Roasted Butternut Squash (Cubes and Halves)

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Enjoy roasted butternut squash two ways – in cubes and halves! Roasting imparts delicious flavor into the butternut squash and you can then enjoy the squash straight out of the oven as a side dish, or transform it into several delicious recipes, like the ones I’ve listed for you below!

Two ways of roasting butternut squash on a sheet pan.

When the weather gets chilly and fall is in the air, it’s time for hearty soups simmering on the stovetop and nourishing vegetables roasting in the oven. And one of fall’s most loved vegetables is butternut squash.

Roasting any vegetable always coaxes out their natural sweetness. That’s why I love roasted sweet potatoes, roasted acorn squash, and roasted Brussels sprouts. But my personal favorite is always roasted butternut squash.

Similar to sweet potato, butternut squash has a sweet, savory and nutty flavor with a soft, moist texture when cooked. It’s extremely versatile because you can roast it in cubes or halves, making it the perfect key ingredient for fall meals.

Roasted butternut squash ingredients on a table.

roasted butternut squash ingredients

It’s really easy to roast butternut squash. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Butternut squash: I’m roasting an average sized butternut squash today, which is about 3 pounds. But you can use a larger one, or two smaller ones as well. This recipe is really flexible, it simply depends on how much you’d like to make.
  • Olive Oil: You can use extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil to coat the butternut squash before roasting.
  • Salt and pepper: For seasoning, all you need is a little kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. But feel free to get creative with other spices and dried herbs. I have a few ideas listed for you below!

Pro Tip: You can microwave the butternut squash for 2 to 3 minutes to make the skin softer and easier to cut through.

Cubed butternut squash on a baking sheet.

How To Roast Butternut Squash Cubes

When it comes to dicing butternut squash, you can make the cubes as small or large as you’d like, though ½ to 1-inch cubes is fairly standard. I personally like to dice them into ½-inch cubes as they cook faster.

  • Peel and cut the squash: I’ve got a separate post with tips on how to peel and cut a butternut squash, so make sure to read that. But after the squash is peeled, slice it in half, scoop out the seeds, and then dice it into cubes.
  • Season the cubes: Add the cubes to a baking sheet, drizzle about 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil over the cubes, and season with salt and pepper. Just make sure that your baking sheet isn’t overly crowded, as this will steam the squash instead of properly roasting. It’s always best to use a second baking sheet if needed.
  • Roast the squash: In a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven, roast the squash for about 40 to 45 minutes. Larger cubes may need to cook a little longer. Halfway through, toss the cubes with a spatula so that all of the edges get that nice caramelization.
Roasted butternut squash cubes on a baking sheet.

How to serve roasted butternut squash cubes

Two halves of butternut squash seasoned on a baking sheet.

How To Roast Butternut Squash Halves

While butternut squash cubes are great for frittatas or mixed into a salad, butternut squash halves are great for creamy soups, mashing or puréeing, or making stuffed butternut squash. And bonus – you don’t have to bother with peeling the squash!

  • Cut the squash in half: As I mentioned above, I recommend microwaving the squash for 2 to 3 minutes before slicing. It softens the skin just a bit, which makes it easier (and safer) to slice through. Then, once it’s sliced in half scoop out the seeds.
  • Season the halves: Brush about 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil evenly on the cut halves. Then season with salt and pepper.
  • Roast the halves: Place the squash cut side down on a baking sheet and roast in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for about 40 to 45 minutes, until the cut edge just starts to caramelize.
Roasted butternut squash halves on baking sheet.

How to Serve Roasted Butternut Squash Halves

  • Make a soup: The soft flesh is the main ingredient in butternut squash soup! And the roasted flavor really elevates this seasonal classic.
  • Stuff it: There’s so many delicious seasonal flavors you can add inside the halves, but I love this apple sausage stuffed butternut squash.
  • Mash it: Creamy mashed butternut squash is a great alternative to mashed potatoes. You could even add some mashed butternut squash to a saute pan with onion, bell pepper, and other seasonings for a tasty orange shakshuka breakfast.

More Seasoning ideas

Salt and pepper are your basic seasonings, but there’s always room to amp up the flavors. Here are a few ideas on how to add more sweet or savory flavors to your roasted butternut squash.

  • Garlic and herbs: Add minced garlic cloves and freshly cut and chopped herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or parsley.
  • Spicy: Add a dash of chipotle powder, chili powder, or cumin.
  • Sweet: Add some ground cinnamon, coconut sugar, or a drizzle of maple syrup.

I hope you enjoy this roasted butternut squash recipe. If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to know how it turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help others in the community!

Two ways of roasting butternut squash on a sheet pan.

Roasted Butternut Squash (Cubes and Halves)

5 from 5 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

Enjoy roasted butternut squash two ways – in cubes and halves. Learn how to perfectly roast butternut squash in a few simple steps. Watch the video below to see how I roast it!

Video

Ingredients 
 

Roasted Butternut Squash (Cubes)

  • 1 butternut squash
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste

Roasted Butternut Squash (Halves)

  • 1 butternut squash
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste

Instructions 

Roasted Butternut Squash (Cubes)

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Peel the squash, slice in half, scoop out the seeds, and cut the squash with a sharp knife into cubes.
  • Arrange the cubes evenly onto a baking sheet. Make sure your baking sheet isn't overly crowded. If you need to, use a second baking sheet.
  • Drizzle the oil over the cubes and season with salt, and pepper. Toss the cubes to make sure they're well coated.
  • Roast the butternut squash for about 40 to 45 minutes. Halfway through, toss the cubes with a spatula so that all edges get nicely caramelized.

Roasted Butternut Squash (Halves)

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut the squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
  • Brush the oil evenly onto the cut side of the squash and season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the squash cut side down on a baking sheet and roast for about 40 to 45 minutes, until the cut edge starts to caramelize.

Nutrition

Calories: 115.31kcal | Carbohydrates: 21.92g | Protein: 1.88g | Fat: 3.69g | Saturated Fat: 0.52g | Sodium: 7.57mg | Potassium: 660mg | Fiber: 3.75g | Sugar: 4.13g | Vitamin A: 19931.25IU | Vitamin C: 39.38mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1.31mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: How to roast butternut squash, roasted butternut squash cubes, roasted butternut squash halves, Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally posted November 2019, but updated to include new information.

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

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Recipe Rating




12 Comments

  1. This recipe is so easy! The results are delicious! I’ve been roasting one every week to add to salads, snack on or use as a side dish!5 stars

  2. Hi! Do you have a recipe for sweet & spicey (& a little salty) roasted butternut squash seeds? Believe it or not, it’s hard to find a good one. I’ve enjoyed all your butternut squash recipes and would love to be able to do something with the leftover seeds. Thank you so much!

  3. so simple but yet so delicious! I made it several times for meal prepping and it is always a hit. So thank you so much for giving us so detailed recipes. It makes the cooking time so easy and time saving too.5 stars

  4. Roasted butternut squash and it was so easy and delicious! Your recipe and videos are so easy to follow. Gives me the courage to try your other recipes! Wishing for a Vitamix for Christmas to put me on a healthier food path! 5 stars

    1. Hi Elaine – So happy to hear that my videos helped you with the process of mastering butternut squashes :) Hopefully you get a Vitamix this season!

  5. Love your post & YouTube on butternut squash as well as all your website and channel!!! Can I freeze it in raw cubes and/or roasted cubes?    Thank you 🙋🏻‍♀️🇨🇦5 stars

    1. Hi there- Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m so glad you’re enjoying all my videos and recipes. Yes, you can freeze these cubes and eat it for another day :)