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    Home » Recipes » Vegetables & Side Dishes

    Maple Roasted Acorn Squash

    Published: Nov 19, 2017 · Modified: Aug 28, 2022 by Sally Cameron · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    117 shares
    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Tender slices of spiced maple roasted acorn squash sprinkled with ruby pomegranate seeds and toasted pumpkin seeds. It's both a beautiful and delicious addition to your fall and Thanksgiving table. While many recipes for acorn squash take an hour, this one is ready in about 20 minutes, making it easy to serve anytime.

    maple roasted acorn squash | AFoodCentricLife.com
    Gray platter of golden roasted acorn squash.

    With golden-orange flesh and a blackish-green ridged exterior, acorn squash looks like a giant acorn. When roasted, acorn squash is tender with an earthy, savory, lightly sweet taste. For the glaze, mix olive oil, maple syrup, and spices. Slip slices into the oven brushed with the glaze and in just a few minutes you have a terrific side dish.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Like This Recipe
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Recipes Instructions
    • Tools for Best Results
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Recipe FAQs
    • More Recipe Ideas
    • ⭐️Did you Make This?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why You'll Like This Recipe

    • A perfect side dish for fall and Thanksgiving menus.
    • Its delicious and healthy.
    Cutting open an acorn squash.
    A halved acorn squash showing seeds.

    Recipe Ingredients

    • Acorn Squash: Choose a smaller squash, about 2 ½ pounds, they are easier to handle than bigger ones.
    • Maple syrup: Use real maple syrup, not the fake colored stuff, or use this keto maple sytrup made with monk fruit. It's terrific.
    • Pomegranate seeds:To save time, buy the packaged pomegranate seeds (but they are easy to cut up, read here how to cut up a pomegranate).
    • Spices: Use cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, a little clove.
    • Pumpkin seeds: For how to toast pumpkin seeds (also called pepitas), see this post on roast pumpkin seeds. It's easy! Make them ahead and try not to eat them all (make extra).

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Chinese Five Spice is a nice variation for this recipe. Not familiar with it? Chinese Five Spice is a wonderful blend of cinnamon, star anise, fennel seed, cloves, ginger and sometimes black pepper. Use it like cinnamon for a nice twist on spiced flavors.

    Recipes Instructions

    How to Cut Acorn Squash

    Hard winter squashes are little intimidating to cut up, but with a sharp heavy chefs knife, you can do it. Here are a few tips.

    • Use a knife with some heft to it, a 9" - 10" chefs knife is good. The sharper, the better.
    • Cut a thin slice off the top and bottom of the squash. This provides a flat, stable base on which to work.
    • Stand the squash up and cut through the center, top to bottom.
    • Next, scrape out the seeds with a spoon.
    • Lay the halves flat and slice into approximately 1" pieces.

    Roasting Acorn Squash

    To roast acorn squash, lay slices flat on a parchment or foil lined baking sheet, brush with the maple-oil-spice blend, sprinkle with salt, and roast at 425°F for 16-18 minutes. Timing will depend on your oven. Squash should be tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife.

    Acorn squash with seeds scooped out.

    Tools for Best Results

    • Rimmed baking sheets, half sheet size.
    • For a set of circular cuttings rings that work for lots of kitchen jobs see this link (optional).
    • A sharp heavy chef's knife.
    • Spoon to scoop seeds out.
    • Parchment paper or foil.
    Slices of squash on a baking sheet.

    Serving Suggestions

    Lay slices on a platter and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and pumpkin seeds to serve.

    Serve with roast meats such as chicken and turkey.

    Maple roasted acorn squash on a serving platter.
    Finished platter of squash with pomegranate seeds.

    Recipe FAQs

    How do I choose a ripe acorn squash at the store?

    Acorn squash are almost fully ripe adn redy to go at the store. They will continue to ripen when you get them home. The color should be mostly green with a little orange. If they are all orange, they are probaly over-ripe. IIt ill still be good to eat unless it shows signs of rotting, such as softening of the rind and a off smell.

    Do I need to peel acorn squash before roasting it?

    No, you do not need to peel acorn squash before roasting. Roast acorn squash rind on, peel on, skin on. It's very tough and hard to peel (and not needed).

