How to Roast Butternut Squash

Learning how to roast a butternut squash turns it into a golden brown, caramelized delight that opens the door for so many delicious dishes. Use it to switch up your weeknight veggie or to add amazing flavor to wide variety of recipes, from soups and salads, to curries and grain bowls, and more!

Why Roast Butternut Squash?

Butternut squash has a sweet, savory, and nutty flavor, as well as a lovely moist texture when cooked. It’s extremely versatile, making it a great addition to any soup, side, or main dish.  The key to get the best flavor and texture out of a butternut squash is a good roasting. Once you’ve mastered the perfect roasting technique (that’s so simple!), you’ll fall in love with this beautiful gourd in all of its forms. You can eat it right out of the oven because of the caramelized exterior, but beware the smooth and soft inside will leave you wanting more.

You can roast butternut squash 3 main ways. This tutorial teaches how to roast the whole butternut squash. You can, however, slice it in half or dice it before roasting it. Depending on the recipe you’re making, you may want to roast your squash differently. Whichever method you use, the result will be the same: a sweet taste and flavorful dish.

Is Butternut Squash Healthy?

Yes!  Butternut squash is not only delicious but also packs a lot of vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants. This low-calorie, high-fiber winter squash is a great hydrator, has a low glycemic index, boosts immunity, and can help with blood pressure. It brings a lot of health benefits, including that it may help protect against cancer, heart disease, and mental decline.

What Do You Need for Roasting a Squash?

The materials and equipment to use are basic tools you probably already have at home.  You will need an oven, a baking sheet or baking dish, and a large sharp knife. If you wish to roast squash in little cubes, a paring knife may be needed or a good vegetable peeler to remove the squash’s tough skin.

How to Prepare Squash for Roasting?

First, select the best butternut squash for roasting. You want to select a squash that feels heavy in comparison to its size. The best butternut squash is one that has a nice beige-ish tint. Deep scratching, cutting, or soft places are not typical. Squash with brown patches or punctures should be avoided since those can introduce bacteria and mold.

Next, to keep things simple, you can roast the butternut squash whole. This recipe calls for roasting the entire butternut squash. If you choose to cut your squash in half or dice, the only difficult step is cutting it. Trim the stems and bottoms first. This method makes slicing down the center considerably easier. 

For best success, use a sharp knife and a gentle rocking motion to cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Clean and dry the seeds if desired, then roast them separately for a healthy snack (see this roasted pumpkin seed recipe for the method that can also work for squash seeds).

How to Roast Butternut Squash?

Making roasted butternut squash is super easy! Here’s what you need to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. 
2. Put the whole squash on a baking sheet and bake for an hour.
3. After cooking, let it cool a bit so it is safe to handle. Then scoop the squash out of its skin and use it in any dish, such as butternut squash soups, mashes, sauces, risottos, baked goods, and so on.

If roasting halved:

• Bake the butternut squash face-down to obtain a little extra steam and a wonderful caramelized color on the cut side from the pan.

If roasting diced:

• Some recipes call for you to peel the squash and chop it into cubes. Peeling it might be time-consuming, so using a vegetable peeler will help.

Which Seasonings Are Best to Use on Butternut Squash?

The basic seasonings that I use are salt and pepper. However, there are tons of ways to kick the flavors up a notch.  To add flavors with minimal effort, here are a few ways to spice up your roasted butternut squash with sweet or savory spices.

• Classic garlic and herbs.  You will never go wrong with grated garlic cloves and fresh rosemary, thyme, or parsley.  
• A dash of chipotle powder, chili powder, cayenne, or cumin can bring a little spice to the dish.
• If you want it a bit sweet, add some ground cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut sugar, or a drizzle of maple syrup.

How to Store Leftover Butternut Squash?

Fridge: Roasted butternut squash can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

Freezer: Diced or chopped squash should be spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and frozen for 3-4 hours or until thoroughly frozen. After that, you can transfer it to an airtight container or plastic bag and keep it in a freezer up to three months.

How to Use Roasted Butternut Squash?

Baked butternut squash is great on its own as a simple side or main dish.  Your options, however, do not end there. Roasted butternut squash can be used in a variety of ways. This golden brown and caramelized squash can be part of the dish, soup, or even as a sauce.  Here are some of my personal favorites:

1. Roasted Butternut Squash with Indian Spices and Caramelized Onions – To give it even more flavor depth, I used spices like turmeric and garam masala in this fall recipe that tastes amazing any time of year.
2. Thai-Style Butternut Squash Soup – This pureed soup is hearty and warming on a cool night. The chilies in this Thai-style soup provide a nice kick of heat, while the coconut milk provides a touch of sweetness.
3. Butternut Squash Sauce and Roasted Veggies – Making a sauce with butternut squash and carrots is a delicious way to use roasted squash. This dish calls for steamed squash, but roasted squash would work just as well and add more flavor depth.

More Roasted Butternut Squash Uses

Vegan Dinners

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Vegan Appetizers

Butternut Squash Sage Biscuits

Vegan Side Dishes

Easy Butternut Squash Salad

Vegan Dinners

Butternut Squash Red Pepper Soup

If you tried this roasted butternut squash recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla