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Butternut squash is most often used as a part of a side dish, but with this Sausage-Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe, it really sings as a main dish! Winter squash, particularly this form of it, has just the right amount of sweetness to go well with most anything. I think that pairing it with these other healthy and fresh ingredients makes for a spectacular hearty dinner for the colder months of the year. And you can go easy on yourself since this is a low fat dish!

I had heard of stuffed eggplant, but I hadn’t tried using eggplant in a stuffing before. I have to say, it works really well for this recipe. It adds a bit of earthiness to balance the sweet and savory flavors nicely. Each butternut squash half is pretty much a meal in itself, though of course you could always throw in a good salad if you want something extra on the side. And of course you can expand the recipe, if you have a larger group to feed. Enjoy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of 12 Tomatoes

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Quick tip: If preferred, you can use ground sausage instead of turkey or lean beef.

It takes only 40 minutes and eight ingredients (including salt, pepper, and cooking oil) to make this tasty Butternut Squash Pasta Salad. How’s that for fast food, huh? It’s great as a side, as a lunch by itself, or as part of a nice fall soup and salad combo. It’s a great dish for fall and winter, and it basically makes its own dressing – no need to add more. It’s an easy side for a family meal, but I think it would be perfect for tailgates and potlucks, as well.

Want to know what I always like to add to this salad? It may sound crazy, but a dash of hot sauce drizzled on top of all of this goodness makes it even more delicious! The best part about this dish is that it tastes just as good warm as it does cold, after refrigerating the leftovers.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Gimme Some Oven

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Quick tip: Use your favorite cheese instead of goat cheese!

Liven up your side dish menu a bit with this Loaded Wild Rice Pilaf. It sports an exciting combination of flavors that make it perfect as part of a holiday meal, though you shouldn’t have any trouble making up a batch for any occasion that you like.

I suppose that this is properly a Thanksgiving or Christmas side, but I got really excited, looking at the different combinations in this recipe, and just had to try it early. I am glad that I did. It’s not that difficult to put together, and it makes a great part of any fall (or winter) meal.

Recipe and photo courtesy of What Would Cathy Eat

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If you are looking for a side dish that is simple, healthy, delicious, and quick to put together, this recipe is just what you are looking for.

Ready in under an hour, this recipe serves up to four and is a healthy alternative to greasy and fatty side dishes.  These keep very well, so you may want to double down on the recipe for a little extra.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Naturally Ella

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This Butternut Squash & Creamed Spinach Casserole has the rich and filling flavor that make it perfectly suited for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, but give it a try, and you may find yourself making it for regular meals.  This recipe makes 8-10 servings, meaning you’ll have plenty of yummy leftovers if you cook it for a family meal.

Casseroles are usually not too difficult to put together, and they can be very satisfying and filling. The trick is having a variety of recipes at your disposal, so you don’t wind up making the same one or two all the time.  If you don’t really care for cheese, this recipe probably isn’t for you, but if you do, this butternut squash and creamed spinach casserole is a good option for breaking out of that food rut–and makes a great part of any Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.

Recipe courtesy of 12 Tomatoes

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Quick tip: Use a 9×13-inch pan for this recipe.

When you want an easy and quick dinner, it’s hard to go wrong with a bit of sausage and a healthy mix of veggies and/or fruit.  This Oven-Roasted Autumn Medley combines a modest amount of sausage with a few basic spices and a hearty mix of apple and sweet potatoes to make a great casserole for fall that is both savory and budget-friendly.

This recipe is great on the flavor and low on the hassle.  It’s also low on budget strain (not to mention low on time pressure, as it only takes about an hour to prep  and cook).  I’d say it’s a great choice for a hectic midweek dinner in fall, though if you love sausage and sweet potatoes as much as I do, you may be hankering for this year-round.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Budget Bytes

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Quick tip: Add some red pepper flakes for spiciness!

The great thing about making use of a side that isn’t commonly used in everyday cooking and that has a distinct appearance and flavor is that you can cook it very simply and still have a tasty dish that really stands out.  This Simply Roasted Butternut Squash is great as a low-hassle option for an autumn dinner – or anytime that you want something with a nice sweet and slightly savory flavor blend.

It really is a shame that butternut squash isn’t better known and utilized by the general public.  It not only tastes great but also is extremely good for you, as it’s loaded with Vitamin A and Vitamin C and also contains generous helpings of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin B-6, and dietary fiber, without being overloaded with simple sugars.  So how does it taste, exactly?  Well, “sweet and somewhat nutty” is the usual way of describing the flavor, I prefer to describe it this way:  It’s basically what you would get if a sweet potato and a pumpkin fell in love and had a baby.  The flavor and texture are pretty much right in the middle between those two food items.  And though there are plenty of fancy ways to make use of it, the simplest way (not to mention a very tasty and versatile way) to cook butternut squash is to half it and roast it with some spices and a few other basic items.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Oh Snap Let’s Eat

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Quick tip: If you want to go dairy free, use coconut oil instead of butter.