I am so ready for all the cozy fall food, and honestly, squash is the star of my Thanksgiving table every single year. It plays so well with both sweet and savory flavors, and there are about a million delicious ways to serve it. I rounded up 20 of my best Thanksgiving squash recipes so you can find your new favorite side dish or showstopper centerpiece.
1. Vegetarian Stuffed Acorn Squash
I love the sausage version, but this vegetarian take is honestly perfection too. It works beautifully as a main dish all on its own, or you can serve it up as a stunning side. Quinoa, fresh herbs, alliums, and cheese all pile into that tender squash for a bite that is absolutely packed with flavor.
2. Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
This dish is basically everything you want in a fall bite. It brings the sugar and spice, but it also has that deep savory edge that keeps you going back for more. The texture is the real magic here. Every cube is soft and tender in the middle with the most irresistible little crispy bits hugging the edges. It tastes exactly as good as it looks.
3. Butternut Squash Soup
I am convinced you have not truly lived through autumn until you have sat down with a warm bowl of this soup. It is the recipe you need to make your fall season officially count. Each spoonful is silky and smooth with a flavor that is so rich and luxurious it feels like a special occasion.
4. Maple-Glazed Squash and Apples
Apples and squash belong together, and I am not afraid to say it. I think it is because they have so much in common: both are fruits, both turn incredible when roasted, and both just scream autumn. A little maple syrup over the top seals the deal. This dish is warm, sweet, savory, and so wonderfully delicious.
5. Maple Baked Butternut Squash
If the cinnamon in that last one made you hesitate, this is the recipe for you. You still get all that wonderful sweetness, but the flavor feels a little more mellow and gentle without the cinnamon in the mix. It bakes right in a rich liquid of butter and chicken broth, so the squash soaks up all that savory goodness while it cooks. Talk about a flavor boost.
6. Southern Squash Casserole
You are going to want your stretchiest pants ready for this one, because this casserole is gloriously gooey and cheesy. It is not trying to be light, and honestly, I would not want it any other way. It has all the classic casserole comforts: plenty of dairy, a few veggies to make you feel good about life, and a buttery cracker topping that gets perfectly golden.
7. Roasted Acorn Squash
Sometimes the simplest things really are the most satisfying. For this one, all you need is the squash, a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Pop it in the oven and let the heat do all the heavy lifting while you handle the rest of your feast.
8. Roasted Beet and Butternut Squash Salad
Every time I look at this salad, I think of sparkling gemstones. You have gorgeous emerald greens, radiant golden squash, and stunning ruby beets all piled together. It is truly glorious and absolutely delicious, with garlic, goat cheese, fresh herbs, balsamic vinegar, pepitas, and red wine vinegar bringing it all to life.
9. Sausage-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Time to bring a little meat into the mix, because sausage and squash are a total match made in heaven. This dish is cozy, satisfying, and just the right amount of filling for a holiday meal. Since it uses chicken sausage, it stays on the lighter side so you will not feel weighed down after you clean your plate.
10. Potato, Squash, and Goat Cheese Gratin
You have definitely had a classic potato gratin before, the kind loaded with cheese and maybe some ham and lots of rich flavor. This one is just as delicious as that, but it feels a little more elevated. Okay, fine, it is downright fancy, but it still comes together without any fuss.
11. Roasted Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
They say eating the rainbow keeps you healthy, and this salad is living proof. The more colors you pile onto your plate, the more nutrients you are getting, and this bowl is absolutely bursting with them. All those beautiful fall colors make it as good for you as it is pretty to look at.
12. Creamy Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Pasta
A lot of the dishes on this list qualify as comfort food, but this pasta takes the crown. It is the ultimate cozy bowl, and I could happily eat it every single day. I probably should not, but I absolutely could, because it is just that delicious.
13. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
This is peak fall on a plate, and I think you are going to fall head over heels for it. The best part is that it is gorgeous, delicious, and packed with good-for-you ingredients. Go ahead and pile your plate high because there is zero guilt here. Even the veggie skeptics at your table might change their tune after one bite of this warm salad.
14. Roasted Yellow Squash
This recipe could not be any easier. You only need three simple ingredients and about half an hour in the oven, plus a little shake of your favorite seasonings. It is the perfect quick side dish for those moments when your Thanksgiving guest list suddenly grows and you need something fast and tasty.
15. Butternut Squash Salad
Let me tell you about one of the most exciting salads you will ever meet. It is loaded with roasted squash, sweet dates, warm spices, leafy greens, creamy goat cheese, juicy pomegranates, and crunchy pistachios. Everything gets finished with a tangy apple cider vinegar and date dressing that ties it all together beautifully.
16. Baked Parmesan Yellow Squash
Here is another stupidly easy dish that comes together in about twenty minutes. Little rounds of yellow squash get a sprinkle of seasoning and a generous shower of parmesan, and that is honestly all they need. Who needs complicated recipes when something this simple tastes so yummy.
17. Butternut Squash Basmati Rice
Simple does not mean boring, and this rice dish proves it in every single bite. Each component brings its own flavor to the party, but together they turn into a total umami explosion. Basmati rice is my personal favorite, and I reach for it every single time I make rice no matter what kind of cuisine I am cooking.
18. Butternut Squash Stuffing
Thanksgiving without stuffing is simply not Thanksgiving. I will always have a soft spot for the boxed classic, but this homemade version might just steal the show. It is worth every bit of extra effort because it is that yummy. Honestly, it is practically a complete meal all by itself.
19. Roasted Patty Pan Squash with Parmesan
There are so many types of squash out there, and patty pans do not get nearly enough love. If you have never tried them, this is the perfect place to start. The squash is the true star here, roasted simply with a little oil, salt, pepper, and parmesan. That is the whole recipe, and it works.
20. Mashed Butternut Squash
I know potatoes get all the glory when it comes to mashing, but squash deserves a spot on that pedestal too. It whips up into the most dreamy, creamy texture, and if you have never tried it, you are truly missing out. This version is sweet, buttery, and so simple that it almost feels too easy.