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If you want to learn how to cook butternut squash easily and perfectly every time then this is the post for you! Whether you prefer your winter squash cooked in the oven, the Instant Pot, or the microwave, we’ll show you the very best way to approach each method. Before you know it, you’ll have delicious butternut squash fit to serve as a side dish or main course.
🥗 What’s So Great About Winter Squash?
- 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 only require you to just cut in half!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, but you don’t have to! It really just depends. The skin of the squash is safe to consume, and it contains a lot of fiber and nutrients. Depending on the age of your squash, though, it can have a tough, unpleasant texture. I also recommend peeling the squash before cubing it if you plan to use that method!
Serve the squash as-is on the side of your favorite entrées. Cube and roast it with neutral oil, salt, and pepper, then toss the cubes on a salad for a little color and texture. Season and mash the squash into a mashed-potato-style side dish. Blend it into a soup. The options are endless!
Cooking butternut squash can take anywhere from 8 minutes to 50 minutes. It really just depends on the method you choose!
It’s considered a fruit! Squash contains seeds, and it comes from the flowering part of the plant, making it botanically a fruit. Most people consider it a vegetable when it comes to cooking, though.
👩🏼🍳 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!
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Great page, love the info…
Just FYI. the cubes also cook up great in an air fryer. Place in a plastic bag add a little oil of your choice, shake well. Place in air fryer 370 for 15 min. shake up 1/2 way thru. I like mine cooked heavily charred ( I go about 20 to 25 min) w/ a touch of Sour cream. Thanks, JI
Yum! Great suggestion!
I’m usually not a squash person, but the cubed & roasted version was really good. I used light olive oil, pepper and kosher salt.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you! I planted “winter squash” not knowing what I was getting and it yielded 12 big healthy butternuts…but then I didn’t know what to do! Now thanks to you, I’m no longer intimidated and I’m so excited to try it in so many ways!!
We are so happy to hear that! And what a bounty!
Wonderful! Easy way to know how to cook all this squash I got from my farm share.
We’re so glad to hear it!
Thank you for creating these tips!! VERY helpful indeed! God bless you too!
I love the fact that you’re giving several different ways and you include on what butternut squash to look for at the store and the different methods of cooking that you’re showing are the most popular. So much easier to just cut in half and take out seeds and that’s the only prep you need to do. Thank you for sharing an easy way to cook something very good for you
You’re welcome! Thank you for the great review.
Is the face of an butternut squash the inside of the squash or the outside of the squash
The inside of the squash. 🙂 Sorry about the confusion!
You gave nutritional inflation but without portion size as far as I can tell. How much squash do I get to enjoy for 115 calories?
One cup of butternut squash has 63 calories. 🙂
Perfect. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it, Shirley!
Thank You. I like how you listed 3 options. Very helpful.
Thanks Rachel!