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I’m ready to focus on Fall and on this amazing Stuffed Acorn Squash! It’s like a mini Thanksgiving dinner in its own edible bowl! Flavorful nutty acorn squash is stuffed with chicken, Herbed stuffing and fresh cranberries for a delightful Fall dish!

Doesn’t this meal just scream… “Fall” Fantastic Fabulous”? (Say that three times really fast! Go ahead… I’ll wait! Lol)

This was a little brainstorm I had a few weeks ago. (That should encourage all younger mothers that there are still active brain cells after child-rearing! Not many…but some!)

I had this acorn squash rolling around in the pantry. I love Acorn squash! It’s so creamy and loaded with delicious buttery flavor. It’s also simple to prepare! I didn’t want it to go to waste! I had to come up with something. Plus it’s Fall… and Fall calls for delicious squash recipes.

If you’re a first time cook, newly married, or out on your own away from home for the first time, and you want to make a really simple, easy, and delicious meal…this is it!

If you’re a Mom looking for a new week night dinner…this is it!  You’re gonna feel good about feeding this dish to your “Nester’s”.  It’s also the perfect Holiday substitute meal this Thanksgiving or Christmas.

This recipe is for two servings. However, you can double or triple it. It’s a great festive meal for smaller gatherings that requires very little effort. The stuffing is from a box mix and kicked up with a few pantry ingredients. So let’s whip up this delicious dinner idea.

How To Make Easy Stuffed Acorn Squash

Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 8×10 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside as you prepare the squash.

For two servings you’ll need one acorn squash. Carefully cut the squash in half, clean out the seeds from the center. If you’ve never cut a winter squash before…it can be kind of tricky. Below are some tips on how to cut and prepare an Acorn squash. Please be very careful when cutting a hard squash like Acorn Squash. The following tips are helpful.

How to easily cut an Acorn Squash:

• Using a large chef’s knife, cut a sliver off one side of the squash, so the squash will lay flat on a cutting board.
• Place the squash on the cutting board, resting the portion you just removed, so it could do so.
• With the same large knife, carefully cut off both ends off the squash.
• Firmly holding onto one end of the squash, place the large knife down through the center of the squash. Holding the squash with one hand, on the side away from the knife blade, push the knife down, away from the hand holding the squash, till the knife comes down meeting the cutting board.
• Remove the knife and place the blade on the opposite side from the cut you just made. Hold the squash, with one hand, on the side you have just cut, away from the blade of the knife, now slice down the other half, again meeting the cutting board. You should now be able to easily break the acorn squash in half.
• Remove the seeds with an ice cream scoop. Your squash is ready to stuff.

Stuffing mixture for Acorn Squash

Place the squashed in the prepared casserole dish. Salt and pepper each half to your taste. 

In a microwave safe bowl, make one box of stove top traditional chicken stuffing mix. (You can use the store brand if it is less expensive.)

Follow the directions on the box…1 1/2 cups hot water and 4 Tablespoons of butter and…

Pop in the microwave for 5 – 6 minutes, or the suggested cook time listed on the box.

Once done fluff with a fork (it’s important to have fluffy stuffing…it’s my personal motto! I work on it every day! Lol) to make sure everything is done and well blended.

Add 1- 1/2 cups cooked cubed chicken or turkey. I used cooked chicken breast, but other times I’ve used left over Turkey Roast. You can also use leftover rotisserie chicken. Whatever you have on hand will work.

Combine with the stuffing. Add 1 cup bottled turkey or chicken gravy. Add 1/2 cup whole fresh cranberries. This is totally optional. If you’re not a fan of cranberries, then by all means, leave them out. I love how festive they look in this dish and I love the pop of flavor.

Stuff the mixture into the center of each of the acorn squash. Place the extra stuffing around the two halves of squash. 

How To Bake Stuffed Squash

Pour 1 cup of the bottled gravy over the top of your stuffed squash and extra stuffing. Cover with foil and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 50–60 minutes until the squash is tender when poke with a fork.

The fork should easily go into the squash. If it doesn’t, cover and bake for an additional 10 minutes, and check again. 

When done remove foil and broil for 5 minutes until the stuffing is slightly brown. Remove from oven. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving.

Doesn’t this look amazing! The squash is done to perfection. It is rich, flavorful, and buttery. Just like Acorn squash should be. Better yet… It’s filled with that gravy soaked stuffing and chicken! Ba-Zinga!

Even though you can eat the bowl this is served in, I highly recommend placing it on a plate.

I suggest serving this wonderful mouth-watering dish with my Chopped Harvest Salad. It’s filled with dried cranberries and pecans and drizzled with a balsamic dressing! The perfect side dish for this meal.

Hope you love this dish as much as we did! You may want to have an extra jar of gravy on hand…just in case you want to go wild! 😉

Fantastic Fall Recipes Your Family will Enjoy

• Chicken Fried Chicken with Creamy Gravy
• Perfect Pot Roast
• Pork Roast With Cranberry Apricot Glaze
• Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
• Brined Turkey Breast
• Herb Stuffed Roasted Cornish Hens
• Cranberry Baked Brie from Joyous Apron

Thanks for visiting, and please feel free to share any tips, comments, or suggestions! I absolutely LOVE hearing from you! It makes me feel like I’m not talking to myself…heaven knows 20 years of raising kids I felt like that every day! 😉 lol

Happy Nesting!

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Yield: 2 servings

Stuffed Acorn Squash

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This Stuffed Acorn Squash is like a mini Thanksgiving meal in and edible bowl! Stuffed with stuffing and chicken and topped with gravy it's the perfect Fall meal!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 acorn squash, cut in half
• 1 box stove top stuffing, or other store brand
• 4 Tablespoons butter (for stuffing mix)
• 1-1/2 cup water for stuffing
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries (optional)
• 1 jar Heinz turkey or chicken gravy, divided in half
• 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken or turkey
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Spray a 8 x10 or 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Carefully cut acorn squash in half, and clean out seeds and pulp. Place squash cut side up in prepared baking dish.
2. Salt and Pepper to taste.
3. In a microwave safe dish make stuffing mix per instructions on box using butter and water.
4. Fluff with a fork. Add in cooked chicken, and cranberries. Add 1/2 the jar, or one cup of gravy to stuffing mixture. Mix until well combined.
5. Stuff each half of squash with chicken and stuffing mixture.
6. Place any left over stuffing mix around the base of the squash.
7. Drizzle with remaining jar of gravy.
8. Cover with foil. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until done, squash should be soft, when poked with a fork.
9. Remove Foil and Broil for an additional 5 minutes until stuffing is slightly golden brown. Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest 10 minutes. Serve.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 699Total Fat: 46gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 235mgSodium: 736mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 6gSugar: 2gProtein: 47g

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