16 Healthy Butternut Squash Recipes for Fall Comfort Food (2024)

Butternut squash season has finally arrived! While we love slow roasting this fall ingredient as much as anyone, busy weeknights aren't the easiest time to fit that in. Luckily, all of these healthy butternut squash recipes for sides and mains will add the veggie to dinner in 45 minutes or less! This doesn't mean you're limited to just sautéing. We have a few quick roast recipes you can still serve in almost no time.

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Butternut Coconut Rice with Thai Seasoned Chicken

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If you're over cauliflower rice (or love it so much you want to try it with another veggie), dig into the butternut squash rice in this clever dinner idea using butternut squash. Everything cooks in one skillet so even cleanup is speedy for this protein-packed (22 grams per serving) fall dinner that takes just 30 minutes.

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Orzo with Butternut Squash, Sage, and Bacon

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Combat the chilly fall with this warm, cozy orzo bowl. We don't know anyone who would turn down the combination of pasta, butternut squash, and bacon in this side dish. Cooking the butternut squash in a Dutch oven makes this recipe much faster than roasting.

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Crispy Parmesan-Roasted Butternut Squash

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If you want a fuss-free side of butternut squash with dinner, you can't go wrong with roasting. This easy butternut squash recipe really lets your fresh squash shine. Just toss the cubes of squash with a drizzle of oil, a pinch of dried thyme, and a handful of Parmesan cheese, then let them roast to perfection to serve alongside your fall entrée.

Cut your prep time way down by using purchased, cubed squash pieces.

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Radicchio and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

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If you let autumn pass you by without making this rainbow salad, you're seriously missing out. Instead of plain old lettuce leaves, use purple-red radicchio for your salad "greens," and mix in fennel and roasted butternut squash. In place of croutons, keep the fall theme going by topping off your salad with roasted pumpkin seeds. Add cooked steak, pork, or chicken to make it an entrée.

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Cheesy Butternut Squash Cavatappi Bake

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If you have picky eaters at your table who normally wouldn't touch squash with a 10-foot fork, this easy, cheesy casserole sneaks it onto their plates. After cooking, mash the butternut squash and mix it in with pasta, Fontina cheese, and mushrooms. Once this casserole is finished baking, sprinkle on a few slices of crispy chopped bacon. Who could resist trying a bite?

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Butternut Burrito Bowls

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One way to speed up cooking butternut squash is to spiralize it first. (Or use purchased butternut squash "noodles" to make it even faster.) That's the tactic we used here to make this healthy butternut squash recipe ready to eat in 30 minutes. The squash with seasonings and bell peppers skillet cooks for just 2 to 3 minutes. It's a nutrition-packed side dish perfect for serving alongside a fall roast or baked chicken.

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Squash and Curried Noodle Soup

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Soup in just 30 minutes? Sign us up! Even though you can throw it together in almost no time, this soup is full of fresh ingredients and big flavors that'll make it taste like it's been simmering all day. Curry powder gives this recipe a kick, while fresh butternut squash and spinach make it healthy and tasty enough to serve for dinner every week.

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Baked Butternut Squash with Thyme

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Whether it's a weeknight dinner or you're prepping for the holidays, you can't go wrong with this simple side dish. Just add a sprinkle of salt and thyme, and let the butternut squash shine.

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Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry

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Use this healthy butternut squash recipe as a foray into vegan meals. Chickpeas add loads of fiber (there are 12 grams per serving!) and a bit of protein. Serve with cooked rice or noodles for a heartier dinner.

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Butternut Squash and Mushroom Noodle Bowl

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Sweet, spicy, and full of fall flavor, this recipe adds soy and ginger flair to your usual bowl of pasta and butternut squash. To keep dishwashing to a minimum, start by roasting the butternut squash 15 minutes, then add the mushrooms to the same pan to continue roasting. Toss the spinach and green onions on the pan after the roasting time is up. No need to dirty an extra pan and bowl for those steps.

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Red Beans and Rice with Squash

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Hearty, warm, and filled with fall flavors, this cozy butternut squash dinner was meant for a night in. Serve butternut squash, red kidney beans, and chicken sausage over rice for a healthy comfort food dinner. It's almost like a tasty fall chili.

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Spaghetti with Roasted Butternut Squash

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No canned spaghetti sauce here! Instead, serve your noodles with roasted butternut squash, crispy bacon, and pecorino cheese in a brown butter sauce. It's a seasonal twist on spaghetti you'll want to make all year. Trust us: You won't miss your store-bought tomato sauce.

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Butternut Risotto

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Tender, melt-in-your-mouth butternut squash is an ideal addition to creamy risotto when you want a taste of fall. A few threads of saffron add an extra layer of flavor, while sprinkling Parmesan cheese on top makes each bite a little more decadent. Serve this easy side alongside a roast or chicken breast for a cozy dinner.

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Butternut Squash Soup with Ravioli

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Two pounds of butternut squash might sound like a lot, but it's worth the chopping and peeling for this silky-smooth soup. Of course, you can snag a bag of precut squash to speed things along, if time is extra tight. To make dinner a little more elegant, top with cheese ravioli and swirls of molasses to turn your bowl of healthy butternut squash soup into art.

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Pappardelle with Butternut Squash and Blue Cheese

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Thick pappardelle noodles are just right for partnering with tender butternut squash. Plenty of fresh sage and crunchy pine nuts don't hurt this pairing, either.

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Orzo Risotto with Roasted Vegetables

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Who says you need rice to make risotto? Not us. You can make risotto just as creamy and dreamy using orzo instead. To make it a healthy side dish (or even a main meal), add in delicious roasted vegetables such as butternut squash, mushrooms, and onions.