Paula Deen's Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar - Recipe Diaries (2024)

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Acorn squash is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that can be easily baked in the oven for a healthy and satisfying meal. This versatile ingredient can be used in a variety of recipes, from savory to sweet, and is perfect for anyone looking to add more vegetables to their diet.

Paula Deen's Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar - Recipe Diaries (1)

I had this acorn squash sitting on my counter forever and I had this plan to make a Thai soup with curry paste and coconut milk. This recipe for baked acorn squash with brown butter I've been seeing a lot on the Internet lately and it looks so good. It's a Paula Deen recipe so you know it's going to be good!

When you take the squash out of the oven, you'll notice a glorious pool of butter, maple syrup, and brown sugar just waiting to be scooped up an eaten with your choice of kitchen utensil. Your house will smell amazing and you'll have some of the best acorn squash you've ever tasted! This is how I'm used to making squash because my family always had it this way.

If you like Paula Deen recipes try her recipe for Paula Deen's Crock Pot Mac and Cheese, Crock Pot Potato Soup, or Hash Brown Quiche.

Jump to:
  • How to know if an acorn squash is cooked?
  • Ingredients Needed
  • Squash Variations
  • How to Make Baked Acorn Squash
  • What to serve with acorn squash?
  • Recipe FAQS
  • More Great Recipes to Try :
  • Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter

How to know if an acorn squash is cooked?

To check an acorn squash for tenderness prick it with a fork. If the flesh is tender on the inside it is ready to eat.

Ingredients Needed

  • Acorn squash - is also packed with nutrients. It is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, and is low in calories and fat. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking to improve their overall health and wellness.
  • Brown sugar - Is made by combining granulated white sugar with molasses, which gives it a brown color and a slightly different taste than regular white sugar.
  • Butter, softened -is the most commonly used type of butter in baking, as it allows for more control over the amount of salt in the recipe.
  • Maple syrup - is a delicious, natural sweetener that comes in different grades and types, each with its own unique flavor and color.
  • Salt and Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Squash Variations

For a sweet twist on this savory vegetable, try baking the squash with a sprinkle of cinnamon and brown sugar. This makes a delicious side dish or dessert that is perfect for fall. You can also stuff the squash with a mixture of apples, walnuts, and raisins for a healthy and satisfying dessert option.

How to Make Baked Acorn Squash

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Scoop the seeds and stringy pulp out of the squash cavities and discard. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, syrup and salt and pepper, to taste. Rub the squash cavities and cut sides of the squash with the butter mixture and place them on a baking sheet, cut side up. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.
  3. When the squash is done baking cut it in half and then into quarters. The serving size is ¼th of the squash.
Paula Deen's Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar - Recipe Diaries (2)

What to serve with acorn squash?

There are many ways to prepare acorn squash, but some of the best accompaniments include rice, quinoa, roasted vegetables, and a variety of meats. Try this recipe for Thai Quinoa Salad with Fresh Herbs.

Acorn squash is a versatile vegetable that can be paired with a variety of side dishes and main courses to create a delicious and nutritious meal. Whether you prefer sweet or savory flavors, there are many ways to prepare acorn squash that are sure to please your taste buds.

Paula Deen's Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar - Recipe Diaries (3)

Recipe FAQS

How to know if an acorn squash is cooked?

To check an acorn squash for tenderness prick it with a fork. If the flesh is tender on the inside it is ready to eat.

How do I store leftovers?

Always store leftovers in clean, food-grade containers. The type of container doesn’t really matter. Use zip lock, glass, plastic, whatever! Make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container.

More Great Recipes to Try :

  • Paula Deen Corn Casserole
  • Paula Deen Banana Pudding (Not Yo Mama's)
  • Oatmeal Cookies 3 Ingredients
  • Blueberry Smoothie with Peanut Butter

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Paula Deen's Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar - Recipe Diaries (8)

Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter

★★★★★4.4 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Jenna
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 1 hr 10 min
  • Yield: 4 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar and Butter is my favorite way to have squash and it can be cooked in the oven or air fryer!

