Mashed Butternut Squash Recipe | Downshiftology (2024)

Home Recipes Courses Side Dish Mashed Butternut Squash

by Lisa Bryan

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Updated Oct 07, 2021

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Mashed butternut squash makes for the perfect side dish on a fall dinner table. It’s smooth, creamy, and loaded with nutrients, for a healthier spin on classic mashed potatoes.

Mashed Butternut Squash Recipe | Downshiftology (2)

While most people are searching for mashed potatoes for the holidays, I’m letting winter squash take the spotlight this season. If you know me, I like to take full advantage of seasonal ingredients, and I always love variations.

Case in point, I also love my mashed cauliflower, mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes. So let’s have a little fun and turn butternut squash into a tasty mashed dish that compliments almost any main course.

Mashed Butternut Squash Ingredients

Good news – this recipe is a blend of just 5 ingredients! That includes butternut squash, olive oil, butter, salt and pepper. That’s it! The bulk of this recipe is spent roasting the butternut squash (for that delicious caramelization). But after it’s cooked, all you have to do is simply mix the ingredients together and serve.

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How To Roast Butternut Squash

If you haven’t already seen my video on how to roast butternut squash, I’ll quickly recap. But if you’d like to learn more about roasted butternut squash (and how to make it two different ways), make sure to watch that video.

  • Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise. To make it easier to cut, you can slice the ends off and microwave it for a few minutes.
  • Scoop the seeds out with a spoon.
  • Brush olive oil on the butternut squash halves and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bake for 40-45 minutes with the squash laying cut side down on a baking sheet.

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How To Mash Butternut Squash

Once you’ve taken the butternut squash halves out of the oven, let it cool to the touch. Then scoop out the insides into a large mixing bowl to start mashing.

So what’s the best way to mash? Well, there’s a few ways you can do this. You can use either using a hand masher or electric hand mixer. I personally like to use the hand mixer to create that creamy smooth consistency. But it’s up to you.

As your mashing, pour the melted butter on top and season with any additional salt and pepper. For the finishing touch, garnish with rosemary or other herbs for a lovely pop of green color.

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Watch How I Make This Mashed Butternut Squash Recipe

Even though this recipe is easy to whip up, it always helps to watch a quick tutorial video. Give it a watch!

Pair It With These Main Dishes

Because this is a sweet and savory side dish, it will pair perfectly with ingredients such as chicken, pork, or salmon. Here are a few personal favorites I recommend.

  • Basil Chicken with Kumquats
  • Roasted Balsamic Chicken with Brussel Sprouts
  • Orange Glazed Salmon
  • Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
  • Barbecue Ribs with Spiced Rum Pineapple Sauce

Mashed Butternut Squash Recipe | Downshiftology (6)

Mashed Butternut Squash Recipe

5 from 4 votes

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Servings: 4 servings

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Description

Mashed butternut squash makes for the perfect side dish recipe on a fall dinner table! It's easy, smooth, creamy, and loaded with nutrients.

Video

Ingredients

Roasted Butternut Squash (Halves)

  • 1 butternut squash
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup melted butter , or ghee
  • salt and pepper , to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Farenheit.

  • Cut the squash in half. Using a sharp knife, cut off the ends by 1/4 to 1/2 inch, slice it in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.

  • Brush olive oil onto the cut side of the squash. Use about 1 tablespoon of oil and brush evenly.

  • Season with salt, pepper, and any other seasoning you'd like.

  • Roast the halves. Place the squash cut side down on a baking sheet and roast for about 40-45 minutes. The cut edge should just start to caramelize.

  • Take the butternut squash out of the oven and let it cool. Then scoop out the insides into a mixing bowl.

  • Mash the butternut squash with a hand masher or electric beater.

  • Then, pour the butter into the mixture and continue mixing until creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

  • Scoop the mashed butternut squash into a bowl and garnish with rosemary or other herbs.

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 660mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 20286IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: how to mash butternut squash, mashed butternut squash

©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

Read More About Me

Mashed Butternut Squash Recipe | Downshiftology (2024)

FAQs

What are 3 ways you can eat butternut squash? ›

7 ways to cook with butternut squash
  • Butternut squash soup. ...
  • Spicy squash and spinach soup. ...
  • Roasted butternut squash. ...
  • Butternut squash laksa. ...
  • Moroccan-spiced tomato sauce with roast vegetables and chickpeas. ...
  • Beef and butternut squash moussaka. ...
  • Chilled toffee apple creams.

