Oven Roasted Butternut Squash

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe: A simple yet inspired dish for fall that's full of flavor from thyme, rosemary, and garlic.  These perfectly baked butternut squash cubes are vegan, naturally gluten-free, and will win over everyone in your family.  This simple recipe includes tips to cut the squash with ease!

Love butternut squash? Also try my Harvest Stuffed Butternut Squash, Sauteed Butternut Squash and Kale, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash, and Crock Pot Butternut Squash Soup.

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe

This Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe is absolutely the best easy-baked Baked Buttersquash recipe around.  It's got everything you looking for in a cozy fall side dish including it's simple to prepare, super tasty, and healthy.

With Fall slowly creeping into the mountains, I'm finally embracing the new season including this Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe.  I'm ready for all the pumpkin and fall and winter squash.  If you've never oven-roasted butternut squash cubes before, you are missing out.  The butternut squash browns a bit on the corners bringing out the natural sweetness and caramelization.

The result is a side dish that's easy enough for a weekday meal but elevated for the weekend or even a holiday table like Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Those little cubes are basically fall food perfection.

Why You'll Love It:

• This Baked Butternut Squash recipe is SO easy!  You just peel, chop and bake or oven-roast.
• It's a 5-ingredient, 25-minute recipe!  Since the squash is cubed, it doesn't take as long to make.
• It fits into many diets including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, clean eating, and more.
• Butternut Squash is a nutritional powerhouse that's low in calories, and high in vitamins and nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium.
• You can make these ahead and enjoy them all week! Serve them as shown, or add them to other dishes like pasta, quesadillas, or salads.

How to Cut Up Butternut Squash?

Curious how to cut up a butternut squash for Oven Roasted Baked Butternut Squash? If you've been wanting to make butternut squash at home, but buying a whole squash intimates you... let me help you!  Don't let that be the reason you don't make this recipe... it's surprisingly simple.

• My first trick is to poke a few holes in the butternut squash like a potato and pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes.  A few minutes in the microwave will soften it just a touch so it's easier to touch but not really cook it.
• Then use a sharp knife to cut the bottom and top off so it can stand on it's own.
• Next, use a sharp vegetable peeler to peel the skin off.

• Using a sharp large chef's knife, you can cut the butternut squash in half twice. <--- I like these knifes!
• Scoop out the seeds like pumpkin using a spoon.
• Finally, cut it into even cubes about 1 inch cubes thick.

It is simple, but please be careful as cutting the squash can be tricky.  Keep your fingers away from the knife.

If cutting the squash still scares you they do sell already cut cubes in many grocery store's produce sections these days.

Ingredients in the Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe:

Here's an overview of the ingredients you'll need for the Baked Butternut Squash, but keep scrolling for the full recipe amounts.

• Butternut Squash: You'll want about 4 cups of cubed butternut squash.  An average size squash is about 2 pounds and that should give you about the right amount of squash for this Baked Butternut Squash.  Look for a squash that feels heavier than its size.  It should have a matte finish and not shiny.  If it's shiny it was picked too early.  Also, look for blemishes and dark spots, you'll want one that is free of those.
• Garlic Powder: You can use fresh but I like how garlic powder evenly coats my roasted vegetables.
• Herbs: Thyme and rosemary is the way to go!  You can use fresh or dried.
• Olive Oil: A bit of extra virgin olive oil provides just enough coating so the spices stick.  You can also substitute other preferred oils like avocado oil or coconut oil.

Herbs for roasted butternut squash...

You could easily follow the sweetness of the butternut squash and roast it with cinnamon and nutmeg but I love the savory side of this dish.  Thyme and rosemary pair perfectly together and bring out the flavors of the squash cubes in a savory way.  You can also use some of the herb blends I have here.

• Herbs de Provence
• Italian Spice Mix
• Cajun Seasoning
• Homemade Chili Seasoning
• Taco Spice Mix

Instructions:

Wondering how to bake butternut squash? Here's how:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Cut the squash into cubes using the directions above.
3. In a big bowl, toss the butternut squash in olive oil, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
4. Line a baking sheet with foil, spray with cooking spray, and evenly distribute the squash on the pan.  Put it in a single layer for the best roasting.
5. Roast until the squash is fork tender and you have some browned edges.  It should take about 20 minutes.  Check it often so you don't miss the sweet spot of the squash having color, but not actually burning.

