By Alison Cooper
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Key Takeaways
- Substitute pasta with roasted spaghetti squash for a low-carb, gluten-free option.
- Utilize butternut squash's velvety texture and sweet flavor for versatile fall recipes.
- Acorn, carnival, delicata, and kabocha squash offer unique colors, flavors, textures for diverse fall dishes.
Are you looking for a few new and exciting fall dinner ideas? As the temperature declines outside, stay cozy and warm inside with comforting, wholesome recipes featuring produce that is affordable, fresh, and in season. With a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables to choose from, winter squash should be at the top of your grocery list right now.
While shopping, select popular squash varieties that elevate your home cooking with bright autumn-inspired colors and flavors. Discover six types of squash that are perfect for fall recipes. Find out what are the most popular kinds of squash for the fall and winter seasons, their nutritional information, how to use squash in various recipes, and more.
1 Spaghetti Squash Has a Stringy Texture and Neutral Taste
Roasted spaghetti squash makes a great alternative to pasta
Cooked spaghetti squash
With a buttery, stringy flesh that resembles the texture of spaghetti noodles, skip the carbs this fall with spaghetti squash! This type of squash is a light yellow color and is fairly neutral in flavor.
- Spaghetti squash has a slightly sweet and nutty taste, which makes it a great gluten-free substitute for pasta recipes.
| Nutritional Information: | Spaghetti squash is low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. It contains vital nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, potassium, and manganese. |
| Fall Dinner Ideas: | Use spaghetti squash as an alternative to pasta by cutting it in half and stuffing it with fillings of your choice, like cheese, ground beef, ground turkey, or sausage. Roast it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 40 minutes or until fork tender. To keep it simple, top your spaghetti squash with pasta sauce and fresh Parmesan cheese for a healthy, quick dinner. |
After roasting, separate the long strands of spaghetti squash (which come apart very easily) by pulling gently with a fork.
2 Butternut Squash Provides a Velvety Texture with a Vivid Orange Hue
One of the most popular squash varieties for fall flavor
Cut open butternut squash with seeds.
Among the most popular and sought-after types of squash for fall is butternut squash. Butternut squash is a common choice for fall recipes because of its versatility, along with having an irresistible flavor.
- It has a bright orange interior with a very rich and creamy texture, along with a sweet yet nutty taste, which makes it a perfect addition to various recipes and meals for autumn!
| Nutritional Information: | Butternut squash is high in fiber and contains vital nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. |
| Fall Dinner Ideas: | Slice your butternut squash into cubes, toss in seasonings like rosemary and cinnamon, and roast it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. After roasting, enjoy it as a side dish to your favorite meals, or add it to soups and salads for a hearty addition. |
3 Acorn Squash has a Distinct Shape with Deep Ridges
A small, acorn-like shaped squash with light orange flesh
Acorn squash cut open on a table
When looking for different kinds of squash for fall, look no further than acorn squash! Known for its distinctive outer ridges and acorn-like shape, incorporate acorn squash into your fall recipes for a unique alternative.
- Enjoy its light orange flesh, ultra-creamy texture, and sweet flavor profile that pairs well with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
| Nutritional Information: | Acorn squash is high in fiber and contains vital nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, and potassium. |
| Fall Dinner Ideas: | Cut acorn squash into small cubes, toss in seasonings of your choice, and roast it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes for a simple side dish. As a main dish, cut your squash in half, scoop the seeds, and then stuff it with meat and cheeses. Roast it in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. |
4 Carnival Squash is a Colorful and Unique Variety for Fall
A small squash that is a hybrid mix of sweet dumpling and acorn squash
Colorful carnival squash in a pile
With all different kinds of squash available for fall and winter, step outside the box with carnival squash! A hybrid mix of sweet dumpling and acorn squash, this variety is truly one-of-a-kind with its unique range of colors. It features cream-colored skin with green, orange, and yellow stripes, along with various colorful speckles.
- When it comes to flavor, carnival squash is a real treat for your taste buds, combining a sweet, nutty taste with subtle hints of maple syrup.
| Nutritional Information: | Carnival squash is high in fiber and contains vital nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, folate, and various antioxidants. |
| Fall Dinner Ideas: | To make a simple side dish, cut carnival squash into bite-sized pieces and roast it in the oven with flavors like garlic, Parmesan cheese, maple syrup, or fall spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or until fork tender. |
5 Delicata Squash has a Yellow Flesh with Thin, Edible Skin
A large squash featuring a cream-colored skin with green ridges
Pile of delicata squash
Consider adding delicata squash to your fall recipes! Also referred to as Bohemian squash, delicata squash differs from other squash varieties due to its very thin, delicate skin, which is where this squash gets its name from.
- Similar in taste to butternut squash, delicata squash has a light yellow flesh that is subtly sweet, but it is not as rich.
| Nutritional Information: | Delicata squash is a nutrient powerhouse. It is high in fiber and contains vital nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and manganese. |
| Fall Dinner Ideas: | Similar to other winter squashes, delicata squash tastes great when roasted in the oven. Slice it into small bite-sized pieces, toss in seasonings of your choice, and roast it at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes, or until fork tender. After roasting, add it to soups, salads, or pasta dishes. |
The skin of delicata squash is edible and is a lot easier to cut than other types of squash, which tend to be thicker and tougher.
6 Kabocha Squash Features a Bright Orange Interior with a Green Exterior
A small to medium squash that is commonly called a Japanese pumpkin
Green kabocha squash cut into pieces
6 Also known as a Japanese pumpkin, kabocha squash quite literally resembles a green pumpkin! A popular choice in Asian cuisine, this variety of squash is typically dark green, but it can also be a reddish-orange hue or a combination of both colors.
- Kabocha squash is significantly sweeter than other types of squash, and some even say its bright orange flesh resembles the taste of roasted chestnuts.
| Nutritional Information: | Kabocha squash is low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. It contains vital nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. |
| Fall Dinner Ideas: | Transform kabocha squash into a smooth, velvety soup by roasting it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. In a large pot, sauté chopped onions and celery with olive oil, add chicken or veggie stock, and spices like garlic, ginger, cumin, and coriander. Add in your roasted squash and blend together until you reach a smooth consistency and enjoy! |
Select Your Favorite Types of Squash for Fall
Now that you know about the different kinds of squash available right now for fall, select your favorites to use in your fall recipes, depending on their taste and texture. Choose from popular squash varieties like spaghetti squash, acorn squash, butternut squash, carnival squash, delicata squash, or kabocha squash. Transform any of these winter squashes into a hearty soup, roast them in the oven to bring out their naturally sweet flavor, or add them to fall salads for a healthy, flavorful addition!
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