As the vibrant colors of summer begin to softly blend into the warm hues of autumn, there’s no better way to celebrate this transitional season than with a dish that perfectly captures its essence. Introducing our delectable Grilled Acorn Squash with Cinnamon Butter – a recipe that brings together the best of both worlds. Imagine tender, sweet, and savory acorn squash slices, beautifully charred on the grill, infused with a rich cinnamon-and-nutmeg butter. Each bite is further elevated with a luscious drizzle of golden maple syrup and a delightful crunch from toasted pumpkin seeds. This incredibly easy acorn squash recipe doesn’t just promise an explosion of fall flavors; it delivers a gourmet experience that’s ready in under 30 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or special gatherings. It’s truly the ultimate healthy and flavorful side dish or light main course to usher in the cooler months.
Why This Grilled Acorn Squash Recipe Will Become Your Fall Favorite
This isn’t just another vegetable side dish; it’s a celebration of seasonal bounty and culinary simplicity. Here’s why this grilled acorn squash recipe deserves a permanent spot in your autumn rotation:
Seamless Seasonal Transition
Grilling acorn squash offers a unique and delightful way to bridge the gap between summer’s lingering warmth and autumn’s crisp embrace. While grocery store aisles fill with various squash varieties hinting at pumpkin spice season, those lingering warm September days often mean our grills are still fired up. This recipe allows you to savor the outdoor cooking experience while indulging in comforting fall flavors. It’s the perfect solution for when you’re not quite ready to pack away the barbecue but are eager to welcome the tastes of the harvest.
An Explosion of Unforgettable Flavors
Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary symphony of sweet and savory notes. The acorn squash is generously coated in a rich, aromatic butter infused with warm cinnamon and fragrant nutmeg. As it grills, these spices penetrate the squash, creating a deeply comforting base. A finishing drizzle of pure maple syrup adds a natural sweetness that perfectly complements the earthy squash, while a sprinkle of crunchy toasted pumpkin seeds introduces a delightful textural contrast. But the secret weapon here is the grill itself – imparting a subtle yet irresistible smokiness and beautiful char marks that elevate the flavor profile beyond what any other cooking method can achieve.
Remarkably Quick and Effortless
Despite its sophisticated taste, this grilled acorn squash recipe is surprisingly easy and incredibly fast to prepare. With minimal prep and a mere 10 minutes on the grill, you can have a show-stopping side dish on your table in under half an hour. This makes it an ideal option for busy weeknights when time is precious, yet you crave something homemade, healthy, and exceptionally delicious. It’s simple enough for novice cooks but impressive enough for entertaining.
Naturally Healthy and Wholesome
Acorn squash is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients, including vitamins A and C, fiber, and potassium. Grilling is a healthy cooking method that requires minimal oil, allowing the natural goodness of the squash to shine through. Combined with natural sweeteners like maple syrup and the healthy fats from pumpkin seeds, this recipe offers a guilt-free indulgence that nourishes your body while delighting your palate.
Mastering Grilled Acorn Squash: Expert Tips and Tricks
Achieving perfectly grilled acorn squash is simpler than you might think. Follow these expert tips to ensure your dish is flavorful, tender, and beautifully presented every time.
Perfecting Your Acorn Squash Preparation
Many home cooks find themselves intimidated by cutting hard-shelled squash, but with the right technique, it’s a breeze. Always start with a very sharp, sturdy chef’s knife. Carefully cut the acorn squash in half lengthwise. Once halved, use a large metal spoon or an ice cream scoop to efficiently remove the seeds and stringy pulp. Next, cut each half into quarters, and then slice these quarters into consistent half-moon pieces, aiming for about ½-inch thickness. Uniform slices are crucial for even cooking, preventing some pieces from burning while others remain undercooked. Remember, slightly thinner slices will cook faster, but avoid going too thin to prevent charring excessively.
Unlock Deeper Flavors with Enhanced Seasoning
While our base cinnamon-nutmeg butter is wonderfully delicious, you can truly elevate this grilled acorn squash by experimenting with your seasoning. For an extra layer of decadence and complexity, consider preparing our Copycat Texas Roadhouse Cinnamon Honey Butter. This slightly more involved blend incorporates honey, a hint of salt, and vanilla extract, adding remarkable depth and a gourmet touch that will impress your guests. Alternatively, for a savory twist, a tiny pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of cayenne pepper in your cinnamon butter can add warmth and intrigue.
The Art of Perfectly Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Toasted pumpkin seeds are more than just a garnish; they provide a crucial textural contrast and nutty flavor that completes this dish. While store-bought toasted seeds are convenient, toasting them yourself is incredibly easy and yields superior freshness. You can quickly toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly until fragrant and lightly browned. For larger batches, the oven is an excellent option, as detailed in our pumpkin seed butter recipe. Or, for ultimate speed and crispness, the air fryer method (as demonstrated on our sister site, 40 Aprons) is a fantastic choice. Always let them cool completely before sprinkling to ensure maximum crunch.
Embracing the Edible Acorn Squash Skin
One common question about acorn squash is whether its skin is edible. The answer is a resounding yes! When grilled, baked, or roasted, acorn squash skin becomes wonderfully soft and tender, making it perfectly safe and enjoyable to eat along with the flesh. In fact, consuming the skin adds extra fiber and nutrients to your meal. If, however, you prefer not to eat the skin, don’t fret – the cooked squash meat will easily separate from the skin with a fork, allowing you to enjoy the tender interior without any fuss.
