Honey Roasted Butternut Squash is a delicious and easy side dish with diced squash and crunchy pecans roasted to perfection with cinnamon and honey. This wonderful recipe for roasting butternut squash is perfect as a side or add-in for weeknight meals and holiday dishes like Thanksgiving turkey!
Easy Honey Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans
I love, love, love going back to the basics sometimes. It’s a nice and humble reminder that less is often more. And for me, there’s nothing better than a recipe that’s plain and simply delicious without much fanfare – come fall, that recipe is this Honey Roasted Butternut Squash.
Caramelized butternut tossed with crunchy pecans, cinnamon, honey and olive oil; this sweet and savory squash side dish is just loaded with flavor. Going through the ritual of cutting down and roasting a whole butternut squash is worth it, when the rest of the recipe couldn’t be any easier! I promise, this recipe is so simple, you’ll be making this yummy roasted squash over and over again all season.
Is Butternut Squash Good for You?
Butternut squash is a wonderful winter superfood, loaded with fiber, and antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta-carotene. Antioxidants have tons of health benefits like helping to reduce inflammation and damage to cells, so butternut squash is not only a versatile ingredient but definitely a healthy one also!
What You’ll Need
For this roasting recipe, all you need is a baking tray or baking dish, and a sharp knife for cutting the squash. Oh, and an oven for roasting – though that should be a given!
- Butternut Squash: One whole squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into cubes. See below for tips on how best to cut up butternut squash!
- Honey: Maple syrup is also a good alternative.
- Olive Oil: For the highest quality, Extra Virgin is best. My go-to for this recipe is the Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Star Fine Foods!
- Crushed Pecans
- Ground Cinnamon
- Salt
How to Pick a Good Squash
Now to pick a perfect squash! Look for butternut squash that’s beige in color and free from deep cuts, soft spots, heavy scratches or bruising. The next “tell” for a quality squash is to pick it up and compare its weight to a few others – the heavier a squash is for its size, the better!
Once you have picked out your prize specimen, a good butternut squash will keep for two weeks (and often longer!) if kept in a cool and dry location.
The Best Way to Cut Butternut Squash
While it’s not the most glamorous kitchen activity, peeling and cutting a squash doesn’t have to be a battle! Cut the top and bottom ends off the squash, and using a peeler or a sharp knife, slice the peel off carefully lengthwise. You can stand the squash upright on a cut end if it makes things easier.
How to Make Honey Roasted Butternut Squash
I promised the easiest recipe ever; and since I’m a woman of my word, here are the instructions for roasting this beautiful butternut squash with honey and pecans:
Combine all ingredients with the squash in a good sized bowl.
Bake the butternut squash in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet, until tender. Give the cubes a light light stir halfway through cooking to make sure they are evenly roasted.
Serve after removing the squash from the oven, and transferring it to a serving dish. Adjust the seasoning to taste and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Be Careful When Cutting the Squash: Make sure you’re using a sharp enough knife (very important) and steady work surface when cutting up the butternut. Work slow and safe!
- Soften the Peel Before Peeling the Squash: If you think you’d fare better with the outside of the butternut softened a bit for peeling, poke a few holes in the peel and then microwave the squash for a minute or so.
Serving Suggestions
A perfectly roasted butternut squash is perfect to serve as a side, or as an add-in for so many easy fall meals! Here are some suggestions:
- Include this honey-coated butternut as the vegetable component in a juicy Pork Loin Roast.
- Serve as a side to tasty Baked or Grilled Marinated Chicken or Braised Short Ribs.
- Toss roasted butternut squash cubes into leafy Winter Salads or into a medley of Roasted Vegetables.
- Add roasted butternut squash as a sweet-savory element in pastas and risottos, or in wraps and quesadillas.
- Bake this butternut squash into a hearty Vegetarian Lasagna, or gluten-free Rice Casserole.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
You can store both cooked and uncooked leftover butternut squash for easy reheating and cooking! Just follow these directions.
- Cooked: To store, allow the butternut squash cubes to cool completely, then keep a batch airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat cooked squash in the microwave for a few minutes, or in the oven until heated through.
- Uncooked: Store the peeled and cubed squash in an airtight bag or container in the fridge for 3-5 days, then cook as desired.
Can I Freeze This?
You can freeze uncooked butternut squash by pre-freezing peeled and cut squash cubes on a sheet tray, then transfer the frozen cubes to a freezer-safe container or resealable bag. Thaw the cubes whenever inspiration hits!
Cooked butternut squash is actually best to freeze when pureed! Blend the cubes of honey-roasted squash in a food processor until smooth, and then transfer to a freezer-safe container to freeze. Thaw the butternut squash puree in the fridge to use in recipes like Butternut Squash Soup!
More Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas
- Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
- Creamy Cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts Casserole
- Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips
- Maple Roasted Carrots
- Traditional Stuffing Recipe
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
TOOLS AND INGREDIENTS USED IN THIS RECIPE
![Premium Organic Bamboo [ HEIM CONCEPT ] Extra Large Cutting Board and Serving Tray with Drip Groove [ 18" x 12" x ¾" inch Thick ] Eco-Friendly Thick Strong Bamboo Kitchenware](https://diethood.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/51Gj03UdjyL._SL500_-300x300.jpg)
Honey Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 (2.5 to 3 pounds) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into cubes
- 1 cup pecan pieces
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (My favorite is Star Fine Foods Extra Virgin Olive Oil!)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt , or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Lightly coat a baking sheet or baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cubed squash, pecans, olive oil, honey, cinnamon and salt; toss well to combine.
- Transfer the butternut squash mixture to previously prepared baking sheet and arrange in one layer.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tender, giving it a light stir halfway through cooking.
- Remove from oven.
- Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
- Serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
