Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

By Katie Moseman 30 Comments

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Rich, sweet roasted acorn squash is doused in maple butter and filled with maple butter roasted pecans to make it even more delicious.

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (1)

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

Once the tremendous heat of summer fades into the coolness of fall, I feel free to enjoy cooking even more than usual. It seems like less of a drawback to turn on the oven, and instead of resenting its warmth, I look forward to it.

For that reason, I’m much more likely to experiment with baking during fall. It adds a pleasant seasonality to the rhythm of life here in Florida, where there are far fewer visual signals (such as turning leaves) with which to observe the change of seasons. Roasting is a wonderful cooking method and can be used for all kinds of vegetables from squash to Brussels sprouts.

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (2)

Roasted squash is a well-known fall side dish, but I’m adding my own twist by incorporating some contrasting flavors. In addition to maple butter and crunchy pecans, I’ll be garnishing the finished roasted acorn squash halves with blue cheese crumbles. The piquancy of blue cheese and the sweetness of the squash bring an elegant balance to this dish.

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (3)

Blue cheese crumbles are a wonderful garnish. You can sprinkle a little or a lot on salads, side dishes, soups, pizza, sandwiches, and main courses. It adds flavor without as many calories as blue cheesing dressing.

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (4)

The combination of roasted squash, nuts, and sharp cheese works well in many combinations. Although maple roasted acorn squash is my personal favorite, there’s no reason why you couldn’t change it up. I think cubed butternut squash, walnuts, and goat cheese would be really good, too!

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (5)

Tips for Making Roasted Acorn Squash

  • Be careful when slicing the acorn squashes in half. The skin is tough, but control the force of the knife so that it doesn’t slip and endanger you.
  • Did you know that Grade B maple syrup works wonderfully for cooking? Most of us are familiar with Grade A, which has a more delicate maple flavor, but Grade B is stronger and well suited for keeping its flavor even when cooked. Either grade will do for this recipe.
  • If you’re looking for the best of pecans, seek out Georgia pecans. (I may be biased; my mom is from Georgia and has gifted me with many a bag of Georgia pecans over the years.) And say it “PEEH-cans,” not “puh-CAHNS” if you want to sound authentic.
  • I usually have unsalted butter in my fridge, but if you have salted butter, simply omit any extra salt.

If you like this recipe, you’ll LOVE my new cookbook that’s all about veggies!

Watch the Video Below!

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (6)

5 from 10 votes

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Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

Rich, sweet roasted acorn squash doused in maple butter and filled with maple butter roasted pecans, then topped with blue cheese crumbles.

CourseSide Dish

CuisineAmerican

Keywordautumn, comfort food, fall, thanksgiving, winter

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 282 kcal

Author Katie Moseman

Ingredients

  • 2acorn squash
  • 2tablespoonsunsalted butter
  • 2tablespoonsreal maple syrup
  • 1pinchsea salt
  • 1/2cupchopped pecans
  • Blue Cheese crumblesto taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a baking dish with foil or parchment for easy cleanup.

  2. Halve the squashes, then scoop out and discard the seeds and strings.

  3. Melt the butter with the maple syrup and sea salt, then stir to combine. Brush the cut sides of the squash with the mixture, allowing it to puddle in the center of each half.

  4. Stir the pecans into the remaining butter/syrup mixture and set aside.

  5. Bake the squash in the oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and scoop the pecans evenly into each squash half. Return the pecan-filled squash halves to the oven for 10 minutes.

  6. When finished, garnish with blue cheese crumbles and serve warm.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 282Calories from Fat 153

% Daily Value*

Fat 17g26%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Cholesterol 20mg7%

Sodium 115mg5%

Potassium 844mg24%

Carbohydrates 31g10%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 1020IU20%

Vitamin C 23.7mg29%

Calcium 129mg13%

Iron 1.9mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (7)

If you’re a maple syrup fan, you also must try these Maple Glazed Cashews.

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (8)

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Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (9)

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Comments

  1. Cindy Gordon

    Now THAT looks delicious! I love the addition of blue cheese! I have to look for that! It would be so easy to add to dishes! My Mother in Law LOVES blue cheese, I’ll share this with her!

    Reply

  2. Bites for Foodies

    You’ve combined some of my favourite foods, root veggies and pecans!! Also, I LOVE salt…I probably eat way too much more than I’m supposed to!

