Wondering how to roast acorn squash in the oven? I’ve got you covered. Cooking squash is so much easier than you might think. It takes just 5 minutes to prep and about 35 minutes to bake, and it is loaded with nutrients.
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Table of Contents
For years, I thought roasting squash was a huge task, but it really isn’t. A lot of recipes roast acorn squash with brown sugar or maple syrup, but to me, that’s just adding sweetness on top of sweetness. Unless you’re baking it to enjoy as a dessert, I like to lean into savory. I love using vegan butter or olive oil and a bit of salt and pepper to roast it.
Oven roasted acorn squash halves are the perfect squash to meal prep. Bake it one day, and use it throughout the week in several different meals like this wild rice bowl. I love how versatile it is. While it bakes, you can make a wild rice dressing to load it with, or prepare grains and beans to serve in a bowl alongside it. Alternatively, you can use it in this wild rice bowl recipe.
Nutrition For Mental Health
As a nutritionist, I’m a fan! One cup of acorn squash is rich in antioxidants and fiber, and vitamins B6, B5, C, and B1. It’s also an excellent source of potassium, manganese, magnesium, and copper. Acorn squash is also a good source of folate, niacin, and iron. A meta-analysis of epidemiological studies found that those who consumed a higher amount of dietary fiber had lower odds of depression.
Ingredients + Substitutions
Since this is a simple how to cook acorn squash in the oven tutorial, the ingredients are simple and straightforward. I don’t recommend any substitutions except for the oil if needed.
- Acorn squash: Oven roasted acorn squash is so easy to make. The acorn squash is quintessential to this recipe, so I wouldn’t substitute it.
- Oil: I used olive oil in this recipe. Alternatively, you could use vegan butter or avocado oil.
A full list of ingredients with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Cook Acorn Squash In The Oven
Are you ready to roast some acorn squash in your oven? Let’s get into it!
- Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- When you are considering how to prepare acorn squash, I recommend cutting each squash lengthwise from base to stem and removing the seeds.
- Drizzle olive oil over the squash flesh and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on your prepared baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the squash is fork-tender.
Storage Tips
Store any leftover squash in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. I don’t recommend freezing baked squash.
FAQ
I recommend roasting acorn squash in the oven at 400°F/205°C for 35-40 minutes.
Yes, you can eat acorn squash skin. You can also opt to not eat it if you prefer. Once roasted, the flesh separates from the squash skin very easily.
When it comes to roasting squash cut side up or down, it all depends on preference. I often prefer roasting it cut side down because then the natural sugars caramelize a bit along the cut surface, creating beautifully golden brown edges.
If you tried this Roasted Acorn Squash In Oven 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 for visiting!
Recipe
Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 acorn squashes, washed
- Drizzle of olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F/205°C. Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut each squash lengthwise from base to stem and remove the seeds.
- Drizzle olive oil over the squash flesh and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on your prepared baking sheet and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the squash is fork-tender.
Video
Nutrition
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Reference
Saghafian, F., Hajishafiee, M., Rouhani, P., & Saneei, P. (2023). Dietary fiber intake, depression, and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies. Nutritional neuroscience, 26(2), 108–126. https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2021.2020403
This was great. Very clear, the video was helpful too.
Thanks so much!