53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (2024)

Do you only think of squash recipes when you're in the mood for a hearty autumnal soup, or it's time to plan a side for your turkey dinner? Think again. Whether it's fall, winter, spring, or summer, you can count on at least one kind of squash to be in season. And when your favorite isn't available, you can easily freeze squash to enjoy it all year long.

From summer squash to winter squash, from acorn to zucchini, there's a delicious array of options to work with. We rounded up 53 of our favorite squash recipes to give you something seriously healthy to enjoy year-round.

P.S. Yes, pumpkin is a squash, but we have a whole 'nother list for that.

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Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

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Since the inside of spaghetti squash has a noodle-like shape and consistency, it works well in recipes where it’s prepared like pasta. Here, the flesh is transformed into long, thin strands once the squash is roasted and scraped with a fork. Those strands are then topped with an Alfredo sauce made with heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Reserve one half of the squash skin so you have a creative way to serve your meal.

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Sweet-and-Spicy Black Bean Burgers

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Using acorn squash to make a veggie burger gives the final product a wonderfully orange tint. In this meatless meal, the squash is mixed with black beans and seasoned with fragrant cumin to create a hearty, flavorful patty. Eggs, mayonnaise, and panko prevent the patty from falling apart, while hamburger buns, lettuce and sriracha-mayo tie the burger together.

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03of 53

Pork and Kabocha Squash Curry

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Curry typically calls for at least a dozen ingredients, but you can whip up this fall meal using just 10, including a few you likely already have on hand. While this dish has a mild kick thanks to yellow curry powder, you can take the spice level up a few notches by using Madras curry powder instead.

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Sicilian Pizza with Shaved Delicata, Salami, and Pecorino

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Delicata squash is often an overlooked pizza topping, but it shouldn’t be. In this recipe, thin squash slices are joined by sliced mozzarella, punchy salami, and bold pecorino, as well as some tomato sauce. Just be sure to put the mozzarella on first, followed by the sauce, and then the other toppings, so you aren’t left with a soggy crust.

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Butternut Squash and Chicken Pozole

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Pozole is a hearty Mexican soup made with spices, chilies, and hominy. In this version, chicken, butternut squash, and kale join the fun for even more nutrients and flavor. Top each bowl with chopped lettuce, radishes, onions, cheese, and cilantro, and chow down!

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Grilled Honeynut Squash Salad

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Sweet, honeynut squash is the star of this fall salad, and with good reason. Inside, you’ll also find Napa cabbage, radicchio, pepitas, and mint, and don’t even get us started on the punchy miso-and-spicy brown mustard dressing. In addition to topping the salad, the dressing also coats the squash and cabbage before they hit the grill, infusing them with even more flavor.

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Summer Nachos

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Yes, this dish has "summer" in its title because it stars two of summer's tastiest vegetables—zucchini and corn—but you can make it any time that nacho craving hits. Zucchini is fairly easy to find year-round, though you could substitute summer squash, and canned corn works well if you can't get your hands on the fresh stuff.

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Slow-Cooker Squash Lasagna

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The only thing better than a lasagna bubbling away in the oven is a lasagna bubbling away in your slow cooker, set-and-forget-style. Two packages of frozen winter squash puree help make prep quick and easy, while ricotta and mozzarella bring next-level creaminess to this meatless main.

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09of 53

Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley

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If you've never eaten a raw summer squash salad, you're in for a treat. This one packs a double whammy: It tastes delicious and there's no need to cook. Tossing the summer squash and zucchini with salt helps them soften and absorb every bit of flavor. Top with a chopped almond dressing for a light and flavorful finish.

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10of 53

Kabocha Squash Sticky Buns

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Though we'll never say no to a traditional sticky bun, these buns lean more savory than sweet. They make for a festive, fall-themed treat and, because you're using two cans of store-bought crescent rolls, it 100 percent qualifies as an easy-to-bake brunch recipe.

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11of 53

Spaghetti Squash Parmesan

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No one will miss the pasta noodles once they taste this creamy, cheesy, comforting meat-free rendition made in a roasted spaghetti squash bowl. And don't skip the breadcrumbs! They add a deliciously salty, crunchy finish to the dish.

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12of 53

Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (12)

This isn't your grandmother's lentil soup. It's extra-warming thanks to the delicious combination of butternut squash, carrots, harissa paste, fresh ginger, and plenty of spices.

