20 Winter Squash Recipes to Try This Season


“Winter squash” is a bit of a misnomer. In fact, these vegetables really come into season in late summer and early fall. As the temperature starts to drop, I find myself looking for the best winter squash recipes and ways to use up all the good stuff piled up in grocery stores, markets, and farm stands. Lucky for all of us, too, their buttery flavors add so well to soups, salads, and pastas, and even stand up as heroes to many of the meatless dishes I’ll be eating throughout the season.

You are probably already familiar with a few vegetables that fall into this family. Butternut and spaghetti squash have become fan favorites in recent years, but I’d also recommend trying your hand at a recipe that includes delicata or red riri squash this fall. Keep scrolling for tips on how to identify the seven most popular varieties of winter squash, as well as some must-try recipes below.

How Do You Tell When A Squash Is Ripe?

To tell if a squash is ripe, you’ll need to check the outside. The skin should be matte in color (if it is shiny, it is not ripe) and should have a firm exterior.

Throughout the season, I can pick up kabocha squash, delicata squash, sugar pumpkin, acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and red squash to try out in my winter squash recipes. Of course, when I’m in full-on fall mode, I can’t help but grab little pumpkins and pumpkins, too! These are mainly used for decoration but can be found in other recipes.

How to Identify the Seven Most Popular Winter Squash

  • Kabocha: squat, green squash with faint white stripes running up and down the surface
  • Delicata: yellow cylindrical squash with green and orange stripes on the hills
  • Sugar pumpkin: a small, almost round pumpkin with a bright orange color
  • Acorn: green squash with thick ridges all over
  • Butternut: bell-shaped squash with a peachy yellow exterior
  • Spaghetti: a round squash with a bright yellow exterior
  • Red Kuri: a warm orange squash with a curved shape

20 Winter Squash Recipes to Satisfy Your Seasonal Cravings

This is your cue to pick up a squash you haven’t tried the next time you’re at the grocery store or farmer’s market. For me, the hardest part of trying new foods is finding ways to incorporate them into recipes. Below I’ve shared 20 delicious recipes using my favorite varieties of winter squash.

roasted honeynut squash recipe with raddichio, goat cheese and pecans

Roasted Honeynut Squash with Hot Honey, Pecans, and Rosemary

Let me introduce: a simple yet hearty side dish packed with flavor. The natural sweetness of roasted squash is perfectly balanced by the hot spicy honey and a sprinkling of bright salt. With minimal ingredients and great impact, a dish that will elevate any meal.

Squash and farro salad_how to keep the liver healthy

Squash & Farro Salad With Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecans

This salad is the perfect marriage of hearty and fresh, making it a great dish in any season. Roasted delicata squash and nutty farro form a satisfying base, while bright herbs and a bright vinaigrette add layers of flavor. Topped with creamy goat cheese and chopped pecans, this crowd-pleasing salad is as good as it is delicious.

butternut squash and apple tart with ricotta, a vegetarian Thanksgiving main course

Butternut Squash and Ricotta Tart

This butternut squash is big a stunner that looks more complicated than it really is. With a soft crust and creamy ricotta, layers of seasonal root vegetables come together to make the perfect cold-weather treat.

roasted squash

Roasted Delicata Squash with Feta, Almonds, and Herbs

If you don’t know, delicata squash is mildly sweet, caramelizes well, and is the perfect canvas for all the fall flavors. This particular recipe is served with a light dressing and plenty of toppings to make the squash a complete dish. The crunch from the almonds and the creaminess from the feta are the perfect icing on an already delicious cake.

Vegan butternut squash pasta.

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta

Both sweet and savory, this pasta is everything warm and cozy in a bowl. Sometimes it can be a challenge to make a creamy and decadent dish without dairy, but this pasta does just that (and more!).

Butternut-Squash-Flatbread-With-Arugula-Almond Ricotta

Butternut Squash Pizza With Arugula & Almond Ricotta

As the seasons come and go, one thing remains the same: my love for pizza. This butternut squash pizza has risen to the top of my favorite winter squash recipes because it’s seasonal, dairy-free (though you wouldn’t know it), and super delicious. Sweet squash and almond ricotta combined with savory bacon will have you coming back for third and fourth bites.

roasted butternut squash

Whole Roasted Butternut Squash

When it comes to cooking winter squash, roasting these roots is always my go-to preparation. In this roasted butternut squash recipe, all you need is two hours in the oven to create a delicious, filling, and fuss-free dessert.

