Stuffed Butternut Squash with Italian sausage, spinach, apples, and toasted pumpkin seeds is a fall-inspired weeknight meal that highlights the most effective of autumn’s produce, that includes winter squash, pink and inexperienced apples, and toasted pumpkin seeds! It really works nicely as a facet or a fundamental dish, and it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb.
Stuffed butternut squash with sausage and apples
Throughout Fall, I are likely to make numerous stuffed squash recipes, comparable to this apple stuffed acorn squash and this family-favorite Italian Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms as a result of butternut squash is considered one of my favourite substances! With this recipe, my objective was to create a easy and festive meal that may be becoming for the autumn season and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, utilizing primary substances but creating daring flavors. First, I roasted the butternut squash with simply olive oil, salt, and pepper to reinforce its pure sweetness. Whereas it roasted, I ready the filling utilizing Italian sausage, spinach, toasted pumpkin seeds, and diced Gala and Granny Smith apples. As soon as the squash was executed, I crammed it with this scrumptious mix of savory and candy substances. And identical to that, I’ve discovered a brand new fall favourite for each me and my husband! We love having fun with it as a fast weeknight meal or pairing it as a facet with steaks, pork, or rooster.
Why you may find it irresistible
- Unimaginable Taste. The dish is full of taste, that includes a sweet-savory mix of spicy sausage, wilted spinach, and pumpkin seeds that fantastically complement the pure sweetness of the squash. Granny Smith and Fuji or Gala apples add simply the correct amount of additional sweetness.
- Lovely Presentation. The colourful orange coloration of the stuffed butternut squash all the time makes it an attention-grabbing dish that’s positive to impress. It’s easy sufficient to whip up on a busy weeknight but additionally beautiful sufficient to serve at gatherings and events.
- Excellent for Holidays. This recipe makes use of seasonal flavors and substances and can make a beautiful addition to your fall and winter vacation menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Components
- Butternut Squash. Not solely is it scrumptious, however it’s additionally very nutritious. It is wealthy in dietary fiber, and an amazing supply of nutritional vitamins A, B6, C, and E, together with minerals like magnesium, manganese, and potassium.
- Sausage: I used spicy crumbled Italian sausage.
- Onion. I caramelize chopped onion flippantly initially. You need to use candy, yellow, or white onions.
- Spinach. I used contemporary spinach, however you may as well use frozen spinach (thawed and drained) or kale.
- Seeds. Pumpkin seeds add crunch and texture, however sunflower seeds or nuts like pecans or walnuts can be utilized as options.
- Apples. Contemporary apples present pure sweetness and texture. Select agency apples for higher presentation, utilizing a mixture of colours (inexperienced Granny Smith and pink Gala, Fuji, or Honey Crisp). Don’t peel the apples for a greater look!
- Olive Oil. Used for brushing the squash earlier than roasting.
- Seasonings. Simply salt and freshly floor black pepper are wanted.
Directions
Right here’s a visible overview of the instructions with step-by-step photographs. For the particular ingredient portions and detailed directions, please scroll right down to the recipe card.
Roast the Butternut Squash:
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice the butternut squash in half lengthwise, being cautious to maintain your fingers away from the knife. Scoop out the seeds and stringy flesh utilizing a spoon. Place the squash minimize sides up on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. Flip the halves so the minimize sides are down, lining the baking sheet with parchment paper for simple cleanup if desired. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes.
Make the Sausage and Apple Filling:
Whereas the squash is roasting, warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Sauté the diced onion for about 2 minutes, then add the crumbled sausage and prepare dinner for five minutes till browned. Stir within the contemporary spinach and prepare dinner till wilted, then add the diced apples and prepare dinner for a couple of extra minutes till warmed by. Season with salt and pepper, adjusting as wanted.
Put together the squash for stuffing:
As soon as the squash is roasted, take away it from the oven and switch the halves minimize facet up. Allow them to cool barely, then scoop out the flesh, leaving a couple of 1-inch border. See the photographs beneath for reference:
Meeting:
Combine the scooped squash again into the filling, then reheat the combination within the skillet. Stuff the squash halves with the sausage filling till leveled or barely heaped. Prime with toasted pumpkin seeds and serve.