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 acorn squash, cut in ½
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Scoop the seeds and stringy pulp out of the squash cavities and discard. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, syrup and salt and pepper, to taste. Rub the squash cavities and cut sides of the squash with the butter mixture and place them on a baking sheet, cut side up. Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork.
  3. When the squash is done baking cut it in half and then into quarters. The serving size is ¼th of the squash.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Paula Deen

My WW Personal Points: 6 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)

Serving size: The picture shows the squash cut in half but it is actually meant for 4 servings. So cut each half into quarters.

  • Category: Easy
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 225
  • Fat: 6
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 10
  • Protein: 2

Keywords: baked acorn squash

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kathy Gonzalez says

    I grew up in a famiy of 7. We always got 1/2 squash each. Less meat that meal but we didn't care because we loved this squash. ❤

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Paula Deen's Baked Acorn Squash with Brown Sugar - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

How long do you bake acorn squash at 350 degrees? ›

1. Place squash halves, cut sides down, in a baking dish. 2. Bake in a 350°F oven 45 to 50 minutes or until tender.

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.

What is the difference between acorn squash and golden acorn squash? ›

The most common variety is the Green Acorn with a dark green ridged outer skin and a deep yellow to orange flesh. The Golden Acorn has a pumpkin orange colored outer skin with the traditional orange inner flesh. Both the Green and Golden are smaller sized Acorn squash.

Do you eat the skin of baked acorn squash? ›

“It's definitely OK to eat squash skin,” Rayna Joyce, vegetable production manager at Bread and Butter Farm in Shelburne, Vermont, told me. “Some (winter) squash have really delicate skins and they become tender when cooked. You can bake them and eat the whole thing.”

How long do you keep squash in the oven? ›

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the squash on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss well. Arrange the squash in one layer and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the squash is tender, turning once with a metal spatula.

How do you know when squash is done in the oven? ›

The squash is done when tender.

The squash is ready when you can easily pierce a fork through the flesh all the way to the peel. The flesh will also separate easily into spaghetti-like strands.

How healthy is baked squash? ›

For vitamins and nutrients, one serving of butternut squash is packed with:
  • More than 100% of your daily requirement of vitamin A.
  • Nearly 40% of your daily requirement of vitamin C.
  • About 15% of your daily requirement of magnesium.
  • About 12% of your daily requirement of potassium.
Jun 5, 2023

What is the most delicious squash? ›

  1. 1 • Delicata / Sweet Dumpling. These are the most delectable of the pepo squashes, often much sweeter than their close cousins, the green acorns. ...
  2. 2 • Kabocha. ...
  3. 3 • Butternut. ...
  4. 4 • Acorn. ...
  5. 5 • Spaghetti. ...
  6. 6 • Buttercup. ...
  7. 7 • Hubbard.

Is acorn squash better for you than butternut squash? ›

Acorn squash: It has less vitamin A than butternut but provides even more fiber (9 grams per cup) and potassium (896 mg). Pumpkin: This squash has beta carotene and also contains more than twice as much alpha carotene as butternut squash.

Which squash is better, butternut or acorn? ›

The principal difference is that a butternut is starchier than an acorn. This makes it smoother in texture, which gives it more versatility in how it is cooked or served. Acorn squash is generally eaten just the way it comes out of the oven or steamer, while butternut can be mashed, puréed, made into soup, etc.

Do you cook acorn squash cut-side up or down? ›

After the acorn squash is cut in half and scooped to remove the seeds, it can be cut into wedges or roasted or baked cut-side down. Roasting cut-side down allows for the subtle caramelization of the flesh and it's just divine.

Is there a trick to cutting acorn squash? ›

Cut around the tip of the squash and up the other side.

Once you've made that first cut, things get easier. Continue cutting the squash around the tip, and move up the other side. It's fine to lift your knife and reposition the squash as you go, especially if it feels like your knife gets stuck.

How long does it take for squash to get soft in the oven? ›

Gather the ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place squash, cut-sides down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour 2 cups water into the dish around the squash halves. Bake in the preheated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 1 1/2 hours, adding more water as needed.

What is the temp range for squash? ›

Planting. Summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a warm-season crop that grows best at average temperatures between 65 and 75 °F. Squash seeds do not germinate well in cold soil.

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