How To Cook Butternut Squash

Butternut is one of the most common types of winter squash. With a light-tan rind, orange flesh and a flavour similar to sweet potatoes, it's sweet and has a creamy texture when cooked. When shopping for butternut squash, choose one that feels heavy for its size.

How to cut butternut squash (the easy way!)

Butternut squash can be unwieldy and difficult to chop, so try softening in the microwave before cutting into it. Just poke it all over with a fork and microwave it for three to four minutes. Cut off the ends (be careful, it’ll be hot) and then cut it in half, or in quarters and de-seed it before you roast, steam or boil it. If you’re cubing your squash (to throw in salad or purée into soup), be sure to remove the peel—butternut squash peel is tough and inedible.

Butternut squash recipes

How to roast butternut squash

The homey smell of fragrant roasting squash is one of the rewards of preparing this easy side dish—perfect with roast turkey, beef or pork. Get our roasted butternut squash recipe.

Macaroni And Cheese With Roasted Butternut Squash

This indulgent, triple-tested macaroni and cheese recipe incorporates butternut squash for deeper flavour and a healthy infusion of vitamins. Get our macaroni and cheese with roasted butternut squash recipe.

Produced by Chantal Braganza and Stephanie Han Kim, Photography by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Sage Dakota, Prop Styling by Andrea McCrindle

Roasted Squash And Quinoa Salad

"This is one of my favourite salads to eat, and it’s absolutely perfect on its own as a meal. Nutrition-wise, quinoa covers your protein, and many of the ingredients are seasonless, so you can enjoy it year-round," recipe developer Diala Canelo says. Get our roasted squash and quinoa salad recipe.

Roasted Squash And Quinoa Salad. Recipe by Diala Canelo, Produced by Stephanie Han Kim, Produced by Christie Vuong, Food Styling by Lindsay Guscott, Prop Styling by Madeleine Johari.

Giuseppe Di Gennaro’s Butternut Squash Soup

Giuseppe is the former executive chef of Capo, Calgary. This butternut squash soup was his top choice in our round-up of favourite comfort foods from 10 top Canadian chefs. Get our butternut squash soup recipe.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad With Cranberries

A delicious blend of sweet, tart and nutty flavours. Get our roasted butternut squash salad with cranberries recipe. 

(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Barley Risotto

Risotto that you don’t have to stand over, stir and watch? It’s real. And this recipe might just be the one you come back to all season long. Get our slow cooker butternut squash barley risotto recipe.

(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Butternut Squash Wellingtons

Flakey, tender and hearty, this take on the classic wellington is the perfect centrepiece dish for your vegetarian Thanksgiving. Get our butternut squash wellingtons recipe.

(Photo: Erik Putz; Food styling by Ashley Denton; Prop styling by Christine Hanlon)

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Bacon

Creamy and satisfyingly filling, but jam-packed with vitamins, this fettuccine is perfect to fend off chilly winter weather. Get our creamy butternut squash pasta with bacon recipe.

Photo, Erik Putz. Food styling, Matthew Kimura. Prop styling, Madeleine Johari.

Slow Cooker Moroccan Butternut Squash And Vegetable Stew

Hearty, warming and easy. 15 minutes to prep, pop it in the slow-cooker before work and voila! Get our slow cooker moroccan butternut squash and vegetable stew recipe.

Photography by Christie Vuong. Food styling by Eshun Mott. Prop styling by Christine Hanlon.

Butternut Squash Pound Cake

Don't let pumpkin get all this glory this fall. Butternut squash shows off its similar flavour vibes in this easy snacking cake. Get our butternut squash pound cake recipe.

(Photo: Erik Putz)

Nutty Chicken And Butternut Squash Stew

Creamy butternut squash, chunky tomatoes and pieces of juicy chicken make this dish a comforting (and easy) meal for weeknights. Get our nutty chicken and butternut squash stew recipe.

(Photo: Roberto Caruso)