Here’s the best way to cut and roast butternut squash. Serve roasted butternut squash as an easy side dish or roast it up to use in other recipes!
I’ve been on quite a roasted veggie kick lately!
Since I’ve already shared how to roast delicata squash, how to make roasted acorn squash and delicious roasted kobucha squash, I figured it was finally time to share how to roast one of my favorite winter squashes – butternut squash!
This is a great recipe to have in your back pocket because it’s perfect for meal prep and can be used in so many different recipes.
Oh my, butternut squash is a powerhouse vegetable! It’s low in calories but high in a variety of vitamins and minerals – most notably vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. It’s packed with antioxidants and fiber and is a great ingredient to start adding into your diet.
If you’ve never cooked with butternut squash before, prepping is the hardest part! While it is technically edible, butternut squash’s skin is pretty tough so it’s typically recommended that you peel it before roasting.
Here are my tips to make the peeling and chopping process less daunting.
Step 1: Using a vegetable peeler or knife, carefully peel the skin, getting as close to the end of the squash as possible. When peeling, stop when you get to the orange flesh, it’s usually only one layer.
Step 2: After peeling, cut the top and bottom of the squash and then cut the squash in half widthwise and lengthwise so the squash is quartered.
Another option is to leave the neck of the squash whole and cut it into rounds, then stack up the round and cut them crosswise (twice) to create cubes.
Step 4: Use a spoon to scrape the seeds (and gunk) out of each half. Discard the seeds or save and roast them up for a snack. At this point you’re ready to chop the squash into cubes. I like to do 1/2-1 inch thick cubes. I try to cut them as even as possible so that they all finish cooking around the same time.
I haven’t needed to do this, but if your butternut squash is too hard to cut with the knife you’re using, you can use the microwave to soften it up first! Poke about 4-5 holes throughout the squash (so it doesn’t explode) and microwave for 3 minutes. Let cool and then chop.
The fun thing about roasted vegetables is that the flavor combinations are endless. Here are some of my favorite variations for roasted butternut squash:
Prepare the squash – Start by peeling the squash, cutting it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.
Cut – Cut the squash into 1 inch cubes, toss them in oil and a pinch of salt. Spread the cubes onto a baking sheet.
Roast – Roast the squash at 400ºF for 30-40 minutes, turning once or twice until all of the pieces are tender and some have brown spots.
Don’t need cubes? You can also just roast each half of the squash instead of chopping into cubes. Prep the squash by peeling, cutting in half lengthwise and scraping out the seeds. Then coat with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Roast at 400ºF for 30-40 minutes!
Butternut squash pairs with a ton of different things! Here are some ideas:
I personally love making roasted butternut squash for meal prep and pairing it with a protein and a grain for an easy meal. If you want to try a more comprehensive recipe with roasted butternut squash, here are some of my go-to’s:
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I loved this! Do you do any lactation recipes??
Hey Lanham! Yes, I have a lactation smoothie, lactation cookies and lactation bites.
My absolute favorite recipes with butternut squash. Complete yum 🤗
Roasted butternut squash makes a great base on top of your cauliflower crust pizza!
Ohh I bet!! I’ll have to try it. 🙂