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Cozy Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage and Apples

stuffed acorn squash - featured image
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A quick and easy 30-minute dinner featuring roasted acorn squash filled with a savory mixture of spicy Italian sausage, caramelized apples, onions, and sage, topped with melted cheese.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • 1 lb spicy or mild Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 2 large Granny Smith apples, diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped
  • 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar or gruyere cheese
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. Wash squash, slice off top and bottom to create flat surfaces, then slice in half vertically. Scoop out seeds and pulp with a spoon.
  3. Brush cut sides of squash with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place cut-side down on the sheet pan. Roast for 25 minutes until tender. Remove and turn cut-side up.
  4. While squash roasts, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking it apart, and cook until browned (5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat if necessary and set aside.
  5. In the same skillet, melt butter. Add diced onions and a pinch of salt; cook until translucent (3-4 minutes). Add garlic and sage; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Add diced apples to the skillet; cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in maple syrup. Return cooked sausage to the skillet and mix. Season with black pepper.
  7. Spoon the sausage and apple mixture into the roasted squash halves. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top.
  8. Return to the oven for 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  9. Let sit for 2 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra fresh sage if desired.

Notes

Microwave squash for 2 minutes before cutting if it is too hard to slice. Ensure apples are cut into uniform pieces for even cooking. For a vegetarian version, replace sausage with chopped mushrooms and walnuts. For a vegan version, use olive oil instead of butter and nutritional yeast instead of cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: acorn squash, stuffed squash, italian sausage, apples, fall dinner, easy dinner, gluten-free, comfort food, sage, maple syrup

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/cozy-stuffed-acorn-squash-best-easy-30-min-dinner/