• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Side Dishes » Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar

February 14, 2019 By Sara 17 Comments

Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This roasted butternut squash is coated in brown sugar, maple syrup and seasonings, then roasted until tender and caramelized. The absolute best way to enjoy butternut squash!

I always serve a vegetable side dish with dinner, some of my family’s favorites include glazed carrots, parmesan zucchini, and this lightly sweetened roasted butternut squash.

Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe | Baked Butternut Squash | Butternut Squash Side Dish #butternutsquash #squash #fall #vegetarian #dinner #dinneratthezoo Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe | Baked Butternut Squash | Butternut Squash Side Dish #butternutsquash #squash #fall #vegetarian #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A bowl of roasted butternut squash made with brown sugar and maple syrup, then garnished with chopped parsley.

When the colder weather months roll around and there are less fresh green veggies at the market, I turn to winter squash. Winter squash is inexpensive, readily available, and comes in all kinds of different shapes, sizes and flavors. My favorite winter squash is butternut, it’s got a ton of flavor and stands up well to most preparations. This roasted butternut squash gets a touch of sweetness from brown sugar and maple syrup, and is totally delicious.

How to cut a butternut squash

A butternut squash requires a little prep work before it’s ready to be roasted, but it’s totally worth the effort! The first step is to cut a thin slice off both the bottom and top of your squash so that it won’t roll around when you’re working with it. The next step is to use a vegetable peeler to peel off the skin. Use a sharp, high quality vegetable peeler to make short work of this task – I use a Y-shaped peeler.

After your squash is peeled, you’ll want to cut it lengthwise, then use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. From there, you can cut your squash into cubes. This recipe also works with pre-cut butternut squash from the produce section if you want to save a little prep time.

Raw cubed butternut squash on a sheet pan.

How do you make roasted butternut squash?

To make this recipe, you’ll want to spread your squash out in a single layer on a greased sheet pan. A mixture of olive oil, brown sugar, maple syrup and seasonings goes over the squash. Place your squash in the oven and roast until it’s caramelized and tender. The finishing touch is a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Cubes of butternut squash coated in olive oil, brown sugar and maple syrup.

Tips for roasted butternut squash

  • I cut my squash into 3/4 inch pieces – it may seem a little large, but the squash shrinks down as it cooks.
  • You’ll want to stir your squash occasionally to make sure all of the sides get caramelized and browned.
  • Line your sheet pan with foil before you coat it with cooking spray for easier clean up.
  • I like to garnish my butternut squash with a little chopped parsley, but you could skip that step if you prefer.

Caramelized cooked butternut squash on a sheet pan.

Roasted Butternut Squash Variations

I love this sweeter version of roasted squash, but there are so many different ways to switch up the flavors in this recipe to suit your tastes.

  • Bacon: Add 1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon before serving.
  • Garlic and Herb: Omit the brown sugar and maple syrup, and instead add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the olive oil.
  • Red Onion: Add 1/2 cup sliced red onion to the pan before the squash goes into the oven.
  • Cinnamon: Add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon to the olive oil mixture.

Roasted butternut squash with brown sugar and maple syrup, garnished with chopped parsley.

While roasted butternut squash makes a great side dish, it can also be used in a number of other dishes such as salads or in pasta. The possibilities are endless!

More great side dishes

  • Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
  • Bacon Green Bean Bundles
  • Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  • Garlic Mushrooms in Butter Sauce
  • Corn Pudding
A bowl of roasted butternut squash made with brown sugar and maple syrup, then garnished with chopped parsley.
Print Pin
5 from 9 votes

Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Sugar

This roasted butternut squash is coated in brown sugar, maple syrup and seasonings, then roasted until tender and caramelized. The absolute best way to enjoy butternut squash!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword baked butternut squash, roasted butternut squash
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 142kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • cooking spray
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley optional

