This roasted acorn squash is cooked with brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon for a sweet and savory side that’s perfect for fall and winter meals. It pairs perfectly with a variety of proteins such as salmon, chicken, pork chops and steak.

I serve a roasted vegetable with almost every meal. Some of my family’s favorites include roasted butternut squash, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted asparagus and this lightly sweetened acorn squash recipe.

Roasted acorn squash garnished with fresh parsley.

When I’m looking for the perfect side dish for cooler weather months, I turn to winter squash. It’s healthy, flavorful, readily available and so easy to make. This roasted acorn squash is caramelized to perfection in the oven, and is sure to be a hit with your family.

Enjoy this roasted veggie with hearty main dishes like grilled turkey breast, mushroom pork chops, steak Diane or turkey meatloaf. Add a starch like sour cream mashed potatoes for a memorable meal.

Roasted Acorn Squash Ingredients

For your roasted acorn squash you will need acorn squash, olive oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and black pepper.

Sliced acorn squash on a sheet pan.

How Do You Make Roasted Acorn Squash?

For such a flavorful dish, roasted acorn squash is surprisingly easy to make. First, make a sauce that brings out the natural sweetness of the squash by mixing olive oil, brown sugar, maple syrup and seasonings in a bowl. Cut the acorn squash into slices taking care to remove all the seeds and fibers in the middle of the squash. Coat the squash slices in the sauce and they are ready to go into the oven for about 20 minutes. Once the slices are baked and tender, they are ready to serve.

Acorn squash coated in a mixture of sugar, olive oil and seasonings.

Tips For Roasted Acorn Squash

  • In order to choose ripe acorn squash, look for squash that are dark green without a lot of yellow spots. The skin should be hard and should not be shiny. Riper squash will have a better flavor when roasted.
  • If you want to avoid some cutting, you can roast and serve entire squash halves. Simply bump up the cooking time a few minutes and make sure to take the squash out of the oven when it is nice and tender.

Quick Tip

Be sure to coat the top and the bottom of the squash with your sauce. You can flip the squash midway through the baking process to maximize caramelization.

Sliced of cinnamon roasted acorn squash on a sheet pan.

How To Prepare Acorn Squash

  • Give the acorn squash a quick wash in cold water.
  • Cut off the top of the squash on the stem end. This will allow you to avoid trying to cut through the hard stem.
  • Next cut the squash lengthwise from stem to end. This will allow easy access to the seeds and fiber.
  • When halving the acorn squash, cut it down a furrow between two ridges. Feel free to move the knife around the squash instead of cutting straight through. You can rest the acorn squash on the cut top end for stability.
  • The seeds and fiber can be removed with a spoon or a melon baller. A melon baller with a comfortable handle is particularly useful to cut the hard flesh of the uncooked acorn squash.
  • After the seeds are removed, I like to cut the squash into horizontal slices perpendicular from the cut splitting the squash in half. Slicing an acorn squash this way gives more surface area to get caramelized and gives each slice decorative ridges.
A serving plate of roasted acorn squash.

Recipe FAQs

Is the skin on an acorn squash edible?

Acorn squash skin is edible when cooked. If you plan to eat the skin, make sure to test that the skin is tender when you take the squash out of the oven. Make sure that you wash the skin of the squash well before cutting it if you plan to eat the skin.

Is acorn squash health?

Acorn squash is not only delicious, but it is healthy too. Acorn squash contains vitamins A, B6 and C. This squash also contains niacin, potassium and magnesium. Acorn squash is a low calorie food with an entire squash only having around 175 calories. Feel free to indulge in acorn squash, it is a guilt free veggie with a marvelous flavor!

Do you leave skin on acorn squash when roasting?

I like to leave the skin on acorn squash when roasting it. It helps the squash hold together and you can eat it if you wash it well and cook it until it is tender.

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Acorn Squash Variations

While this squash is a perfect fall and winter side dish and is delicious as-is, feel free to change up the recipe to suit your taste.

  • Veggies: Feel free to add other veggies to the sheet pan like red onions, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips or butternut squash.
  • Toppings: You can add a sweet topping like candied pecans or walnuts. You can also try a savory topping like chopped parsley or sage.
  • Flavoring: Instead of cinnamon, try a sprinkle of a similar warm spice like nutmeg, ground ginger or ground cloves.

This recipe is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. It happens to be my very favorite way to prepare acorn squash. Serve it at your next meal and watch the rave reviews come in!

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5 from 22 votes

Roasted Acorn Squash

AuthorSara Welch
Roasted acorn squash garnished with fresh parsley.
This roasted acorn squash is cooked with brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon for a sweet and savory side that’s perfect for fall and winter meals. It pairs perfectly with a variety of proteins such as salmon, chicken, pork chops and steak.
Time
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Serves 4

Ingredients 

  • 2 1/2 pounds acorn squash
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or more to taste
  • cooking spray

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Halve the acorn squash lengthwise and remove the seeds. Cut the halves into 3/4 inch thick slices.
  • Line a sheet pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.
  • In a small bowl mix together the olive oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour the olive oil mixture over the squash and toss to coat.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until acorn squash is tender and starting to brown. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. In order to choose ripe acorn squash, look for squash that are dark green without a lot of yellow spots. The skin should be hard and should not be shiny. Riper squash will have a better flavor when roasted.
  2. If you want to avoid some cutting, you can roast and serve entire squash halves. Simply bump up the cooking time a few minutes and make sure to take the squash out of the oven when it is nice and tender.
  3. Be sure to coat the top and the bottom of the squash with your sauce. You can flip the squash midway through the baking process to maximize caramelization.

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 1006mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1040IU | Vitamin C: 31.2mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 2mg

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Acron squash is my favourite, and I love that you added maple and cinnamon flavours. My husband said it’s the best squash side dish I’ve made so far… and all the credit goes to you! Thanks a lot!

  2. 5 stars
    Acorn squash is one of my favorite fall veggies and I love the spices you added to it for roasting – feels like it will bring out the natural sweetness of the squash! Can’t wait to make this soon!

  3. 5 stars
    Oh yum! I love the combination of sweet and savory with the addition of the maple syrup, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Such a flavorful way of cooking acorn squash!

  4. 5 stars
    The flavor given to this unique dish is amazing. I just need to try your recipe this weekend. Love the dish and the Glaze and flavor too.

  5. 5 stars
    What an easy and beautiful side dish for fall! I love that you don’t need to peel acorn squash. It makes the preparation a breeze.