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This Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash is an all-in-one meal that's bursting with fall flavors. The savory goodness comes from sautéed onions, celery, mushrooms, and warm spices. Then it's balanced out with subtly sweet and tart flavors from apples and cranberries. The quinoa gives it a nice texture and lots of added protein. It's heavenly!
Acorn squash is my favorite autumn vegetable! They’re so beautiful on the outside and have a subtly sweet, nutty flavor on the inside. I cook with them all season long. My favorite is this Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash.
It really is a complete meal, but sometimes I'll serve it with Vegan Cauliflower Soup and a side salad. I also make it for Thanksgiving as the main dish along with my Meatless Loaf. Then my guests can decide which they prefer or even go for both.
This meal may look intimidating, but it's surprisingly easy to make and fun, too. Here is how it's done...
How do you cut an acorn squash?
First, you have to cut them using a very sturdy and sharp Chef's Knife. Put the squash on its side and cut a thin slice off the bottom to create a flat edge, so the squash can stand up. Be careful not to cut too much or it will leave a hole in the bottom.
You may not need to cut the top of the squash, but if it has a protruding stem, you'll need to cut it off. If the stem is very short, see if the squash will lay somewhat flat before cutting.
Now cut each squash horizontally in half. Scoop out the membranes and seeds inside and discard them or you can save the seeds for roasting if desired. They are delicious!
How do you roast acorn squash?
It's really easy once the squash is prepped. Just preheat your oven to 425°F (218 °C). Place the squash on a rimmed baking sheet cut-side up.
Brush the inside and top with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. *Optional: lightly brush with maple syrup to add a subtle sweetness. It's good!
Now roast for about 35-45 minutes or until the squash is fork-tender. Rotate pan midway through for even cooking.
How to make the filling for Stuffed Acorn Squash
Cook the quinoa in low-sodium vegetable broth for extra savory flavor (not pictured). Remove from heat and set aside while you sauté everything else.
Sauté the onion, celery, and apple in a large pan until softened for about 5-6 minutes.
Add the mushrooms, cranberries, garlic, sage, thyme, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Sauté about 7-9 minutes or until mushrooms and cranberries are tender. If food starts to stick to the pan, you can splash a little vegetable broth or white wine to deglaze.
Remove from heat and add the cooked quinoa. Combine well and taste for seasoning, add more if needed. When the squash is fully roasted, fill with the stuffing mixture using a large spoon. (optional: drizzle/spritz top of stuffing with oil for a crispier top). Place in the oven and bake 10-15 minutes, until the quinoa is lightly browned & crispy.
Can it be made ahead?
Absolutely, they are perfect for make-ahead meals. Make them as instructed, but skip the last step of putting them back in the oven (fully stuffed). Instead, stuff them and place them in a sealed container in the fridge (let them cool down first).
To reheat, cover them in foil and pop in the oven until thoroughly heated. Remove foil for the last 10-15 minutes to crisp up the top.
You can freeze them for about 2-3 months too. Just make sure they are sealed well to avoid freezer burn.
So, are you ready to enjoy this fall-fabulous meal? Let's do this!
More Vegan Thanksgiving recipes to try
- Vegan Sourdough Bread Stuffing
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole
- Mashed Potatoes and Savory Mushroom Gravy
- Vegan Pumpkin Pie
- Vegan Apple Crisp
I’d love to hear from you
If you make this recipe, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.
📖 Recipe
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- ¾ cup dry quinoa
- 1 ½ cups vegetable broth , low sodium
- 3 acorn squash (medium-sized)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil + more for brushing acorn flesh
- 1 small onion , finely diced
- 1 stalk celery , finely diced
- 1 large apple , diced
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms , diced
- ½ cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 teaspoon sage
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Himalayan salt (or preferred salt), more to taste
- Fresh cracked pepper , to taste
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup *Optional
Recommended Equipment
- Large Pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
- Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each squash to create a flat edge, so the squash can stand up (don't cut too much or it will leave a hole). Cut stems off the tops if they protrude. Now cut each squash horizontally in half. Scoop out the membranes and seeds inside of the squash & discard. (*photos are in post above)
- Place the squash on a rimmed baking sheet, cut-side up. Brush the inside with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper. (*Optional: lightly brush with maple syrup to add a subtle sweetness) Roast the squash for about 35-45 minutes, or until tender (test with a fork).
- Add the quinoa and broth to a medium pot. Bring to a boil and then turn heat down to maintain a low simmer. Cover with lid and cook until liquid is gone and quinoa is fluffy. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes to cook. Remove from heat and fluff with fork. Set aside.
- In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion, celery, apples until softened. About 5-6 minutes
- Add the mushrooms, cranberries, garlic, sage, thyme, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Sauté about 7-9 minutes, or until mushrooms and cranberries are tender (if food sticks to the pan, you can splash a little vegetable broth or white wine to deglaze).
