Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

This Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash is a great vegetarian side dish to accompany your Thanksgiving meal. Learn how to make baked stuffed acorn squash, how to prep it in advance, and many other tips for this recipe!

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Creating This Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe

What will you be enjoying this year at Thanksgiving? Do you have big plans for a family get-together or are you keeping it casual at home with your immediate family?

This Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash is a great recipe for your Thanksgiving meal no matter if you are getting together with a large group or a small group. The recipe can easily be scaled up or down and it has make ahead instructions.

You can enjoy this as a vegetarian stuffed acorn squash recipe, or you can add some ground sausage to made it a hearty side or main dish.

Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash Ingredients

For this savory stuffed acorn squash recipe, you’ll need the following basic ingredients:

• Acorn Squash
• Apple Cider
• Olive Oil
• Onion
• Apples
• Dried Cranberries
• Cinnamon
• Sage
• Thyme
• Pecans
• Maple Syrup
• Brown Sugar
• Sausage

Be sure to scroll through to the bottom of this post for a printable copy of the full recipe and instructions for this recipe for Stuffed Acorn Squash.

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What Does Acorn Squash Taste Like?

Acorn Squash has a pretty simple taste compared to other squash varieties. It can be described as mild and buttery, similar to that of pumpkin but sweeter and less bold.

Some might find it a tad bit bland tasting on its own. Because of its mild flavor, acorn squash pairs well with sweet or savory and combines well with a variety of flavors.

Can You Eat the Skin of Acorn Squash?

Technically, yes, the skin of Acorn Squash is edible because it is thin. However, I don’t like to eat the skin of acorn squash because I don’t like the texture of it.

If you choose to eat the skin of acorn squash, you’ll want to make sure that the squash is cooked thoroughly so that the skin becomes soft enough to eat.

If, like me, you prefer not to eat the skin of acorn squash, the squash flesh is easy to scoop out of the skin once the squash has been cooked. Think of it like a baked potato, some like to scoop the inside flesh out, but others like to eat it whole.

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What Can I Substitute for Acorn Squash?

If you don’t have acorn squash on hand, or you don’t like it, a variety of other winter squashes can be used instead. I recommend delicata, butternut squash, or sweet dumpling squash as substitutes for Acorn squash.

You’ll follow the same instructions for cooking the squash with one of the substitutes, but the cook time might be slightly different depending on how large the squash you choose is.

Butternut Squash would likely take longer to cook since it has a portion of the squash that is much thicker than Acorn.

How to Make Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

This is one of my all-time favorite baked stuffed acorn squash recipes! It’s the perfect blend of sweet and savory, and it feeds a crowd.

Here’s how the apple stuffed acorn squash is made:

1. You’ll start by cutting each squash in half and scooping out the sides.
2. Then, you’ll bake the squash with some apple cider until the squash is tender.
3. While the squash cooks, you’ll cook up some onion, apples, and sausage (if using).
4. You’ll add all of the seasonings to the sausage mixture and cook until the apples are tender, then stir in the pecans. (If you have anyone with a nut allergy you can feel free to leave the nuts out.)
5. When the squash is done cooking, you spoon the apple and sausage mixture into the center of the acorn squash.
6. Drizzle with maple syrup, sprinkle with brown sugar, and bake until the edges are slightly browned. Pretty simple!

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

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How Do You Know When Squash Is Ready?

Acorn Squash will be ready when it is tender and pierces easily with a fork.

In this recipe, if there is still a slight resistance to piercing with the fork after the initial bake, that is ok because it will continue to cook after you add the apple stuffing mixture and place it in the oven for the second round of baking.

How to Cut Acorn Squash

For the most attractive cut acorn squash for stuffed squash, I like to cut straight down the middle from stem to end, but you can also cut in half width wise if you prefer.

Acorn Squash is very hard when uncooked, so it is important to have a sturdy surface and use a sharp knife (check out how to sharpen knives here if your knives are dull).

When cutting acorn squash, it is good to wash it and dry it first. That way the outside of the squash does not have any wetness that could cause you to slip with the knife and cut yourself.

To soften the acorn squash before cutting, you can pierce a few small holes in the squash and microwave the squash for 2 minutes.

Then, remove the stem. Place the acorn squash top down (where the stem used to be) on the cutting board. Place the knife at the center of the bottom, which is now facing up, and cut through straight down the middle.

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Can You Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave?

Yes! This recipe calls for baking the acorn squash, however, you could microwave the squash if you are running low on oven space.

