Stuffed Acorn Squash with Maple-Cinnamon Apples, Pecans, and Pumpkin Seeds

This vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash is filled with cinnamon-maple apples and a pecan-pumpkin seed brittle. It’s a wonderful meatless side for fall and winter and makes a festive addition to the holiday table for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword vegetarian stuffed acorn squash

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Total Time 50

Servings

Calories 478kcal

Author Julia

Ingredients

Acorn squash

2 medium acorn squash
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt

Pumpkin seed and pecan brittle

½ cup pecans
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Apple mixture

3 large apples cored, peeled, and cubed
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1.5 teaspoons cinnamon

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Roast the acorn squash

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Prepare the acorn squash by trimming off the top and bottom of each squash to create a flat base. Be sure to keep your fingers clear of the knife to avoid injury, and don’t cut too deep into the base. Slice each squash in half, then scoop out the seeds and fibrous strands with a spoon.
Place the squash halves cut-side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle the cut sides with olive oil, rubbing it in to coat evenly. Season lightly with salt. Flip the squash over so the cut sides are facing down on the sheet.
Roast in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Make the pumpkin seed and pecan brittle

Toss the pecans, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, and maple syrup in a medium bowl and spread in a single layer on a large parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes until the mixture is crunchy and set.

Cook the apples

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat and cook the peeled, cubed apples until tender but not mushy, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup and cinnamon, mixing everything together. Add more maple syrup or cinnamon, if desired.

Stuff the squash

Spoon the cooked apples into each of the 4 acorn squash halves. Sprinkle crumbled brittle on top.

Nutrition