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Learn how to cook the best Crispy Butternut Squash you’ve ever eaten! This baked and healthy side dish is paleo, Whole30 compliant, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian. 

a white scalloped bowl with cubes of crispy butternut squash with afork on a white board

I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t start liking butternut squash until my 30’s. Yeah, I was pretty late to the game!

It’s wonderful roasted and so very easy. Perfect as the base for a main dish, or a delicious side, you’ll flip for this oven-roasted butternut squash.

Looking for an air fryer version of this recipe? Check out our Air Fryer Butternut Squash for a super fast and delicious side.

How to Serve Crispy Butternut Squash?

I like to use it as a side for my paleo roasted chicken, Paleo Salmon Cakes, or incorporate it into a sheet pan dinner. And we love to top it with Sweet Potato Fries Dipping Sauce or Homemade Cilantro Chimichurri.

a blue bowl with cubes of butternut squash, olive oil, salt, and garlic

And if you have any squash leftover, make some Spicy Vegan Butternut Squash Soup or this Butternut Squash Chili. And if you want to make something fun, check out these Baked Butternut Squash Fries.

roast butternut squash cubes on a baking pan with rosemary

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • Make sure the oven is fully preheated before you add the pan. The high heat helps to crisp them up without making them soggy.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan with too many pieces as it will cause them to steam instead of caramelizing and roasting. Use a second pan if you need to cook a lot.
  • Every person prefers their veggies roasted to a specific level. Use common sense and check on your squash during the cooking process to see what works best for you.
  • These are best freshly roasted, but you can prep them ahead of time as part of your meal prep. Keep the squash, garlic, rosemary, and parsley in an air-tight container in the fridge. Add salt and olive oil just prior to roasting.
  • The recipe calls for kosher salt; not table salt. If you need to use table salt, reduce the measurement to 1/4 tsp.

Variations

  • Like a sweeter version? Add 2 tbsp of maple syrup (fine for paleo but not Whole30), 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. 
  • Add other root veggies like air fryer brussels sprouts, parsnips, turnips, onion, and air fryer roasted beets for an amazing ginormous roasted veg extravaganza.

Cubes of butternut squash in a white bowl

More Recipes You’ll Love

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS

One serving has 2 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.

5 from 9 ratings

Crispy Butternut Squash {Vegan, Whole30, Paleo}

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
a white scalloped bowl with cubes of crispy butternut squash with afork on a white board
Make the best Crispy Butternut Squash you've ever eaten!

Ingredients 

  • 2 pounds butternut squash {peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes}
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 6 cloves garlic {peeled}
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 tsp parsley {dried}

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 435 degrees F and place a rack on the lowest setting.
  • Combine squash, olive oil, parsley, salt, and garlic cloves in a bowl. Toss to coat.
    2 pounds butternut squash, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp parsley, 6 cloves garlic
  • Dump the bowl onto a rimmed baking sheet and spread the veggies around to give them space. Add the rosemary sprigs.
    2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • Bake for 15 minutes. Stir, and bake for another 8-12 minutes depending on your desired level of crisp. Serve fresh from the oven.

Notes

Make sure the oven is fully preheated before you add the pan. The high heat helps to crisp them up without making them soggy.
Don’t overcrowd the pan with too many pieces as it will cause them to steam instead of caramelizing and roasting. Use a second pan if you need to cook a lot.
The recipe calls for kosher salt; not table salt. If you need to use table salt, reduce the measurement to 1/4 tsp.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 220mgPotassium: 816mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 24110IUVitamin C: 49mgCalcium: 117mgIron: 1.7mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!

 

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About Sarah

Helping you serve up budget-friendly sustainable recipes with a side of balanced living.
Come for the food. Stay for the snark.

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17 Comments

  1. You came to my rescue yet again! A friend gave us a squash and I had to find a way to make it crispy to appease the men folk in the household. This was a big hit!!5 stars

  2. Thank you for posting this recipe! I have 4 butternut squash sitting in my kitchen for a month. I’m making this tonight!

    1. Made these and I loved them! Saved the leftovers and reheated by pan searing in a skillet and they were even better like that.5 stars

  3. This delicious butternut squash is rich and delicious a delightful experience for the taste buds that is hard to forget, truly scrumptious!5 stars

  4. This delicious butternut squash has a wealth of flavor that stays with you long after you’re done enjoying this meal! Thank you for sharing.5 stars

  5. Great receipe, even without rosemary & parsley. Tasted great the next day – although it’s not crispy when reheated, it still tasted yummy! Many thanks5 stars

  6. I’m not fancy enough to have rosemary just laying about the house, so I omitted that ingredient and it was still awesome. We roast veggies all the time (and by we, I mean my husband because he’s in charge of cooking), but dinner prep fell on me tonight and I needed to look up temp and time and saw this recipe. The garlic cloves really elevate it from “dump bag of squash and throw in oven until cooked” to real special  side dish. 5 stars

    1. So glad you enjoyed this Christine!

      I actually have a rosemary bush in my garden that I planted years ago from a little Trader Joes rosemary Christmas tree. It produces year-round! Not sure where you live, but this plant is hardy and seems like it could survive almost anywhere.

      1. I need to do this! We’re in coastal California and it would work out just fine if I could remember to water it regularly.