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Acorn Squash stuffed with quinoa, pecans, goat cheese, dried cranberries sitting on a wooden plate.
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5 from 1 vote

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa, Pears, and Pecans

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa, Pears, and Pecans is a lovely light meal ideal for fall and winter.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main Course, Meatless Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 406kcal
Author: Julia

Ingredients

Roasted Acorn Squash:

Quinoa stuffing:

  • ¾ cup uncooked quinoa
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice 1/2 orange, juiced
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • 1 large ripe pear or apple, chopped
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup pecans chopped
  • 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled*

Instructions

Roast the Acorn Squash:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cut the tip and tail off of each acorn squash, and them length-wise.
  • Scoop the seeds and innards out of each half. Drizzle each half with about a tablespoon of olive oil, so that all of the flesh is lightly coated. Pour a tablespoon or two of honey into the center of each acorn squash half. 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 very tender when poked with a fork.

Make the Quinoa 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 the cooked quinoa to a large bowl and pour the orange dressing over it.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix everything together well.
  • Scoop desired amount of quinoa stuffing into each acorn squash and serve!

Video

Notes

*Omit the cheese to make this recipe dairy-free, vegan, and paleo. You can swap out the goat cheese for feta cheese if you prefer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 4 | Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 18g