What Is Acorn squash and How Can I Use It?

Acorn squash is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 51 recipes to get you started.

What is acorn squash?

Acorn squash is the small, ribbed winter squash shaped like its namesake, usually dark green with a splash of orange where it sat on the ground. It's one of the smaller squashes, often just right for one or two people. The deep grooves running top to bottom are its signature.

Inside, the flesh is pale yellow-orange, milder and a touch more fibrous than butternut squash, with a sweet, nutty flavor. The seed cavity is large for the squash's size, which leaves you a thinner shell of flesh than a dense squash like kabocha.

Cooking With Acorn Squash

The classic move is to halve it and roast. Cut it from stem to tip, scoop the seeds, and the natural bowl shape begs to be filled. Brush the cut flesh with butter and a little maple or brown sugar.

Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 40 to 50 minutes until a fork sinks in. Maple Acorn Squash and Honey Baked Squash both work exactly this way.

That hollow is also made for stuffing. Roast the halves until almost soft, then fill them with grains, sausage, apples, or greens and return them to the oven to finish. Spinach-Stuffed Acorn Squash and Apple Filled Squash Halves turn each half into a full plate.

You can also slice it crosswise into rings. The ridges become scalloped edges that crisp at the tips, as in Asparagus & Acorn Squash Rings. And the roasted flesh purees into a smooth soup; Best Acorn Squash Soup and Roasted Acorn Squash Soup both start there.

One real advantage of acorn squash: the skin softens enough to eat once roasted, so you can scoop or slice right through it and skip peeling entirely.

Pairing and Pitfalls

Acorn's mild sweetness takes well to maple and brown butter, and to crisped sage leaves. It works just as well with savory partners like sausage or sharp cheese. A drizzle of something sweet plus a hit of salt is the standard, and it rarely misses.

The main pitfall is dryness. With less flesh and more cavity than a dense squash, acorn can roast out bland and dry if you cook it naked. Brush the cut sides with fat and add a spoon of liquid or sweetener to the well so it bastes itself.

Wobbly halves are the other annoyance. The rounded bottoms tip over and spill, so slice a thin sliver off the base of each half to make it sit flat.

Substitutes

Butternut squash is the easiest swap, sweeter and meatier, so expect a richer result and peel it since its skin stays tough. Kabocha is closer in size and also good stuffed or roasted in halves.

Small sugar pumpkins work for roasting and stuffing too. Sweet potato fills in for a puree or soup, bringing the same sweetness with more body. For the eat-the-skin convenience, delicata squash is the closest match.

Choosing and Storing

Look for a squash that feels heavy for its size with hard, dull skin and mostly dark green color. A large patch of orange means it's overripe and will be stringy and dull-tasting. Pass on any with soft spots or a missing stem.

Whole, acorn squash keeps about a month in a cool, dry spot around 50 to 55°F (10 to 13°C). It doesn't store as long as thicker-skinned types like butternut or hubbard, so use it sooner.

Don't refrigerate it whole; the cold turns the flesh stringy.

Once cut or cooked, wrap it and refrigerate for up to five days. Cooked flesh also freezes well for a few months.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find acorn squash: Acorn squash is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Acorn squash is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

橡子壁球

British (UK) term

Acorn squash

en français

courge poivrée

en español

bellota calabaza

How much does acorn squash weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using acorn squash

There are 51 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Maple Acorn Squash

Maple acorn squash bakes halved squash filled with brown sugar, butter, and pure maple syrup until fork-tender. Four-ingredient New England side dish for Thanksgiving and fall dinners.

Creamy Hot Acorn Squash Soup

Creamy acorn squash soup with roasted squash, carrots, sherry, half-and-half, and warm spices. The autumn soup served in hollowed-out squash bowls for a stunning fall-table presentation.

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

Roasted acorn squash soup: foil-roasted squash pureed with sweated onion and garlic, finished with cream, cinnamon, and a whisper of mace for a velvety fall starter.

Acorn Squash & Apple Soup

A delicious soup that's perfect to enjoy while watching the leaves fall from the trees on a cool Autumn day.

