Maple Butternut Squash (Printable)

Roasted butternut squash glazed with maple syrup delivers warm, sweet, and savory fall flavors.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium butternut squash (approximately 2 lbs), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes

→ Glaze

02 - 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, divided
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine butternut squash cubes with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, melted butter, olive oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
03 - Spread the coated squash cubes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Roast for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even browning.
05 - Remove the baking sheet from the oven, drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of maple syrup over the squash, and toss gently to coat.
06 - Return the squash to the oven and roast for an additional 10 minutes, until tender and caramelized.
07 - Serve warm, optionally garnished with fresh thyme or chopped pecans.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The maple caramelizes twice, creating pockets of sticky sweetness that balance the squash's earthiness perfectly.
  • Prep takes ten minutes and the oven does most of the work, leaving you free to handle everything else.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost every table.
02 -
  • Stir halfway through the first roast; I learned this the hard way when one batch had golden brown pieces next to pale ones.
  • The second glaze is the magic moment—skip it and you lose the caramelized finish that makes people come back for more.
03 -
  • Don't crowd the pan; if your baking sheet feels packed, use two sheets and rotate them halfway through for even cooking.
  • Real maple syrup burns easily at high heat, which is why we divide it between two applications instead of coating everything at once.

Return