    What's the best way to cut and prepare acorn squash for roasting?

    As acorn squash are hard and a challenging shape to handle, the best way to cut it is with a heavy sharp chef's knife. Cut a thin slice off the top and bottom of the squash. This provides a flat, stable base on which to work. Stand the squash up and cut through the center, top to bottom. Scrape out the seeds with a spoon.
    Lay the halves flat and slice crosswise into approximately 1" pieces.

    More Recipe Ideas

    For another fall squash recipe try this butternut squash apple soup.

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      Easy Salsa Verde Chicken (green salsa chicken)
    • Colorful baked ground turkey stuffed peppers with quinoa and herbs.
      Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
    • roasted red pepper soup
      Roasted Red Pepper Soup (sheet pan recipe)
    • Classic stuffing in white casserole.
      Gluten Free Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe

    ⭐️Did you Make This?

    If you make this recipe, please comment and let me know, and if you loved it, please give it a 5 star rating! They really help other readers, and I love to hear from you.

    📖 Recipe

    maple roasted acorn squash | AFoodCentricLife.com

    Roasted Acorn Squash with Maple Glaze.

    Sally Cameron
    A sweet, savory, spiced glaze is brushed over acorn squash slices before roasting, then garnished with pomegranate and pumpkin seeds to serve. Beautiful, healthy and tasty. 
    5 from 2 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 16 minutes mins
    Total Time 26 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 84 kcal

    Equipment

    • Baking sheet
    • Baking parchment paper or foil
    • Pastry brush for brushing on the glaze
    • Sharp chef's knife. 9" or 10"
    • large circular cookie cutter or cutting rings optional, but a handy kitchen addition.

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 1 ½ pound acorn squash
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or monk fruit maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 ½ teaspoons warm spice blend, see below or Chinese five spice
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

    Optional garnishes

    • 2-3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
    • 2-3 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
    • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

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    Instructions
     

    Set-up and make the glaze

    • Pre-heat oven to 425°F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Make the glaze by combining the maple syrup, oil, and spices. 

    Slice acorn squash

    • Place a damp kitchen towel or board mat under a cutting board for stability. With a large, sharp, heavy knife, such as a 9"-10" chefs knife, lay the acorn squash on its side and slice a small piece off the top and bottom. Stand the squash flat on end and cut through the center, splitting it in half. With a spoon, scoop seeds and fibers out and discard. 

    Roast the squash

    • Lay the squash halves flat and cut the halves into ¾" slices. To clean up the inner edges, use a paring knife or circular cookie cutters. Lay slices flat on prepared baking sheet. Brush with the glaze, then sprinkle with sea salt. Roast in the oven for 16-18 minutes or until the squash is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Plate slices on a platter and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and pumpkin seeds to serve. 

    Notes

    Spice options:
    Create your own spice blend with ¾ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon each nutmeg, allspice, and ginger. For another option, try five spice (also called Chinese five spice). It's a terrific warm spice blend. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 84kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 147mgPotassium: 93mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
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    117 shares

    Comments

    1. Madonna says

      November 19, 2017 at 9:19 am

      I have made Delicata squash, but not Acorn. I will be putting this on my market list. I am trying to cut down on sugar, and I dislike the artificial sweeteners so maybe the maple syrup will be a good alternative. Also, want to try out the 5-spice.

      Reply
      • Sally Cameron says

        November 19, 2017 at 9:40 am

        Bet you will love the Five Spice Madonna. Is both familiar and different at the same time, because its a warm aromatic blend. Artificial sweeteners are terrible for you, really unhealthy. A little natural sweetener is good, and I love maple. But its still sugar, so we all have to watch amounts. Good thing is real dark maple has such big flavor, you don't need much. Thanks for commenting and Happy Thanksgiving!

        Reply
        • Madonna says

          November 21, 2017 at 11:48 am

          Just bought some maple syrup. You are correct, not much needed. I hope this works, sometimes after eating something for a few times problem arise. Fingers crossed. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving.

    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Chef Sally Cameron of aFoodcentricLife.com in her kitchen.

    Welcome! I'm Sally, a professionally trained chef, former personal chef and caterer, lover of fresh healthy food, and sharing it with others.

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