1. Place the squash cut side down in a microwave safe baking dish that has a lid that can loosely cover the dish without sealing it.
2. Add the apple cider as described in the recipe.
3. Cover the dish, but do not seal it
4. Microwave 8-12 minutes on high, checking every 4 minutes for doneness as different microwaves will cook differently due to age, wattage, and brand – as well as the size of your squash.

Can I Make a Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash?

Yes, definitely! If you would like to make this Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe into a vegetarian dish, simply omit the optional sausage from the recipe (or use a vegetarian “sausage” substitute).

If you’d like to add something else to make up for the missing bulk of the sausage, I recommend wild rice or quinoa that has been cooked in vegetable broth (this will give it extra flavor). Then, stir the cooked rice or quinoa into the apple mixture, stuff the squash and proceed as normal.

Make Ahead Options for This Recipe

• You can prep the individual parts and then assemble and bake the recipe on the day you plan to serve.
• You can partially prepare the recipe (up to the second bake) and refrigerate until the day you plan to serve. Then, finish the recipe.
• You can make this recipe ahead of time and freeze it.

Can I Make Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash Ahead of time?

If you need to make this Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash ahead of time, that’s fine. Stuffed Squash can be prepared up to 3 days prior to serving and then reheated.

Prepare this recipe as written, stopping after the step that instructs you to “Uncover squash and turn halves upright. Brush edges and inside with the remaining apple cider in the bottom of the pan; fill equally with apple mixture.”

Then, place the apple stuffed acorn squash in a baking dish, cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate until the day you’re ready to serve. The day you plan to serve the recipe, uncover the dish you’ve had in the refrigerator, resume the steps on this recipe where you left off, and then bake.

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Can I Freeze Stuffed Acorn Squash?

I personally have not frozen stuffed acorn squash before, but I think this recipe would work fine frozen. You would prepare the apple stuffed acorn squash according to directions stopping at the step prior to the final bake.

Then, cool the squash completely, place in a gallon zip top bag or use a vacuum sealer, and seal the squash. Make sure to remove as much air as possible.

To serve previously frozen Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash, thaw the frozen squash completely, and resume with the remaining steps of this recipe.

What Else Can I Stuff Acorn Squash With?

If you’re looking for another way to stuff acorn squash, I recommend stuffing as an easy alternative to preparing the apple mixture for this recipe. This Leek and Bacon Stuffing would be good served inside this acorn squash.

Others like to stuff acorn squash with cooked wild rice or quinoa, both of which could be added to the apple mixture in this recipe if you like.

What Readers Are Saying

“My daughter and I made this tonight, but as a side dish to some white bean chicken chili, so we didn’t add the sausage. It was delicious. Hubby, 18yo, and I all loved it. The 21yo would have loved it, too, if she’d been home.” — Dawn K.

“I am absolutely bookmarking this recipe. There are so many delicious fall flavors and textures!” — Lauren

What to Serve with Stuffed Acorn Squash

This vegetarian stuffed acorn squash recipe pairs perfectly with your favorite Thanksgiving dishes! Here are some main and side dish suggestion that’d pair well with the baked stuffed acorn squash:

• Mini Cranberry Walnut Tarts
• Traeger Smoked Turkey
• Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate
• Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls
• Roasted Balsamic Carrots
• Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin
• Slow Cooker Ham with Honey Marmalade Mustard Glaze

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

More Fall Squash Recipes:

This Apple Cider Roasted Squash is a great, easy acorn squash side dish to prepare all winter long, but it’s especially great for Thanksgiving! This recipe uses Acorn Squash.

Rainbow Winter Quinoa Bowls with Maple Dijon Balsamic Dressing features roasted squash, hearty Organic Tricolor Quinoa, and plenty of other winter produce for a filling, satisfying meal.

In this Massaged Kale Salad recipe, kale is lightly massaged with olive oil, salt and pepper. Then, it’s tossed with roasted delicata squash, roasted red onions, herbed goat cheese, and pepitas.

This Bacon and Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese features penne covered in a creamy, rich sauce of pureed butternut squash, parmesan, and sharp white cheddar with bacon and fresh sage.

This Roasted Squash, Pomegranate and Roquefort Salad is so full of color and beautiful on the table. The sweet and salty bites of squash went so well with the juicy pomegranate arils and the bold Roquefort cheese.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Quinoa Stuffing is a fantastic vegetarian and gluten-free stuffing recipe loaded with tons of veggies and flavors. You could also use this quinoa stuffing to stuff acorn squash.

Have you ever made Stuffed Acorn Squash?

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For the step-by-step version of this recipe, check out the How to Make Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash Story.