What Is Butternut squash and How Can I Use It?

Butternut squash is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 151 recipes to get you started.

What is butternut squash?

Butternut squash, also known in Australia and New Zealand as  Butternut pumpkin, is a type of winter squash. It has a sweet, nutty taste similar to that of a pumpkin. It has yellow skin and orange fleshy pulp. When ripe, it turns increasingly deep orange, and becomes sweeter and richer. 

Uses

Butternut squash is a fruit that can be roasted and toasted and also be puréed (to make a soup) or mashed into soups, casseroles, breads, and muffins.

In Australia it is regarded as a pumpkin, and used interchangeably with other types of pumpkin.

It is also commonly used in South Africa. It is often used in soup or can be cooked on a grill.

Grilled butternut is normally either spiced with spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon or the de-seeded centre stuffed with other vegetables, for example Spinach and Feta before wrapped in foil and then grilled. The grilled butternut is often served as a side dish to “braai's” (barbecues) and the soup as a starter dish.

Preparation

The fruit is prepared by removing the skin, stalk and seeds, which are not usually eaten or cooked. 

However, the seeds are edible, either raw or roasted and the skin is also edible and softens when roasted. One of the most common ways to prepare butternut squash is roasting. To do this, the squash is cut in half lengthwise, lightly brushed with cooking oil, and placed cut side down on a baking sheet. It is then baked for 45 minutes or until it is softened. Once roasted, it can be eaten in a variety of ways as outlined above.

Nutrition

Where found

Butternut squash is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Butternut squash is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does butternut squash weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using butternut squash

There are 151 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Curried Squash Soup

Curried squash soup blends butternut squash with curry powder, cumin, garlic and chicken broth for a velvety low-fat fall starter. Naturally gluten-free, freezer-friendly, ready in under an hour.

Sweet Squash Soup

Sweet butternut squash soup blended with apples, carrots, onions, and fresh ginger into a creamy vegan puree. Six ingredients, no broth, naturally sweet and warming.

Best Curried Squash Soup

Curried squash soup made with pre-cooked butternut squash, garlic, curry powder, and chicken stock. A 40-minute warming bowl topped with sour cream and scallions for color and tang.

Gluten Free Butternut Squash Soup

Gluten-free butternut squash soup, naturally creamy and warmed with curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. A velvety, low-fat fall soup blended right in the pot.

Jimmy's Butternut Squash Chowder

Vegan butternut squash chowder made creamy without a drop of dairy. Blended squash, sweet potato, and carrot form a velvety base, brightened with garlic, rosemary, and thyme and topped with toasted almonds.

Apple, Cheddar & Winter Squash Soup

A hearty yet wholesome winter soup is made with apple, potato, butternut squash, cheddar and prosciutto, simmered in a mixture of cider, broth and milk. It's creamy, tasty and packed with goodness.

Dad's Butternut Soup

Butternut squash soup with apples, onion, ground ginger, and apple cider. A creamy fall classic with a sweet-tart edge from the cider, finished with a swirl of milk or cream.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Roasted butternut squash soup brushed with chestnut honey before roasting, finished with shallots, rosemary, and butter. Brothy fall soup with deep caramelized flavor, not the usual heavy puree.

Vegan Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Healthy vegan pumpkin soup with butternut squash, aromatic garlic and onions, blended silky smooth for a plant-based comfort meal under 200 calories per serving.

Mom's Butternut Squash Soup

It was very tasty and I also used this as a base for squash soup with maple-apple flavored chicken sausage as part of a new recipe

Vegetarian Mac & “Cheese”

Your family will be none the wiser when you offer up this vegetarian creamy “mac and cheese”.

Squash Apple Walnut Bisque

Butternut squash bisque simmered with apples, walnuts, apple cider, and warm fall spices. A creamy autumn soup with optional cheddar and a touch of cream for richness.

Cheesy Roasted Pear, Butternut & Leek Soup

Cheesy Roasted Pear, Butternut and Leek Soup recipe

Autumn Squash & Apple Soup

Butternut squash and apple soup blends Granny Smith with rosemary and marjoram, thickened naturally with bread cubes and finished with an egg yolk and cream liaison. Pure autumn in a bowl.

Butternut Bisque

Velvety butternut squash bisque with carrots, Spanish onion, and a whisper of nutmeg. Freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. A make-ahead fall and winter staple.

Butternut Squash, Black Bean & Tortilla Stew

Had some butternut squash, home-boiled black beans and corn tortillas that needed to be used up. This recipe sounded like a perfect fit, and it was very filling and delicious too.

Thai Curry Squash Soup

This delicious Thai curry soup is packed with goodness and great flavour. It warms you up instantly. Perfect for a cold winter supper when served with a bowl of rice.

Aduki & Squash Soup

Aduki and squash soup blends sweet butternut, earthy adzuki beans, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and savory miso for a rich vegan fall soup with a Japanese-macrobiotic backbone. High in fibre and deeply warming.

Scaramouche Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Roasted butternut squash soup from Scaramouche, the iconic Toronto restaurant. Squash roasted in halves, then pureed with leeks, onions, garlic, thyme, and a swirl of cream. Pure fall comfort.

Vegetable Porridge

Might want to eat it with a blindfold. It tastes a hell of a lot better than it looks.

Best Apple & Butternut Squash Soup

Silky butternut squash and apple soup with warm curry and chili, the tart Granny Smith apples balancing the squash's sweetness. Pureed smooth and finished with cream for a cozy fall and winter bowl.

Comfy Winter Squash & Apple Soup

Vegan winter squash and apple soup with butternut squash, sweet potato, apples, and a Chinese five-spice kick. Eight ingredients, naturally creamy, perfect fall comfort food.

Creamy Squash, Apple, & Corn Bisque

Creamy squash, apple, and corn bisque: butternut, Granny Smith apples, and sweet corn simmered with leeks, finished with cream and nutmeg. A tart-sweet fall bowl topped with toasted pumpkin seeds.

Very Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Creamy vegan butternut squash soup blended with blanched almonds for a dairy-free silky texture, finished with curry powder and topped with pepitas, parsley and cherry tomato halves. No cream, no dairy, all velvet.

Pumpkin & Tomato Bisque

Pumpkin and tomato bisque with butternut squash, maple syrup, and slow-sweated onions, finished with optional red pepper puree garnish. Low-fat, gluten-free fall soup that skips heavy cream.

All 151 recipes