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Easy One-Pan Sausage & Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

one-pan sausage apple stuffed acorn squash - featured image
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A quick and satisfying fall dinner featuring roasted acorn squash stuffed with a savory mixture of sausage, apples, and herbs, all cooked in one pan for minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
  • 12 ounces ground sausage (mild pork or spicy Italian sausage)
  • 1 large apple, diced (Honeycrisp or Fuji recommended)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped (yellow or sweet)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Optional: ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice acorn squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Brush cut sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Place squash halves cut-side down on a baking sheet and roast for about 30 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork.
  3. While squash roasts, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground sausage, breaking it apart, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
  4. Add chopped onion and garlic to the skillet with sausage. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until onions are translucent.
  5. Stir in diced apples, sage, and thyme. Cook for another 4-5 minutes until apples soften but remain slightly crisp. Season with salt and pepper. Add nuts if using.
  6. Remove squash from oven and flip cut-side up. Fluff the flesh with a fork to create a well for stuffing.
  7. Spoon sausage and apple mixture evenly into each squash half without overfilling.
  8. Return stuffed squash to oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes to meld flavors and brown tops slightly.
  9. Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

If squash takes longer to soften, loosely cover with foil during roasting to trap steam. Use a sharp knife for even slicing. Brown sausage well for best flavor. Fresh herbs preferred but dried work fine. Adjust salt gradually as sausage can be salty. Can swap pork sausage for turkey or plant-based sausage for dietary needs. Nuts are optional and can be omitted for nut-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: acorn squash, sausage, apple, fall dinner, one-pan meal, stuffed squash, easy recipe, autumn, savory, sweet

Find it online: https://leilameals.com/easy-one-pan-sausage-and-apple-stuffed-acorn-squash-recipe-for-perfect-fall-dinner/