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    Home » Side Dishes

    Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes

    Published: Jan 27, 2017 · Modified: Aug 26, 2022 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    We love Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes! I'm sharing a family favorite, plus my tips and step-by-step photos for how to peel and cut butternut squash.

    close-up of roasted butternut squash cubes

    Have you ever tried roasted butternut squash cubes? This is one of our favorite Italian Side Dishes,  so I had to share it with you and hopefully, demystify the process of how to peel and cut butternut squash.

    I have to thank Ina Garten for introducing me to roasting butternut squash cubes four years ago. (Not in person, of course, but wouldn't that be cool?)

    Before, I just assumed butternut squash needed to be cut in half and roasted in a pan of water.

    roasted butternut squash cubes in a glass pan

    But peeling and cutting it into cubes first, then roasting it at 400 degrees F allows for crispy edges and buttery, soft middles. It sweetens the vegetable and brings out the best flavor, especially when using olive oil and mouthwatering seasonings.

    I've adapted Ina's recipe by reducing the oil and using my favorite Italian seasoning, Seasonello. (I have no affiliation with Seasonello, but that's my Amazon affiliate link.)

    I use the herbal salt at least three times a week when cooking veggies, meat or potatoes. It's a fantastic combination of sea salt, garlic, rosemary, sage and pepper. But, no worries if you don't have it; you can always use salt and pepper here instead.

    butternut squash on a cutting board with a knife

    Peeling and cutting butternut squash can be intimidating, but I've figured out a few tricks to make it easier. (If your grocery store sells the squash already cubed, and you're not concerned about the added expense, by all means, go ahead and buy three cups to roast.)

    collage of photos showing butternut squash being cut into cubesHere are my tips to cut and peel butternut squash:

    • Heat your whole squash in the microwave for 3-4 minutes on high to soften it first.
    • Peel the butternut squash after you've cut off the ends and cut the vegetable in half the short way, so it's easier to grasp.
    • Peel the squash until you see orange flesh; the pale yellow flesh you see at first is tough and needs to be removed.
    • Use a small scoop, if you have one, to clean out the seeds and pulp. It works much better than a spoon or fork.

    I've included more details on cutting the butternut squash into cubes on the recipe card below, and you can refer to the photos above. The good news is, it's easier than cutting spaghetti squash (my most dreaded kitchen task!), and the results are so worth it.

    Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes in a glass pan beside serving spoon, plates and napkin

    Roasted butternut squash cubes for the win! Enjoy!

    P.S. If you want to check out other recipes where I've used Seasonello, see Seasonello Roasted Potatoes and Homemade Turkey Lunch Meat.

    (Recipe Source: Adapted from Ina Garten, Food Network)

    Roasted butternut squash cubes in a pan with a fork

    Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes

    A delicious family favorite that's vegan and gluten free.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 18 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 48 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 151kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    • 2 ½ pounds butternut squash
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ⅓ teaspoon Seasonello (or use salt & pepper to taste; see notes)
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • Heat your oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse your butternut squash and pat it dry.
    • Heat your squash in the microwave on high for 3-4 minutes to soften it. On a large cutting board, use a large serrated knife to slice off the stem and root ends of the squash. (If you're having trouble cutting through the squash, heat it a little more in the microwave.)
    • Discard the ends and cut the squash in half the short way. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin from the squash halves, peeling until you see orange flesh. (The pale yellow flesh you see first is tough and needs to be removed.) Discard your peels.
    • Slice each piece of butternut squash in half the long way. (See photos.)
    • Use a small scoop (if you have one) or a spoon to scrape out the seeds and pulp. Discard the seeds and pulp.
    • To cut your squash into cubes, first cut the squash into long strips about 1 ½ inches wide. Cut those logs into cubes as shown in the photos.
    • Place your butternut squash cubes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Top them as evenly as you can with the olive oil and seasoning. Use your clean hands (or a large spoon) to toss and mix the vegetables. Wash your hands, if needed, and bake the butternut squash for 30 minutes, stopping at the halfway point to flip the squash over with a metal spatula. The squash should be soft, with some crisp edges. You can taste it to see if you want to bake it a little longer.

    Video

    Notes

    If your squash weighs less than 2 ½ pounds, you should use less Seasonello. If you don't have a kitchen scale, you can weigh the butternut squash at the store.
    If you don't have Seasonello, you can use salt and pepper to taste.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 798mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 24110IU | Vitamin C: 47.6mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ann

      October 27, 2021 at 8:23 pm

      Thank you Mamma C for Seasonello salt content information and your tip using only before roasting! Very helpful!

      Reply
    2. Ann

      October 27, 2021 at 9:44 am

      Would love to try Seasonello for the convenience since it is listed in so many recipes but concerned about salt content.

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        October 27, 2021 at 10:03 am

        Hi Ann - I can relate to being concerned about sodium. Half a teaspoon of Seasonello has 270 mg of sodium. I'm only using 1/3 teaspoon here, so the total sodium is even less. A little bit goes a long way. I never use it after the food is cooked, but only to sprinkle some on before roasting, etc.

        Reply
    3. Mary Ann

      March 27, 2018 at 5:00 pm

      I am going to be roasting other vegetables at the same time and will be roasting at 375 degrees, how long should the squash be cooked for?

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        March 27, 2018 at 6:17 pm

        I haven't tried them at 375, Mary Ann. I would add at least 10 minutes to the total time, bringing it to 40 minutes, and check on them. They might need a bit longer.

        Reply
    4. Agness of Run Agness Run

      February 06, 2017 at 3:57 pm

      I was looking for a recipe to try butternut squash! Your recipe seems easy and delicious, Andrea!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 06, 2017 at 5:05 pm

        Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. I hope you enjoy this, Agness!

        Reply
    5. Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser

      February 05, 2017 at 2:45 pm

      Yes-yummy!!! xo

      Reply
    6. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

      January 27, 2017 at 3:26 pm

      Butternut squash is one of my favorite veggies! Thankfully my hubby likes to peel them! I can't wait to try this!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        January 27, 2017 at 3:29 pm

        You lucked out, Elaine! It's easy after that part. I hope you enjoy this.

        Reply
    7. Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food

      January 27, 2017 at 2:54 pm

      Butternut squash is one of my favorite things on EARTH. I'm always looking for new and different ways to serve it. This looks de-LISH!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        January 27, 2017 at 2:59 pm

        You have to try this, Michelle! It's my favorite way to enjoy butternut squash.

        Reply
    8. Mindy Fewless

      January 27, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      Perfect side dish!! I love butternut squash!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        January 27, 2017 at 2:50 pm

        Me too! It's worth the effort. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Stephanie@ApplesforCJ

      January 27, 2017 at 1:34 pm

      I love butternut squash and probably don't use it as often because I don't like to peel it. haha! Thanks for sharing these tips 🙂

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        January 27, 2017 at 1:40 pm

        You're welcome, Stephanie. The microwave step helps!

        Reply
      • Jennifer Osborne

        March 14, 2018 at 2:39 pm

        I bought mine about peeled and cubed at Costco, so worth it.

        Reply
        • Mamma C

          March 14, 2018 at 3:50 pm

          Perfect!

          Reply
    10. Sarah @ Champagne Tastes

      January 27, 2017 at 1:23 pm

      I really need to do this-- I have a butternut squash on my counter that needs used ASAP!!!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        January 27, 2017 at 1:37 pm

        Go for it, Sarah! It's so delicious.

        Reply

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