Name: Whole Roasted Butternut Squash
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 medium butternut squash; 3 garlic cloves; 2 Tbs olive oil; 3 sprigs of sage; 1/2 tsp salt; 3 Tbs unsalted butter; 3 Tbs honey; 2 sprigs sage; pinch of salt

Appetizers and Sides

Dec 14

Written By Merritt Allen

bowl of roasted butternut squash with sage and garlic

Whole Roasted Butternut Squash with Browned Butter Sauce

Whole roasted butternut squash with brown butter, honey, and sage is a mouthwatering dish that perfectly encapsulates the warm flavors of fall and winter. This delectable side dish recipe takes butternut squash to new heights by pairing it with brown butter, sweet honey, and fragrant sage. The combination of these ingredients creates a symphony of tastes and aromas that will leave you craving more. Whether you're looking for an elegant side dish or a hearty addition to salad, this roasted butternut squash recipe is sure to impress even the most picky of palates.

I love this recipe for how easy it is. The flavors are both savory and sweet and are incredibly impressive for how little effort goes into making this dish. Butternut squash is a great addition to any table and is the perfect dish for your holiday season. It is a colorful dish that is tasty and a definite crowd pleaser.

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Common Questions For Whole Roasted Butternut Squash:

Why Roast A Whole Butternut Squash?

Roasting your butternut squash whole is a super easy way to prepare your squash. Once roasted, it makes chopping, blending, and scooping the squash easy.
Uncooked squash can be harder to chop and waiting to cut or cube once the squash comes out of the oven, means the squash will cut really easily.

Do I need to Peel My Butternut Squash Before Roasting?

It is recommended that you peel your butternut squash prior to baking. This is optional and you can definitely roast the butternut squash in the oven with the skin on. This method especially works if you plan to scoop out the squash after roasting.
If you plan to cube your squash after roasting, I recommend peeling first. This will make chopping easier since you will not have to handle softer squash with the skin on.

What To Serve With Whole Roasted Butternut Squash?

This butternut squash is both savory and sweet. The brown butter sauce with honey and sage is so delicious and goes with so many other flavors. Wild rice, white rice, or brown rice would make a great base for this roasted squash. You can pair with wilted or raw kale which will add fiber and crunch. You can also pair with steak or roasted chicken for a more protein rich meal. I have listed some other dishes that would pair well with this butternut squash and would be great pairings if you are trying to plan a dinner menu.
Roasted Tenderstem Broccolini is this garlic roasted broccolini that is covered in parmesan. It is a delicious vegetable dish that would pair so well with this butternut squash.
Beetroot, Walnut, and Feta salad would be so good with the addition of butternut squash. Beet and butternut squash salad would be hearty, lightly sweet, and super filling.
Toasted Chickpea Salad with Honey Mustard dressing is my usual weeknight salad and with butternut squash it would become a beautiful fall or winter salad!

roasted butternut squash with sage and browned butter

Why We Love Whole Roasted Squash?

Apart from being a super easy side dish, this roasted butternut squash is flavorful, colorful, and wholesome. Roasted with lots of sage, this roasted butternut squash will fill your whole house with the aroma of garlic and sage.
This squash dish is also a hands off recipe that does not require any special equipment, is easy to clean up, and reheats really well. The brown butter sauce with honey and sage gets better as leftovers as the flavors meld!
I love serving this butternut squash as a side dish at the holiday times. Since it can be prepared the day (or even a few days) before, it makes for an easy addition to dinner.

What is Brown Butter Sauce?

Brown butter sauce is a combination of brown butter, honey, and sage. With just a touch of salt, this sauce is sweet and rich in flavors. I love preparing the brown butter sauce fresh, just before serving, since it is best served warm. I add sage to this recipe because it is super savory and goes really well with butternut squash. You can also do this recipe with other herbs like rosemary and thyme!
If you love the combination of butternut squash and sage as much as I do, check out my Butternut squash Risotto with sage and parmesan!

Ingredients For Whole Roasted Butternut Squash:

Recipe for Butternut Squash

1 medium butternut squash You can also use acorn squash or pumpkin for this recipe!
3 garlic cloves whole and peeled. Sub 1 Tbs garlic powder if needed.
2 Tbs olive oil Olive oil is use to roasted the squash. You can use vegetable oil too.
3 sprigs of sage About 1 Tbs total when chopped
1/2 tsp salt Salt helps balance the flavors!

Recipe for Brown Butter Sauce.

3 Tbs unsalted butter Salted butter may taste really salty when the water starts to evaporate. We will add salt separatley.
3 Tbs honey You can also use maple syrup or brown sugar.
2 sprigs sage About 1 Tbs when rough chopped
pinch of salt For serving

Steps For Whole Roasted Butternut Squash

Roasted the Butternut Squash
1. Preheat the oven to 350F
2. Peel the butternut squash
3. Chop the butternut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. You can save the seeds and roast them separately.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and rub lightly into the squash.
5. Sprinkle with salt and top with the garlic cloves and sage.
6. Roast in the oven until the thickest part of the squash is very fork tender, about 40 minutes. The time will vary depending on the size of the butternut squash.
7. Remove to cool.
8. Once cool enough to handle, Cube the butternut squash and add to a serving bowl.
Prepare the Brown Butter Sauce
1. Over medium to low heat, add butter to sauce pan.
2. Once the butter is melted, continuously stir until you start to see browning, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the honey, sage, and a pinch of salt.
4. Stir and let simmer for about 1 minute.
5. Drizzle over the chopped butternut squash and serve!