What Meat Goes With Butternut Squash? (20+ Dishes)
Time for something new and exciting? Our recipes and tips will show you how to make crave-worthy dishes that include butternut squash and a variety of meats!
What meat goes with butternut squash? Here is the list:
Bacon Salad
Sausage and Squash Casserole
Chicken and Stew
And many more.
This blog post will discuss some of the best pairings. We’ll give you tips on preparing the squash with meat and some recipes to get you started!
Beef stew with vegetables and squash. Credit: canva
The best pairings
Some of the best side dishes include:
Pork: Pork chops, pork tenderloin, or ground pork.
Beef: Roast beef, steak, or ground beef.
Chicken: roasted chicken, grilled chicken, or chicken sausage.
Turkey: Turkey breast, turkey leg, or ground turkey.
Fish: Salmon, trout, or halibut.
Here are some of our favorite combinations:
Bacon
This combination is a classic for a reason!
Pork Chops
Pork chops are an excellent option for a weeknight meal. Season them with salt, pepper, and your favorite fresh herbs, then cook them in the oven or grill.
Butternut Squash and Sausage Frittata. Credit: canva
Sausage
Sausage is another excellent option to pair.
Chicken
Chicken is a versatile meat that goes well with many different flavors. When paired, we recommend roasted or grilled chicken.
Roast Chicken
This classic dish is an excellent option for a fall meal. You can add other vegetables to the roasting pan, such as carrots, potatoes, or onions.
Butternut squash with creamy chicken breast soup. Credit: canva
Grilled Chicken
Grilled chicken is an excellent option if you’re looking for something lighter.
Fish
We recommend using salmon, trout, or halibut. Season the fish with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs.
Salmon
The two ingredients can be cooked together in one dish, or you can cook them separately and then combine them at the end. When cooking with salmon, we recommend milder fish so the squash can shine through.
Beef
We recommend using a leaner cut of beef, such as flank steak or sirloin.
Butternut Squash. Credit: canva
Turkey
The two ingredients can be cooked together in one, or you can cook them separately and then combine them at the end.
When cooking turkey with it, we recommend using a leaner cut of turkey, such as breast or leg.
Pairing Variations
We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for inspiration on preparing it with meat! Here are some of our favorite recipes:
With Bacon Salad
Bacon salad is made from chopped bacon, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes. It’s an easy recipe to make when you need a quick lunch.
This salad is a great way to use up any leftover squash. It’s also a perfect dish to brIt’sto a potluck or picnic.
Sausage and Squash Casserole
Chicken and Stew
This stew is a great way to use up any leftover chicken. It’s also a perfect dish to make on a cold winter day.
Beef and Squash Soup
It’s a warm soup and a comforting meal that will keep you cozy. You can serve this soup as a main course or side dish. Either way, it’s sure to be a hit at your next dinner party.
With Pork Chops
Season the pork chops with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs. Then cook them in a pan until they are cooked through.
For a more straightforward dish, a thinly sliced sautéed with apples is a perfect side dish to pork chops.
Squash and Beef Roast
Roasting is a great way to get flavorful food without spending hours in the kitchen. This roast combines butternut squash and beef into one tasty meal.
Season the beef roast with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme. Cook the roast in the oven until it reaches the desired doneness.
With Turkey Chili
Cooked ground turkey, chunks, tomato sauce, beans, corn, and spices are combined into a rich and creamy chili.
We love this chili because it uses pantry staples like canned beans and frozen corn.
With Salmon Salad
Salmon is a healthy protein option high in omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different dishes.
The salad is topped with lemon juice, olive oil, dill, and sea salt.
With Chicken Sausage
Season the chicken sausage with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs. Then cook them in a pan until they are cooked through.
With Beef Stew
This stew is a perfect way to warm up on a cold day. Making it is simple! Season the beef with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs. Enjoy!
Stuffed Squash with Beef & Kale
Stuffed with beef & kale and topped a cinnamon Tahini sauce makes an easy and healthy flavor-packed meal.
It is full of protein, carbs, and healthy fats and is paleo, gluten-free, and approved!
Tuna Melt on Ciabatta Bread with Squash Soup
A classic tuna melt sandwich is made even better when served on Ciabatta bread.
Chicken Salad Sandwith with Squash Soup
This recipe is a twist on a traditional chicken salad sandwich. Instead of using mayonnaise, it has a tangy tahini dressing.
Slices of ciabatta bread are cut in half and grilled or baked until golden. Then the bread is brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
The sandwiches are placed on the grill or oven, and the top halves are flipped over. They are finished by topping each slice with a generous squash soup.
