Acorn Squash Casserole with Brown Butter Pecan Topping

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This acorn squash casserole options tender, caramelized acorn squash and wealthy brown butter pecan topping. The squash filling is sturdy and scoopable and the topping provides a nutty, candy crunch. All the flavors are an ideal mixture for a Thanksgiving desk.

You’ll want to take a look at extra of our favourite Thanksgiving recipes to get you began on this 12 months’s menu. Love squash? Maple cinnamon roasted butternut squash makes a scrumptious aspect dish, too!

acorn squash casserole with a spoon in it

You’re a comfy casserole of roasted acorn squash, combined with brown butter, brown sugar, and a thick layer of pecan topping.

In the event you haven’t observed from these brown butter toffee cookies, brown butter banana bread, or brown butter sage butternut squash ravioli sauce, I really like brown butter.

As a result of 1) butter typically provides a wealthy taste and a pair of) browning the butter provides a nutty, virtually candy taste, excellent for the vacations.

If you think about taking a chew of this cozy dish, consider your favourite candy potato casserole. We needed to make a variation of that to combine issues up. With regards to Thanksgiving aspect dishes, this is among the greatest.

Our purpose this vacation season is to supply new recipes that put a spin on the vacation desk classics (see savory bread pudding and boursin mashed potatoes(coming quickly))!

Contents

Why this Acorn Squash Casserole Works
Elements You Want
The way to Make Acorn Squash Casserole
Recipe FAQs
Recipe Variations
What to Serve with Acorn Squash Casserole
Meal Prep and Storing Suggestions
Extra Squash Recipes
Brown Butter Pecan Topping

Why this Acorn Squash Casserole Works

Scrumptious taste: Your style buds will love this acorn squash recipe that’s creamy, indulgent, aromatic, and flavorful.
Excellent fall meal: This dish is colourful, heat, and welcoming. It’s stuffed with the most effective fall substances like squash, brown sugar, and pecans.
Enjoyable Thanksgiving aspect dish: it options basic substances and casserole fundamentals, with a brand new ingredient.

Elements You Want

Listed below are the easy substances for this acorn squash casserole. Most are pantry staples and simple (and inexpensive) to search out in grocery shops. Soar all the way down to the recipe card for precise measurements and dietary info.

Acorn squash: The star of the present, you’ll use the entire acorn squash.
Olive oil: Substitute with avocado oil.
Kosher salt: Kosher salt is the most effective salt to prepare dinner with. Add to style.
Mild brown sugar: An amazing coconut sugar substitute, so be happy to switch with coconut sugar or maple syrup if wanted.
Flour: Use gluten-free if wanted. Bob’s Crimson Mill is our favourite gluten-free model.
Unsalted butter: Use vegan butter if wanted.
Eggs: Assist to bind the substances collectively.
Cinnamon: Only a pinch of cinnamon provides pure sweetness and a refined spiciness.
Vanilla extract: Provides sweetness and heat.
Uncooked pecans: Provides a pleasant crunch and makes essentially the most wonderful topping.

The way to Make Acorn Squash Casserole

The whole recipe is beneath, however let’s stroll by way of the steps with some photographs and a video so you could have a transparent concept of what to anticipate. This acorn squash casserole is very easy and these step-by-step directions will be sure it seems each time.

Roast the squash. Place the squash on a reducing board on its aspect and slice the acorn squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and stringy bits. Brush the insides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt to style. Place them skin-side-down on a big baking sheet and roast for 40-45 minutes.

Success tip: put the entire squash within the microwave for 1-2 minutes to melt the pores and skin and make it simpler to chop in half. We like to do that with spaghetti squash and butternut squash.

two process shots of how to roast acorn squash

Make the brown butter. Soften the butter in a small saucepan over medium warmth and prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes, till it bubbles, froths, and browns.

brown butter in a saucepan for acorn squash casserole

Make the pecan topping. In a separate bowl, stir collectively the remaining substances and put aside.

two process shots of pecan topping for acorn squash casserole

Mash the squash. Take away the squash from the oven and peel away the pores and skin or scoop out the within with a big spoon. Add the baked acorn squash to massive bowl and use a potato masher to roughly mash.

Tip: For an excellent smoother squash combination, use a meals processor or electrical mixer to mix it properly for a easy.

Combine the filling: Combine within the brown sugar, milk, flour, melted butter, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and a pinch of kosher salt.

two process shots of how to make acorn squash casserole filling

Bake. Switch the acorn squash filling to a casserole dish. Sprinkle with the topping and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Cowl the entire dish with aluminum foil if the topping begins to brown an excessive amount of.

two process shots of acorn squash casserole in a baking dish

Recipe FAQs

Is the pores and skin of acorn squash good for you?

