Description
A cozy fall favorite, this sausage stuffed acorn squash is hearty, flavorful, and perfect as a main course or festive side dish.
Ingredients
Acorn Squash:
2 medium acorn squash
2 tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp salt (or more, to taste)
Freshly ground black pepper
Sausage Filling:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced
10 oz spicy Italian sausage, crumbled
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
4 oz fresh spinach
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
Roast the Acorn Squash:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Slice off the tops and bottoms of the acorn squash to create flat bases, then slice in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and stringy flesh.
Place squash halves cut side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and rub evenly. Season with salt and pepper.
Turn squash halves cut side down and roast for 30 minutes.
Prepare the Sausage Filling:
While squash is roasting, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
Add crumbled sausage, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. Cook for about 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Add fresh spinach and cook for 5 more minutes until wilted.
Stir in dried cranberries and chopped pecans. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Stuff and Bake:
Remove roasted squash from the oven and turn them cut side up.
Divide the sausage mixture among the 4 squash halves, stuffing generously.
Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and return the stuffed squash to bake for 10–20 minutes, until heated through.
Notes
Sausage Tip: Spicy sausage balances the sweetness of the squash and cranberries. Sweet sausage may result in an overly sweet dish.
Vegetarian Option: Replace sausage with a plant-based alternative or cooked quinoa + mushrooms for a vegetarian version.
Make-Ahead: Prepare the filling in advance and roast squash earlier in the day; assemble and bake just before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Side Dish
- Method: Roasting, Baking
- Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