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Summer Squash Farro Bowl

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If you can't track down zucchini or yellow squash, try making this delicious grain bowl with another sturdy gourd. Pumpkin or kabocha squash pairs well with the other ingredients in this vegetarian meal: namely chickpeas, farro, and avocado.

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Slow-Cooker Ragù With Spaghetti Squash

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If you're searching for a hands-off dinner, give this spaghetti squash dish a whirl. The slow cooker does most of the work, and you're left with a feast that pairs pasta-like vegetable noodles with a Bolognese-inspired sauce. Top each plate with freshly grated Parmesan just before serving and you're good to go.

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Goat Cheese and Mushroom–Stuffed Acorn Squash

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Thanks to its relative sturdiness, acorn squash is a great gourd to stuff. In this recipe, each squash half is packed with mushrooms, spinach, bread cubes, and goat cheese. Serve with a side salad and you have a delicious vegetarian meal that's ready in under an hour.

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16of 53

Zucchini Pesto Pasta

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In this dish, pasta is coated with a zucchini-cashew pesto that even vegetable haters won't be able to resist. Zucchini combines with roasted, salted cashews and peppery basil for a pesto that's unique and crave-worthy. It pairs perfectly with the creamy ricotta topping.

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Butternut Squash Soup With Sage and Parmesan Croutons

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This squash soup is filled with flavor thanks to homemade sage-and-Parmesan croutons, which taste delicious no matter what time of year it is. Serve this satiating soup with a side salad or grilled chicken for a complete meal.

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18of 53

Butternut Squash Bake With Wild Rice

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Billed as the perfect Thanksgiving side, we won't judge you for whipping it up any time the temperature dips below 60 degrees. Butternut joins wild rice, caramelized onions, Parmesan, and mushrooms bathed in a hearty rosemary-infused cream sauce. Serve with a vegetable main or a lean protein to balance out the richness.

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Grilled Skirt Steak With Squash Ratatouille

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In this dish, bright summer-vegetable flavors—courtesy of grilled zucchini, yellow squash, and eggplant—take on deep, charred richness that complements the tender, juicy beef. While perfectly filling on its own, if you're feeling especially hungry, serve it with some buttery herbed rice or classic mashed potatoes.

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Squash, Mushroom, and Kale Soup With Dill

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (20)

This flavorful, veggie-packed soup comes together in just 30 minutes. In it, you'll find a medley of mushrooms, butternut squash pieces, orzo, and baby kale. A garnish of fresh dill adds a bit of brightness to this delicious meal.

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21of 53

Mini Squash Calzones

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These calzones may be small, but we promise there's a full meal inside these compact hot pockets. Each is filled with caramelized butternut squash and onion, along with fiber-filled Swiss chard and a chili-infused, double-cheese mixture. There's no way you can eat just one of these hand-held bites.

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Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta With Leeks

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This meatless recipe calls on frozen butternut squash to make a creamy pasta sauce, so this dish works all year round. That sauce, also made with leeks and half-and-half, coats the pasta, which is topped with crunchy store-bought fried onions and Parmesan cheese. All this hearty goodness comes together in less than 30 minutes.

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23of 53

Roasted Butternut Squash With Tahini Sauce

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Sure, you can roast butternut squash with little more than olive oil, salt, and pepper; but this recipe is next level. The butternut is roasted and tossed in a salty, sweet, creamy tahini-based sauce. Sprinkle the finished dish with pepitas, sesame seeds, and cilantro for added flavor and a satisfying crunch.

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24of 53

Linguine With Squash, Bacon, and Goat Cheese

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This 30-minute pasta dish is a thrill for your taste buds thanks to sweet butternut squash pieces, salty bacon bits, and tangy, creamy goat cheese crumbles. If you're looking for a crunch, sprinkle some toasted breadcrumbs on the noodles before you dig in. You won't regret it.

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25of 53

Baked Barley Risotto With Butternut Squash

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If you're intimidated by the sound of risotto, don't be. We promise this colorful version practically cooks itself. It starts with sautéed butternut and onion joined by barley with white wine and chicken broth. Once the barley is cooked, finish by stirring in some spinach, Parmesan, and butter. Voila!

