Maple Roasted Acorn Squash

5 from 5 votes

This Maple Roasted Acorn Squash recipe is simple, elegant, and completely delicious with its caramelized maple syrup glaze -- perfect for a Thanksgiving or Holiday side dish!

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Total Time45

Course: Side Dish

Servings:

Calories: 210kcal

Author: Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

1 acorn squash (1 1/2 pounds) seeded, halved and sliced into 3/4" pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
1 minced garlic clove
salt and pepper to taste

garnish

fried sage leaves, optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
In a large mixing bowl toss together squash, oil, salt, and pepper.
In a small mixing bowl combine syrup, melted butter, and garlic.
Spoon half the syrup mixture onto the squash and toss together until evenly coated.
Line a sheet with parchment paper. Spread squash pieces onto the prepared baking sheet in a single, even layer.
Roast squash for about 15 minutes or until squash begins to soften. Flip each piece and brush with more syrup mixture.
Continue to roast for an additional 12 to 15 minutes until fork tender and lightly caramelized.
Top with fried sage, if using, and serve.

Notes

Tips and Tricks for Perfectly Roasted Acorn Squash

If you've been intimidated by this little green and orange fruit (yes, acorn squash is actually a fruit, not a vegetable!), just follow these simple tips and tricks for perfectly roasted acorn squash every time.

Choose a ripe squash. When selecting acorn squash, pick ones that are heavy for their size, have no soft spots or bruising, and there is a good mix of orange (not yellow) and green on the skin. If the skin is shiny instead of dull, it's not yet ripe, and if the squash is mostly orange, it may be too ripe.

Prepare your squash by cutting it in half with a sharp knife and a non-slip cutting board. These babies can be slippery, so be extremely careful when cutting. Scoop out the seeds and stringy pieces with a spoon, leaving the smooth flesh inside. Then, flip the squash flesh side down and slice it into half moons. Slice the squash into 1/2-inch slices to keep cooking as even as possible.

Don't crowd the pan! When baking acorn squash slices, make sure to leave space in between each slice. This helps the squash caramelize.

Wait for the oven to preheat. Roasting at 400°F is crucial for caramelizing your acorn squash without burning. If you cook lower than this, the squash will cook through but won't brown up, and if you get the temperature too high, the maple syrup and butter mixture may start to burn.

Nutrition