Yummy!
Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
This soup is packed with nutrients and fiber. It’s creamy and delicious and will fill you up without weighing you down.
You can add any veggies you like to this soup. I recommend adding some celery and carrots for extra flavor.
Try making a batch of homemade croutons if you want to get creative. They are super easy to make and taste amazing.
Butternut Squash: Is It Good?
It has a sweet, nutty flavor and can be used in sweet and savory dishes.
Health benefits
Some of the potential health benefits include:
It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, potassium, and magnesium.
It’s high in fiber, which can promote digestive health.
It contains antioxidants that may help protect against some chronic diseases.
What are the types of squash?
Butternut, acorn, delicata, kabocha, Hubbard, and buttercup squashes are some of the most common varieties of winter squash available today. They are all excellent choices for this recipe because they are versatile and easy to prepare.
As the common varieties of summer squash include zucchini, yellow crookneck, pattypan, and Straightneck, you should be able to find them at your local grocery store during the summer months. They are usually smaller, has a milder taste, have a more watery flesh, and are more versatile.
Is it a vegetable or starch?
It, botanically classified as a fruit, is culinary used as a vegetable that can be cooked in the oven, sautéed, toasted, puréed for squash soup, or mashed to use in casseroles, bread, muffins, and pies.
It isn’t a starch, though the fruit is sometimes called a starchy vegetable like potatoes because it has more carbohydrates than other vegetables such as broccoli or cauliflower.
The carb content of a single cup of cubed butter squash is 16 grams, while the same amount of chopped broccoli has 6 grams.
Is it good for weight loss?
Butternut is a low-calorie, high-fiber fruit. And that makes it an excellent choice for any weight reduction program.
How to Cook
How to prepare
There are many different ways to prepare.
Some popular methods include:
Roasting: It is the favorite and easiest way.
Soup: Puree roasted to make a creamy soup.
Mashed: Mash-cooked with butter, milk, and spices like cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
How to make
Here are the steps:
Cut off the top and bottom of the squash. Peel off the outer layer with a vegetable peeler.
Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds using a spoon.
Place the squash halves on an ungreased prepared baking sheet—Bake at 350 degrees F (180 C) for about 40 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Tips
To make ahead: Squash can be cubed one day in advance. Store cubes in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
To reheat: Reheat gently over low heat in a skillet on the stovetop, in the oven at 350 degrees F, or in the microwave. The oven and stovetop will give you the best consistency.
To freeze: Lay the cooked cubes in a single layer on baking sheets and place in the freezer until frozen solid. Place frozen cubes in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Let thaw in the refrigerator the night before reheating. The cubes will become noticeably softer and not have as desirable a texture if frozen, but it is certainly an option.
Recipes
Beef and Butternut Squash Stew Recipe
Ingredients
Three tablespoon olive oil
One medium onion, peeled and chopped
Two cloves garlic, chopped.
One tablespoon of minced fresh rosemary
One tablespoon of chopped fresh thyme.
2 pounds stew beef, cut into 2-inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt (kosher salt), plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
Two tablespoons of all-purpose flour
1 cup Marsala wine
1 pound butternut squash, trimmed and cut into 2-inch or 1-inch cubes (or pumpkin or sweet potato)
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
3 to 4 cups of beef broth or beef stock
Two tablespoons fresh chopped flat-leaf parsley
Crusty bread for serving
Directions
Heat three tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot. Add the onions, garlic, rosemary, and thyme and saute for 2 minutes until the onions are soft.
Toss the beef cubes with salt, pepper, and flour in a mixing bowl. Add the meat to the pan, increasing the heat to medium-high heat. Brown and golden around edges, about 5 minutes.
Pour the Marsala wine into the pan and gently stir all brown residues on the bottom.
Stir in the cubes of squash and sun-dried tomatoes. Add enough beef broth to cover the beef and squash. Bring the flavorful broth to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and cook for 1 hour, covered.
To season the soup, add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley before serving.
Serve with crusty bread alongside.
FAQs
What does butternut squash pair with?
It pairs well with many different foods. It’s delicious and served with roasted vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and brussels sprouts.
What’s the difference with pumpkin soup?
You can use either pumpkin or sweet potato in this recipe. Pumpkin has a sweeter flavor than sweet potato, so I recommend using pumpkin when possible.
How do you make butternut squash soup with a slow cooker?
If you don’t have an oven, you can still enjoy this hearty soup by cooking it in your slow cooker. Simply place everything except the parsley in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours—season with additional salt and pepper to taste before serving.
