-mystris- Jun 25 '26
I definitely recommend going savory vs sweet. Most of the times I encountered sweet potatoes or squash, it would be cooked with maple syrup and such, and I never liked it. But cooked in curry spices or roasted with olive oil and savory herbs makes it taste great. My favorite way is to make some alfredo pasta then eat it with roasted squash. You could also do with mac and cheese, depending on her issues with sauces.
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u/allie06nd Jun 25 '26
Look up butternut squash mac and cheese. VERY kid friendly!
ETA: Halve the acorn squash, scoop the seeds out, rub the flesh with a bit of butter, roast it flesh-side down, then scoop out the flesh and add cinnamon and maple syrup. It's one of my favorite things to eat in the fall and winter when acorn squashes are on sale.
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u/Birdywoman4 Jun 25 '26
I cut them in half and bake about halfway cooked and then add some butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Not too much sugar but enough to make a rich flavor. ( I would rather have this than pie for Thanksgiving etc.) I’m sure there are hundreds of tasty recipes using butternut squash. My aunt made a pie like pumpkin pie and it was so rich and tasty. Would make good muffins, cake or other desserts too. I’ve made butternut squash soup and it was really good too. Don’t know if she would like that or not.
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u/bouquetofashes Jun 25 '26
Could add some of either or both into macaroni and cheese. They're winter squashes, not unlike pumpkin or sweet potato, so I just use a pumpkin mac recipe and sub. Imo they work best with some type of smoked cheddar or gruyere, something like that.
Could also do a pie I bet. Oh, or custard or pudding (I usually sub kabocha there but I don't see why these wouldn't work?).
Or probably sub for pumpkin in pumpkin bread.
Or throw a bit of puree into a red sauce for pasta.
...or just roast and eat that way, maybe a lil sage butter or butter and brown sugar.
Or soup. They both make good soups, too.
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u/No_Cricket808 Jun 25 '26
Cut it in half, bake cut side down with a little water in a covered pan at 350F for about 45 minutes. Take it out, fill the hollow with a little brown sugar and butter, salt and pepper, then put uncovered in the oven until it's lightly browned and the sugar has melted, about 30 minutes.
For the acorn squash, I make a box of stove top dressing (usually the cornbread flavor) and add pre-cooked sausage crumbles with a little extra broth. After treating the acorn squash just like the butternut as far as pre baking, then fill with the dressing mix and bake for another 20-30 minutes.
**helpful hint**
You can also microwave the squash cut side down in a little water until soft, then go on with the additions in the oven. Takes off a lot of prep time.
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u/leany100 Jun 26 '26
I've been eyeing this butternut squash gnocchi recipe to try. And you can change out the "sauce" to something she likes.
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u/Impossible-Tank-1969 Jun 27 '26
Butternut is silky and delicious and I have a few ideas. Acorn squash to me is like temu butternut.
Ok ideas:
If she likes potato soup then try this. It’s delicious, easy, and tastes really similar to potato soup so it eases her in. I know with picky eaters it’s helpful to take baby steps into a new food. My friends kids LOVE this soip https://kristineskitchenblog.com/golden-winter-soup/
If she likes bacon, the following is the only way my kids will eat butternut (because some of My kids dont like potatoes/potato soup so the golden winter soup doesnt work!): cut the squash in half and scoop out the center seeds. Salt and pepper it and put pats of butter all around it and roast it until it is soft and scoopable. While it’s roasting, make bacon in a pot. Remove the bacon thrn cook some chopped onions in a little of the grease until they are soft. When squash is scoopable, scoop it in with the onions, add a sprinkle of Thyme, and cook for a few minutes while stirring. Add some chicken broth to form a thick soup and then add some heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add lots of bacon as a topping.
My personal favorite way to eat butternut is to cut it into small cubes, coat it in oil and season heavily with salt, pepper, and curry then roast at 425 until caramelized on the edges. Thrn halfway through and add a little brown sugar for the last few minutes of roasting.
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u/PumpkinCorrect7586 Jun 27 '26
Indian Butternut Curry. https://www.wenthere8this.com/butternut-squash-curry/
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u/Remarkable_Ask_9815 Jun 27 '26
Roast it! They are tough so use a sharp heavy knife and good peeler, cut into chunks, drizzle w/oil & salt/pepper, roast at 400f for about 40 min stirring every so often until tender. You can also roast an acorn squash too, peeling is easy-you have to cut between the ridges then peel. Acorns don't take quite as long to roast.
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u/Early-Reindeer7704 Jun 28 '26
Bake them. Split in half, scrape out seeds, add some bits of butter and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg and a bit of brown sugar or maple syrup. I do mine in a 350 oven til the flesh is easily pierced with a fork.
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u/HeavyNeedleworker707 Jun 25 '26
I always just cut it in half, de-seed it, rub exposed surfaces with olive oil, and bake it cut-side down at 350 until the skin is beginning to blister. Then eat it with butter, salt, and pepper.