12 Easy Squash Recipes to Put on Repeat for Fall Dinners

Butternut Squash Soup
Photo:

© Frances Janisch

Fall means many things: apples, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts. But when you’re not knee deep in galas and granny smiths, you’re probably turning your attention to another one of the season’s hallmarks: squash. Whether it’s butternut or kabocha, acorn or spaghetti, squash is one of our go-to vegetables when the weather starts to cool, and we rely on it for quick sides or easy mains for weeknights and dinner parties alike. So, here are 12 of our favorite low-lift squash recipes that you should add to your repertoire this season.

01 of 12

Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Pancetta

Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Pancetta
© Maura McEvoy

This simple and satisfying risotto was inspired by a dish from Wanda and Giovanna Tornabene's famed restaurant, Gangivecchio, in Sicily. You can substitute bacon and most types of winter squash (like delicata) for the ingredients used here.

02 of 12

Roasted Acorn Squash with Garlic Butter and Burrata

Roasted Acorn Squash with Garlic Butter and Burrata
Con Poulos

Chef Dave Beran created this wonderfully indulgent vegetarian dish of roasted sweet squash topped with just-melted burrata. It's fantastic with a lush Chardonnay.

03 of 12

Roasted Kabocha with Maple Syrup and Ginger

Roasted Kabocha with Maple Syrup and Ginger
John Kernick

Cookbook author Melissa Clark likes sweetening up slices of roasted winter squash, so she roasts them with maple syrup, olive oil, fresh ginger, and thyme. It’s a simple idea, but the combination of flavors highlights the squash in a delicious way. Another bonus: The recipe can easily be made ahead and served at room temperature.

04 of 12

Delicata Squash and Sausage Crostata with Ricotta and Honey

Delicata Squash and Sausage Crostata with Ricotta and Honey
Justin Walker

In their book Wine Food, sommelier Dana Frank and recipe developer Andrea Slonecker pair funky, bright wines with flavorful, vegetable-forward dishes. They compare crostatas and galettes to pizza, making them the perfect weeknight dinner. This version layers fennel-spiced sausage, chile, delicata squash, and honey for a dinner that pairs well with a northern Italian Dolcetto.

05 of 12

Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut Squash Soup

© Frances Janisch

Adding collard greens, bell pepper, corn, and carrot to a rustic butternut squash soup makes for a flavorful bowl of brilliant colors. Pinto beans and bacon provide additional elements of texture and taste.

06 of 12

Spaghetti Squash Salad with Pine Nuts and Tarragon

Spaghetti Squash Salad with Pine Nuts and Tarragon
© Rinne Allen

Spaghetti squash, which separates into spaghetti-like strands when cooked, is an excellent base for this easy salad from chef Patrick Stubbers. The recipe would also be good with roasted cubes of butternut squash.

07 of 12

Acorn Squash Saltimbocca

Acorn Squash Saltimboca Recipe
Caitlin Bensel

"Acorn squash is a favorite of mine because when it’s fresh from harvest, its skin is quite tender and delicious," writes cookbook author Ann Taylor Pittman. "I’ve given it the saltimbocca treatment here, lining wedges of the squash with fresh sage leaves, wrapping them in prosciutto, and roasting to crisp up the pork and caramelize the edges of the squash."

08 of 12

Spice-Roasted Butternut Squash

Spice Roasted Butternut Squash

© Matt Armendariz

Cumin, coriander, and cayenne bring warmth and spice to this tender roasted squash.

09 of 12

Roast Chicken with Butternut Squash

Roast Chicken with Butternut Squash

© Andrew Purcell

Chicken quarters roasted with golden squash and sage are nice for a chilly autumn evening. To help the squash brown evenly, be sure to spoon off the fat from the roasting pan after removing the breasts.

10 of 12

Kabocha Squash Salad

Kabocha Squash Salad
Marcus Nilsson

Bitter greens are the perfect foil for the sweet, caramelized kabocha squash in this hearty, festive salad from Jessica Koslow of Sqirl in Los Angeles. It's an interesting, tasty alternative to your normal salad that brings all the fall flavors you're craving. Make it on a weeknight and then pack your leftovers for lunch.

11 of 12

Orecchiette with Butternut Squash, Cinnamon, and Mint

Orecchiette with Butternut Squash, Cinnamon and Mint

© Sarah Bolla

Butternut squash and orecchiette pasta get a huge dose of flavor thanks to cinnamon, red pepper flakes, and lemon in this brilliant, quick recipe. It's a great go-to weeknight pasta dish for the season and takes just 35 minutes to whip up.

12 of 12

Roasted Delicata Squash with Quinoa Salad

Roasted Delicata Squash with Quinoa Salad

© John Kernick

To create a terrific vegetarian main course, Michael Symon of Cleveland's Lola tosses quinoa with arugula, apple, raisins, and fresh herbs, then spoons the salad into a halved baked squash for a beautiful presentation.

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