Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash with brown sugar and butter is sweet, tender, and perfectly caramelized. It’s incredibly easy to make and the perfect squash for Thanksgiving, fall dinners, or any weeknight meal!
5 Star Reviews
One reader Eleanor writes, "Very tasty and easy to make. I made it exactly as called for in the recipe and it came out perfectly. Highly recommend" ★★★★★
Another reader Helene writes, "These were absolutely amazing. Me and my fiancé loved them. This was the first time either of us ate butternut squash, and with this recipe it won’t be the last" ★★★★★
Roasting butternut squash in the oven brings out its natural sweetness and earthy flavor. Tossed with butter and brown sugar, it caramelizes beautifully, developing a deep golden color and an irresistible glossy finish.
The brown sugar enhances the squash’s natural sweetness without overwhelming it, making this one of the best ways to cook butternut squash.
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Why You’ll Love This Oven Baked Butternut Squash
- Perfectly Roasted: Soft, tender, and beautifully caramelized in the oven.
- Balanced Sweetness: The brown sugar enhances the flavor without making it too sweet.
- Holiday-Ready: A delicious squash side dish for Thanksgiving, but simple enough for any fall dinner.
- Irresistible Flavor: Buttery, slightly sweet, and totally addictive — it’ll be gone in no time!
How to cut a butternut squash into wedges
To cut a butter nut squash into wedges, start with a large, sharp chef’s knife. Trim about ¼ inch off both the stem and bottom ends, then peel off the skin using a vegetable peeler. Lay the squash on its curved side on a stable cutting board, and carefully slice it in half lengthwise, pressing down firmly with both hands.
Once halved, scoop out the seeds and stringy bits using a spoon. Place each half cut-side down, then slice into ¾-inch thick wedges — perfect for baking in the oven!
Oven Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 large butternut squash about 3 pounds
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 410 degrees F.
- Cut off the ends of the butternut squash. Peel the squash, cut them in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds and stringy fiber. Cut each half into ¾-inch thick wedges.
- Add the cut squash and all remaining ingredients into a large baking sheet and toss to combine. Spread in a single layer.Tip: You don’t need to coat each piece of squash perfectly, as it will be mixed halfway through baking.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until tender, flipping the squash halfway through baking with a spatula, to be sure it caramelizes evenly.
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.
How to bake butternut squash in oven?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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Tip: Don't like wedges? Cut them into ¾-inch cubes instead!
Can You Prep Butternut Squash Ahead of Time?
Yes, and it’s a great time-saver — especially for Thanksgiving or busy weeknights! You can peel and cut the squash into wedges ahead of time, then store them in a sealed zip-top bag or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you're ready to bake, simply toss the wedges with brown sugar, butter, and your favorite seasonings, then roast until tender, glazed and caramelized.
Recipe tips
- You'll need one large winter squash weighing around 3 pounds, or you can choose two smaller squashes, each weighing between one and one-and-a-half pounds.
- Cut into cubes instead of wedges
- Replace butter with melted coconut or olive oil to make it vegan.
- Flip halfway through baking to caramelize on both sides.
More Squash Recipes for Thanksgiving
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves results in tender, succulent squash with a caramelized exterior. Made using maple syrup and cinnamon, it air fries to perfection in about 30 minutes.
- Microwave Acorn Squash Halves are perfectly roasted with brown sugar and butter. It is fork-tender and a fast and easy way to cook an acorn squash for Thanksgiving.
- 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.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Kitchen at Hoskins on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Eleanor Roberts
Very tasty and easy to make. I made it exactly as called for in the recipe and it came out perfectly. Highly recommend.
Helene
These were absolutely amazing. Me and my fiancé loved them. This was the first time either of us ate butternut squash, and with this recipe it won’t be the last
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