Stuffed Acorn Squash

Healthy Yet Mouthwatering

When you take a bite of this Stuffed Acorn Squash, you’ll immediately taste all the wonderful flavors that are piled into this one dish! You get a mildly sweet taste from the acorn squash, apples, and dried cranberries that complements the savory flavor from the ground turkey sausage and garlic perfectly.

Though it’s commonly served as a side dish it’s certainly hearty enough to enjoy as the main meal as well! Not to mention it’s also waistline-friendly since it’s low carb, packed with protein, and heavy in other nutrients thanks to the vegetables!

Not only do you get to enjoy a healthy side dish or meal that’s packed with cozy, harvest flavor but this Acorn Squash With Sausage is also super easy to make! In just 15 minutes you’ll pre-cook a majority of the ingredients on the stovetop before stuffing it into the squash to then finish baking in the oven.

Healthy, amazing flavor, and easy cooking?! What’s not to love?! And it’s a great addition to the Thanksgiving table along with this Thanksgiving Rice recipe! And if you love stuffed veggies, try these Italian Sausage Stuffed Peppers.

Ingredients For Stuffed Acorn Squash

For this Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe, you’ll need one acorn squash that has been cut in half and deseeded. Cutting the squash can be a bit tough so be sure to grab a sharp but sturdy kitchen knife to safely get the job done.

You’ll then need a package of ground turkey sausage, extra virgin olive oil, chopped kale, garlic, red onion, chopped apple pieces, dried cranberries, and thyme. Those ingredients are pre-cooked right on the stovetop before getting added to the acorn squash to bake it all together in the oven.

When choosing what apples to peel, core, and chop up you can just pick your favorite or use what you have on hand. I usually like using Granny Smith apples or Gala!

After the Sausage Stuffed Squash is finished, just sprinkle on some salt and ground black pepper to taste before serving!

Feel free to use any ground meat of your choice in this recipe! Classic ground sausage and even ground chicken are both delicious when used in the filling!

How To Make Stuffed Acorn Squash

1. Cut the acorn squash lengthwise into two pieces and then scoop out the seeds.
2. Bake the squash skin side down until the flesh is tender when poking it with a fork.
3. Cook the ground turkey sausage in extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat in a skillet. Once the turkey is cooked remove it from the skillet and set it aside.
4. Sauté the chopped kale, garlic, and red onion in olive oil using the same skillet. Cook until the onion has softened.
5. Add in the chopped apple pieces, dried cranberries, and thyme to cook. Then stir in the browned turkey sausage.
6. Scoop this turkey filling into the cooked acorn squash.
7. Place the Stuffed Squash on a baking sheet and cook them in the oven under the broiler. Season with salt and pepper before serving!

How To Store Acorn Squash

Store any leftover Stuffed Acorn Squash in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 4 to 5 days!

How To Reheat Leftovers

I find that the best way to reheat Stuffed Acorn Squash is in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.

What Can I Use Instead Of Ground Turkey Sausage In This Stuffed Squash Recipe?

You can use almost any ground meat of your choice! Options can include plain ground turkey, ground beef, any ground sausage, or even ground chicken!

How Many Servings Will I Get From One Acorn Squash?

Depending on your serving sizes and the size of the acorn squash that you use this recipe should serve 4 people! If you’ll be serving more people or prefer larger serving sizes you’ll want to double the recipe or even triple it.

Here are more squash recipes that taste just as good as this crowd-pleasing one!

• Roasted Delicata Squash – Sweet, tender, and you don’t even have to peel the skin since it’s edible!
• Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese – Buttery, sweet comfort food topped with bacon crumbles!
• Butternut Squash Sausage and Kale Soup – Hearty, healthy soup made right in the crockpot!
• How To Cook Spaghetti Squash – Follow this step-by-step guide to pull perfectly cooked spaghetti squash out of the oven to use as a side dish or to add into out delicious recipes!