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    Stuffed Butternut Squash with Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese

    Published: Dec 19, 2021 / 122 Comments

    34.7K shares
    • Facebook17.3K
    Recipe Print

    Stuffed Butternut Squash with Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese is a perfect recipe to make in the Fall and Winter.  The stuffing is creamy and cheesy and pairs well with the sweet flavor of the butternut squash.   This gluten-free recipe is a perfect addition to the holiday menu and is also great for an easy weeknight meal.

    stuffed butternut squash with spinach, bacon, and cheese on a white plate

    Stuffed Butternut Squash - easy side dish or main meal

    This is an incredibly easy recipe that will for sure be a crowd pleaser!  The butternut squash is first roasted in the oven for about 40 minutes.  In the meantime, you will prepare the delicious filling made with cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, spinach, and bacon!  After the butternut squash is roasted, stuff it with the cheesy filling and reheat it in the oven (or under the broiler) briefly.  That's it!  It's a simple recipe that a whole family will love!  Easy enough to make it on a busy weeknight, yet the presentation is so appealing that you can serve it when you have company over.  You can serve it as a side dish or as a meal in itself!

    Holiday recipe

    What can be more attractive on a holiday table than a colorful, festive dish featuring seasonal ingredients?  Butternut Squash stuffed with Cheese, Bacon, and Spinach is a great side dish to serve for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even New Year's Eve!  It will surely please almost every taste because this dish combines both savory and sweet flavors in a perfect combination!

    stuffed butternut squash with spinach, bacon, and cheese on a white plate

    Main ingredients

    • Butternut squash is the star of the show!  It's a winter squash with a beautiful orange color that has a sweet and nutty flavor.  Fun fact: Did you know that in Australia it's called butternut pumpkin?
    • Cream cheese adds creaminess and great texture to the filling.  Use softened cream cheese by heating it in the microwave oven briefly.
    • Parmesan cheese - use shredded or grated parmesan.  It's always best to shred or grate the cheese yourself!
    • Spinach - I used fresh spinach, but frozen spinach can certainly be used!  Make sure to thaw it and drain it from any liquid.  I would even pat it dry with paper towels.
    • Bacon - use chopped, cooked bacon.  It's easy to cook the bacon on a foil-lined baking sheet in the oven at 350 F.

    How to make stuffed butternut squash (step-by-step photos)

    Prepare the butternut squash

    Slice each one in half lengthwise. Keep fingers away from the knife to avoid injury. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and fleshy strands tangled with the seeds.

    sliced butternut squash cut sides up on a baking sheet

    Drizzle the cut sides of butternut squashes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

    sliced butternut squash seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

    Turn the squash over, and place it cut sides down on a baking sheet. Tip: you can line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.

    sliced butternut squash cut sides down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

    Roast it for 40 minutes

    Then, roast the butternut squash in the preheated oven at 400 F for 40 minutes.

    Prepare the cheese mixture

    Next, combine cooked spinach with softened cream cheese and shredded Parmesan cheese.    Mix everything well.  Fold in chopped cooked bacon. Tip: save a few bacon pieces to arrange on top of the cheese mixture.

    Stuff the squash

    By this time, you have roasted the butternut squash for 40 minutes. Remove it from the oven and turn cooked squash halves cut sides up.  Let it cool slightly.
    roasted butternut squash on the baking sheet

    Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh leaving about a 1-inch border along the sides.  See photos for more clarity:

    scooping out the flesh out of the roasted butternut squash on a baking sheet

    roasted butternut squashed with the scooped out flesh leaving about a 1-inch border along the sides

    Divide the spinach, bacon, and cheese mixture among the 4 halves and stuff the squash until the mixture is leveled.

    roasted butternut squash stuffed with spinach and cheese on a baking sheet

    Top with the chopped cooked bacon.

    roasted butternut squash stuffed with spinach and cheese and chopped cooked bacon on top on a baking sheet

    Bake it some more and broil

    Roast the stuffed butternut squash in the preheated oven at 400 F for 15 more minutes until the cheese mixture melts.
    Optionally, broil for 3 or 5 minutes to get golden crust over cheese.

    stuffed butternut squash with spinach, bacon, and cheese on a baking sheet

    Substitutions

    • You can use either butternut squash or acorn squash.  When using acorn squash, keep in mind that they are smaller in size and bake faster in the oven (about 30 minutes in the preheated oven at 400 F).
    • You can use Asiago cheese or Gruyere cheese instead of Parmesan.
    • Other greens besides spinach that will work well in stuffed butternut squash are kale and arugula.

    Storage and Reheating Tips

    What I love about this recipe is that it stores well and reheats well!