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26of 53

Slow-Cooker Black Bean and Zucchini Chili

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This big-batch recipe is great for game day, and works on just about every other day, too. Mild-flavored zucchini cubes fit seamlessly with seasoned ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, and tons of beans. Top each bowl with sour cream, sliced avocado, and fresh cilantro for the full chili experience.

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Ginger-Coconut Pork With Butternut Squash

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (27)

This coconut-infused, pork-and-butternut stew is simmered until meltingly tender and deeply flavored. The broth base is coconut water, with soy and fish sauce to bump up the umami, plus garlic and ginger for spice. Finish with sliced scallions and, for even more brightness, add Thai basil, mint, or cilantro.

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28of 53

Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry

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This veggie-filled meal takes just 20 minutes to make and is packed with zucchini and summer squash, eggplant, jalapeño slices, and unsalted peanuts. A spicy cornstarch-soy sauce mixture surrounds the crisp vegetables served atop white rice. If you don't love spice, leave out the jalapeño.

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29of 53

Roasted Pork Chops and Butternut Squash With Kale

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This lean meal pairs juicy bone-in pork chops with roasted butternut squash, kale, and fresh sage. While this recipe takes nearly an hour to make from start to finish, it only requires 30 minutes of hands-on prep.

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30of 53

Soy-Simmered Squash With Miso Hummus and Togarashi

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (30)

This recipe lets winter squash—kabocha or acorn—play a starring role in a Japanese-inspired meatless main dish. Skin-on squash wedges are sautéed and then simmered in a soy-rice wine broth until fork-tender, resulting in deep, savory flavor with every bite.

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31of 53

Butternut Squash Fries

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (31)

We don't often use "healthy" and "fries" to describe the same recipe, but it's certainly the case with this one. This fiber-packed, oven-baked butternut version tastes like a cross between zucchini and sweet potato fries.

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32of 53

Butternut Squash Tartines

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (32)

A tartine isessentially an open-faced sandwich with a French accent. This recipe could also be called "Squash on Toast," but doesn't tartine sound so much fancier? This one features roasted butternut slices atop toasted country bread slathered with a lemony ricotta spread that's perfect for brunch, lunch, or as an appetizer.

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33of 53

Creamy Butternut Squash and Parsnip Soup

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (33)

Butternut and parsnips share top billing in this bright, creamy soup that's served with a dollop of plain yogurt and a sprinkling of lime zest. There's no roasting here, which means you can make this from start to finish in just 25 minutes.

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34of 53

Tortellini With Squash, Egg, and Breadcrumbs

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (34)

Chopped zucchini plays an important role in this hearty dish, sautéed with store-bought, cheese-stuffed tortellini. Topped with a fried egg, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs, the whole thing comes together in just 25 minutes.

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35of 53

Butternut Carbonara

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (35)

Carbonara is a traditional Italian pasta dish typically made of cured pork, egg, and grated cheese, and this recipe is all that and more. The "more" is the addition of butternut puree to the sauce, giving it an orange hue, extra nutrients, and a subtle autumnal flavor.

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36of 53

Cottage Pie

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This British comfort-food classic is a spinoff of shepherd's pie, except it calls for ground beef instead of lamb, and that's where the squash comes in. Cubes of butternut simmered with peas and onions combine with browned ground beef to make the hearty stew at the base of this layered dish.

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37of 53

Garlic Toast With Squash, Pesto, and Olive Oil-Braised Chickpeas

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (37)

Whether you serve this as an app, snack, side, or a light meal, you'll love how easy these are to assemble and how nutritious they are. A layer of mashed, roasted kabocha squash is spread atop garlicky oiled toast, topped with herb pesto and olive oil-braised chickpeas.

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38of 53

Superfood Lentil Salad

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (38)

Zucchini doesn't get titular credit in this recipe, but it should. This salad features quickly broiled zucchini cubes that mingle with lentils and golden raisins, all dressed in a sunflower seed vinaigrette. Turn this nutritious side into a meal by topping it with avocado, grilled salmon, or pan-crisped tofu.

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39of 53

Roasted Root Veggie Quinoa Bowls

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (39)

You're right, squash isn't a root veggie, but neither are Brussels or spinach, and they're in this dish, too. They mingle with actual root veggies—parsnips and red onions—for a veggie medley that's a nutritional powerhouse. This recipe calls for store-bought butternut cubes, which helps put this dish on the table in 30 minutes.

