How To Cook Butternut Squash (3 Ways)

If you want to learn how to cook butternut squash, this is the article for you! With recipes for cooking this hearty winter squash 3 ways – halved, cubed, or in the microwave for a super quick and easy version. Great as a side dish, or stuff it and enjoy as a main course!

What’s So Great About This Veggie

• Butternut squash is full of fiber and vitamins, and it’s low-calorie and low-fat! This fruit (YUP. Fruit! Not technically a vegetable, even though we cook it and treat it like it is.) is loaded with antioxidants, too.
• It’s a versatile side dish and perfect for the holidays! Pumpkin gets all the post-summer fruit attention, but butternut squash is a total autumnal rockstar in its own right. If you’re not including cooked butternut squash on your Thanksgiving table, you’re missing out!
• You can prepare it in the oven, Instant Pot, or microwave. It takes basically no effort to prepare, too – some methods require you to just cut in half!

How To Use It

What can you do with cooked butternut squash, you ask? Oh, SO MUCH! The options are virtually endless.

You can totally serve the squash as-is. It’s a delicious side and compliments a variety of main dishes. I also like to toss the roasted cubes on top of a salad for a little color and texture.

For oomph, you can season the cooked butternut squash with salt and pepper, then mash it with butter until you’ve gotten a sort-of mashed potato consistency.

With a few extra ingredients, you can blend the butternut squash into an incredible soup – check out our Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup recipe for all the details!

Can You Eat the Skin of the Squash?

Well, yes. Technically. It depends.

Cooked butternut squash skin is totally edible and it contains a lot of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Depending on the age of your squash, though, it can have a tough, unpleasant texture. If your squash is young, the skin may be tender enough to eat, but for older squash, you’ll probably want to scoop the flesh out instead.

Chef’s Tips

• If you’re roasting cubed butternut squash, you’ll want to peel it before you cube it. Don’t worry, a basic old vegetable peeler will do the trick!
• Sometimes you’ll want to cook butternut squash without any seasoning at all, but when you do want to add a little flavor, you can season the squash any number of ways. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on top, or use a dash of cinnamon and brown sugar. Brush the squash with avocado oil or drizzle a little maple syrup on top. Cooked butternut squash can be savory or sweet, which is a big reason I love it so much!
• How do you know which butternut squash to choose at the grocery store? It’s easy! Look for one that’s a solid, dark beige, without any green streaks or brown spots on the skin. If it’s punctured (that happens sometimes in transit) then skip that one – punctures can let bacteria into the flesh. The best butternut squash for cooking should feel firm and heavy for its size, so pick up two or three of comparable sizes and see how they feel.
• You can season and roast butternut squash seeds much like you would roast and eat pumpkin seeds, so don’t throw those babies out!

More Easy Side Dishes You’ll Love

• Whole30 Green Beans
• Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
• Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
• Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
• Simple Carrot Puree
• Amish Broccoli Salad
• Air Fryer Asparagus

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