Best Acorn Squash Soup

I didn't like acorn squash so much in the past, but now I'm converted by this delicious soup. It was loaded with great flavor, and I couldn't stop eating it. I think butternut squash should work too. Have saved the recipe into my recipe box, and also sent it to my mom who loves squash soup.

Acorn Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

A flavourful and hearty soup warms you up instantly, an ideal soup on a cold fall or winter day.

Cranberry-Stuffed Acorn Squash

I added a little bit more honey, and the stuffed squashs were yummy.

Carrot & Acorn Squash Soup

Carrot and acorn squash soup pureed silky smooth with thyme, dill and white pepper. Vegetarian, naturally sweet from roasted squash and grated carrots, thickened with a handful of rolled oats instead of cream.

Acorn Squash Cake with Pecan Streusel

So delicious, moist and flavourful. It was a HUGE hit at our family dinner last night! I actually doubled the batch and it was still perfect...

20 Minute Glazed Acorn Squash

How to cook acorn squash. This works with carnival squash (used in the photo) as well as acorn squash. Perfectly cooked moist and not stringly squash paired with a buttery glaze that is caramelized perfectly. All this in about 20 minutes.

Apple Filled Squash Halves

Roasted acorn squash halves stuffed with savory ground beef, sweet-tart apples, plump raisins, and warm cinnamon, glazed with brown sugar and butter.

Tortelloni Di Zucca

Handmade tortelloni stuffed with acorn squash, escarole, ham, and ricotta, finished in a buttery pecorino-tomato cream sauce. An Italian masterclass worth every minute.

Honey Baked Squash

Honey baked squash: acorn squash rings roasted tender and topped with a honey-pecan oat crunch. Sweet, nutty, and the make-ahead crunch keeps for months.

Baked Cranberry Squash

Baked cranberry squash stuffed with pears, cranberries, orange juice concentrate, honey, and warm spices. A stunning vegetarian main or holiday side dish with no added fat.

Squash Crescents

Curry-butter acorn squash crescents glazed with apple juice. A simple roasted side dish with warm spice and a hint of sweetness in 35 minutes.

Squash Soup for One (Or 2 Not So Hungry People)

Roasted acorn squash soup with garlic, wild rice, and a kick of cayenne. A cozy single-serving bowl that's vegan-friendly and loaded with warm spice.

Cheesy Roasted Acorn Squash & Gorgonzola Pizza

Maple-roasted acorn squash, creamy Gorgonzola, and melty mozzarella on a crispy crust, topped with peppery arugula. This vegetarian fall pizza is seasonal eating at its finest.

Acorn Squash with Cranberry Filling

Autumn's fast approaching, so why not try this scrumptious dish that will explore your sense of taste!

Asparagus & Acorn Squash Rings

Asparagus and acorn squash rings make a stunning fall side dish: tender squash hoops threaded with asparagus spears, finished with a buttery walnut sauce sharp with lemon, cider vinegar, and apple cider. Holiday-table showpiece.

Whipped Yams & Winter Squash Casserole

Whipped yam and acorn squash casserole with maple syrup, orange juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. A naturally sweet holiday side dish with no butter or cream needed.

Apple Stuffed Squash

Acorn squash stuffed with brown rice cooked in chicken broth, unsweetened applesauce, toasted pecans, celery, and ground ginger. A hearty fall side dish or light main.

Apple Filled Acorn Squash

Apple-filled acorn squash with brown sugar, chopped walnuts, and orange zest. Baked cut-side down first for tender flesh, then filled and finished in the oven. A vegan fall side.

Wild Rice-Stuffed Squash

Acorn squash halves stuffed with chewy wild rice, chopped walnuts, and bright orange zest, baked until fork-tender. A low-calorie vegetarian main or side that screams fall.

Two Ways with Acorn Squash

Can't make up your mind how fancy to get? Here are 2 presentations of this tasty squash--one homey and one for "dress-up".

Cheesy Crusted & Spiced Squash

Cheesy crusted spiced acorn squash roasts wedges of sweet squash under a crunchy Parmesan, sage, garlic, lemon-zest breadcrumb crust with a pinch of cayenne. A fast vegetarian side for weeknight dinners.

Spinach-Stuffed Acorn Squash

Tender baked acorn squash halves filled with seasoned spinach, sautéed onions, and breadcrumbs. This vegetarian stuffed squash makes a gorgeous fall dinner that's naturally light and full of earthy flavor.

