Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (2024)

This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.

A filling and hearty dinner recipe, this tender stuffed delicata squash is filled with wild rice, kale, carrots, sage, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (1)

These days, gatherings of family and friends tend to have a variety of diets, do they not? We know many of you are looking to get more veggies on your plate. This fall, how about trying a stuffed delicata squash? Stuffed squash is a perfect fall main dish: it’shomey, autumnal, and so, so good for you.Keep reading for the stuffed delicata squash recipe, and why to make it!

Making this stuffed delicata squash recipe

Delicata squash is Alex and my very favorite squash. It’s a yellow oblong squash that’s becomewidely available in the past few years, and its sweet taste is delightful. We love that it cooks quickly, and that the skin is edible: no peeling required!

For stuffing these delicata squash, we combinedbrown butterwith sage and wild rice, along with some vegetables and sharp cheddar cheese. The sweetness of the brown butter against the herbs and chewy wild rice was spot on, and the salty cheese pulled it all together. This one was an absolute winner, in our book!

How to cook delicata squash

Delicata squash is one of our favorite squash varieties to work with. Our favorite farmer at ourfarmer’s marketassured us that this variety was delicious and tastes sweet, almost like a sweet potato. We decided to give it a try, and were incredibly pleased with the results! This squash is very easy to work with–as opposed tobutternut squash, which is delightful but can a chore to clean and prepare! The taste is sweet and tender, and you can even eat the skin. And, delicata squash roasts up quickly!

To cook delicata squash, all you have to do is roast it in a very hot oven. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Cut the delicata squash in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. Then rub it with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and place it on the parchment paper cut side down. It roasts in just 25 minutes! Another favorite way of ours for how to cook delicata squash is tomake it into fries.

More delicata squash recipes

Got delicata? Here are a few more delicata squash recipes to enjoy:

  • Bake up a pan of Roasted Delicata Squash or Delicata Squash Fries with creamy dipping sauce
  • Make a fresh Delicata Squash Salad
  • Try Chipotle Black Bean Stuffed Delicata Squash

This stuffed delicata squash recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.

Print

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (6)

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe

  • Author: a Couple Cooks
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 1x
Print Recipe

Description

A filling and hearty dinner recipe, this tender stuffed delicata squash is filled with wild rice, kale, carrots, sage, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 ½ cups wild rice
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 6 delicata squash
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon dried ground fennel
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried chili powder
  • 1 shallot
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 bunch Tuscan kale
  • 10 leaves sage
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup roasted salted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Instructions

  1. In a medium pot, combine 1 ½ cups wild rice, 3 ½ cups water, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 to 50 minutes until tender. Let sit for 10 minutes before draining any extra liquid.
  2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Wash the squash, then cut each in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Rub each squash lightly with olive oil on both sides (about ½ tablespoon per squash), then lightly sprinkle with a pinch each of ground fennel, oregano, and chili powder, and kosher salt.
  3. Place the squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, until tender when poked with a fork.
  4. Mince the shallot and 3 cloves garlic. Cut 2 carrots into 1/4-inch pieces. Remove the stems from the kale and chop it into thin strips. Thinly slice the sage.
  5. Melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat and stir constantly until it becomes brown, a few minutes. Once browned, lower the heat to medium and immediately add carrot, shallot and garlic; sauté until the carrot is soft, about 10 minutes. Add the sage and kale and sasautéute 2 more minutes. Add the rice and ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. Remove from heat and spoon the rice mixture into the wells in the squash. Top with roasted pepitas.
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: stuffed delicata squash

vegetarian gluten free

Published on / Last updated on

Categorized In:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • Recipes

Tagged with:

  • Autumn
  • Brown Butter
  • Carrots
  • Cheddar
  • Cheese
  • Delicata
  • Fall
  • Garlic
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Healthy
  • Kale
  • Pepitas
  • Sage
  • Shallots
  • Squash
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Whole Foods
  • Wild Rice

About the authors

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (7)

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

About Us

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to know if Delicata squash went bad? ›

You'll know delicata squash has gone bad if it has wrinkles or soft spots. Also, if the seeds look slimy or their color is off, you'll know it's spoiled. The seeds are normally a cream or white color. Typically, they'll be covered in the flesh of the squash.

