These Microwave Acorn Squash Halves are perfectly roasted with brown sugar and butter. They're sweet, fork-tender, and a fast and easy way to cook an acorn squash.
If you are looking for more acorn squash side dishes, then try my oven-roasted acorn squash slices next!
Why You'll Love This Microwave Acorn Squash
Cooking acorn squash in the microwave is one of the quickest and easiest ways to enjoy it. It’s perfect for a fast weeknight side dish and especially handy for Thanksgiving, when oven space is in high demand. It cooks in a fraction of the time compared to traditional oven roasting, yet still turns out tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked.
There’s also no need to peel the skin—it softens beautifully and is completely edible once cooked. A little butter and brown sugar enhance the squash’s natural sweetness without overpowering it. Similar to our air fryer butternut squash halves, serve the acorn squash halves as they are, or stuff them with your favorite sweet or savory fillings.
-maria doss
★★★★★
"This was great! Thanks!!"
-DIANA
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Tips for Success
- Cook in batches if needed -If you are cooking a larger acorn squash and it does not fit in your microwave, then cook one half at a time.
- Choose your tenderness - Cook as soft as you want, although it is delicious when cooked soft enough to be scooped with a spoon.
- Other sweeteners - Use maple syrup or honey instead of brown sugar.
- Make it vegan - Use coconut oil instead of butter to make it vegan.
- Make it savory - Add a dash of cayenne and cumin powder along with the brown sugar for some savory notes.
More Squash Side Dishes To Try
Microwave Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash 1 to 1 ½ pounds
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 to 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt use less if using salted butter
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare squash. Cut the acorn squash in half vertically. Scoop out the seeds and stringy fiber with a large spoon.
- Choose a dish. Choose a microwave-safe dish large enough to fit both squash halves comfortably. If your acorn squash is large, simply cook one half at a time.
- Microwave. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to the dish and place the squash flesh-side down. Microwave for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the flesh is tender and easily pierced with a knife.👉 Cooking time: Microwave wattages and squash sizes can vary, so use the cooking time as a guide and adjust as needed. The squash is ready when a knife slides easily into the flesh and it feels soft when gently pressed.
- Season: While the squash cooks, stir together 2 tablespoons melted butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl.Using tongs or a kitchen towel, carefully flip the hot squash cut-side up. Drizzle the butter mixture evenly over the flesh, then pour any remaining butter and settled seasoning into the squash cavities.
- Finish cooking: Microwave for 2 to 4 minutes or until golden and tender.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Acorn Squash FAQ'S
Place the whole acorn squash on a sturdy cutting board. Using a sharp chef’s knife, carefully cut it vertically from top to bottom, through the stem and base. For added stability, you can slice off about ¼ inch from both the stem end and the bottom — this creates a flat surface so the squash doesn’t wobble while cutting.
If your squash is particularly tough or large, poke a few holes in it with a fork and microwave it for 2 to 3 minutes. This softens the skin slightly and makes it much easier to cut in half.
Once halved, scoop out the seeds and stringy fibers with a spoon. It is now ready for the microwave. You can roast the acorn squash seeds, similar to the roasted butternut squash seeds for a snack!
Selecting a ripe acorn squash is important to ensure that it's flavorful and has the right texture for cooking. Ripe acorn squash should have a deep, dark green colored skin that is dull or matte and not shiny. Shiny skin can indicate that it's underripe.
Gently press your thumb into the skin. Ripe squash should have a hard and firm skin. If it feels soft or has any blemishes or spots, it may be overripe. Like an eggplant, it should feel heavy for its size, which indicates a higher moisture content.
Yes! Acorn squash skin is completely edible once cooked. Microwaving softens the skin nicely, making it more tender and easier to eat than when the squash is roasted in the oven or air fryer.
Nope—there’s no need to peel it! Leaving the skin on is actually helpful because it acts like a natural bowl, keeping the squash halves intact as they soften.
It also makes the cooked halves easier to handle, serve, and stuff, with no extra peeling or prep.
Cooking time depends on the microwave wattage and size of the squash, so the exact time can vary. Start checking around 7 to 9 minutes, then add more time as needed.
The squash is ready when a knife or fork slides easily into the flesh and the squash feels soft when gently pressed. The nice thing about microwaving is that you can check it as you go and adjust the cooking time without overcooking it.
How to cook acorn squash in the microwave?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Cut the acorn squash in half vertically. Scoop out the seeds using a large spoon and discard or use for roasting.
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1.Add 3 tablespoons water into a microwave safe baking dish.
2. Place it flesh side down. Microwave for 7 to 9 minutes.
3 & 4. While the squash is cooking, mix melted butter, brown sugar, salt and black pepper together in a small bowl.
5. Check if the acorn squash is tender by inserting the tip of a knife into it.
6. Using tongs, flip the squash over.
7. Drizzle mixed brown sugar-butter mixture on the flesh and pour the remaining, along with the seasoning into the cavity. Microwave for 2 to 4 minutes or until golden and tender.
How to serve roasted acorn squash halves
While these are delicious on their own with the brown sugar and butter glaze, they also make a perfect base for a variety of flavorful fillings.
- Quinoa and vegetables - Combine cooked quinoa with a mix of cooked or roasted vegetables and feta cheese.
- Apple and cinnamon - Fill with a mixture of diced apples, cinnamon, and a touch of brown sugar. Top with a crumble made from oats, flour, and butter. Use the crumble topping recipe from peach crumble.
- Sausage and apple - Combine crumbled sausage with diced apples, sautéed onions, breadcrumbs, sage, and a touch of maple syrup.
- Mushroom and wild rice - A mixture of wild rice and sautéed mushrooms with garlic and onions.
- Cranberry and pecans - Mix dried cranberries and chopped pecans with a little honey or brown sugar.
- Sweet potato and marshmallow - Combine mashed sweet potatoes, mini marshmallows, ground cinnamon, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
- Lentil and spinach - Mix cooked lentils with sautéed spinach, garlic, and a tomato-based sauce.
- Pumpkin pie - Make a filling with pumpkin puree, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
More Easy Squash Recipes For Thanksgiving
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves results in tender, succulent squash with a caramelized exterior.
- Easy Roasted Butternut Squash is perfectly caramelized, featuring a subtle sweetness and a caramelized sticky glaze from brown sugar and butter.
- Sweet butternut squash casserole features a sweet and creamy filling that topped with a buttery pecan topping, that’s sure to steal the show at your Thanksgiving dinner.
- This mashed butternut squash recipe is a delicious side dish for Thanksgiving and holiday dinners.
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Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Diana
This was great! Thanks!!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear! So glad you enjoyed it Diana – Maria ♡