29 Butternut Squash Recipes to Get You Through the Winter Our favorite autumn vegetable stars in soups, pasta, sides, salads, and desserts—and we love them all! Close Credit: Ryan Liebe Thanks to its smooth, easy-to-peel surface and rich, sweet flavor, butternut squash has become the MVP of the gourd world. Like its relations—other winter squash such as acorn and kabocha—butternuts are at their best from early fall through winter. The big difference is that butternut squash is larger than most other winter squash, ranging in size from 6 to 12 inches long and 2 to 5 pounds. They have a hard, light-tan rind and golden orange flesh. This vegetable stars in all kinds of favorite fall recipes, such as soups and pasta, and shines during the holiday season when used in side dishes (cue the creamy gratin). It's also used to make a show-stopping and beloved Thanksgiving pie. We're fans, so you know we'll be roasting and baking butternut squash through the fall and into winter for purees, soups, and so much more. What to Look for When Buying Butternut Squash Choose a butternut squash that feels heavy for its size. The skin should be smooth and uniform in color with a matte surface. Ones with a fat neck and small bulb will have the smallest seed cavity and will yield the most meat. Avoid any that have soft spots, bruises, or mold. Butternut Squash with Brown Butter How to Store Butternut Squash Once you find a good one, you'll be pleased to know that it's a keeper. This hardy squash can be kept for up to three months in a cool, dry place. But remember that butternut squash will not last as long in a warm kitchen. For optimal storage, keep them in the basement or another cooler place if possible. Do not refrigerate the whole squash, but once cut, butternut squash can be wrapped tightly and refrigerated. Now that you're ready to cook your butternut squash, check out our favorite recipes that put this autumnal ingredient on full display. 01 of 29 Butternut Apple Salad With Lemon-Pepper Frico Credit: Murray Hall Sweet-tart apples pair with sweet-nutty butternut squash in this ultimate winter salad. The squash is sliced thin and briefly steamed, preserving its flavor while imparting a crisp-tender texture. A mustardy anchovy dressing amps up the umami, as do Italian-style frico crisps (grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cooked in a thin layer until crunchy). View Recipe 02 of 29 Squash and Chocolate Spice Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Credit: Murray Hall This sheet cake uses grated squash and butternut works wonderfully as a swap for the calabaza the recipe calls for. Chunks of semisweet chocolate and five-spice powder bring sweetness and a kick and contrast deliciously with the rich, tangy frosting. View Recipe 03 of 29 Butternut-Squash Roast With Pistachio Yogurt and Grain Relish Credit: Ryan Liebe Let butternut squash be the star of dinner by making this magnificent roasted dish. Simply roast a halved squash and serve with cooked farro mixed with pomegranate arils and capers, atop a swoosh of yogurt puréed with pistachios for the most colorful and nutritious vegetarian meal. View Recipe 04 of 29 Baked Farro Risotto With Golden Vegetables and Goat Cheese Credit: Chris Simpson Butternut squash is diced and grated in this delicious vegetarian main that comes together in an hour. Farro adds a nutty flavor, while the beets bring an earthy taste that perfectly evens out the sweetness of the butternut squash. View Recipe 05 of 29 Brown-Sugar Butternut-Squash Pie Credit: Will Anderson Want a more unique Thanksgiving pie? Use butternut squash instead of pumpkin for the filling. The squash is roasted, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla, and amped up with evaporated milk before being surrounded by a fancy fishtail-braided crust. View Recipe 06 of 29 Butternut-and-Boursin Shells Credit: Yunhee Kim Butternut pulls double duty in this quick weeknight pasta—caramelized, shredded squash goes into the sauce, and roasted squash cubes are tossed in before serving. View Recipe 07 of 29 Spicy Squash Salad With Ginger-Lime Dressing Credit: David Prince A fiery, aromatic dressing with shallots, lime juice, Thai chiles, and ginger balances out the sweetness of steamed butternut squash perfectly. View Recipe 08 of 29 Butternut-Squash and Kale Gratin Credit: Chris Court Kale is sandwiched between layers of butternut squash, then topped with cream, Parmegiano-Reggiano, sage, and panko in this luxe gratin. View Recipe 09 of 29 Winter-Vegetable Red Curry Credit: Bryan Gardner Canned goods including coconut milk and red curry paste transform butternut squash, carrots, and peppers into a hearty, flavor-packed stew. Serve with rice, grape tomatoes, and basil the first night, then turn the leftovers into a sensational potpie using store-bought puff pastry. View Recipe 10 of 29 Orecchiette With Butternut Squash and Sage Never throw out