23 Delicata Squash Recipes
Delicata squash is one of my favorite go-to varieties because they are so versatile, easy to prep and quick cooking. And with their mild flavor, there are about a million different ways to jazz them up. Here are 23 Delicata Squash Recipes that I’ve collected from a few blogging friends as well as my own Healthy Seasonal Recipes archives.
I love that delicata are thin-skinned, which means the skin is edible, so no peeling necessary. Their small cylindrical shape also makes them less daunting to break down than say a butternut or hubbard squash. If you’re new to dealing with whole winter squash, the delicata is a great beginner squash.
The most popular way to cook these precious little squash is to roast them. After they are roasted, the sky is the limit as to what you can do with them. You can keep them whole and stuff them. You can slice them and toss them into salads or bowls. You can spice them up with a variety of seasonings and eat them as they are. Or you can combine them with other veggies and ingredients to make an awesome side dish, appetizer or even dessert.
The possibilities are endless and absolutely delicious! In this collection you’ll find everything from a quinoa and spinach stuffed delicata squash to a gluten free kale salad with roasted delicata squash, there is something for everyone and every occasion.
How to Roast Delicata Squash
- Cut and Seed It. First, you’ll need to cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds (no peeling required.) The seeds are edible, so you can save them to roast later if you want. To stuff or puree it, roast the halves whole by brushing with oil, seasoning and placing them flesh-side down on a baking sheet. Alternatively, slice them into half-moons and season with oil and desired spice. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast.
- Heat Is Your Friend. When you roast delicata squash, as with most vegetables, you should heat the oven to at least 400 degrees. The goal is to get a little color on those babies. Color equals flavor. With that said, turn them at least once or twice during cooking to ensure even browning.
- Go Crazy with Seasonings. As you’ll see in the recipes below, delicata squash really is a blank canvas. You can season them with a variety of spices like cinnamon or a little smoked paprika. Toss them after roasting with parmesan or maple syrup. They are the perfect foil for both sweet and savory seasonings.
Delicata Squash Recipes
This Spice Roasted Delicata Squash with Port Wine Sauce is made with just 4 ingredients and comes together in about 35 minutes. I love to serve this tasty baked delicata side in the fall along with grilled pork chops and a green salad.
This roasted delicata squash salad with warm pickled onion dressing is a superfood bonanza! It’s filled with healthy vegetables, nuts for protein and topped with a delicious dressing. AND it’s a wilt-free no-lettuce salad that makes a healthy and delicious lunch and dinner. You can’t go wrong!
This Thanksgiving Salad is sweet, tart, creamy and crunchy and so addictively delicious it may steal the show! It’s topped with roasted delicata squash, candied nuts, goat cheese and cranberries, all tossed with kale and dressing! It can be made ahead too!
This stuffed delicata squash makes for an easy and satisfying weeknight dinner. It's stuffed with mushrooms and quinoa and is completely vegetarian.
If you didn't think you could make delicata squash brownies, think again! These are paleo, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and dairy-free and are so fudgy.
These gluten-free delicata squash fritters are so cheesy and crispy. They are the perfect appetizers to serve at a cocktail party or holiday feast!
Thai Red Curry with Roasted Cauliflower and Delicata Squash
If you're a fan of Thai red curry you are going to love this. It has cauliflower, roasted delicata squash, Thai red curry paste, coconut milk and so much more.
In this recipe, roasted delicata squash and Brussels sprouts are tossed with pomegranate seeds and pecans. It's simple yet so delicious.
Because delicata squash is only available for a few months each year, this is your chance to make this delicious low-carb side dish! It's made with green bell peppers, mozzarella, Italian seasoning, sausage and more.
Delicata squash is roasted with adobo seasoning, then placed in tortillas with black beans to make the most perfect vegetarian tacos.
Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese take plain roasted delicata squash to the next level. It's simple and delicious!
Here roasted delicata squash is pared with a sweet and spicy honey-chipotle sauce. Serve it on a bed of rice and black beans, or enjoy them on their own!
If you've never paired maple with squash, you're in for a treat. It's a great sweet and savory dish that can be eaten on its own or served as a side dish.
For this roasted delicata squash you'll only need 4 simple ingredients–delicata, cinnamon, oil, and salt and pepper. It's easy to prepare and makes for a wonderful fall side dish.
In this recipe, delicata squash is roasted with Parmesan to make a sweet and savory side dish that's perfect for fall weeknight dinners or to serve on holidays.
This recipe pairs roasted delicata squash with avocado, rice, pomegranate seeds, and a lemon aioli dressing. It's delicious!
Just like my Thanksgiving Salad, this one is also a great side dish to serve on Thanksgiving or similar holidays.
This Delicata Squash Salad is made with pomegranate seeds, arugula, pistachios, red onion and feta! It's easy to put together and a perfect salad for those colder months.
This is a stuffed delicata squash with a Mexican twist. It's made with beans, red onion, cilantro, cheese, tomato sauce, and lots of spices.
Trust me, you do not want to miss this chili-stuffed Southwest delicata squash. Ground turkey and beans bring the protein, while cheese, cumin, paprika, and other spices bring the flavor.
Even if you're not a fan of lentils, I can guarantee you'll love this recipe. It's satisfying, so tasty, and packs in lots of protein from the lentils. Not to mention it's super easy!
This is a vegan and gluten-free dish that's perfect for fall. It's made with lots of delicious ingredients like spinach, quinoa, dried cranberries, walnuts, and crispy fried onion. What's not to like!
More Winter Squash Recipes to Try
At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie
Print 23 Delicata Squash Recipes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
Description
With their mild flavor, there are about a million different ways to jazz up delicata squash. This roasted delicata squash salad with warm pickled onion dressing is one of my favorites! It’s filled with healthy vegetables, nuts for protein and topped with a delicious dressing. AND it’s a wilt-free no-lettuce salad that makes a healthy and delicious lunch and dinner. You can’t go wrong!
Ingredients
- 2 medium delicata squash
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey (or use agave to make it vegan)
- 1/4 teaspoon caraway seed
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 large apple, finely diced
- 1/2 cup chopped celery hearts (preferably with leaves)
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
- 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, cut into strips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Cut delicata in half lengthwise; scoop out seeds and pulp. Cut lengthwise again, and then into 1/4-inch quarter-moons. Toss delicata in a medium bowl with 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until coated. Spread out in a single layer onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring once or twice, until tender and darkened in spots, 16 to 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile combine vinegar, honey, caraway, the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl. Microwave until boiling-hot, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from the microwave and stir in onion. Set aside for 10 minutes. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
- Toss cabbage, apple, celery hearts, the hot roasted delicata squash, and the warm pickled onion dressing in a large salad bowl. Divide among four plates and top with walnuts and parsley (if using).
Notes
Make Ahead: If you’re hoping to make this salad ahead, I would recommend prepping the vegetables. Roast the squash, make the pickled red onion, and cut the red cabbage the night or day before and assemble when ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 315
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
Looks so yummy and mouth watering, going to try one of these tonight and post my review. Thanks
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Great collection of recipes and ideas for using squash as a recipe! Perfect for this season!
I really need to eat more squash this season and there are lots of delicious ideas here!
I haven’t tried delicata squash but these all looks delicious, definitely need to get my hands on some. I love this time of year for food too!
Ohhhh, it’s a great collection. Hard to pick a favourite though.