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a sheet pan with cooking spray.
  • Arrange the squash cubes in a single layer on the pan.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, brown sugar, maple syrup, salt and  pepper.
  • Drizzle the olive oil mixture over the squash, then toss to coat evenly.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until squash is tender and browned.
  • Sprinkle with parsley if desired, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 16070IU | Vitamin C: 31.8mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 1.1mg

Filed Under: Gluten Free, Side Dishes, Vegetarian Dishes Tagged With: Butternut Squash

Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

« Stromboli Recipe
Chicken Enchilada Soup »

Comments

  1. Jerlee says

    January 29, 2020 at 9:18 am

    5 stars
    Recently took this to a church potluck, where it received rave reviews. Will definitely include this easy recipe in my regular go-to list, as it’s a yummy way to incorporate more squash into my diet. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!

    Reply
  2. Yvonne Pittman says

    November 29, 2019 at 10:34 am

    5 stars
    Made this yesterday for Thanksgiving. My family loves sweet potatoes but the squash was wonderful and a new favorite!

    Reply
  3. Deb says

    November 2, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    5 stars
    I buy the precut squash to save time. Really yummy recipe hot or cold!

    Reply
  4. Becca Talbot says

    February 18, 2019 at 3:01 pm

    I love the sound of this recipe 🙂 and the steps are so easy to follow too – I will have to give it a go! x

    Reply
  5. natalie says

    February 18, 2019 at 7:56 am

    Oh I love butternut squash it is yummy and something all the kids enjoy too!!

    Reply
  6. Shannon Gurnee says

    February 17, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    I’ve never made butternut squash before. I bet it’s really good with the brown sugar on it.

    Reply
  7. Catherine says

    February 17, 2019 at 10:04 am

    5 stars
    So simple, yet so delicious! I love roasted butternut…yours came out absolutely perfect!

    Reply
  8. Nina says

    February 16, 2019 at 3:11 pm

    5 stars
    Mmmmm this sounds amazing! I love anything with squash. The brown sugar I’m sure would make them even more sweet.

    Reply
  9. Vanessa Delia says

    February 16, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    5 stars
    Butternut squash is one of my favorite additions to dishes. I usually use it more during the fall though.

    Reply
  10. Danielle Wolter says

    February 16, 2019 at 12:47 pm

    5 stars
    I am just so in love with roasted butternut squash. i’ll bet the brown sugar makes this just amazing. Great recipe!

    Reply
  11. Alexandra Cook says

    February 16, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    Wow, so delicious and easy recipe to make for the kids. I am sure my kids will love it like and will make their favorite.

    Reply
  12. John Mulindi says

    February 16, 2019 at 12:15 pm

    I think I can prepare this, the guide is easy to follow. This looks nice, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  13. Brianne Tursi Manz says

    February 16, 2019 at 8:10 am

    5 stars
    This is an awesome way to prepare butternut squash. I really look forward to making this.

    Reply
  14. Lyosha says

    February 16, 2019 at 8:01 am

    I am a big butternut fan! It is so delicious and always make want some more. I do need to try your variation of making roasted squash. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  15. Stacie says

    February 15, 2019 at 11:50 am

    5 stars
    Butternut squash and brown sugar go together like peanut butter and honey. Yes, honey. Try it. This sounds so good. I can already taste the sweetness mixed with the nutty, smooth texture of the squash.

    Reply
  16. Jan says

    February 15, 2019 at 10:45 am

    Chicken enchiladas recipe brought me to your site. I’ve been making the trilogy for years (enchiladas, beans,rice, but never this good! What I love about your recipes are the little additions of: tomato paste in the beans and chic stock, cut up bell pepper in the rice that is removed before serving, sour cream smeared on the steamed corn tortilla before adding chicken. Looking forward to other recipes and your little nuiances to make something simple extraordinarily delicious. Btw, all these ingredients (little differences) are on hand too! 😋

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 15, 2019 at 9:57 pm

      Thank you so much Jan for the nice comment, it makes me so happy to hear you’re enjoying the recipes! I hope you like this one too!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
category category category category category category category

Categories

Sites I am featured In
PRIVACY POLICY © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2018.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food