Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
- By Amy Dong
- Published Oct. 13, 2022
- Updated Feb. 13, 2024
Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash is a simple yet delicious side dish to serve with any meal. Plus, they’re a powerhouse of nutrition in every golden bite.
In This Article
Video: Watch Us Make this Recipe
Why This Recipe Stands Out
Want to add nutritious butternut squash to the fall dinner table, while hoping the kids will embrace a side of squash? Fear not, as you’re about to show even the finickiest of eaters just how delicious roasted butternut squash can be.
- The merging of cinnamon and brown sugar works magic on everything from Baked French Toast Casserole to candied pecans.
- This roasted butternut squash is no exception, as its naturally nutty flavor profile tastes remarkable when roasted in cinnamon-brown sugar bliss.
- You’ll have a delectable side dish that the family will actually devour.
- It pairs well with any of your favorite main dishes. We love it with Instant Pot Turkey Breast with Gravy and Juicy Grilled Chicken Breast.
4 Key Ingredients
- Butternut Squash: choose a large, healthy squash. See tips on how to buy the perfect butternut squash below.
- Olive Oil: not only is olive oil healthy, but it helps the roasting process.
- Maple Syrup: a drizzle of maple syrup provides sweetness and flavor.
- Brown Sugar: use brown sugar for a molasses depth of flavor and sweetness.
- Cinnamon: this fall spice lends an earthy and aromatic fragrance to the squash.
How to Buy and Store Butternut Squash
Here are our top tips for buying the perfect butternut squash:
- Look for smooth, firm skin without soft spots or discoloration that could be indicative of mold.
- Large bulbed squash with elongated necks tend to have bigger seed cavities inside. Go for the butternut with a short, wide neck and compact bulb for smallest cavities and easier cutting.
- Once your fresh butternut squash comes home with you, store it in a cool and dry place for up to several weeks. There’s no need to refrigerate it unless your house is quite warm or you need to keep your squash fresh for a longer period of time.
- Because many recipes like Butternut Squash Chili and Butternut Squash Risotto call for peeled/cubed squash, we’re happy to report that you can peel, seed, and cube your fresh squash several days early. Simply place freshly cut butternut squash in an airtight container and keep chilled.
Easy Step-By-Step Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss the squash with remaining ingredients until thoroughly coated. Transfer to foil-lined baking sheet, in a single layer, without overcrowding the pieces.
- Roast at 425F for about 40 minutes, rotating pan midway during baking. When edges are browned and cubes are fork-tender, remove from oven immediately. You may want to start checking squash around 35 minutes, just to ensure that they don’t become overcooked.
Make-Ahead Tips
There are only 5 ingredients aside from the butternut squash itself in this recipe, so it’s already on the extremely easy side. However, we don’t stop there in our quest to ensure no stone is left unturned when it comes to cooking efficiency. Thus, here are a few bonus tips to help you prep ahead:
- Because fresh, whole butternut squash keeps extremely well, you can go ahead and buy it while you’re already shopping at the store; there’s no need to make a special grocery trip for it.
- Feel free to peel, seed, and cube your fresh butternut squash 2-3 days prior to cooking. Just be sure to place cubes in an airtight container in fridge (note that cut squash must keep free of moisture or water.)
- You can also freeze freshly cut butternut squash, sealed airtight, for up to a few weeks.
- Combine seasoning ingredients (everything but the squash) a day or two ahead of time; store it covered at moderate room temperature.
Commonly Asked Questions
We do recommend peeling your fresh, whole butternut squash before seeding, cubing, and roasting. It will cut down on your cook time tremendously, as well as allow for maximum flavor infusion.
The rule of thumb is: when butternut squash is fork-tender, it is done. The roasted squash cubes should be golden brown; be sure to remove from oven immediately, to avoid burning.
Butternut squash is naturally packed with fiber, potassium, and vitamin A. This recipe uses olive oil for roasting, which keeps it nutrient-dense.
The flavor profile is between that of roasted sweet potatoes and pumpkin; it’s naturally slightly sweet, which makes it well-loved by grownups and kids alike.
For easy meal prep, we recommend peeling, seeding, and cubing the squash ahead of time, up to 3 days in advance. Store it chilled airtight until ready to season and roast.
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Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash, large, peeled/seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 TB olive oil
- 3 TB maple syrup
- 2 TB brown sugar, tightly packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F with rack on upper middle position. Line baking sheet with heavy duty foil.
- In a large bowl, toss the squash with remaining ingredients until thoroughly coated. Transfer to foil-lined baking sheet, in a single layer, without overcrowding the pieces.
- Roast about 40 minutes, rotating pan midway during baking. When edges are browned and cubes are fork-tender, remove from oven immediately. You may want to start checking squash around 35 minutes, just to ensure that they don’t become overcooked.
Notes
- Butternut squash can be peeled and cut up to 2 days ahead of time; keep chilled in an airtight container until ready to use.
- Serve butternut squash with Wild Rice Pilaf and Instant Pot Turkey Breast for a healthy and flavorful meal.
Nutrition (per serving)
More to Cook and Eat
1. Curried Butternut Squash Soup — Creamy, smooth, and with a little kick of curry. Scrumptious.
2. Pomegranate Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts — oh, and don’t forget the blue. This is the best holiday salad we’ve ever put on the table.
3. Apple & Sausage Stuffing — stuffings and preferences abound. But after years of stuffing testing, this one took the blue ribbon at our most recent big festive gathering. Everyone loves this so much, it’s here to stay.
4. I’d be remiss not to bring back this ever-popular Sweet Potato Casserole with Brown Sugar Crumble. It’s like dessert. On the dinner table. People load their plates full of this because it is that good.