Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa, Pears, Pecans, dried cranberries, and goat cheese makes for a delicious, balanced vegetarian meal. This light yet satisfying meatless dinner recipe is lower in calories, big on flavor and will surely make you feel full!

Roasted acorn squash is absolutely magnificent in its own right, but stuffed acorn squash? Swoon!

This easy recipe is a simple vegetarian meal (or side dish) that can be prepared any night of the week. Perfect for those times you’re craving a nutritious meatless meal.

Acorn squash gets roasted with cinnamon and honey then stuffed with quinoa, pears, pecans, dried cranberries, and goat cheese all tied together with a citrus dressing. It may sound like an odd combination of flavors, but I can promise you, the sweet flavors combine magically!

It’s cozy, it’s comforting, it’s filling without being overly heavy and contains lovely earthy flavor. Plus, it’s lower in calories for those following a lower calorie diet.

This stuffed acorn squash recipe is just as healthy as it is delicious. The perfect dish to enjoy any night of the week and fancy enough to serve at a dinner party or holiday table. 

The quinoa stuffing is so delicious, you’ll want to make it a year round staple in your home!

This versatile stuffed acorn squash recipe can be customized to your heart’s delight. You can use it as a holiday side dish or treat it as a main dish by adding protein. 

I love adding Italian chicken sausage or store-bought rotisserie chicken when I’m looking for a balanced dinner recipe.

Let’s chat about the simple ingredients for this fall favorite. They can all be found easily at any grocery store.

Stuffed Acorn Squash Ingredients:

Acorn Squash: The star of the show here, sweet acorn squash gets roasted then stuffed with delicious ingredients for a lovely side dish or light dinner. Be sure to use a sharp chef’s knife to cut the squash, because the tough skin is hard to get through otherwise.

Olive Oil: We drizzle olive oil over the squash to protect it from burning as the squash bakes. We also use olive oil for dressing the quinoa stuffing.

Honey: To make the squash even more delicious, we drizzle it with honey and sprinkle it with cinnamon. This turns the already tasty veggie into an actual dreamboat.

Quinoa: Used to stuff the squash, quinoa is a seed that contains all nine essential amino acids. It has a light and fluffy texture and is a good source of plant-based protein. If you aren’t a fan of quinoa, replace it with wild rice or brown rice.

Orange Zest and Orange Juice: Orange zest and fresh orange juice are used as part of the dressing to bring citrus flavor to the sweet roasted acorn squash.

Pear (or Apple): One large ripe pear or apple gets chopped up and mixed into the quinoa for a burst of sweet flavor and crisp texture.

Dried Cranberries: Adding sweet and tangy flavor to the meal, dried cranberries bring a pop of excitement to this delicious recipe.

Ground Cinnamon: A dash of cinnamon reminds us we’re experiencing a fall frenzy in our mouths.

Pecans: Adding nutty flavor and crunchy texture to the delicious quinoa, we need some raw pecans. Walnuts, pine nuts, or pumpkin seeds also work here. The combination of nuts, pear, and the citrus dressing yields nutty fall flavor.

Goat Cheese (or Feta Cheese): Tangy, creamy goat cheese or feta cheese goes in for that delightful cheesy deliciousness. Skip it if you don’t do cheese.

Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Season the squash and quinoa with salt and pepper to your personal taste.

Optional Customizations:

• Cook up some sweet Italian sausage or pork sausage to mix in with the quinoa mixture if you’re a meat lover.
• Replace the honey in the roasted squash with brown sugar.
• If you have fresh herbs like fresh parsley, fresh thyme, or rosemary on hand, feel free to add some into the quinoa mixture.
• Make this recipe vegan, paleo, and dairy-free by omitting the goat cheese.

Now that we are familiar with the basic ingredients, let’s make this hearty vegetarian recipe!

How to Make Stuffed Acorn Squash:

Make the Roasted Acorn Squash

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place the acorn squash on a flat surface such as a cutting board. Cut the tip and tail off of each acorn squash using a sharp knife, and cut them in half length-wise. 

Scoop the seeds and stringy bits out of each half and place the squash halves on a sheet pan or in a baking dish or casserole dish.

Drizzle each squash half with about a tablespoon of olive oil, so that all of the flesh is lightly coated. Similarly, drizzle each half with about a tablespoon (or two) of honey. Sprinkle kosher salt and cinnamon over the squash.

Place the acorn squash cut side up on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until the squash is fork tender when poked with a fork.

Prepare the Quinoa Stuffing

As the squash roasts, prepare the stuffing. 

Rinse the quinoa well and soak it in a small pot for about 10 minutes.

Drain the quinoa and add 1.5 cups of water to the pot. Bring the quinoa to a full boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and allow the quinoa to simmer until all of the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together the orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, cinnamon, and salt.

Once the quinoa is finished cooking, transfer it to a large bowl and pour the orange dressing over it.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix everything together well.

Scoop desired amount of quinoa stuffing into the acorn squash halves and serve! 

If you enjoy cheese, grate some parmesan cheese on top. 

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

The next time you’re craving all the winter squashes, enjoy this great side dish or meal.

Do you love stuffed squash recipes? be sure to check out these gems.

Stuffed Winter Squash Recipes:

• Stuffed Acorn Squash with Ground Beef, Kale, and Brussels Sprouts 
• Pear Apple Walnut Stuffed Acorn Squash.
• Turkey Stuffed Butternut Squash
• Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats 
• Taco Stuffed Delicata Squash  
• Ground Turkey Stuffed Delicata Squash  

We shall stuff ALL THE THINGS!

Quinoa stuffed acorn squash, represent!

I originally shared this recipe on December 12, 2013. I updated the photos, added a video and more information but the recipe itself remains the same.

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