Cooking ideas
- Select agency apples. Choose apples with a agency texture to stop them from changing into mushy when cooked with the sausage (after which saved and reheated). I like to recommend utilizing two colours—inexperienced and pink—for higher presentation. I used one Granny Smith and one pink apple, each unpeeled.
- Use your favourite greens. You possibly can substitute spinach with kale or different greens.
- Caramelization tip. Roast the squash on the bottom rack within the oven in the event you just like the darker caramelization look alongside the sides of the butternut squash.
- For straightforward cleanup, line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Save time by making ready the sausage filling whereas the squash is roasting within the oven.
Storage and reheating ideas
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Freeze. This dish may be simply frozen in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as 2 months. It freezes nicely – so it is an amazing recipe for meal prep and make-ahead meals.
- Reheat within the oven. To reheat, place the refrigerated squash in a preheated oven at 350°F and warmth for about half-hour or till all substances are warmed by.
What to serve with it
Serve stuffed roasted butternut squash alongside a Fall salad—I’ve fairly a couple of salad recipes that includes seasonal substances to select from:
- The Greatest Apple Spinach Salad
- Vacation Salad with Pecans, Mandarin Oranges, Pomegranate, and Dried Cranberries
- Pear Spinach Salad
- Apple Spinach Salad with Pecans, Goat, Cheese, and Maple-Lime Dressing
Different stuffed butternut squash recipes to strive
- Stuffed Butternut Squash with Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese
- Sausage Stuffed Butternut Squash with Spinach, Pecans, and Cranberries
- Southwestern Floor Beef Stuffed Butternut Squash
- Roasted Butternut Squash full of Corn, Zucchini, Parmesan, and Cream Cheese
- Butternut Squash with Spinach and Mushroom Cheese Combination
Sausage Stuffed Butternut Squash
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Components
Roasted Butternut Squash
Sausage filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 14 oz Italian sausage spicy, crumbled
- 5 oz spinach contemporary
- 2 massive apples (1 inexperienced apple, 1 pink apple cored and diced into small cubes)
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds toasted
Directions
Roast the butternut squash
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Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper for simple clean-up.
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Put together the butternut squash. Slice every one in half lengthwise. Preserve fingers away from the knife to keep away from harm. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and fleshy strands tangled with the seeds.
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Place butternut squash minimize sides up on a baking sheet. Drizzle the minimize sides of the butternut squash halves with olive oil and rub the oil into the squash. Season generously with salt and pepper.
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Flip the squash halves over, and place it minimize sides down on a baking sheet.
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Roast within the preheated oven at 400 F for 30 or 40 minutes.
Make sausage and apple filling
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Make the sausage filling whereas the squash is being roasted within the oven.
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In a big skillet, warmth olive oil, add diced onion, and prepare dinner it on medium-high warmth for about 2 minutes till cooked.
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Add the crumbled sausage and prepare dinner for five minutes or extra on medium warmth till it’s fully cooked by.
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Add contemporary spinach and prepare dinner briefly on medium warmth till the spinach wilts.
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Add the diced apples and stir all the things collectively, cooking for a couple of minutes till the apples are heated by.
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Season with salt and pepper. Most likely not essential for the reason that sausage is already normally salty.
Meeting
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By this time, you might have roasted the butternut squash for 30 or 40 minutes. Take away them from the oven and switch the cooked squash halves minimize sides up.
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Let it cool barely. Utilizing a spoon, scoop out the flesh, leaving a couple of 1-inch border alongside the perimeters. (For reference, I present the step-by-step photographs for this step above the recipe card). Add the scooped-out squash again into the biggest cavities and press it down.
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Reheat the sausage combination in the identical skillet you made it in to heat it up.
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Divide the sausage filling among the many 4 halves and stuff the squash till the combination is leveled or slightly bit greater.
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Prime with toasted pumpkin seeds and serve.
Vitamin
