Skip the sweet potatoes and make this simple, delicious Butternut Squash Casserole. Warm, comforting squash with a hint of cinnamon and a buttery, crumble topping with pecans. A great compliment to any cozy fall meal.
If you are a sweet potato casserole fan, then you will LOVE this Butternut Squash Casserole--a delicious twist on a classic that no holiday spread is complete without.
I don't say no to any of these sorts of side dishes, ever. Marshmallow topped or buttery pecan crumbles spread all over, all are perfection to me.
The buttery topping is what I think pairs so well with the sweetness of the butternut squash in this version. It almost tastes too good to be true.
The reason I love this Butternut Squash version so much is:
- All you have to do is roast the butternut squash in half. This makes for simple prep: no boiling, no peeling, just bake and scoop.
- It is not too sweet, but just the right amount. Some sweet potato casseroles are a little too much for me. The balance of the butter and the brown sugar in the layers, is spot on and a great balance to the savory dishes on the holiday spread.
- It can most certainly double as a dessert! Scoop a big spoonful of vanilla ice cream on top and DIVE IN.
Holidays or no holiday season. The SECOND butternut squash is pulled up from the ground is the second you will be needing this Butternut Squash Casserole recipe!
What you will need to make this:
- If you have never cut a butternut squash before, don't be afraid. With a little effort, it's fairly simple. I microwave it for about 2 minutes to help soften it slightly. Then cut it down the middle and scoop out the seeds. Here is a great resource.
- A 1:1 gluten free flour should work well if you need to make this recipe gluten free.
How to make this recipe:
The part that makes this recipe a bit time consuming is the roasting of the butternut squash. The good thing though is that you can roast it in advance to save time the day that you make your Butternut Squash Casserole.
Cut your squash in half, place it face down on a parchment lined baking pan. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the flesh is softened. (steps 1-3)
Scoop all of the butternut squash out the skin. Mash it well. (step 4)
Add in the other ingredients for the butternut squash layer and stir well to combine. For an extra smooth and creamy texture, you can use a mixer to beat the mixture instead. If texture is hard for you, this may be something you want to do. (steps 5 and 6)
In a separate bowl, add all of the topping ingredients and stir well to combine. (step 7)
Butter or grease a 9 inch square pan and pour the butternut squash mixture into it. Add the crumble topping evenly over top. Bake for about 40 minutes or until the topping is browned and the butternut squash layer has set.
Cool for about 10 minutes and serve!
Notes and Pro-Tips:
- You can eat this butternut squash casserole warm or cold. I have had it both ways several times and still can't figure out which I like better.
- It's hard to mess this recipe up--it's pretty fail proof. The bottom layer is creamy and soft, it won't be stiff, but it also won't be liquid. Somewhere in the middle is just right. The topping can be browned however you like.
- You can make this recipe a day in advance. I found warming it in the oven the next day still was delicious.
- As I mentioned before, you can also prep the butternut squash ahead of time to save a little time on the day you are serving this recipe.
Try these other simple side dishes:
- Simple Apple Sage Stuffing
- Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
- Butternut Squash Stuffing
- Simple Honey Biscuits
- Warm Brie Crostini with Cranberry Chutney
- Parmesan Bacon Green Been Casserole
- Balsamic Cranberry Chutney
- Roasted Sweet Potato Cranberry Quinoa
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Butternut Squash Casserole
Ingredients
For the Butternut Squash Layer:
- 1 butternut squash
- ¼ c butter
- ½ c Milk
- ¼ c brown sugar
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
For the Topping:
- 5 T butter, melted
- ½ c plus 2 T flour
- ½ c brown sugar
- 1 c pecans
- ½ tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut the butternut squash in half and scoop out seeds. Place the squash face down on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the squash is softened and easy to scoop out.
- Remove from the oven and turn the temperature down to 350°F. Allow the butternut squash to cool slightly. Scoop out the squash into a medium mixing bowl. Add in the melted butter, brown sugar eggs, milk, vanilla, sea salt and cinnamon. Whisk well until smooth. You can also use an electric mixer for this part for an extra smooth texture.
- In a separate bowl, combine all of the topping ingredients and stir to combine.
- Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan. Pour the butternut squash mixture into the pan. Sprinkle the crumble topping over it evenly. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until the squash layer has set and the topping is golden brown to your liking.
- Allow to cool for about ten minutes before serving. This can also be served chilled. Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
- You can eat this butternut squash casserole warm or cold. I have had it both ways several times and still can't figure out which I like better.
- It's hard to mess this recipe up--it's pretty fail proof. The bottom layer is creamy and soft, it won't be stiff, but it also won't be liquid. Somewhere in the middle is just right. The topping can be browned however you like.
- You can make this recipe a day in advance. I found warming it in the oven the next day still was delicious.
- As I mentioned before, you can also prep the butternut squash ahead of time to save a little time on the day you are serving this recipe.
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