    • Fridge.  Refrigerate the leftover stuffed butternut squash in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
    • Reheat in the oven.  Reheat it in the preheated oven at 350 F for about 30 minutes.
    • Reheat in the microwave oven.  You can also microwave the stuffed butternut squash.  For best and fastest results, you can take the spinach, bacon, and cheese mixture out of the butternut squash, and reheat this mixture and the butternut squash separately.  Then add back the cheese mixture into the butternut squash.

    What to serve with stuffed butternut squash

    Serve something equally simple and easy-to-make, such as these delicious holiday side dishes:

    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Toasted Pecans, and Dried Cranberries
    • Cheesy Baked Asparagus with Gruyere cheese, Garlic, and Bacon
    • Green Beans with Pine Nuts

    More butternut squash recipes you might like

    • Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach - This easy and flavorful recipe is packed with veggies and will become your favorite Fall and Winter family weeknight dinner!
    • Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce and Pecans - you can use store-bought ravioli and just use the recipe for the delicious sauce!
    • Creamy Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Sausage, Thyme, and Sage is the ultimate Autumn comfort food.
    stuffed butternut squash with spinach, bacon, and cheese on a white plate
    4.82 from 238 votes

    Stuffed Butternut Squash

    Stuffed Butternut Squash with Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese is a perfect recipe to make in the Fall and Winter.  The stuffing is creamy and cheesy and pairs really well with the sweet flavor of the butternut squash.   This gluten-free recipe is a perfect addition to the holiday menu and is also great for an easy weeknight meal.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 20 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Mediterranean
    Servings 4 people
    Calories per serving 706 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    Butternut squash

    • 2 butternut squash medium
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • black pepper freshly ground

    Spinach, bacon, and cheese mixture

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 6 oz spinach fresh
    • 8 oz cream cheese
    • 1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
    • 6 strips bacon cooked and chopped
    • 3 tablespoons fresh thyme
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions 

    How to roast butternut squash

    • Preheat oven to 400 F.
    • Prepare the butternut squash. Slice each one in half lengthwise. Keep fingers away from the knife to avoid injury. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and fleshy strands tangled with the seeds.
    • Place butternut squash cut sides up on a baking sheet. Drizzle the cut sides of butternut squashes with olive oil and rub the oil into the squash. Season generously with salt and pepper. Turn the squash over, and place it cut sides down on a baking sheet. Tip: you can line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean-up.
    • Roast in the preheated oven at 400 F for 40 minutes.

    Make spinach, bacon, and cheese mixture

    • While the butternut squash is roasted, prepare the cheese mixture.
    • In a medium skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat and add fresh spinach. Cook for about 5 minutes until the spinach wilts. If there is any liquid in the pan, drain it.
    • Add cream cheese to a microwave-safe large-sized bowl. Soften cream cheese briefly in the microwave oven. Make sure the cheese does not actually melt, just softens.
    • Add shredded Parmesan, cooked spinach, and half of the chopped cooked bacon to the same bowl. Mix everything well. Tip: save the remaining half of the bacon pieces to arrange on top of the cheese mixture.

    How to stuff butternut squash

    • By this time, you have roasted the butternut squash for 40 minutes. Remove it from the oven and turn cooked squash halves cut sides up.
    • Let it cool slightly. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh leaving about a 1-inch border along the sides. (For reference, I provide the step-by-step photos, including for this step, above the recipe card).
    • Divide the spinach, bacon, and cheese mixture among the 4 halves and stuff the squash until the mixture is leveled. Top with the remaining chopped cooked bacon.
    • Roast the stuffed butternut squash in the preheated oven at 400 F for 15 more minutes until the cheese mixture melts.
    • Optionally, broil for 3 or 5 minutes to get golden crust over cheese. Watch closely and be very careful not to burn the squash and the cheese mixture. Tip: Broil on the second oven rack from the top - not on the very top rack so that it doesn't burn.  Do watch carefully because all ovens are different.  My squashes were fine broiled for 5 minutes on the second oven rack from the top.
    • Top with freshly ground black pepper and fresh thyme.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Stuffed Butternut Squash
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    706
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    50
    g
    77
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    21
    g
    131
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    4
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    20
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    101
    mg
    34
    %
    Sodium
     
    996
    mg
    43
    %
    Potassium
     
    1756
    mg
    50
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    50
    g
    17
    %
    Fiber
     
    9
    g
    38
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    22
    g
    44
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    45068
    IU
    901
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    99
    mg
    120
    %
    Calcium
     
    597
    mg
    60
    %
    Iron
     
    5
    mg
    28
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword stuffed butternut squash
    Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!

    stuffed butternut squash with spinach, bacon, and cheese on a white plate

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janelle

      October 08, 2022 at 10:50 pm

      This sounds delicious, but with the fat, calories and sodium, I think I’ll serve it as a side dish. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 09, 2022 at 3:09 pm

        Janelle, you're welcome! This recipe will work great as a side dish!