- Remove from heat and add the cooked quinoa. Combine well and taste for seasoning, add more as needed.
- When the squash is ready, fill with the stuffing mixture. (*optional: drizzle/spritz top of stuffing with oil for a crispier top). Place in oven and bake 10-15 minutes, until the quinoa is lightly browned & crispy.
Notes
- This recipe is very versatile, so feel free to add your favorite ingredients. I make this with vegan sausage too. I leave out ½ of the mushrooms from the recipe and I crumble up 1 sausage link and add it after the onions, celery, and apples have cooked. I add a touch more oil and lightly brown them. I recommend Field Roast - Smoked Apple Sage flavor. So good!
Nutrition
Jennifer H
LOVE this recipe!!! It’s a lot more fuss to make than I usually do but we’ll worth it.
Melissa Huggins
Thanks Jennifer. I am glad that you liked it.
Amy Lewis
I loved this! I definitely endorse the maple syrup. It really kicked it up a notch. I didn’t have fresh cranberries to hand, so I used dried ones, and it was still delicious (though obviously not quite as healthy). Thanks for making this recipe! It was very yummy and quite easy to make - perfect for fall, too!
Melissa Huggins
I am glad you liked it, Amy. Thanks for the great review.
Adrianna
Delicious! I will definitely be using this recipe again. Thank you so much for sharing.
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Adrianna! We are so happy that you loved the recipe and will be making it again - thanks for giving it a try!
Karen Bodenhamer
Wonderful! Such a treat- I had to use baby. portabello mushrooms but it was just fine. Flavors are perfectly balanced.
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Karen! We are so happy to hear that you loved the recipe - thanks so much for trying it out !
Kathy Grounds
So delicious! This is one of my favorite recipes!
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Kathy! We are so happy to hear that you love the recipe! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
shawna
I made this recipe tonight and it was outstanding! I have never prepared Acorn squash before and I found recipe easy to follow. I added some pine nuts to the stuffing ( I had some on hand..) Thank you for posting this recipe. I will definitely be making it again!
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Shawna! We are so happy to hear that you love the recipe! The pine nut addition sounds amazing too 🙂 Thank you for trying it out!
Andrew
A wonderfully well rounded recipe.
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Andrew! Thanks for much for trying it out, we're happy you liked it 🙂
Susan
I look forward to making this lovely recipe this evening for Christmas Eve supper! Please let me know if we should use 1 tsp dried sage and thyme or fresh. Thanks so much!
Melissa Huggins
Hi Susan, I used dried, but you can also use fresh if preferred. If you use fresh, you'll want to increase the amount to 2-3 teaspoons for each. I hope this helps. Merry Christmas!
Susan
The quinoa stuffed acorn squash recipe was incredibly delicious! The entire family loved it. The differing veggies, spices and tart and sweet flavors all came together beautifully! This recipe is definitely a keeper. Enjoy!
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Susan! We are so happy to hear that you loved the recipe! Thanks so much for giving it a try 🙂
Amanda
I am a UK visitor to your site.
I love cooking all the different varieties of squash and I grew many myself in my allotment this year. This recipe showcases the acorn squash beautifully. I added a couple of rashers of smoked bacon chopped finely to the portions for the meat eaters among us.
Wonderful!
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for stopping by, we are so happy that the recipe was a hit! 🙂
Helen
What a beautiful recipe! Luck has it as I had all the ingredients including the vegan apple smoked sausage and cranberries. The stuffing was so fragrant . Enjoyed this for Sunday dinner.🙌🏼 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Support @ Vegan Huggs
Hi Helen! We are so happy to hear how much you loved the recipe! Thanks for giving it a try 🙂
Ana Guardanapo
Looks amazing! Going to try this recipe for tomorrow! Thank you for sharing!
One question, what is your favorite apple to use?
~Ana
Melissa Huggins
Hi Ana, I'm so glad you'll give the recipe a try. I like macintosh but a granny smith is nice too. The macintosh will provide a slightly sweeter taste. 🙂
Saidi
This was excellent! Thank you sooo much for sharing. Will definitely be making this one again. A real keeper!
Support @ Vegan Huggs
We are thrilled that you loved it! Thanks so much for trying it out! 🙂
Kc
Do you think this recipe would be good with a drizzle of chimichurry sauce on top? 🤔🤔
Jill Ford
Do you think you can freeze the filling and use later if you don't want to make as many acorn squashes that the recipe calls for?
Melissa Huggins
Absolutely! The filling freezes well. 😀
Judith
Can this recipe be frozen?
Melissa Huggins
Yes, it’ll freeze well for 2-3 months.