butternut squash pulp and seeds again! Instead, toss them into this simple pasta dish. Ricotta and poppy seeds give it extra oomph. View Recipe 11 of 29 Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlic Dip Tahini, turmeric, and cayenne turn up the volume on this sweet and savory dip. It's just the thing for fall entertaining. View Recipe 12 of 29 Squash Hash With Kale and Baked Eggs Credit: David Prince Not your usual hash skillet, this one is filled with festive fall vegetables forming a nest for sunny baked eggs. Try it for brunch or lunch. View Recipe 13 of 29 Butternut Squash Soup With Coconut Milk and Ginger Credit: Bryan Gardner Vegan soup for the win! This irresistible dish starts with a base of roasted butternut squash, then adds fresh ginger for a little heat and a swirl of coconut milk for creaminess. Skip crackers or croutons, and sprinkle with toasted squash seeds for crunch. View Recipe 14 of 29 Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna Butternut squash lasagna, flavored with sage and grated nutmeg and layered with sheets of homemade pasta, is autumn in a baking pan. View Recipe 15 of 29 Butternut Squash Quesadilla Credit: Bryan Gardner This recipe is just the thing for using up leftover roasted butternut squash. It's mashed, then teamed with pickled jalapeños and two types of cheese—goat and mozzarella—for the quesadilla filling. View Recipe 16 of 29 Roasted Vegetables With Quinoa Credit: Bryan Gardner Sweet butternut squash along with hearty Brussels sprouts star in this delicious take on the quinoa bowl. View Recipe 17 of 29 Shaved-Butternut-and-Carrot Salad With Dates and Sunflower Seeds Credit: Ryan Liebe Carrots are no surprise in a winter salad, but paper-thin shavings of uncooked butternut squash are a revelation: They have a very gentle garden sweetness and a crisp texture. View Recipe 18 of 29 Butternut-Pear Soup Credit: Johnny Miller The flavor of pears is wonderful with earthy squash. Another great combo: This soup plus a grilled cheese sandwich makes a cozy, comforting lunch. View Recipe 19 of 29 Chili-Lime Roasted Butternut-Squash Salad Credit: Johnny Miller Chili powder, lime juice, honey, and cilantro add an unexpected zing to roasted squash in this memorable fall salad. View Recipe 20 of 29 Spicy Butternut Squash Meatloaf Mix up your meatloaf routine with this flavorful variation combining butternut squash, pancetta, and sage. View Recipe 21 of 29 Butternut Squash Soup With Shrimp Turn creamy squash soup into a satisfying main course with the addition of shrimp, plus a garnish of sour cream and fried sage. View Recipe 22 of 29 Chickpea and Butternut Squash Stew Credit: Marcus Nilsson This North African-inspired chickpea and butternut squash stew gets its depth of flavor from homemade harissa. View Recipe 23 of 29 Lacinato Kale Salad With Roasted Squash Credit: Marcus Nilsson Not your everyday side salad, this one marries raw kale with roasted butternut squash and shallots, toasted hazelnuts, and aged goat cheese shavings. The dressing is simple: just lemon juice and flaxseed oil. View Recipe 24 of 29 Butternut Squash and Bacon Quiche Arrange thin slices of butternut squash, whole bacon strips, and sage leaves over custardy filling to make this piece of edible art, a slab quiche that serves as both the main dish and the centerpiece. View Recipe 25 of 29 Gluten-Free Butternut Squash, Apple, and Hazelnut Muffins Credit: Marcus Nilsson Combined with grated apple and steamed squash, hazelnut flour, which is rich in healthy fats, ensures a perfectly moist texture in these autumnal treats. View Recipe 26 of 29 Butternut Squash Pudding Credit: Marcus Nilsson A rich savory side dish or vegetarian main, this recipe combines roasted and mashed butternut squash with béchamel sauce, eggs, butter, and parmesan cheese. View Recipe 27 of 29 Butternut Squash Crumble Call it a casserole or a gratin if you prefer, this savory crumble has a crunchy topping like your favorite apple dessert but its filling skews savory. Chunks of butternut squash are sautéed, then cooked in a round baking dish, topped with a rich herbed crumble topping, and everything is baked till golden. The recipe calls for chicken stock but swap in vegetable stock to make a vegetarian dish. View Recipe 28 of 29 Braised Chicken With Butternut Squash and Cranberries This lightly spiced braised chicken dish makes a wonderful fall dinner. Chicken legs cook with coriander, nutmeg, and fresh sage. Chunks of butternut squash, red onion, and dried cranberries make it a colorful meal. View Recipe 29 of 29 Macaroni and Cheese With Butternut Squash Credit: Sang An One of our favorite ways to sneak in a vegetable, this mac and cheese includes butternut squash that’s cooked in milk and stock before being mashed. And, it's extra rich creamy thanks to the addition of ricotta. View Recipe Explore more: Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Vegetables