The pores and skin of acorn squash is mostly suitable for eating and comprises some dietary worth, however it may be harder and fewer interesting in comparison with the flesh. In the event you resolve to eat the pores and skin, it is best to wash the squash totally to take away any dust or contaminants. It’s also possible to prepare dinner the squash with the pores and skin on, which may make it extra tender and simpler to eat.

Does acorn squash must be peeled earlier than cooking?

Acorn squash may be cooked with or with out peeling, and the choice to peel it or not is determined by your private desire and the recipe you’re following. Leaving the pores and skin on provides a nuttier taste. In the event you favor a smoother, creamier texture, you possibly can peel the acorn squash earlier than cooking.

Is acorn squash excessive in carbs?

Acorn squash is a starchy vegetable and does include carbohydrates, however isn’t extraordinarily excessive in carbs when in comparison with different starchy greens or grains. The carbohydrate content material of acorn squash can fluctuate relying on the scale and preparation methodology, however on common, it comprises roughly 15-20 grams of carbohydrates per 1-cup (205-gram) cooked serving.

Recipe Variations

It’s as much as private desire the way you may change up the unique recipe, however listed below are a number of concepts:

Add pumpkin pie spice, allspice, or recent ginger.
High with Parmesan cheese or mascarpone.
Season with black pepper for just a little spice.
As an alternative of pecans, high with walnuts or hazelnuts.

acorn squash casserole with pecan toppinig

What to Serve with Acorn Squash Casserole

Serve this acorn squash casserole as a part of your Thanksgiving menu, or only a fall dinner. Have it with flavors that complement it properly like this Thanksgiving salad or dairy-free inexperienced bean casserole.

You may’t have a correct Thanksgiving meal with out turkey, potatoes, and pumpkin pie! Comply with our recipes for cheesecloth turkey with herb butter, tacky scalloped potatoes, and dairy-free pumpkin pie.

Meal Prep and Storing Suggestions

Roast the squash prematurely and retailer within the fridge for as much as 5 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.

Alternatively, make all the casserole and retailer it within the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw it in a single day and reheat it the following day. Reheat within the oven at 350 till warmed by way of.

brown butter pecan acorn squash casserole

Extra Squash Recipes

We love winter squashes – and have loads of recipes to point out for it!

Within the temper for pasta? Make this butternut squash and spinach lasagna or purchase some butternut squash ravioli and canopy it on this butternut squash ravioli sage butter sauce.

For one thing lighter, do that fall salad with rooster, apples, and butternut squash or airfyer butternut squash.

Maple roasted brussels sprouts and butternut squash has the proper quantity of savoriness and sweetness mixed.

Servings: 10 servings

Brown Butter Pecan Topping

Roast the squash. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Slice the acorn squash in half and use a spoon to scoop out the seedy facilities. Brush the insides with olive oil and sprinkle with salt to style. Place them skin-side-up on a big baking sheet. Roast within the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes.
Make the brown butter. Soften the butter in a small saucepan over medium warmth. Cook dinner and stir for 4-5 minutes till it bubbles and froths. The froth will subside and it is best to begin to see small brown bits kind on the underside of the pan. Take away it from the warmth whenever you begin to see the brown bits and scent a definite nutty taste.
Make the pecan topping. Add the brown sugar, flour, pecans, sage, salt, and brown butter in a medium bowl and stir to mix.
Combine the acorn squash. Permit the squash to chill for 10-Quarter-hour, or till it’s cool sufficient to deal with. Peel away the pores and skin from the flesh or scoop it out with a spoon. Add the acorn squash to a mixing bowl and blend properly with a potato masher. For actually easy filling, use an electrical mixer to mix it properly. Combine within the brown sugar, flour, melted butter, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and a pinch of kosher salt. Style the filling with a spoon and add extra salt as wanted.
Bake. Flip the oven temperature all the way down to 350°F. Switch the acorn squash filling to a 9×13-inch or different 3-quart baking dish. Sprinkle the brown butter pecan topping evenly over high. Bake for 35-40 minutes, till the edges are effervescent and the pecans are golden brown. Cowl with foil with the nuts have gotten too brown too shortly. Serve heat with crispy sage or flaky sea salt.

Be aware 1. Acorn Squash. For simple reducing, place every acorn sq. within the microwave individually for 1-2 minutes to melt it. Permit it to chill barely and lower it in half lengthwise. Repeat with every squash.

Vitamin info is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.