Sausage and Apple Stuffed Butternut Squash

Introduction

Sausage and Apple Stuffed Butternut Squash offers a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and comforting flavors. This dish transforms simple seasonal ingredients into a wholesome main course that’s ideal for chilly evenings, holiday gatherings, or weeknight dinners. With its golden, caramelized squash, flavorful sausage, and juicy apples, every bite is satisfyingly hearty and sure to impress guests and family alike.

Why Sausage and Apple Stuffed Butternut Squash Stands Out

This recipe is a true crowd-pleaser thanks to its combination of tender roasted squash, tasty sausage, and sweet-tart apple. The stuffing absorbs the sweet juices from the squash, while the herby sausage and aromatic spices bring warmth and depth to the dish. The result? A deliciously complex meal that looks gorgeous served straight from the oven.

Crafting the Perfect Sausage and Apple Filling

The key to this filling is using a flavorful sausage—choose either Italian or chicken sausage, depending on your preference. Sautéed with onions, garlic, and diced apple, the filling captures autumnal flavors while breadcrumbs and fresh herbs ensure the stuffing is moist yet slightly crisp on top. For extra richness, consider folding in a sprinkle of shredded cheese or chopped nuts.

Assembling and Baking Your Stuffed Squash

After roasting the butternut squash halves until just fork-tender, the seasoned sausage-apple mixture is piled high into each cavity. Returned to the oven, the squash finishes roasting as the stuffing turns golden, resulting in a beautiful presentation and perfectly melded flavors.

Serving Suggestions for a Memorable Meal

Garnish each squash half with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or sage and serve alongside a crisp green salad for a well-balanced meal. For an extra festive touch, scatter dried cranberries or toasted pecans over the top just before serving—these add color, crunch, and a hint of sweetness that’s perfect for the season.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 4 generous servings. Each serving contains around 400–500 calories, depending on the type of sausage and optional add-ins. It’s a wholesome, filling meal packed with protein, fiber, and flavor—ideal for autumnal feasts or healthy comfort food cravings.

Sausage and Apple Stuffed Butternut Squash (Recap)

Roasted butternut squash halves overflowing with savory sausage, sweet apple, and aromatic stuffing make this recipe a standout. It’s simple to prepare yet special enough for entertaining—a flavorful dish everyone will love.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush the cut sides of the butternut squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil, season lightly with salt and pepper, and arrange cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 30–40 minutes, or until just tender when pierced with a fork.
2. While the squash roasts, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove the sausage to a bowl and set aside.
3. In the same pan, add onion and sauté until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in the diced apple and cook for 2 minutes more, then add garlic and dried sage or rosemary. Sauté for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Return sausage to the pan. Stir in breadcrumbs and optional cheese or nuts, mixing until well combined. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
5. When the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out a little flesh from each half, creating a well for the stuffing (leave a 1/2-inch border). Chop the scooped squash and fold into the sausage mixture.
6. Stuff the sausage-apple filling into each squash half, mounding it slightly. Return to the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until the top is golden and heated through.
7. Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve warm.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is great for meal prepping—bake ahead and reheat for quick, nutritious lunches or dinners. Save and schedule this recipe to plan when to serve it, then let CookifyAI generate a smart shopping list that consolidates ingredients from all your weekly meals.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across multiple recipes
– Organizes shopping lists by grocery store sections
– Prevents duplicate purchases and forgotten ingredients
– Makes weekly meal prep efficient and organized

Pro tip: When preparing several dishes for the week, schedule your recipes so CookifyAI can combine overlapping ingredients—like onions or apples—making your shopping faster, easier, and less wasteful.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes