Description
Hearty “Stuffed Butternut Squash” brings rustic Mediterranean charm to comfort cuisine. Savory bacon, melted cheese, and tender spinach create an irresistible harmony that delights palates and warms souls.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 medium butternut squash
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Protein and Seasoning:
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Optional Toppings:
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- Slice butternut squash lengthwise, removing seeds and creating a hollow cavity for stuffing.
- Brush squash halves with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Roast cut-side down for 25-30 minutes until tender.
- While squash roasts, crisp bacon in a skillet until golden and fragrant, then crumble into bite-sized pieces.
- In the same skillet, sauté diced onions and minced garlic until translucent and aromatic.
- Cook quinoa according to package instructions, then set aside to cool slightly.
- Wilt fresh spinach in the skillet, stirring until leaves collapse and release moisture.
- Combine quinoa, crumbled bacon, sautéed spinach, and onion mixture in a mixing bowl.
- Fold in shredded cheese, creating a vibrant and flavorful stuffing mixture.
- Remove roasted squash from oven and carefully flip cut-side up.
- Generously fill each squash half with the prepared quinoa mixture, mounding slightly.
- Return stuffed squash to oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese melts.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and toasted pine nuts before serving hot.
Notes
- Customize the stuffing by swapping quinoa with rice, couscous, or cauliflower rice for different texture and flavor profiles.
- Make this dish vegetarian by omitting bacon and replacing with smoked paprika or sun-dried tomatoes for umami depth.
- Cut squash symmetrically to ensure even roasting and stable base for stuffing, preventing tipping during baking.
- Enhance meal prep by preparing components ahead: roast squash and cook quinoa mixture day before, then quickly assemble and reheat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg