This Whole Roasted Butternut Squash uses a simple method so there’s no need to peel or chop it. It takes just seconds to prepare before throwing it in the oven.
And once it’s done, this easy side dish is ready to be eaten as is, quickly turned into mashed squash or blended into a soup.
Plus it’s naturally vegan, Paleo and Whole30 friendly!
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Whole Roasted Butternut Squash
For many, the idea of peeling and chopping a butternut squash is too scary to even attempt. They’re too big, too hard, to difficult to grasp.
But what if I told you there was a very easy solution? What if I told you you didn’t have to chop it at all before roasting it?
When you roast a butternut squash whole, you still get the slightly sweet, earthy flesh without any of the fuss.
See below for ideas about what to do with the squash when it’s cooked.
What you need for a whole roasted butternut squash
Ingredients:
- one butternut squash, any size
Equipment:
- a stainless steel baking sheet
- aluminum foil
- a paring knife
- a knife large enough to cut through the squash once it’s done cooking
How to prep a whole butternut squash
Step 1: Heat the oven to 425°.
Step 2: line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. I know some people are against using foil but believe me, greasing the baking sheet directly isn’t good enough. You need the foil.
Step 3: Lay the squash on the foil. Use a paring knife to stab the squash in the bottom until you don’t feel any more resistance. This means the knife has reached the cavity where the seeds are. This will let steam escape as it cooks.
Step 4: Then just place the baking sheet in the oven!
How to long to roast a butternut squash
Some might say it depends on the weight of the squash but this isn’t quite true. It really depends on its size. A 2-pound squash can be short and wide or it can be long and narrow (or anything in between). The wider one will need more time in the oven than the narrow one.
But the great thing about roasting a squash is that it’s very forgiving. If you roast it a little too long, it’ll still be okay.
So I always err on roasting it for a bit longer than I think I need to.
In any case, if you aim for 60-90 minutes, the squash should be roasting all the way through.
For reference, the squash in these photos is about 2.5 pounds and took 75 minutes.
The skin might get very dark but that’s okay. We’ll just discard it later anyway.
When the time is up, pull the baking sheet out of the oven.
Use a knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise (it should be very soft) and split it open. This will let the heat escape so it cools down quicker.
Once it’s cool enough to handle, scoop out the seeds and discard.
Now the flesh is ready for use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
First, use a spoon to scoop the flesh out of the skin. Then you have various options:
Stir in your favorite fat like butter, extra virgin olive oil, ghee or bacon fat, plus salt and pepper, and eat it as is. This butternut mash is a great side dish with chicken, pork and beef, or as a base with chili or meatballs.
Blend it with vegetable or chicken stock, plus salt and pepper, and heat it up for an easy soup. Or add apples and onions for my Roasted Butternut, Apple and Cardamom Soup.
Mix with other mashed root vegetables and tubers you like, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips or acorn squash.
Once the flesh is scooped out of the skin, it can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
It can also be frozen in an air-tight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
You can but I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if it has a non-stick insert. When I’ve cooked a whole butternut squash this way in a slow cooker, it had an off taste. I’d stick with the oven.
Other recipes you might like:
- Roasted Butternut, Apple and Cardamom Soup (vegan, Paleo, Whole30)
- Smoky Bacon Chili with Mashed Butternut Squash (Paleo, Whole30)
- Turkey Meatballs with Parsnip “Spaghetti” (Paleo, Whole30)
- Cocoa and Sweet Potato Chili (Paleo, Whole30)
- The 4 Best Ways to Cook Parsnips (vegan, Paleo, Whole30)
Whole Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 (2½-3 lb.) butternut squash
Instructions
- First, heat the oven to 425°.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay the squash on the foil. Use a paring knife to stab the squash in the bottom until you don't feel any more resistance. This means the knife has reached the cavity where the seeds are. This will let steam escape as it cooks.
- Roast for 60-90 minutes, depending on its thickness, until a knife slides easily into the center. The skin might get very dark but that's okay!
- Use a knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise (it should be very soft) and split it open. This will let the heat escape so it cools down quicker. Once it's cool enough to handle, scoop out the seeds and discard.
Notes
- Stir in your favorite fat like butter, extra virgin olive oil, ghee or bacon fat, plus salt and pepper, and eat it as is. This butternut mash is a great side dish with chicken, pork and beef, or as a base with chili or meatballs.
- Blend it with vegetable or chicken stock, plus salt and pepper, and heat it up for an easy soup.
- Mix with other mashed root vegetables and tubers you like, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips or acorn squash.
jennifer says
This was so much easier than I expected! Thanks for all the great tips, I will now stop buying ridiculous over priced prepped cubes in the produced department.
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Glad you found it helpful!
Jean Choi says
This is perfect for Sunday meal prep. Love having roasted butternut squash around for various sides, and my toddler loves it mashed too.
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Yeah, it’s so handy to have a batch of it in the fridge.
Shelby says
Roasting the squash makes such a better flavor if using it just for salads! This is a great meal prep recipe because then you can use it mashed/salads/etc
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
Good point – SO good for meal prep!
Stacey Crawford says
I’m excited to try this method of roasting the whole squash. It is always so hard to cut them in half before cooking them. The butternut squash apple cardamom soup sounds so good!
Paleo Gluten Free Guy says
I know, they can be such a pain to cut. Hope you like this method!