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40of 53

Ratatouille

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Zucchini joins a bevy of fresh summer produce—onions, eggplant, bell peppers, and tomatoes—in this French vegetable stew. Serve this versatile dish hot or cold, on its own or with eggs, a grilled protein, or tossed with pasta.

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41of 53

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (41)

Touted as an autumnal soup, it's appropriate anytime you're in the mood for a big orange hug. Its flavor comes from red curry paste, fresh ginger, and garlic; and its creaminess from coconut milk and tofu.

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42of 53

Cheesy Vegetable Pasta

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This one-dish wonder is perfect for a meatless Monday meal. It features broiled chunks of zucchini, eggplant, and onions combined with cooked pasta—ziti or penne—surrounded by tomatoes and feta and topped with mozzarella.

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43of 53

Beef and Beer Pot Pie

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (43)

A pot pie is comfort with a crust, and this recipe is no exception. Chopped butternut squash livens up the beefy filling, lending it color, nutrients, fiber, and creaminess. The whole thing is topped with a time-saving sheet of puff pastry, making this dish easy as pie.

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44of 53

Zucchini Frittata With Parmesan

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (44)

Squash for breakfast? Of course...and for brunch, lunch, and dinner, too. This meatless frittata—essentially a crustless quiche—finishes under the broiler to give its top and outer edges a little crispness. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it's ready in just 25 minutes.

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45of 53

Zucchini-Butter Spaghetti

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (45)

Zucchini what? Yes, you read that right. This recipe turns grated zucchini, shallots, garlic, and butter into a decadent, luscious sauce to toss with really any kind of pasta or even your favorite grain.

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46of 53

Zucchini Tzatziki Slaw

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (46)

This refreshing summer side starts with the traditional shredded cabbage but adds zucchini shreds to the mix for a lighter, more diverse-tasting slaw. Its Greek-inspired tzatziki sauce skips the cucumber in favor of Greek yogurt, sour cream, lemon, and honey.

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47of 53

Lemon-Coriander Roasted Chicken With Leeks And Squash

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (47)

This dish is fancy enough for a holiday celebration and rustic enough for a simple one-pot weekend family gathering. A whole chicken roasts atop a bed of acorn squash slices and leeks, which catch all those flavorful chickeny drippings.

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48of 53

Grilled Mediterranean Salad

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No, you're not seeing things: That is a meatless pasta salad with grill marks. Zucchini planks are grilled for this salad—as are red bell peppers and onions, and even the Halloumi cheese—cut into bite-sized pieces, and then tossed with cooked pasta and a vinaigrette.

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49of 53

Zucchini Pie

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (49)

This savory pie is loaded with grated zucchini, provolone, and Parmesan. Crustless and quiche-like, it manages to be rich and light at the same time. It requires only 15 minutes of prep time, but be sure to allow at least 45 minutes to bake and 10 minutes to cool down before serving.

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50of 53

Farro and Squash Salad

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (50)

This easy and elegant grain and squash salad makes great use of summer's bounty and looks impressive on a dinner table. The nutty farro combines with smoky grilled squash in this Italian take on a dish that can be served as a sign or a main.

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51of 53

Squash Blossom Tacos

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Squash blossoms are the edible blossoms that are often linked to zucchini but can come from nearly any squash. In this dish, they combine with crunchy sticks of zucchini, charred and smoky peppers and melty mozzarella for the perfect taco.

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Butternut Squash and Sausage Stuffing

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (52)

Sweet butternut squash is the ideal pairing to the savory sausage in this stuffing recipe. After cooking, the butternut squash becomes tender and practically melts in your mouth. Fresh sage and parsley mellow out the mix, giving an earthly herbal taste. A dash of poultry seasoning is the secret ingredient in this recipe.

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53of 53

Butternut Enchilada Casserole

53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (53)

If you've been searching for a healthy weeknight meal that will satisfy the whole family, look no further. These veggie enchiladas are packed with good flavor and lots of nutrients. Cubed butternut squash is tossed in with bell pepper, poblano, and onion and seasoned with smoky chipotle Chile powder before roasting. Garnish with sliced avocado, jalapeño slices, and cilantro before serving.

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53 Delicious Squash Recipes to Cook in Any Season (2024)

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