Get ready to embrace the cozy, comforting flavors of autumn with this incredible Butternut Squash Apple Bake. This is the ultimate Fall Harvest Side Dish, a beautiful medley of sweet butternut squash, crisp apples, chewy cranberries and raisins, and crunchy pecans, all baked together with warm cinnamon and a hint of vanilla. It’s an exceptionally easy, healthy, and flavorful dish that is perfect as a side for a weeknight dinner but special enough to be a star on your Thanksgiving table.
Why This is the Ultimate Fall Side Dish
This recipe is a celebration of all the best flavors of the season.
- Incredibly Flavorful: The natural sweetness of the squash and apples is perfectly complemented by the warm cinnamon and brown sugar, creating a dish that is both sweet and savory.
- Packed with Texture: Every bite is a delightful combination of tender squash, soft apples, chewy dried fruit, and crunchy pecans.
- Super Easy to Make: This is a true “toss and bake” recipe. The prep work takes just a few minutes, and then the oven does all the work.
- Healthy and Wholesome: Loaded with fruit, vegetables, and nuts, this is a nutritious and satisfying side dish you can feel great about serving.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe uses a handful of fresh ingredients and pantry staples for a spectacular result.
The Ingredient Lineup:
- 1 ½ pounds of butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into small cubes (about 2 cups)
- 2 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 2 tablespoons of butter, chopped into small pieces
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar (or honey)
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper
- ¼ cup of raisins
- ¼ cup of dried cranberries
- ¼ cup of pecans or walnuts
Step-by-Step Instructions
Get ready for the easiest, most delicious fall side dish you’ve ever made.
Part 1: Prepare and First Bake
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cubed butternut squash, diced apples, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar. Mix well until everything is evenly coated. Add the salt and pepper and mix again.
- Arrange in Dish: Pour the mixture into a baking dish that has a lid and spread it out in an even layer.
- Add Butter and Bake: Dot the top of the mixture with the small pieces of chopped butter. Cover the dish and bake for 15 minutes.
Part 2: Add Final Ingredients and Finish Baking
- Add Fruit and Nuts: Carefully remove the hot dish from the oven. Add the raisins, dried cranberries, and pecans to the dish and toss everything together.
- Final Bake: Cover the dish again and return it to the oven. Bake for another 15 minutes, or until the butternut squash is tender and everything is lightly browned and caramelized.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, give it a final stir, and serve warm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I make this dish in a slow cooker? Yes, absolutely! This is a great recipe to adapt for the crockpot. Simply add all the ingredients to your slow cooker, stir to combine, and cook on HIGH for 1.5 to 2 hours, or on LOW for about 3 hours, until the squash is tender.
2. What are the best apples to use for a baking dish like this? For this recipe, a firm apple that holds its shape well during baking is ideal. Gala apples are a great choice for their mild sweetness. Other excellent baking apples include Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Granny Smith if you prefer a more tart flavor to balance the sweetness.
3. Can I prepare this Butternut Squash Apple Bake ahead of time? This dish is best served warm and fresh from the oven for the best texture. However, to save time, you can do all the prep work in advance. You can peel and chop the butternut squash and apples and store them in a bowl of water in the refrigerator to prevent browning. You can also mix all your dry ingredients ahead of time.
4. Can I use a different kind of squash? Yes! If you don’t have butternut squash, this recipe is also delicious with acorn squash. You would prepare it the same way by peeling, seeding, and cubing it. The flavors are very similar and perfect for a fall dish.
Butternut Squash Apple Bake
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl for tossing squash and apples
- Lidded baking dish for baking and covering
- Sharp knife and peeler for preparing squash and apples
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed (about 2 cups)
- 2 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 2 tbsp butter, chopped into small pieces
- 2 tbsp brown sugar (or honey)
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup raisins
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, combine cubed butternut squash, diced apples, cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly coated.
- Transfer mixture to a lidded baking dish and spread evenly. Dot with butter pieces. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
- Carefully remove from oven. Add raisins, cranberries, and pecans, tossing gently to combine.
- Cover and bake for another 15 minutes, or until squash is tender and lightly caramelized.
- Remove from oven, stir gently, and serve warm.