    Reply

  3. Censie Sawyer

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (10)
    I love acorn squash but I have never thought to prepare it with Maple butter. What a great flavor combination. Talk about a totally perfect fall recipe. Yum. I am going to make this next week.

    Reply

  4. Kristy @ Mommy Hates Cooking

    Real Maple Syrup is one of my favorite things in this world! Especially this time of year, it is the ultimate form of comfort food. What a great idea to add cheese to roasted Acorn Squash!

    Reply

  5. Kim Croisant

    What a perfect recipe for my Thanksgiving dinner. My husband loves Blue Cheese and I love pecans in anything!!! This combination is perfect, and I can only hope I can fit it in to my already planned menu. Thank you.

    Reply

  7. Margaret

    In Alabama we would never say peeh- cans. Only a yankee ? would say it that way. We say puh-cahns! I am making this for lunch today though.

    Reply

    • Katie Moseman

      Hi Margaret!

      It’s funny how in different areas of the South, it’s pronounced differently. Hope you enjoy! 🙂

      -Katie

      Reply

  8. cakespy

    DANG does this ever look good!! I love the idea of this maple butter business! <3 These little squashes are like nests of nourishing awesome.

    Reply

    • Katie Moseman

      This is possibly my favorite vegetable recipe ever. We had our first cold day today (Florida!) and it sounds really appealing to me even at 8 in the morning.

      Reply

  9. Darian

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (11)
    Tried this today; to my surprise, it was delicious!

    Reply

    • Katie Moseman

      So glad you liked it!

      Reply

  10. Dorothea

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (12)
    I’ve got this in the oven right now. Making it for my daughter and husband while I babysit. It smells delicious! Can’t wait to hear how the like it.

    Reply

  11. Beth

    I’m excited to try this! My mom just moved in with us for a short time and she loves acorn squash.

    Reply

  12. Melissa Chapman

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (13)
    That acorn squash looks amazing so I have to look for them where I shop. I love how you combined all those different flavors into a great fall dish.

    Reply

  13. Tasheena

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (14)
    OMG! This recipe looks so yummy. Looking forward to giving it a try. I know my family is going to love it.

    Reply

  14. Denay DeGuzman

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (15)
    What a gorgeous fall recipe! It looks so delicious. I’ve saved it to Pinterest to make it later this month. This acorn squash is stunning.

    Reply

  15. Amber Myers

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (16)
    Wow, this looks so delicious! I’ve never had anything like this. I need to try it out for sure. These photos are making me drool.

    Reply

  16. GiGi Eats

    I 10000% need to pick up an acorn squash today!!

    Reply

  17. Marysa

    My grandmother used to make acorn squash with maple syrup, so this recipe really takes me back to my childhood. I haven’t used maple butter before but it all sounds like a great combination.

    Reply

  18. Lisa Favre

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (17)
    This recipe looks absolutely incredible! I love squash and pecans so it’s totally meant for me – can’t wait to try and make it myself!

    Reply

  19. rika livingston

    I love squash! The maple butter and pecan flavors sound perfect for fall!

    Reply

  20. Karen Morse

    Okay, I need to give this one a try since I love butternut squash! I love the combination of the maple syrup with the saltiness of the cheese. It’s definitely going to bring out yummy flavors. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  21. Tiffany La Forge-Grau

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (18)
    Wow, I have never thought of something like this. I would really like to make this sometime!

    Reply

  22. HilLesha

    This looks delicious in every sense of the word! I’ll have to give this recipe a try sometime in the near future.

    Reply

  23. Ericka

    Wow! This looks so good! I’m going to making it for the family and see how they like it.

    Reply

  24. Shelley R Zurek

    Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (19)
    My husband loves acorn squash and pecans. What a fantastic recipe for him, acorn squash with maple butter roasted pecans

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Maple Butter Roasted Acorn Squash with Pecans • Recipe for Perfection (2024)

FAQs

Does acorn squash need to be peeled before cooking? ›

Good news: you don't need to peel acorn squash. Its hard, grooved skin softens significantly as it cooks, and it's edible, too. If you do want to remove the skin, wait until after you cook it, at which point it will peel right off.

