Roasted butternut squash - crispy and caramelized on the outside, soft and buttery on the inside - is the perfect alternative to potatoes.
It's easy to make this 40-minute recipe when you use pre-cubed squash, which is widely available in supermarkets.
Butternut squash is the perfect alternative to potatoes or sweet potatoes. When baked in olive oil it's just wonderful - crispy and caramelized on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside.
This is one of my favorite side dishes to make this time of year (mashed butternut squash is another good one). It's the best kind of comfort food - homemade, delicious, and truly easy to make.
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make roasted butternut squash. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Cubed butternut squash: I make life easy for myself and buy it already cubed from Whole Foods. I believe most supermarkets offer it too.
Olive oil: Olive oil is delicious. If you'd rather use an oil with a higher smoke point, you could try avocado oil, or - better yet - melted butter or ghee, which are more flavorful.
Kosher salt: If using fine salt instead, you might want to reduce the amount you use.
Spices: Garlic powder and chili powder. Make sure they are fresh! A stale spice can easily ruin a dish.
Instructions
Roasting butternut squash is so easy! I use pre-cut squash cubes that are available at Whole Foods and at my local supermarket. I toss the cubes with olive oil and seasonings, then roast them in a hot oven until beautifully crispy.
The detailed instructions for making this recipe are included in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:
Toss the squash cubes with oil and spices. I sometimes use my hands just to ensure everything is well-coated.
Arrange them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure the baking sheet is rimmed.
Roast until browned and tender, about 30 minutes at 425°F, gently stirring midway through baking.
Expert tip
You can mince a couple garlic cloves instead of using garlic powder. The flavor will be stronger. However, garlic powder does have the advantage of more evenly coating the squash cubes. Just make sure it's fresh.
Frequently asked questions
Not very long! That's the beauty of using cubes rather than roasting a whole squash. In a 425°F oven, it only takes about 30 minutes.
As it turns out, it's fine to eat the skin, especially if you use petite butternut. It's mostly a question of texture. If not roasted long enough, the skin could be tough and unpalatable.
As I said before, I buy pre-cut squash cubes. These do not come with the skin. But if you buy a whole squash and cut it yourself, it's up to you whether to leave the skin on or peel it.
Not exactly - it's less starchy and the flavor is obviously different. But as far as substitutes do, this is a very good one indeed, and the experience of eating it is not very far from that of eating potatoes roasted in olive oil.
Variations
In this recipe, olive oil, garlic, and chili powder combine to create a wonderfully intense flavor experience. Another option is to use butter, garlic powder, and Parmesan.
Some people like to use brown sugar or maple syrup. Personally, I'm not a big fan of sweet-tasting side dishes - I prefer to save my sweet-tasting foods for dessert!
But if you'd like to give it a try, simply drizzle the squash cubes with 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, then bake.
Serving suggestions
Since I bake the squash in a 425°F oven, I like to serve it with a main course that I can cook in the same oven. So I often serve it with one of the following:
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days:
This is one of those recipes where the leftovers, while not as good as the freshly cooked dish, are actually very tasty.
They're very good when gently reheated in the microwave on 50% power. They are also surprisingly good when eaten cold straight out of the fridge!
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Recipe card
Roasted Butternut Squash
INGREDIENTS
- 1.5 lb butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or ½ teaspoon fine salt)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with high-heat-resistant parchment paper.
- Place the butternut squash cubes in a large bowl. Add the olive oil and use your hands to mix it into the squash cubes.
- Add the salt, garlic powder, and chili powder. Mix well.
- Arrange the coated butternut squash cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes. Gently stir, then continue roasting until tender, 10-15 more minutes.
- Serve immediately. Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Gently reheat them in the microwave before serving.
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NOTES
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NUTRITION PER SERVING
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 