        Reply
    2. bev douglas

      October 08, 2022 at 10:24 pm

      pERFECT !! This is a keeper !!

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 09, 2022 at 3:09 pm

        Bev, I am glad you loved it! Thank you for the 5 stars! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jean Paschelke

      October 08, 2022 at 6:10 pm

      OMGosh this is absolutely amazing!
      My new go to recipe for squash.

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 09, 2022 at 3:10 pm

        Jean, I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to share this positive feedback and the 5-star rating! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Linda

      October 07, 2022 at 11:21 pm

      Can you make this with spaghetti squash.

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 08, 2022 at 3:27 pm

        Yes, you can - it will be delicious!

        Reply
    5. Kris B

      October 07, 2022 at 8:39 pm

      Delicious! Made this for dinner tonight and it turned out so perfect! Husband is impressed and even out dogs are squash lovers now!

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 08, 2022 at 3:28 pm

        Kris, I am so glad everyone loved this dish, including the dogs! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Karen

      October 06, 2022 at 2:52 pm

      Would this work with roasted cubed butternut squash as a casserole?

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 07, 2022 at 12:30 pm

        Karen, yes this would be delicious in a casserole. I would roast the cubed butternut squash first so that it gets crispy edges, and top everything with cheese at the very end so that cheese just melts and doesn't separate. Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Keri R.

      October 06, 2022 at 11:59 am

      Made this for the 1st time and I have my husband and son eating something they never thought they would like. It is super filling, we have been eating it all week as the squash we picked were large. We got about 8 serving out of this! Can't wait to make it again!!! I will be making these for dinner guest for sure! Might even serve it on Thanksgiving!

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 06, 2022 at 2:42 pm

        Keri, your comment made my day! 🙂 I am so glad this recipe was a success! Thank you for taking the time to share such a positive and enthusiastic comment - I really appreciate it! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Joe

      October 03, 2022 at 8:53 am

      I don't see where the high carb count comes in. Everything in this is relatively low carb.

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 03, 2022 at 1:38 pm

        Joe, the carbs in this recipe come from the butternut squash. However, butternut squash is highly nutritious.
        Here is a great article about carbs in butternut squash:
        https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/butternut-squash-complex-carbohydrate-10233.html

        Reply
        • Judy

          October 09, 2022 at 10:54 am

          Can you use frozen spinach?

          Reply
          • Julia

            October 09, 2022 at 3:11 pm

            Judy, yes, you can - it would work great here! Thawed and drained well of any water/liquid!

            Reply
      • Sue Webster

        October 04, 2022 at 11:47 am

        What do you do with the squash that you scooped out?

        Reply
        • Julia

          October 04, 2022 at 12:28 pm

          1)
          Add the cooked squash you scooped out back into the cheese and spinach mixture.

          2)
          Or, add the squash that you scooped out to the bottom of the indentation in the butternut squash halves and then top with the cheese mixture.

          Enjoy the recipe! 🙂

          Reply
        • maureen

          October 07, 2022 at 10:12 pm

          that was my question also.

          Reply
          • Julia

            October 08, 2022 at 3:27 pm

            Maureen, mix it in with the spinach and cheese mixture.

            Reply
    9. Sara

      October 01, 2022 at 7:11 pm

      This looks AMAZING! If I serve it as an entree (because why not?!), what side options would you suggest?

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 02, 2022 at 5:41 pm

        Sara, if you want to keep your dinner Fall themed, here are some side dish suggestions:

        1) Arugula Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pecans

        2) Green Beans with Pine Nuts and Parmesan

        3) Autumn Side Dish - Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cinnamon Butternut Squash with Pecans and Cranberries

        Reply
        • Nikki

          October 05, 2022 at 9:53 am

          Is the calorie count for 1 half of the squash?

          Reply
          • Julia

            October 05, 2022 at 3:24 pm

            Nikki, the calorie count is for 1/2 of the stuffed half of butternut squash. I used 1 large butternut squash that I sliced in half and stuffed with this mixture. The whole recipe make 4 servings - so the calorie count is per each of 4 servings.

            Reply
    10. Hilda

      October 01, 2022 at 7:02 pm

      What do you do with the squash that you scooped out?

      Reply
      • Julia

        October 02, 2022 at 5:30 pm

        Add the squash that you scoop out to the bottom of the indentation in the butternut squash halves and then top with the cheese mixture. That's what I did. 🙂

        Reply
        • linda

          October 03, 2022 at 5:09 pm

          What about mixing the squash that you scooped out with the cheese, spinach mixture??

          Reply
          • Julia

            October 05, 2022 at 3:50 pm

            Linda, yes, that would work well!

            Reply
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    Hi, I'm Julia! Welcome to my recipe blog where I share easy-to-make weeknight dinners and other recipes using simple ingredients!

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