Find Out More ›
Which is sweeter, acorn squash or butternut squash? ›

Acorn squashes are dark green, sometimes with yellow or orange patches. They are relatively small and round with sectioning similar to a pumpkin. They are sweeter than butternut squashes, and you can easily make them into dessert with some brown sugar, nuts and spices (like I do in this recipe).

Learn More ›
Do you eat the skin of roasted acorn squash? ›

Next time you roast a squash like acorn, butternut or honeynut, try leaving the skins on and give them a nibble. Be sure to scrub the skin well, Joyce recommends, to remove any dirt or debris. The pleasantly chewy texture may just surprise you, plus you can never go wrong with more fiber.

See Details ›
Is it OK to eat raw acorn squash? ›

Skip eating most hard-skinned squash raw. "Hard skinned squash is difficult to eat raw," Marz says. "They are usually much larger in size, have a harder flesh, and are much more fibrous." Examples of hard-skinned squash that should not be eaten raw include: pumpkins, delicate, butternut, Hubbard, and acorn.

Read On ›
Is it better to roast squash face up or down? ›

Is it better to roast butternut squash face up or down? I personally prefer to roast my butternut squash with the cut-side-up. In my opinion, roasting it cut-side-up allows for the butternut squash to caramelize, rather than just steam and cook.

Discover More Details ›
Should acorn squash be baked cut side up or down? ›

How to Bake Acorn Squash. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the squash halves cut side up on the baking sheet. (Cut side down works too, but I prefer the slightly firmer texture that you get when you roast it cut side up.)

Learn More ›
Is there a difference between roasting and baking squash? ›

Most recipes say to either bake or roast butternut squash—but what's the difference? While both cooking methods will turn the tough, raw gourd into a soft, sweet ingredient, roasting butternut squash is the more common process for achieving browned, crispy edges and a creamy interior.

See Details ›
How to tell when acorn squash is done cooking? ›

You'll know when the squash is done when you can easily insert a fork in the flesh. You want it tender, yet not mushy. If the squash is already cut in half, you can easily test if it is done by sticking a fork in the flesh of the squash. If it's fork-tender, it's done cooking and ready to eat.

View More ›
What knife is best for cutting acorn squash? ›

The 7-5/8" Petite Chef is a good knife for cutting acorn squash. Its sharp, long blade and comfortable handle allow for more control while cutting.

Continue Reading ›
Why is my acorn squash dry? ›

Selection: Acorn squash should be uniformly green and matte—streaks/spots of orange are fine, but too much orange indicates over ripeness and the squash will be dry and stringy.

Tell Me More ›

What is the best tasting acorn squash? ›

Table Ace Acorn Squash is well-known as the best tasting acorn squash on the market.

See More ›
Is acorn squash good or bad for you? ›

Acorn squash is a highly nutritious carb choice. It's rich in many vitamins and minerals that promote your health in various ways. The bright orange flesh of acorn squash is packed with vitamin C, provitamin A, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, iron, and manganese, all of which are critical for health.

See More ›
What is the most delicious squash? ›

Butternut squash have some of the best flavor of all! Butternut cultivars are pretty consistent when it comes to flavor. All have richly sweet, nutty flesh favored for all kinds of fall and winter cookery.

Find Out More ›
Do you leave the skin on squash when you cook it? ›

Some squash skin is edible, while other types of squash have tough skin that can be removed before cooking. Remove the skin of butternut, hubbard, buttercup, and turban squash. If you enjoy the taste, leave the skin on acorn, spaghetti, kabocha, and zucchini squash.

See More ›
Is it OK not to peel squash? ›

You can eat the skin, so there's no need to peel it. Simply halve it, scoop out the seeds and chop it into chunks, then roast it and add it to a warm winter salad or throw it into curries, stews or soups. You can also roast the seeds and eat them as a snack or sprinkled over a finished dish.

Discover More ›
How to make acorn squash easier to peel? ›

Place the acorn squash into a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes. Boiling the squash will help soften the skin and make the removal process easier. Boiling the squash is ideal for people who are not fully comfortable with using a sharp knife or a serrated peeler.

Discover More ›
How do you know when acorn squash is ready to cook? ›

One of the easiest ways is by noting its color. Ripened acorn squash turns dark green in color. The portion that has been in contact with the ground will go from yellow to orange. In addition to color, the rind, or skin, of acorn squash will become hard.

See Details ›

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