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Sausage, Apple, and Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

A close-up of a perfectly baked stuffed acorn squash half filled with savory quinoa, meat, and vegetables.
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A simple recipe for baked acorn squash halves filled with a savory mixture of sausage, apple, and quinoa, suitable for a main dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage (casings removed)
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium apple, peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut each acorn squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp. Rub the cut sides lightly with olive oil and place them cut-side down on a baking sheet.
  2. Bake the squash halves for 30 to 35 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven and flip them cut-side up.
  3. While the squash bakes, cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and diced apple, cooking for another 3 minutes until the apple begins to soften slightly.
  5. Stir in the cooked quinoa, chicken broth, sage, salt, and pepper. Cook until the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the fresh parsley.
  6. Spoon the sausage and quinoa mixture evenly into the hollow of each roasted squash half.
  7. Return the stuffed squash to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes to heat the filling through. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian option, substitute the sausage with 1 pound of cooked brown or wild rice and add 1/2 cup of chopped mushrooms with the onion.
  • You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth if you prefer a non-meat liquid base.
  • If you do not have cooked quinoa ready, cook 1/2 cup dry quinoa according to package directions before starting the filling.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonfulsnap.com/stuffed-acorn-squash-recipe-easy-bake/