Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (2024)

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A filling and hearty dinner recipe, this tender stuffed delicata squash is filled with wild rice, kale, carrots, sage, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (1)

These days, gatherings of family and friends tend to have a variety of diets, do they not? We know many of you are looking to get more veggies on your plate. This fall, how about trying a stuffed delicata squash? Stuffed squash is a perfect fall main dish: it’shomey, autumnal, and so, so good for you.Keep reading for the stuffed delicata squash recipe, and why to make it!

Making this stuffed delicata squash recipe

Delicata squash is Alex and my very favorite squash. It’s a yellow oblong squash that’s becomewidely available in the past few years, and its sweet taste is delightful. We love that it cooks quickly, and that the skin is edible: no peeling required!

For stuffing these delicata squash, we combinedbrown butterwith sage and wild rice, along with some vegetables and sharp cheddar cheese. The sweetness of the brown butter against the herbs and chewy wild rice was spot on, and the salty cheese pulled it all together. This one was an absolute winner, in our book!

How to cook delicata squash

Delicata squash is one of our favorite squash varieties to work with. Our favorite farmer at ourfarmer’s marketassured us that this variety was delicious and tastes sweet, almost like a sweet potato. We decided to give it a try, and were incredibly pleased with the results! This squash is very easy to work with–as opposed tobutternut squash, which is delightful but can a chore to clean and prepare! The taste is sweet and tender, and you can even eat the skin. And, delicata squash roasts up quickly!

To cook delicata squash, all you have to do is roast it in a very hot oven. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Cut the delicata squash in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. Then rub it with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and place it on the parchment paper cut side down. It roasts in just 25 minutes! Another favorite way of ours for how to cook delicata squash is tomake it into fries.

More delicata squash recipes

Got delicata? Here are a few more delicata squash recipes to enjoy:

  • Bake up a pan of Roasted Delicata Squash or Delicata Squash Fries with creamy dipping sauce
  • Make a fresh Delicata Squash Salad
  • Try Chipotle Black Bean Stuffed Delicata Squash

This stuffed delicata squash recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.

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Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (6)

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe

★★★★★5 from 1 review
  • Author: a Couple Cooks
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 1x
Print Recipe

Description

A filling and hearty dinner recipe, this tender stuffed delicata squash is filled with wild rice, kale, carrots, sage, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 ½ cups wild rice
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 6 delicata squash
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon dried ground fennel
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried chili powder
  • 1 shallot
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 bunch Tuscan kale
  • 10 leaves sage
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup roasted salted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Instructions

  1. In a medium pot, combine 1 ½ cups wild rice, 3 ½ cups water, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 to 50 minutes until tender. Let sit for 10 minutes before draining any extra liquid.
  2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Wash the squash, then cut each in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Rub each squash lightly with olive oil on both sides (about ½ tablespoon per squash), then lightly sprinkle with a pinch each of ground fennel, oregano, and chili powder, and kosher salt.
  3. Place the squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, until tender when poked with a fork.
  4. Mince the shallot and 3 cloves garlic. Cut 2 carrots into 1/4-inch pieces. Remove the stems from the kale and chop it into thin strips. Thinly slice the sage.
  5. Melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat and stir constantly until it becomes brown, a few minutes. Once browned, lower the heat to medium and immediately add carrot, shallot and garlic; sauté until the carrot is soft, about 10 minutes. Add the sage and kale and sasautéute 2 more minutes. Add the rice and ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. Remove from heat and spoon the rice mixture into the wells in the squash. Top with roasted pepitas.
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: stuffed delicata squash

vegetarian gluten free

Published on / Last updated on

Categorized In:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • Recipes

Tagged with:

  • Autumn
  • Brown Butter
  • Carrots
  • Cheddar
  • Cheese
  • Delicata
  • Fall
  • Garlic
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Healthy
  • Kale
  • Pepitas
  • Sage
  • Shallots
  • Squash
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Whole Foods
  • Wild Rice

About the authors

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (7)

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

About Us

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you eat the skin on roasted delicata squash? ›

Wofford and our test kitchen editors will leave the skin on delicata, acorn, and honeynut squash to save time, add nutrients, and reduce food waste. These varieties have thin skins that soften readily when cooked. Next time you slice a delicata into rings ready to roast, don't peel it.

