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Cozy Sausage and Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

cozy sausage and apple stuffed acorn squash - featured image
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A hearty and flavorful holiday side dish featuring roasted acorn squash filled with a savory mixture of Italian sausage, crisp apples, and warm spices like sage and maple syrup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot)
  • 2 large Honeycrisp or Fuji apples, diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons pure grade B maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup cranberry juice or apple cider

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Wash squash and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and pulp.
  2. Brush the inside of each squash half with melted butter and season generously with salt and pepper. Place cut-side down in a baking dish.
  3. Roast squash for 20-25 minutes until tender but not mushy. Remove from oven and flip cut-side up.
  4. While squash roasts, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook sausage, breaking it up, until browned. Remove and set aside.
  5. In the same pan, sauté diced onion until translucent (3-4 minutes). Add garlic and sage, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Add diced apples to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly softened. Return sausage to the pan.
  7. Stir in maple syrup, cranberries, and cranberry juice/apple cider. Simmer for 2 minutes to meld flavors.
  8. Spoon the filling generously into the roasted squash halves. Return to the oven, cut-side up, and bake for 15-20 minutes.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

If the squash is still too hard after the initial roast, cover it loosely with foil for the second bake to steam it. If the filling is too wet, cook it longer before stuffing to evaporate excess liquid. This recipe can be made ahead by preparing the filling and partially roasting the squash up to a day in advance.

Nutrition

Keywords: acorn squash, stuffed squash, sausage recipe, apple side dish, holiday sides, Thanksgiving, vegetarian options, gluten-free

Find it online: https://sagestirs.com/cozy-sausage-and-apple-stuffed-acorn-squash-6-easy-holiday-sides/