Acorn Squash with Wehani Rice & Pecan Stuffing

Leave meat out of the equation for dinner for this scrumptious dish that's perfect for the Autumn season.

Curried Stuffed Acorn Squash

Roasted acorn squash halves glazed with chutney and filled with a curried herb stuffing studded with dried fruit. Baked in apple juice and beef broth for deep, sweet-savory flavor. A stunning fall side dish.

Acorn Squash Soup with Corned Beef & Walnuts

Hearty and very meaty with the crunch of earthy walnuts.

Christmas Eve Couscous

Christmas Eve couscous with a spiced vegetable stew of squash, carrots, broad beans, and zucchini, served with harissa, chickpeas, raisins, pine nuts, and yogurt. A vegetarian North African feast.

Smoked Acorn Squash & Wild Rice Bisque

Smoked acorn squash and wild rice bisque blends fire-kissed squash, sage, thyme, and chili flakes into a velvety bowl, finished with chewy wild rice and a squeeze of lemon for brightness.

Vegetable Spam Stuffed Acorn Squash

Roasted acorn squash halves stuffed with crispy SPAM, jicama, red bell pepper, and tomatoes in a ginger soy glaze. A fun, hearty weeknight main dish.

Acorn Squash'N Pasta Soup

Creamy acorn squash soup with warm spices (mace, ginger, cinnamon), pureed smooth with chicken broth, then simmered with ditalini pasta and topped with sweetened sour cream.

Baked Acorn Squash Rings

Baked acorn squash rings with maple syrup and cinnamon, covered and baked until tender. A simple vegan fall side dish - add apple slices between the layers for a sweeter variation.

Pinapple Squash

Baked acorn squash halves stuffed with crushed pineapple and cinnamon. A diabetic-friendly side dish steamed in a water bath until fork-tender and naturally sweet.

Colonial Hot Pot

Spice up your dinner with this delectable dish made with a succulent beef steak, potatoes and acorn squash.

Acorn Squash & Wild Rice

Dress up your rice with this scrumptious and simple recipe that is bound to be one of your favorites.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Roasted acorn squash halves stuffed with curried ground turkey, applesauce, and raisin bread cubes. A low-calorie fall dinner for two with warm, cozy spices.

Rocket Salad with Squash, Spiced Pecans & Pomegranate

A delicious and refreshing salad can be a side dish with any main courses.

Moroccan Chicken Stew

Moroccan chicken stew with acorn squash, chickpeas, raisins, and warm spices served over fluffy couscous. A microwave-friendly one-pot North African dinner with toasted almonds and fresh mint.

Bountiful Stuffed Squash

Microwave-friendly acorn squash stuffed with savory ground turkey, chopped apple, and plump raisins in a light soy glaze. Quick, cozy, and full of sweet-savory contrast.

Harvest Time Pot Roast

Harvest pot roast with pork shoulder, acorn squash, apples, potatoes, and carrots braised with chervil and finished with an apple cider vinegar pan gravy. Fall in a Dutch oven.

Pork with Acorn Squash & Onions

One-skillet pork loin chops braised with acorn squash, onions, sage, and garlic in chicken broth. A savory fall dinner with tender meat and silky squash.

Acorn Squash Rings

A scrumptious side dish that has a unique flavor everyone in your family will love.

Sausage-Apple Stuffed Squash

This new spin on the delicious squash is perfect for the Autumn season and just in time for Thanksgiving.

Beet Soup in Roasted Acorn Squash

Beet soup served in roasted acorn squash, it is a delicious way to serve both of these two root vegetables together!

Crockpot Autumn Pork Chops

Turn on your crockpot this Fall, with this succulent pork chops dish that has a tantalizing taste!

Pork & Squash Foil Dinner

Pork chop and acorn squash foil packet dinner with butter, brown sugar, and honey. Sealed up tight and baked into a single-serving meal. Six ingredients, no dishes to wash.

Honey Fig Acorn Squash

Roasted acorn squash halves filled with honey-glazed figs, toasted almonds, and warm spices. Elegant fall side dish with cinnamon and nutmeg ready in an hour.

All 51 recipes