How Long to Roast Butternut Squash Cubes in the Oven

It takes about 20 minutes to roast butternut squash in the oven.

Temperature to Roast Butternut Squash

I've found 400 degrees to be the sweet spot to roast butternut squash.

Tips & Variations:

• When shopping for a whole butternut squash look for one that is darker in color with no green patches.  The skin should be matte vs. shiny, heavy for its size, and sound hollow when you tap it.
• Cut the squash into the same size cubes so it roasts evenly.
• If you want to use fresh herbs use a bit more than the recipe calls for.  Use 1-2 teaspoons of both the rosemary and thyme.
• For a sweet squash dish coat with maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Storage & Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.  To freeze, put the squash on a tray and freeze in a single layer.  Once frozen, transfer to a storage bag or freezer safe container.

Reheating

You can easily reheat butternut squash in the oven until it's warm.  You can also use the microwave but the texture will not be the same.

Is Butternut Squash Healthy?

YES! This gorgeous orange superfood is filled with antioxidants including vitamins C and b-carotene.  It's also high in potassium and fiber.

This butternut squash recipe is healthy because it uses no sugar or butter and has just a touch of olive oil.  One serving (an entire cup!) is only 73 calories.

Is it better to roast or steam butternut squash?

I think it is much better to roast butternut squash because the texture is better.  Steamed butternut squash can be soft and mushy but roasted or baked butternut squash has a crispy, caramelized exterior with a soft middle.  I think this is the best way to bring out the flavor and texture of the squash.

How do you know when butternut squash is done baking?

It will be fork tender.  That means you prick the cooked butternut squash cube with a fork and if it goes through the flesh easily, it is done.   You shouldn't meet any resistance.  Don't cook the squash too long though because it can get burnt and turn mushy.  Cooking times can vary because of the temperature of the oven and the exact size of your cubed squash.

This Oven Roasted Butternut Squash is the Best Baked Butternut Squash!

I love this Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe and hope you do too.  The rich caramelization oven roasting makes this baked butternut squash is so tasty and irresistible.  You can serve this as a simple side dish or add it to a salad, eggs, in a quesadilla, or even in a hearty vegetable bowl.  Any way you eat it, this a fabulous way to let those gorgeous fall flavors shine.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

What to serve with the squash:

This recipe is great as a side dish with any of your favorite dinners.  It's also great in bowls or salads.  Anywhere you see sweet potato you can swap it for this butternut squash.

• Fall Harvest Farro Bowl
• Harvest Bowl
• Fall Harvest Salad
• Lemon Garlic Kale
• Lemon Pesto Salmon

More Healthy Squash Recipes to Love:

• Healthy Baked Acorn Squash
• Farro, Cranberry, Walnut & Mushroom Stuffed Acorn Squash
• Crock Pot Butternut Squash Soup
• Maple Rosemary Roasted Delicata Squash
• 4 Ingredient Baked Spaghetti Squash Marinara
• Harvest Stuffed Butternut Squash,
• Sauteed Butternut Squash and Kale
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash

If you make this Baked Butternut Squash recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe

Julie Wunder

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe: A simple yet inspired dish for fall that's full of flavor from thyme, rosemary, and garlic.  These perfectly baked butternut squash cubes are vegan, naturally gluten-free, and will win over everyone in your family.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Side Dish, Vegetarian

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 73 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 cups butternut squash, cubed
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
• Cooking Spray

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees and spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.
• Put cubed squash, garlic, thyme and olive oil in a large bowl and mix well.
• Pour coated squash on a cookie sheet and spread evenly. Try to keep the pieces from touching.
• Roast in oven for 20 minutes until crispy on edges.

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airthight continer in the fridge for up to five days.

Follow my instructions in the post to cut up a whole butternut squash or buy the pre-cubed squash in the produce section of the grocery store.

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 493mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 14882IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe

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