My Go-To Meal - Chitra Agrawal Brooklyn Delhi Squash Soup

Roasted Winter Squash Soup

This delicious winter soup is Chitra Agrawal’s go-to weeknight meal, and I can’t blame her. I like that you can make it with any winter squash—butternut, acorn, kabocha, or delicata—so you don’t get tired of it. Plus, if you roast the squash ahead of time, this recipe comes together in one pot.

CS Clean, Slow Roast Cod

Slow Roast Cod with Broccoli, Winter Squash, and Mint

I love a recipe that sounds overwhelming, but comes together in minutes. (Bonus: it’s baked in one pan.) This roasted cod with broccolini, squash, and mint does just that, giving you a restaurant-grade meal with minimal effort. You can make this recipe with any firm white fish or winter squash, and the formula will be delicious every time.

butternut squash pasta with spinach and goat cheese

Butternut Squash, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Pasta

I’m a good fall pasta sucker, and this is one of the easiest and best recipes I’ve tried. A short list of ingredients comes together in just one bowl and is perfect for a cozy weeknight or wine night with friends. Take it from me: optional sage leaves don’t necessarily have to be optional.

Daphne Oz - Butternut Squash and Crispy Quinoa Recipe

Crispy Butternut Squash and Quinoa

This simple but delicious fall dish will be your midweek hero. Butternut squash is golden and crispy on the outside and creamy and warm on the inside—just the way I like it. Currant vinaigrette brightens the dish perfectly, complements the flavors of autumn, and brings it together. Also, you’ll want to bookmark this smart tip for cooking quinoa.

best fall dinner butternut squash soup

Curry Butternut Squash Soup

My roommate and I have started a new tradition this fall: Soup Mondays. I know you think Soup Sundays make more sense, but we hit on soup two Mondays in a row, and it stuck. This week it’s comforting curry butternut squash soup. The curry adds more flavor than the butternut squash soup, which is already a favorite of mine. It’s also freezer safe and is one of the best winter squash recipes for meal prep.

Wild Grain Salad with Winter Squash | Dinner with Britt Maren

Grain and Winter Salad

Salads feel like salads are trending on TikTok and this wild salad and winter squash salad should go viral. As far as leafy greens go, it’s a great recipe if you’re looking for something comforting yet healthy. Delicata and dumpling squash sits on a bed of rice and is topped with almonds, feta, and plenty of herbs to satisfy every taste.

Roasted Delicata Squash and Kale Salad

This Roasted Delicata Squash & Kale Salad is on My Thanksgiving Menu

This colorful and seasonal salad is the perfect addition to all your fall dinner parties. From Sheela Prakash’s cookbook Mediterranean Always Dno and it is as healthy as it is comforting. I like to make a batch of this on Sunday to last the whole week as it is full of vegetables that won’t go sour from the dressing.

Pita Tostadas // From Camille's Kitchen

Pita Tostadas with Butternut Squash, Black Beans, and Avocado

As much as I love squash recipes, sometimes they can all start to taste the same. These tostadas, however, are the perfect way to shake things up while still eating with the season. Camille took the clever approach of swapping the tortillas for pita bread in this recipe, which creates a perfect, golden brown crust for this Tex-mex spin on squash.

Roasted and Stuffed Butternut Squash with Pesto, Figs, and Goat Cheese

Roasted Butternut Squash Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Figs, and Pesto

Just the name of this recipe makes my mouth water. Butternut squash, goat cheese, and pesto are three of my favorite foods and thrown together—they can’t be beat. These are great affordable, healthy, vegetarian foods to add to your fall diet.

Delicata Squash Salad with Pistachios and Marinated Lentils

One of my favorite winter squash recipes is delicata squash salad. Add your favorite vegetables and top it with creamy pistachios and feta cream for a mouth-watering fall dish.

The perfect Thanksgiving side dish - Turmeric Roasted Kabocha Squash Salad | This Brown Kitchen

Roasted Turmeric Squash Salad

Celebrating everything we love most about fall in a simple, plant-filled way, this turmeric squash salad brings together an abundance of nutrients and a variety of flavors. Pumpkin seeds and cranberries add a little texture and texture to complement your delicious fall star.

vegan butternut squash soup recipe ingredients

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

This soup is my favorite way to dip into the squash season. It’s one of the best soups I’ve ever had while still tasting clean and healthy. Because of the coconut milk, it is very creamy without any cream. I highly recommend doubling this recipe and saving it for lunch or keeping it in the freezer for a rainy day.

Roasted Acorn Squash with Brown Butter and Hazelnuts by Half Baked Harvest

Roasted Acorn Squash

Brown butter and hazelnuts, with the spice from the chili flakes, create a flavor combination you didn’t know you needed.





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