Best Cheesy Acorn Squash Recipes

CHEESY RICE-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 425 degrees F. Put the squash, cut-side up, in a large microwave-safe dish with 1 tablespoon water; dot with 1 tablespoon butter and season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and pierce with a knife to vent. Microwave until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion; cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 3 minutes. Whisk in the milk until smooth, then bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese, stirring to melt. Add the nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir in the rice and spinach.
• Transfer the squash to a rimmed baking sheet and fill with the rice mixture. Sprinkle with more cheese and bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Top with parsley.

SAUSAGE-STUFFED CHEESY ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Slice a small piece off the rounded side of each acorn half so it will sit evenly; place on the prepared baking sheet, flesh-sides up.
• Roast in the preheated oven until tender, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove squash and reduce heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, cook sausage in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until until browned and just done, about 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a bowl and keep warm. Drain and discard grease from skillet. Melt butter in the skillet, then add celery and onion. Saute until onions are soft and transparent, about 5 minutes. Stir in mushrooms and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Stir sausage into the mushroom-onion mixture. Turn off heat and mix in 1/4 cup Cheddar-Jack cheese. Divide mixture evenly amongst the 4 squash halves and sprinkle with remaining Cheddar-Jack cheese. Cover the baking dish with foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH CHEESY MUSHROOM RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Brush cut sides of squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil and place, skin-side up, on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender and lightly browned, about 40 minutes.
• While squash bakes, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; stir in mushrooms, onion, garlic, and thyme. Cook and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Add rice; cook and stir until rice is coated, about 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in Cheddar cheese.
• Remove squash from the oven, flip over, and season with salt and pepper. Fill squash with rice mixture, sprinkle with panko, and drizzle with remaining olive oil.
• Return to the oven and bake until heated through, about 10 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil until panko is brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes.

WILD RICE, CHERRIES, APRICOTS AND CHEESY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Squash -- Drizzle the olive oil the inside of the squash and sprinkle with sald and pepper. Place flesh side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment or even foil in a 400 degree oven, middle shelf for about 30-40 minutes depending on the size of the squash. Just poke with a knife and it should be tender but no falling apart. Remove from the oven so you can add the stuffing.
• Rice -- As the squash is baking, cook the rice according to the package directions. But as the rice cooks, add if your garlic and shallots, so it will cook right along with the rice. TIP: I always cook my rice in broth rather than water, so if you want to add some more flavor, rather than water, use chicken or vegetable broth.
• Finishing -- Once the rice is done, remove from the heat and stir in the butter, scallions, cherries, apricots and nuts. Then stuff the squash! I fill each squash half way, and then add a little cheese, add the rest of the rice and top with the remainder of the cheese.
• Bake -- 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. This will reheat the squash, rice, and melt the cheese.
• Serve -- ENJOY! 1 squash half per person is healthy and filling. As I mentioned, roast chicken is great with this or go lighter with a salad.

CHEESY STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Cut squash in half and remove the seeds.
• Rub the cut flesh with salt and place flesh side down in a baking dish and bake for about 35 minutes.
• While the squash is baking, sauté onion in butter until clear and add chopped broccoli florets, mushrooms and celery.
• Sauté about 4 minutes.
• Stir in walnuts and fresh basil, then sprinkle with brown sugar and soy sauce, adjust seasoning to taste. Toss to mix well.
• Check baking squash with a fork to see if it glides through the flesh.
• Stuff with vegetable mixture, top with equal amounts of grated cheese and return to oven for about 5 minutes.
• NOTES : Baked acorn squash halves stuffed with sautéed broccoli, cheese and walnuts.

CHEESY CHORIZO AND ORZO-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• 1) Preheat the oven to 400 F 2) place halved squash cut-side down in a baking dish and add 3/4 c. water. Cover tightly with foil and bake until fork-tender( about 35 min.) 3) Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a med pot and add the orzo. Cover and reduce to a simmer for about 15-20 min, the pasta should be al dente, and will have absorbed some of the broth) 4) Cook up the chorizo in a pan until done.(Crumble it as it cooks) 5) When the pasta is done add the milk and bring to a simmer. Once hot, stir in the cheeses, reserving some to sprinkle on top. 6) Stir the cooked chorizo into the orzo 7) When the squash is tender, remove form the oven and drain the remaining water. Turn the squash so the cut side is facing up. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 8) Divide the orzo mixture between the 4 squash halves and sprinkle each with the reserved cheese. 9)Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until cheese on top is slightly brown

CHEESY ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375. Cut squash in half and scrape out the seeds (set aside for replanting or discard) and place the squash cut side up in 13x9 baking dish. Add 1/2 cup water to dish and cover. Bake 40 minutes or until squash is tender. Mix butter, sugar and oil and spoon over squash. Top with cheese and cinnamon and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes.
• 2. Note: To make squash easier to cut in half, pierce the whole squash in several pieces with a sharp knife. Place on microwave plate and heat on high for 2 minutes. Cook for 2 minutes and cut in half.

CHEESY ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place squash cut side down in a glass dish. Cook in microwave for 20 minutes on high, until almost tender.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add celery and onion; saute until transparent. Stir in mushrooms; cook 2 to 3 minutes more. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and parsley. Divide mixture in half, spoon into the squash and cover.
• Cook 15 minutes in the preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and put back in the oven until the cheese bubbles.