How to cook butternut squash Paula Deen? ›

directions
  1. In a medium saucepan combine squash, onions, carrots,broth, and salt. Simmer, uncovered, until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
  2. Puree soup in a blender or food processor with the butter. Whisk cream into soup. Serve in wide, shallow bowls with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

How to cook butternut squash Martha Stewart? ›

Halve butternut squash lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Place cut sides up in a roasting pan (to help it sit level, slice a thin strip from skin sides). Fill each cavity with butter and pure maple syrup; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Roast until fork-tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

What does butternut squash do for the gut? ›

Butternut squash contains considerable amounts of fiber, which can help you keep a healthy weight and regulate bowel movements. It's known to help prevent colorectal cancer while the beta-carotene in butternut squash can also improve eye health.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

In a large bowl mix the cubed squash, garlic cloves and ginger with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mix. Season with salt and pepper and scatter in a single layer in a roasting tray. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes until tender all the way through.

How does Rachael Ray cook butternut squash? ›

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Halve the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and drizzle with EVOO. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and fresh nutmeg and roast until just tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.

How does Jamie Oliver cook butternut squash? ›

Method. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Wash and dry the whole squash, then place on a baking tray. Pierce once or twice with the tip of a sharp knife, then bake in the oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, or until golden and very soft.

What is the cooking method for butternut squash? ›

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the squash cubes on the baking sheet and toss with a drizzle of olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper. Roast 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

Why is my butternut squash mushy? ›

There could be a few reasons why your roasted butternut squash is turning out soggy: Overcrowding: If you overcrowd the baking sheet with butternut squash pieces, they will release more moisture and steam, making it difficult for them to roast properly.

What if cubed butternut squash is mushy? ›

Cooking with butternut squash cubes is quite beginner-friendly, yet people make a couple of common mistakes. One is that they overcook the cubes, resulting in a mushy texture. To avoid this, make sure to monitor the cooking process, since it should remain firm enough to hold their shape yet tender enough to eat.

Is it better to steam or boil butternut squash? ›

The squash also retains most of its nutrients when it is steamed and has a wonderfully sweet butternuttiness to it. Steamed butternut can also be used in a variety of ways – added to salads, mashed, puréed or enjoyed as is with a simple seasoning of your choice.

Do you cook butternut squash with the skin on? ›

You can eat the skin, so there's no need to peel it. Simply halve it, scoop out the seeds and chop it into chunks, then roast it and add it to a warm winter salad or throw it into curries, stews or soups. You can also roast the seeds and eat them as a snack or sprinkled over a finished dish.

Do you have to cut butternut squash before cooking? ›

Ditch the struggle. Learn how to roast butternut squash the EASY WAY without any prep work. No pre-peeling, chopping or deseeding (yes really!). Just whole-roast it in the oven until soft and tender.

Should you wash butternut squash before cooking? ›

Then wash winter squash before preparing and eating. Try these 7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits, Vegetables or these steps for washing winter squash: rinse with plain running water while scrubbing the outside with a clean brush, then dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

How is butternut eaten? ›

Raw butternut squash is carrot-like and holds up well in crunchy salads and slaws. If opting for raw squash over cooked squash, start by peeling away the tough outer skin (FYI, you can eat the skin when it's cooked. It's full of fiber and completely edible when softened up a bit).

What is the best way to eat squash? ›

I love to grill it, roast it, and even eat it raw, but lately, I've been hooked on this sautéed yellow squash recipe. Yellow squash itself has a mild flavor, so I toss it with a bright herb oil as soon as it comes off the heat. Then, I pile on a savory panko topping for crunch.

Is butternut squash better cooked or raw? ›

First of all, neither one is typically eaten raw. Cooking makes the nutrients easier to absorb and the squash easier to chew and swallow. The principal difference is that a butternut is starchier than an acorn. This makes it smoother in texture, which gives it more versatility in how it is cooked or served.

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