Acorn Squash is my favorite side with dinner in the fall. I believe there are many ways you can make this, this is just how I was taught and have made for many years. Hear me out though, “bacon”.. remember this for later!
Items Needed
- Acorn Squash
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Pepper
- Butter
- Maple Syrup
- Bacon
How Do I Prep This?
Start off by cutting your squash in half. I have done long ways and short ways, I think either way works just depends on your preference. Scoop out all the seeds and throw in the trash, or if you are handy, dry them out for next years seeds. Score the insides of the squash and rub a little olive oil in the inside of the squash and get ready to season.
How Do I Season This?
I like seasoning mine with salt and pepper to start with, however you don’t have too. Once you have sprinkled your desired seasonings on the squash, sprinkle on some brown sugar, cinnamon and maple syrup. Add some butter into the center and get ready to bake.
How-To Bake, Acorn Squash
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and place baking sheet on the middle rack. Baking the squash for around an hour. I check after 45 minutes to see how tender its getting. Some of the smaller squash don’t take as long to cook and some of the bigger ones take longer than an hour.
You want your squash to be tender to mash it all together inside the skin.
How-To Finish This
This part is a lot like twice-baked potatoes, if you have ever made them. You’re going to scrape the inside of the squash, mixing everything all together and mashing. My absolute FAVORITE part, is adding the bacon to the top. Freshly cooked bacon crumbles are THE BEST on top of this sweet squash, making it savory and sweet.
Seriously give it a try! Skip the bacon, if you aren’t into that kind of thing. But I promise you, you wont regret it. Full recipe is below!
Oven Roasted Acorn Squash
Equipment
- 1 Oven
Ingredients
- 1 Acorn Squash
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- Salt To Taste
- Pepper To Taste
- 2 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 3 tbsp Maple Syrup
- 2 Slices Bacon – Cooked Optional
- 2 tbsp Stick Butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut squash in half, removing the seeds and throwing in the garbage.
- Rub olive oil on the insides of the squash.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper, cinnamon, brown sugar on the inside of the squash.
- Pour your maple syrup over everything.
- Place 1 tbsp butter in each half of the squash.
- Place pan in preheated oven, on the middle rack for 1 hour. Checking at 45 minutes, to see how tender the squash is.
- Remove once cooked, mixing everything together. Add crumbled bacon to the top and serve.