Is sweet potato squash the same as delicata? ›

Delicata squash is a variety of winter squash with cylindrical fruits that are cream-coloured and striped in green or orange. As its name suggests, it has characteristically a delicate rind (or skin). It is also known as peanut squash, Bohemian squash, or sweet potato squash.

Should delicata squash be hard to cut? ›

Fortunately, delicata squash is one of the easiest varieties to slice and dice.

Why is delicata squash so good? ›

Unlike other hard-skin winter squash, delicata's skin is edible, adding a nutty deliciousness to an already yummy squash. But that's not all it adds: its skin is also rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Can you eat too much Delicata squash? ›

"Squash contains a toxin known as Cucurbitacin E, which can give the squash a bitter taste. If too much of the toxin is consumed it can cause illness. It is rare, but if the squash has a bitter taste, stop eating it, and grab another one."

Why is my Delicata squash bitter? ›

The higher the levels of cucubitacin, the more bitter the squash will taste. The most likely cause for a bitter taste in squash is due to an environmental stress of some sort, most likely a wide temperature flux or irregular irrigation. Either of these will create an excess of cucurbitacins to concentrate in the fruit.

Is delicata squash a carb or vegetable? ›

Delicata squash, an often overlooked but delightfully sweet and nutty squash variety, is known for its carb content, which may lead individuals on a low-carb or keto diet to question its place in their meal plan.

Why is delicata squash hard to find? ›

Although this squash has been around for centuries, It started gaining popularity only a few years ago. It was rare to find it on the shelves of grocery stores or in many restaurants. This is actually because delicata squash was once prone to mildew diseases in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Can I freeze delicata squash? ›

Just scoop the cooked squash into freezer bags, label, and place in your freezer to enjoy whenever you feel like partaking of this sweet, nutty vegetable. Delectable delicata, a winter squash by any other name would not taste as sweet!

How to tell if delicata squash is bad? ›

You'll know delicata squash has gone bad if it has wrinkles or soft spots. Also, if the seeds look slimy or their color is off, you'll know it's spoiled. The seeds are normally a cream or white color. Typically, they'll be covered in the flesh of the squash.

What temperature do you roast delicata squash at? ›

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Trim both ends of each delicata squash. Stand one squash up on the larger cut side and, using a chef's knife, slice it lengthwise, down through the center of the squash, creating two even halves.

Should delicata squash be refrigerated? ›

Storage tips: Winter Squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees, however, Delicata squash does not store quite as well as heartier varieties like Acorn and Butternut. Place in a cool dry room in your house (do not refrigerate) and it should last 3 months.

What are the side effects of delicata squash? ›

Risks and Side Effects

As with any food, taking note of any unusual reaction, such as itching or swelling, is important, but there are no known problems with the delicata squash. However, because of its fiber content, too much could cause flatulence.

Do you eat the skin on delicata squash? ›

Delicata squash skin

The delicata is actually named for its delicate, edible skin, so there is no need for peeling here. The rind of these cylindrical, striped vegetables is similar in texture to a summer squash like zucchini, and becomes perfectly tender when cooked.

Is delicata squash anti inflammatory? ›

Roasted Delicata Squash with Quinoa, Apple and Arugula Salad

Boost the delicious Delicata squash's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and insulin-regulating benefits with two powerful super foods!

Does delicata need to be peeled? ›

Because you can eat the skin, there's no need to peel the squash before you chop it. Start by slicing it in half lengthwise. Then, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and the stringy flesh. Finally, cut the seeded squash halves into thick slices.

Can you eat the peel of roasted butternut squash? ›

You can eat the skin, so there's no need to peel it. Simply halve it, scoop out the seeds and chop it into chunks, then roast it and add it to a warm winter salad or throw it into curries, stews or soups. You can also roast the seeds and eat them as a snack or sprinkled over a finished dish.

Can you eat roasted spaghetti squash skin? ›

They look like mini butternut squash and are particularly sweet. Honeynut squash are especially delicious roasted with a little cinnamon and butter. The only winter squash skin to avoid eating altogether, even if well cooked, is spaghetti squash because of its thick, eggshell-like quality.

Do you leave the skin on squash when you cook it? ›

Some squash skin is edible, while other types of squash have tough skin that can be removed before cooking. Remove the skin of butternut, hubbard, buttercup, and turban squash. If you enjoy the taste, leave the skin on acorn, spaghetti, kabocha, and zucchini squash.

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