Grilling for Optimal Texture and Flavor
The grill is key to this recipe’s unique character. Preheat your grill to a medium-high heat (around 350-375°F) for best results. Placing the buttered squash slices over indirect heat initially helps them cook through without burning, while a brief finish over direct heat can create those coveted smoky char marks. Don’t overcrowd the grill, and use tongs to flip the slices carefully to ensure even cooking and beautiful caramelization on both sides. The squash is ready when it’s fork-tender and exhibits enticing grill marks.
Selecting the Best Acorn Squash
Choosing the right acorn squash is the first step to a delicious meal. Look for squash that feels heavy for its size, indicating a good moisture content. The skin should be smooth, dull, and dark green, free from soft spots, blemishes, or mold. A small spot of orange or yellow on one side is normal, as it’s where the squash rested on the ground, but avoid overly yellow squash, which may be overripe and stringy. The stem should be intact, firm, and dry. A fresh stem indicates a recently harvested squash, ensuring optimal flavor and texture for your grilling experience.
Storage and Reheating Leftovers
Should you be lucky enough to have any leftover grilled acorn squash, storing it properly ensures you can enjoy its deliciousness later. Allow the squash to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, you can gently warm the slices in a microwave, or for best results, place them on a baking sheet and reheat in an oven preheated to 325°F (160°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. This method helps to retain some of the grilled texture. You can also quickly reheat them in an air fryer for a few minutes until hot and slightly crispy.
More Grilling Inspiration: Delicious Recipes from the Grill
If you’re loving the flavors of grilled vegetables and perfectly cooked proteins, explore more of our favorite hot-off-the-grill recipes to keep the barbecue season going strong:
- Grilled Chicken And Rice
- Foil-Wrapped Grilled Asparagus
- Grilled Broccolini
- Grilled Mango With Chili-Lime Salt
- Mesquite Grilled Chicken
- 15-Minute Grilled Mahi Mahi
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For more delicious recipes, visit our sister sites, 40 Aprons and Easy Cheap Recipes.
Grilled Acorn Squash with Cinnamon Butter
Simple and full of rich fall flavors, this grilled acorn squash recipe is seasoned to perfection with a cinnamon and nutmeg butter, then drizzled with maple syrup and topped with toasted pumpkin seeds.
Sam Guarnieri
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon more or less to taste
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg more or less to taste
- 1 pinch salt more or less to taste
- 2 medium acorn squashes approximately 4 pounds total, cut into ½-inch-thick slices
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ cup toasted pumpkin seeds optional, for serving
Equipment
- Grill gas or charcoal
- Large, microwave-safe bowl
- Whisk
- Tongs
Instructions
Preheat grill to medium heat, approximately 350° to 375° Fahrenheit.
Once grill is preheated, melt butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to melted butter and whisk well until ingredients are fully combined.
Add acorn squash slices to bowl with cinnamon butter and carefully toss, flip, or stir squash until completely coated with butter.
Carefully place buttered squash slices on preheated grill grate over indirect heat. Close grill lid and cook squash 1 to 2 minutes. Open lid and carefully flip squash over, then close lid and cook another 1 to 2 minutes. Note: if squash slices are more than ½-inch-thick, repeat process, flipping as needed, until squash is fully cooked, no more than 8 minutes total per side.
Once squash slices have visible grill marks and can be easily pierced with tines of fork, remove squash from grill and transfer to serving platter or plates. Drizzle maple syrup over grilled squash and top with toasted pumpkin seeds if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- To cut the acorn squash, use a sharp knife to halve each squash. Scoop the seeds out with a large metal spoon or ice cream scoop, then cut each squash half into half again, creating quarters. Carefully slice each squash quarter into half-moon shapes approximately ½-inch thick.
- To melt the butter, microwave it in 30 second increments, stirring well between each burst until the butter is completely liquid. Be careful not to burn it.
- Make it Dairy Free: Use avocado oil or a similar neutral-tasting oil instead of butter.
To Toast the Pumpkin Seeds in the Oven
- Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Rinse pumpkin seeds well, then dry seeds completely with paper towels or dish towel.
- Toss pumpkin seeds and cinnamon together in a bowl until seeds are thoroughly coated.
- Spread pumpkin seeds out across baking sheet in one even layer. Place baking sheet in oven and bake seeds 7 minutes.
- After 7 minutes, remove baking sheet from oven and stir pumpkin seeds to prevent sticking or burning. Spread pumpkin seeds back out into one even layer, then return baking sheet to oven. Bake another 7-8 minutes until seeds are golden brown.
- Remove baking sheet from oven and let pumpkin seeds cool to room temperature before serving.
To Toast the Pumpkin Seeds in the Air Fryer
- Preheat air fryer to 360° Fahrenheit. Rinse pumpkin seeds well, then dry seeds completely with paper towels or dish towel.
- Add dry pumpkin seeds to large bowl with avocado oil, salt, and pepper, or avocado oil and cinnamon. Toss or stir until pumpkin seeds are well-coated.
- Transfer pumpkin seeds to air fryer basket. Place basket in air fryer and cook 7 minutes.
- After 7 minutes, pause air fryer and remove basket. Shake basket well to toss and flip pumpkin seeds, to prevent sticking and burning. Return basket to air fryer and cook another 7-8 minutes or until pumpkin seeds are golden brown.
- Remove pumpkin seeds from air fryer and let cool to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition Information
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.