An acorn squash is an excellent fall/winter squash that deserves a place on your table during colder weather. Similar to butternut squash in both color and flavor, acorn squash pairs beautifully with a touch of cinnamon, maple syrup, or a variety of herbs and spices. To stay consistent with fall and winter flavors, we went the cinnamon and maple route for this recipe. The squash caramelizes and becomes buttery-tender during the roasting process. Trust us when we tell you that this festive side dish does not disappoint.
One of the best things about this recipe, besides the highly addictive flavor, is how effortless and easy it is. All you have to do is slice the acorn squash in half, scoop out the innards, and then slice it into half moons. Just make sure that you do not slice the squash too thick or else it will take longer to cook. If you don’t want to spend time roasting them in the oven, you can consider cooking the squash slices in an air fryer or toaster oven, but you may need to do several batches, depending on the size of the appliance you use. The cooking time will also vary if you use an air fryer, toaster oven, etc.
If easy, wholesome side dishes really rev your engine, then you are going to love this recipe. It is every bit as cozy as it is delicious. In fact, it proves that healthy eating does not have to be a boring venture. Many healthy recipes are quite tasty and far from anything you think of when you imagine what “healthy” tastes like. This embraces sweet and savory flavors, combining them for cozy fall perfection. It is both versatile and crowd pleasing, so much so that your kids may even love it!

- Prep Time:15m
- Cook Time:40m
- Total Time:55m
- Serves: 4 servings
- Category: Sides, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- 1 medium acorn squash
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400º F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy bits.
- Place the halves cut-side down and slice into 1/4-inch thick half moons. Arrange the slices on the baking sheet, making sure they do not overlap.
- In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, maple syrup, garlic, black pepper, cinnamon, and seas salt. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Brush the squash slices with the maple mixture and place in the oven to bake for 40-50 minutes.
- About halfway through baking, remove the squash, flip them, and brush the other side with the maple mixture. Place back in the oven to finish cooking.
- Remove from oven and brush with additional maple mixture if desired. Enjoy when ready.















