Stuffed Acorn Squash

This Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe makes a beautiful and delicious side dish or vegetarian main. Made with a gluten-free quinoa stuffing, lentils add even more plant-based protein and cheese is optional but delicious. If you're looking for a vegetarian side dish or just a fun way to eat squash, this vegetarian stuffed squash is the one!

Finding fun ways to use winter squash is one of my favourite things to do in the kitchen.

I love a good butternut squash (case in point: Hasselback Butternut Squash, Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Lentils, Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili, Miso Roasted Butternut Squash Soup).

Spaghetti Squash is super fun (related: Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Squash Noodles) and I love using all kinds of squash to make my Egg in a Squash Hole recipe. 

But today I'm here share my favourite Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe!

What's in this recipe?

You'll need just a short list of ingredients to make this delicious stuffed acorn squash recipe. Go and grab some:

• Acorn squash --> But you can totally use a carnival squash instead like I did.  
• Quinoa --> This forms the base of your gluten-free stuffing.
• Lentils --> I totally forgot to include them in the ingredients shot, but they're there!
• Cheese --> Optional, but delicious. I used cheddar.
• Celery --> For some crunch!
• Onion --> As one does.
• Tomato paste --> For a little zing!
• Sunflower seeds --> That little something extra. 

Acorn squash are super hard to find where I live, so I sometimes use carnival squash, which are a hybrid of acorn squash and sweet dumpling squash. They've got a nutty flavour and are a bit sweeter than a butternut squash, but not dry like a kabocha would be. If you're looking for another carnival squash recipe, check out this easy and delicious Roasted Carnival Squash Salad. 

How do you make stuffed squash?

Alright, fire on your oven and let's get going! 

Step 1: Split your squash in half and scoop out the seeds. The easiest way to cut an acorn squash in half is to slice right through the stem.

Rub the flesh with just a little bit of olive oil, and then place them cut side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the baking sheet into the oven, and roast the squash for about 20 minutes, until barely tender.

Step 2: While the squash is roasting, we'll prepare the stuffing. If your quinoa and lentils are not already cooked, now's the time to do it! If you're not sure how to cook lentils, follow the instructions in this post. 

Step 3: Heat a little bit of olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and celery, and sauté, stirring frequently, until the onions are translucent. Remove from the heat. 

Step 4: Combine the lentils, quinoa, cooked onions and celery, sunflower seeds, cheese, and tomato paste in a large bowl. Mix well, give it a taste, and adjust the seasonings if necessary.

Step 5: Spoon the lentil stuffing mixture into your par-cooked carnival squash. This will be enough filling for one large or two smaller squash. 

I like to use my hands and really pack it in there, then form a bit of a dome. If you like, you can sprinkle the top with a bit of extra cheese.

Step 6: Return the stuffed squash to the oven and roast for another 15-20 minutes, until the stuffing is crisp and brown on the top and the squash is fully cooked. 

Transfer your stuffed acorn squash to a serving platter and you are done like dinner. 

Can I make this dish in advance?

You sure can! I definitely recommend you cook the lentils and quinoa in advance (hey, you could even make big batches to freeze if you're doing some batch cooking). You can also par-roast the squash a day or two ahead of time and have it ready in the fridge. 

Another option is to make your stuffed acorn squash right up until the point of the second roasting, and then keep the squash covered in the fridge for a day or two. You'll need to add a bit of extra roasting time if they're going straight from the fridge into the oven, but only 5-10 minutes at most. 

Can I make vegan stuffed squash?

You bet! To make this dish vegan you can either simply omit the cheese, or sub in your favourite shredded plant-based cheese product. 

How many people will this dish serve?

This stuffed acorn squash recipe will yield four wedges from one large squash, or four halves from two smaller squash. I find that a single wedge makes for a hearty vegetarian main dish, or you can cut them in half to make smaller portions to serve as a side dish. 

If you want to double or triple the recipe, just toggle the number of servings in the recipe card below and it'll automatically adjust the quantities for you. 

Got leftover stuffing?

First of all, REALLY pack your stuffing in there. It fits a lot more than you think! But if you end up with leftover lentil stuffing mixture, you can bake it alongside the squash in a buttered ramekin. 

Alternately, you can save leftover stuffing mixture in the fridge for 3-5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you've got the stuffing ready to go, the next time the craving strikes for stuffed squash you'll be enjoying it in a flash. 

Is squash good for you?

Yes, friends. Yes it is. Whether you chose an acorn squash or a funky-looking carnival squash, the yellow-fleshed winter squash is jam-packed full of good nutrition. 

They're rich in carotenoids, a precursor to vitamin A, which is the compound responsible for the orange colour of the flesh. Winter squash are also a good source of dietary fiber, and important minerals like potassium, and manganese. B vitamins are where winter squash really shine, though. They are a very good source of vitamin B6, B2, B3, folate, and pantothenic acid. 

Although winter squash are high in starch (carbohydrates) they have actually been shown to steady the release of sugar inside our digestive tracts, and help moderate the glycemic response overall. 

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Vegan Lentil Loaf
Lentil Shepherd's Pie
Baked Pumpkin Risotto
Egg in a Squash Hole
Instant Pot Butternut Squash
Instant Pot Pumpkin

This recipe was originally published December 28, 2011. It was retested, re-photographed, and most recently updated on December 2, 2021.