Caramelized butternut squash is a magical side dish that floats somewhere between sweet and savory, but definitely rocks in either category. Butternut squash is naturally a little sweet on its own, but when it is lightly coated in butter and brown sugar and then caramelized in a hot oven, it transforms into something quite special.
Let’s get it started…
Start by cubing up 1 large butternut squash. The cubes will shrink a bit as they caramelize, so 1 inch cubes become the perfect bite size cubes in the end. Try to make them as even as possible, so they all cook the same.
*Note: If you have trouble working with butternut squash, this is how I tackle them:
– Start by cutting your squash in half and then cut off both stems
– Set the halves down on their flat cut side and peel them either using a vegetable peeler or by running a sharp knife down the exterior. Keeping them set on their flat side makes them much more stable during the peeling process. Nobody wants to peel something that is rolling around your counter top!
– Remove the seeds from the bottom half
– Cut 1 inch rounds out of each half
– Cube the rounds
– Done!
Add 4 tablespoons of melted butter into the bowl containing your butternut squash cubes and toss until all of the cubes are coated. Next, add 1/3 cup of brown sugar and toss until well combined.
Now transfer the cubes onto a parchment lined baking sheet…
Last, but not least, sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon over the cubes and then place them on the center rack of a 375 degree oven.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, flipping the cubes every 15 minutes or so and rotating the baking sheet, if it appears than one side is getting darker than the other.
Your butternut squash is done when the cubes are soft and the brown sugar has caramelized and become sticky and a little crispy in places. Perfection.
Look at how shiny and sticky those little cubes have become. They are soft and tender inside, but gooey and crispy on the outside and although butternut squash is technically a fruit, these fabulous cubes taste like a very special treat… almost candy like…
Caramelized butternut squash pairs well with roasted chicken, crispy fish, a nice steak or any holiday dinner. You can add them into a salad, toss them in some orzo or serve them with other roasted vegetables. Fair warning though, they do tend to steal the show.
Enjoy!
Caramelized Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, cubed
- 4 tablespoons of butter, melted
- 1/3 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees
- Peel a large butternut squash, remove the seeds and cut it into 1 inch cubes
- Place the butternut squash cubes into a large bowl, add 4 tablespoons of melted butter into the bowl and toss until all of the cubes are well coated
- Add 1/3 cup of brown sugar and toss to combine
- Transfer the butter and brown sugar coated butternut squash cubes onto a parchment lined or non-stick baking sheet
- Optionally: sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon evenly over the entire baking sheet
- Bake the butternut squash cubes on the center rack of a 375 degree oven for 45-50 minutes, flipping every 15 minutes
- Allow the caramelized butternut squash to cool slightly before serving
