Butternut Squash Casserole

Whether it’s a big family meal on a weekend, or a special holiday celebration like Thanksgiving, there’s no denying that many of the dishes added to the table are likely of the savory variety. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans—all these dishes are delicious yet salty, and sometimes it’s nice to pair them with something sweet, like this recipe for butternut squash casserole. While we love crispy roasted butternut squash or even butternut squash soup, we’re particularly fond of butternut squash in casserole form. This is by far one of our favorite butternut squash casserole recipes, a simple yet scrumptious mashed butternut squash topped with a sugary crunchy topping.

Ingredients for Butternut Squash Casserole

• Butter: Butter is mixed in with the butternut squash to add fat to this dish.
• Sugar: The base also has sugar to give the butternut squash even more flavor than comes from the vegetable itself.
• Eggs: Eggs are beaten into this casserole dish to help give it bulk when baked.
• Evaporated milk: This recipe calls for a can of evaporated milk, but if you don’t have that on hand, you can sub in low-fat milk instead.
• Vanilla extract: The sweetness of the butternut squash with the added sugar is accentuated with a splash of vanilla extract to finish.
• Butternut squash: Cooked butternut squash is mashed to work as the base for this casserole. You can roast a whole butternut squash, boil cubes or even buy frozen fully cooked butternut squash that you can steam in the microwave.

Topping:

• Rice cereal: This casserole’s topping is given a unique crunch with crispy rice cereal.
• Brown sugar: The topping is sweetened with brown sugar to create that coating that pairs well with the sweet casserole dish.
• Pecans: The traditional topping for a butternut squash casserole includes sugary nuts such as pecans to contrast with the soft casserole filling.
• Butter: More butter is melted and mixed with the brown sugar and pecans.

Directions

Step 1: Make the butternut squash mixture

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, milk and vanilla, then stir in the mashed butternut squash.

Editor’s Tip: The mixture will be thin, but don’t be alarmed. This is normal!

Step 2: Bake the squash

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Grease an 11×7-inch baking pan with cooking spray or butter. Transfer the butternut squash mixture to the dish with a spatula, then bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until almost set.

Step 3: Add the topping

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While the butternut squash is baking, mix together the toppings in a small bowl. Sprinkle the topping over the set casserole, then return the pan to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly.

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Butternut Squash Casserole Variations

• Make it savory: Want a casserole that isn’t too sweet? Feel free to swap out the sugar with cheese, kale and herbs (like sage or rosemary), then make a cheesy topping with Gruyere and bread crumbs. Go ahead and top it with bacon, ham or ground sweet Italian sausage as well!
• Sub in sweet potatoes: Can’t get your hands on a butternut squash? You can sub in mashed sweet potatoes instead! Make a batch of mashed sweet potatoes, then follow the instructions as usual.
• Add mini marshmallows: If you’re keen to have a marshmallow topping on your butternut squash casserole, feel free to toss in a handful of mini marshmallows with the topping before adding it to the casserole for that second bake.

How to Store Butternut Squash Casserole

When the casserole is cool, make sure to seal it tight with plastic wrap or an airtight lid. Store it in the refrigerator for three to five days. You can also transfer portions to individual sealed containers for easy reheating and serving.

Can you freeze butternut squash casserole?

Yes, you can freeze a prepared butternut squash casserole. Bake the casserole as instructed, but stop before you add the topping. Let it cool, then cover and freeze it. You can freeze the topping mixture in a resealable plastic freezer bag, or wait to assemble the topping until you’re ready to reheat the casserole. When you’re ready to eat it, partially thaw the casserole and topping in the refrigerator overnight, then sprinkle the topping over the casserole and bake it in an oven at 350° until bubbly.

Butternut Squash Casserole Tips

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Should you wash butternut squash before cooking?

Since butternut squash grows in the dirt, it is best to rinse the vegetable before cooking it. However, don’t rinse a squash before storing it, as it will last longer if you leave it dirty until it’s time to cook. When it’s time, be sure to rinse without soap before preparing your squash to roast.

Do you peel butternut squash before you cook it?

Because this butternut squash casserole recipe calls for mashed butternut squash, you won’t need to peel it. Simply bake a butternut squash, then scoop out the flesh into a bowl. However, if you want to peel the squash and roast or boil the cubes before mashing, that’s an option, but it’s certainly not as efficient. Unless you buy butternut squash that has already been peeled and cubed!

What’s the best way to mash butternut squash?

When you have the cooked flesh of the butternut squash, you can mash it by hand or use an electric mixer on low until the squash is smooth.