How to Cook Butternut Squash in the Oven

butternut squash cut in half on a baking sheet

4.67 from 6 votes

How to Cook Butternut Squash in the Oven

Butternut squash is a delicious and nutritious fall and winter vegetable that is versatile and easy to cook. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to cook butternut squash in the oven.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: butternut squash, healthy side dish, squash recipes

Servings:

Calories: 114kcal

Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

1-2 pound butternut squash

For roasting:

2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

To cook butternut squash halves:

Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise.
Use a spoon to scoop out seeds. Throw away any seeds and pulp.
Place the squash on the prepared pan, cut side down. Or, you can bake them cut side up, spreading with melted butter and sprinkling with salt and pepper before baking.
Bake for 45-55 minutes. Test the thickest part of the squash to make sure it is done.

To make roasted butternut squash:

Preheat your oven to 450°F.
Cut the bottom and the stem off of the squash.
Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp with a spoon. Discard the seeds and pulp.
Peel the skin off the squash with a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife.
Cut the squash into bite-sized cubes, about 1 inch in size.
Toss the cubed squash with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Spread the squash out in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. (Dark baking sheets will help the squash brown more quickly.)
Roast the squash in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then stir. Roast for another 5 minutes and stir again. Then turn the oven to broil on low. Continue to cook the squash under the broiler, stirring every 2-3 minutes. This will help ensure it doesn't brown. If you don't care about it being crispy brown, just allow it to continue cooking at 450ºF instead of under the broiler.
The squash is ready to eat when it is fork tender.
Serve warm. Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container.

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 4 people, with 1 serving being 1/4 of the squash. If you don't add butter or oil, the calories and fat content will be lower. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**

Nutrition