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Cozy Stuffed Acorn Squash: Easy 30-Minute Holiday Side

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A comforting and elegant holiday side dish featuring roasted acorn squash halves filled with a savory mixture of sausage, cranberries, rice, and herbs. This recipe balances sweet and savory flavors with a tender, crispy texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for brushing
  • Unsalted butter, melted
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 pound breakfast or Italian sausage (casing removed)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 1 cup dried cranberries (craisins) or fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (toasted)
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Wash acorn squash and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and pulp. Brush cut sides with olive oil and melted butter, then season generously with salt and pepper.
  3. Place squash halves cut-side down on the baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork.
  4. While squash roasts, cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
  5. Add diced onion and celery to the skillet. Sauté for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
  6. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in cooked rice, cranberries, sage, thyme, and nuts. Adjust seasoning if needed.
  7. Remove squash from oven and flip cut-side up. Fill each cavity with the sausage mixture.
  8. Return to oven and roast for another 10 minutes until the top of the stuffing is slightly crispy.
  9. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

Score the skin of the squash before roasting to prevent splitting. Toast nuts beforehand for enhanced flavor. If the filling is too loose, add more rice; if too dry, add a splash of broth or apple sauce. Can be made ahead by roasting squash and preparing filling separately, then combining before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: acorn squash, stuffed squash, holiday side dish, cranberry sausage, vegetarian option, gluten-free, easy dinner, fall recipes

Find it online: https://sizzlesprout.com/cozy-stuffed-acorn-squash-easy-30-minute-holiday-side/