Do you eat the skin on roasted Delicata squash? ›

Always: Acorn, Delicata, Honeynut

Wofford and our test kitchen editors will leave the skin on delicata, acorn, and honeynut squash to save time, add nutrients, and reduce food waste. These varieties have thin skins that soften readily when cooked. Next time you slice a delicata into rings ready to roast, don't peel it.

How much space does Delicata squash need? ›

PLANT SPACING: Bush to short-vine habits generally require 6' between-row spacing, while long-vine habits require 12' between-row spacing. In-row spacing depends on fruit size and is generally: small, 18-24"; medium, 24-36"; large, 36-48".

When should you not eat squash? ›

Symptoms of consuming volunteer squash

The bottom line is if you have a different-looking type of fruit in your garden than expected do not eat it if it is extremely bitter. Spit out the first bite.

Can you eat too much Delicata squash? ›

Toxic squash syndrome can result from continuing to eat the bitter fruit. Some of the most rampant symptoms and indicators of toxic squash syndrome include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Toxic squash syndrome can be so severe that it can cause swelling in the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.

Why is my Delicata squash bitter? ›

The higher the levels of cucubitacin, the more bitter the squash will taste. The most likely cause for a bitter taste in squash is due to an environmental stress of some sort, most likely a wide temperature flux or irregular irrigation. Either of these will create an excess of cucurbitacins to concentrate in the fruit.

Do you eat the skin of stuffed squash? ›

It's definitely OK to eat squash skin,” Rayna Joyce, vegetable production manager at Bread and Butter Farm in Shelburne, Vermont, told me. “Some (winter) squash have really delicate skins and they become tender when cooked. You can bake them and eat the whole thing.”

What are the white spots on my delicata squash? ›

Powdery Mildew Symptoms

Powdery mildew on squash (and other plants) is pretty simple to identify. The first thing you'll probably notice is blotchy patches of white-gray powdery spots that are dry to the touch on the surface of leaves. These quickly spread out and can cover most of the leaves and stems.

How do you pick a good delicata squash? ›

Select a squash that is firm, heavy for its size and has an even cream color. A ripe delicata squash will be yellow with green striations on its rind. Unripe delicata squashes are light green. Avoid squashes that have soft spots, dull and wrinkled skin or that are extremely light for their size.

What does a mature delicata squash look like? ›

The average weight of a mature Delicata is between one and two pounds. When the skin of the squash has changed to a wonderful cream color and it has developed its orange and green stripes, the crop may be ready to pick at this point.

Should delicata squash be refrigerated? ›

Directions: Storage tips: Winter Squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees, however, Delicata squash does not store quite as well as heartier varieties like Acorn and Butternut. Place in a cool dry room in your house (do not refrigerate) and it should last 3 months. How to preserve: Best frozen after cooking.

Why is delicata squash hard to find? ›

It was rare to find it on the shelves of grocery stores or in many restaurants. This is actually because delicata squash was once prone to mildew diseases in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Can you save half a delicata squash? ›

Raw, cut delicata squash will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Cooked squash can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for four to five days. To freeze delicata squash, spread diced cubes on a baking sheet.

Can delicata squash go bad? ›

Storage tips: Winter Squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees, however, Delicata squash does not store quite as well as heartier varieties like Acorn and Butternut. Place in a cool dry room in your house (do not refrigerate) and it should last 3 months.

What are the signs of toxic squash? ›

Toxic squash syndrome can result from continuing to eat the bitter fruit. Some of the most rampant symptoms and indicators of toxic squash syndrome include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Toxic squash syndrome can be so severe that it can cause swelling in the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.

How long does delicata squash last in the fridge? ›

Raw, cut delicata squash will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Cooked squash can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for four to five days. To freeze delicata squash, spread diced cubes on a baking sheet.

How long does delicata squash last on the counter? ›

The squash should feel firm and heavy for its size. The squash should also be a light creamy yellow color with long green stripes. If the squash is more orange than yellow, it may be overripe. Uncooked whole delicata squash will last for up to 4 weeks on the kitchen counter.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ray Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 5693

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ray Christiansen

Birthday: 1998-05-04

Address: Apt. 814 34339 Sauer Islands, Hirtheville, GA 02446-8771

Phone: +337636892828

Job: Lead Hospitality Designer

Hobby: Urban exploration, Tai chi, Lockpicking, Fashion, Gunsmithing, Pottery, Geocaching

Introduction: My name is Ray Christiansen, I am a fair, good, cute, gentle, vast, glamorous, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.