Winter Squash Recipes I Stuffed Squash Recipe

By Candace Braun Zafirellis

Published 10/29/2025

In This Article

Types of Winter Squash
How to Cook Winter Squash
Stuffed Squash Recipes Using Acorn Squash
Healthy Butternut Squash Recipes
Healthy Squash Recipes Worth Making Again and Again

Rugged on the outside, but naturally sweet and tender on the inside, winter squash recipes add brilliant color and warm seasonal comfort to fall and winter meals. Winter squash also happens to be really good for you. This vitamin powerhouse is naturally loaded with vitamins A, C and B6, plus lots of healthy minerals. It’s nature’s heart healthy food because it's low in fat for healthy cholesterol levels and low sodium, but high in potassium for better blood pressure (hypertension) management.

Best of all, winter squash is economical. A couple bucks gets you a lot of squash. Winter squash recipes make generous portions, enough for multiple dinners. Whether you roast it, bake it, or purée it into soup, these hearty winter vegetables bring cozy flavor to weeknight dinners and holiday menus. That’s why we’re sharing tips on how to cook winter squash to make healthy meals, along with healthy squash recipes that are simple, seasonal and delicious.

Winter squash pair naturally with fall spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, sage), lean meats, whole grains, and hearty greens. They’re satisfying yet nutrient dense, so your cold weather winter squash recipes feel sweet and comforting and still fit a wholesome pattern.

Whether you’re making butternut squash recipes, acorn squash recipes, or learning how to cook winter squash for quick weeknight meals, this vegetable is not only healthy but versatile. You can even swap winter squash into many dishes that call for pumpkin to expand your lineup of winter squash recipes.

Types of Winter Squash

Hearty, sweet and built for roasting, winter squash has dense flesh and a tough rind that stores for weeks, making it ideal for cold weather cooking. Their natural sugars caramelize in the oven, making them stars of winter comfort food, from soups and chilis to a cozy stuffed squash recipe.

Butternut: Smooth, sweet, and silky when puréed. Great for creamy soups, sauces, and a classic butternut squash risotto recipe. A staple in many butternut squash recipes because it blends easily.
Acorn: Small, ribbed, and perfect for halving and baking. The bowl shape makes it a natural for any stuffed squash recipe with grains, veggies or lean protein.
Delicata: Thin, edible skin and tender flesh; roasts quickly on a sheet pan. Excellent for salads, tacos, and weeknight sides.
Spaghetti squash: Bakes into noodle-like strands. Use anywhere you’d use pasta for a lighter dish with a pasta-like texture.
Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin): Deeply sweet, dense texture that holds shape. Ideal for curries, braises, and roasting; delicious in cold-weather stews.
Red kuri (Hokkaido): Chestnut-like flavor and creamy texture; shines in velvety soups and baked casseroles.
Hubbard: Large and meaty with rich flavor; perfect for big batches of soup, chili or freezer-friendly bakes.
Buttercup: Sweet and dry flesh that roasts beautifully; mash into cakes, muffins, or fold into risottos and gratins.

How to Cook Winter Squash

Here’s how to cook winter squash for all of your favorite seasonal recipes:

Trim a thin slice off the top and bottom so it sits flat.
Halve the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
Place cut side down in a baking dish with about 1/4 cup water.
Bake at 350°F until the flesh is tender when pierced with a fork.

If you’re short on time, many stores sell peeled, pre-cut butternut squash for sheet-pan roasting—an easy way to start mastering how to cook winter squash recipes at home.

Stuffed Squash Recipes Using Acorn Squash

Sweet, nutty acorn squash makes weeknight cooking feel special without extra work. These acorn squash recipes use simple methods to deliver fiber-rich, seasonal dinners that are cozy, balanced and holiday-friendly.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

75 mins

This cozy stuffed squash recipe has quinoa, apples, cranberries, and walnuts baked inside tender acorn squash, making it plant-forward and full of fall flavor. Olive oil and pumpkin seeds add satisfying texture and healthier fats, making it holiday-ready or perfect for weeknight dinners.

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Baked Acorn Squash

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

75 mins

Halved acorn squash roasts until caramelized, then gets a simple mix of dried fruit and pecans for a naturally sweet, crunchy side. It’s a fast, festive addition to your healthy fall recipe lineup that skips heavy sauces but delivers plenty of flavor.

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Chicken Stuffed Acorn Squash

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

60 mins

This healthy and hearty meal fills roasted acorn squash with lean chicken, sweet potato and brown rice, plus warming spices. You get balanced protein, fiber and classic fall comfort in an easy baking dish.

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Healthy Butternut Squash Recipes

Creamy when puréed and naturally sweet when roasted, butternut squash shines in cozy weeknight dishes and make-ahead meals. These butternut squash recipes use simple techniques and heart healthy swaps—think whole grain pasta, low sodium broth, and lighter dairy—to deliver comfort in every bowl. Here’s a video that explains how to cut butternut squash for these healthy and seasonal recipes.

Butternut Squash Risotto

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

60 mins

A lighter take on a classic butternut squash risotto recipe, this dish is made with Arborio rice slowly stirred with broth, onion, garlic and fresh herbs, then finished with a touch of nuttiness.

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Butternut Squash Soup

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

60 mins

This velvety soup blends butternut squash with aromatics and warm spices for a smooth, soothing cup. It’s an easy make-ahead option that showcases the comfort of butternut squash recipes without the use of heavy cream.

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

90 mins

Roasted butternut purée enriches a light, homemade cheese sauce for oven-baked comfort with a golden top. You get classic mac and cheese satisfaction while adding vegetables for an all-star meal.

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Butternut Squash Chili

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

60 mins

Lean protein simmers with butternut squash, tomatoes and warm spices for a hearty, veggie-forward chili. This heart healthy recipe is fall in a bowl, showing how butternut squash recipes can be both comforting and packed with hearty goodness.

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Butternut Squash Pasta

Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

60 mins

A silky butternut-based sauce coats pasta and tender broccoli for a lighter, veggie forward take on a creamy pasta dish. It’s a quick dinner that adds variety to your weekly meals.

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Healthy Squash Recipes Worth Making Again and Again

Winter squash makes dinner feel warm and special without a lot of fuss. Roast a pan of squash on Sunday and you’ve got a head start for soups, chilis, pastas, salads and a cozy stuffed squash later in the week. From butternut to acorn squash, these winter squash recipes bring comforting flavor, fiber, and feel-good nutrients to your plate. Pick one to try tonight and another for your holiday table to enjoy the cozy comforting flavors you crave in a healthier package.

Here are more healthy fall and winter vegetable recipes to try:

14 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes: Fall Favorites Made Lighter

Healthy Comfort Food Recipes for Cozy Fall and Winter Meals

10 Healthy Savory Sweet Potato Recipes

Cozy and Easy Healthy Fall Recipes

Quick and Healthy Fall Recipes Using Apples and Pumpkin