Stuffing Lovers Will Love This Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipes

SAUSAGE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Bake the squash: Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. With a sharp, sturdy chef's knife, carefully cut the squash in half from stem to base. Scoop out and discard the stringy core and seeds. Arrange the halves cut-sides up on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush each half with 1 teaspoon olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the oven and bake for 40 minutes, until the edges begin to wrinkle and the flesh is fork-tender. Set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
• While the squash bakes, prepare the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage. Brown the meat, breaking it apart into small pieces for 3 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms, onion, apple, salt, pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and minced garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sausage is cooked through, the vegetables and apple are softened, have given up liquid, and the liquid has cooked off, about 8 additional minutes.
• When the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out its flesh, leaving a wall all the way around that is about ¼-inch thick. Add the scooped squash to the pan with the sausage. Add the herbs and ¼ cup Parmesan. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as desired.
• Mound the filling inside of the hollowed squash halves. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the top. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and the filling is nice and hot, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with additional fresh herbs as desired. Serve hot.

SAUSAGE-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Halve squash lengthwise; discard seeds. Place squash in a microwave-safe dish, cut side down. Microwave, covered, on high until tender, 10-12 minutes. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook and crumble sausage with onion over medium heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes; drain. Remove from heat; stir in spinach, cranberries and bread crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and milk; add to sausage mixture and toss until moistened. , Turn over squash; fill with sausage mixture. Microwave, covered, until a thermometer inserted in stuffing reads 165°, 2-3 minutes.

ACORN SQUASH WITH SAUSAGE BREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Slice off the bottom of each squash half so that they stand flat, being careful not to cut into the flesh. Place in a large roasting pan and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with the back of a spoon, until no traces of pink remain, about 8 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in the thyme, salt, pepper, pecans, bread cubes and chicken broth until well mixed.
• Divide the stuffing mixture among the squash halves. Add enough water to the roasting pan to make a depth of about 1/4 inch. Cover the squash loosely with aluminum foil. Roast until the squash is tender, about 45 minutes. Place 1 squash half on each of 6 plates, garnish with parsley and serve immediately.

SAUSAGE AND APPLE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Combine the melted butter, garlic salt and 1/4 teaspoons sage; brush over cut sides and cavity of squash. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Bake in a large roasting pan, cut side up, at 400 degrees F for 1 hour, until squash is tender yet still holds its shape.
• Meanwhile make stuffing: Fry pork sausage until light brown. Remove pork to a colander to drain. Drain all but 2 tablespoons drippings from frypan. Add onion, celery and mushroom; saute 4 minutes. Stir in apple and saute 2 more minutes.
• Combine the pork, vegetables, and breadcrumbs in a large bowl.
• Taste and season with sage, salt or pepper if needed (depending on your sausage you may not want to add more seasoning).
• Stir in the egg and parsley.
• Fill the squash halves with stuffing-they should be slightly mounded.
• Return to oven and bake, covered, for 20 more minutes, until the egg is set.
• Garnish as desired with parsley and shredded romano cheese.

ACORN SQUASH WITH LEFTOVER STUFFING

Steps:

• Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place cut side down in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan; add 1/2 in. hot water. Bake, uncovered, at 400° until tender, about 30 minutes. , When squash is cool enough to handle, scoop out flesh, leaving a 1/4-in. shell (flesh will measure about 3 cups). Drain water from pan; place squash shells cut side up in pan and set aside. , In a large bowl, combine the flesh, egg, salt and pepper. Dissolve bouillon in boiling water; add to squash mixture. Add stuffing; spoon into squash shells. If desired, top with cheese. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 400° until heated through, 20-25 minutes. If desired, top with chopped parsley.

STUFFED ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place squash, face up, in a shallow baking dish. In each half place 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 cup stuffing mix, 3/4 cup chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Wrap each half tightly with aluminum foil.
• Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until squash is very tender.