Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash {Vegan, Gluten-Free}
Stuffed with fluffy quinoa, kale, and toasted hazelnuts, this acorn squash recipe is perfect for the fall. it’s Healthy, hearty, delicious, and easy to make.
Quinoa stuffed acorn squash is the perfect autumn recipe! It’s flavorful, filling, and so delicious.
This vegan savory squash recipe has been one of my favorite fall dishes for many years now and I’m so excited to share my recipe with you.
The sweet and soft roasted acorn squash pairs so well with the delicious quinoa, fragrant onion, kale, and crunchy hazelnuts.
But now, let’s make this stuffed acorn squash dish.
Ingredients needed for quinoa stuffed acorn squash
This dish is made with real food ingredients that are easily accessible during the fall season.
- Acorn squash
- Quinoa
- Yellow onion
- Hazelnuts
- Baby kale
- Avocado oil
- Salt and pepper
Optional ingredient:
- Goat cheese
How to Roast Acorn Squash
Start with placing the whole acorn squash in the oven at 400 F for 5 – 10 minutes. This step will soften the acorn squash just enough to cut it more easily.
Then, wait until the squashes have cooled enough to handle. Then, cut the squash in half.
Using a spoon, remove the seeds and strings in the core of the squash.
Now, lightly drizzle avocado oil and a pinch of salt on the inside of the acorn squash. Place it on a baking sheet with the cut side facing down.
Bake the acorn squash for another 20 minutes.
Can I eat the skin of acorn squash?
Yes! The skin is completely eatable and it’s also delicious after being roasted.
In this recipe, the skin of the acorn squash also serves as a bowl. It’s going to look so pretty!
How to make quinoa stuffed acorn squash
While the squash is roasting in the oven, cook the quinoa per the packaging direction (I like using vegetable stock or broth along with a pinch of salt).
Then, gently smash the hazelnuts with the side of a knife or roughly chop them up. Toast them in a small saucepan on medium heat for about one minute or until golden brown. They will burn quickly so don’t turn your back on them. Set aside.
Now, in a frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil over medium heat. Cook the chopped onion for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Then, add kale and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until wilted.
When the quinoa is cooked, add it and the toasted hazelnuts to the kale and onion mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Lastly, take the acorn squash from the oven and fill them with the kale and quinoa stuffing. If desired, sprinkle goat cheese on top.
What else can I Stuff Roasted Acorn Squash with
Let this recipe be an inspiration to keep stuffing acorn squash (and other squashes) with delicious fillings. A few of my other favorite things to stuff acorn squash with is:
- Mushrooms
- Cranberries
- Sausage
- Ground turkey
The sky is the limit when it comes to stuffing! Why not stuff it with traditional Thanksgiving stuffing!?
How to Store quinoa stuffed Acorn Squash
Once the quinoa-stuffed acorn halves have cooled completely, wrap them individually in plastic wraps so the stuffing will be packed tightly inside of the acorn squash. Then store in a container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
It’s easy to reheat the whole stuffed squash either in the microwave or the oven.
This is the perfect weekend meal prep recipe for the whole family to enjoy throughout the week!
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Get the recipe:Quinoa Stuffed Acorn Squash {Vegan, Gluten-Free}
Ingredients
- 2 medium sized acorn squash
- 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1/2 small yellow onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup hazelnuts
- 2 hands ful baby kale
- 2 -3 tbsp avocado oil, divided
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Goat cheese, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F Degrees.
- Place the whole acorn squash in the oven at 400 F for 5–10 minutes. (Optional: This step will soften the acorn squash just enough to more easily cut through.)
- Once the squashes have cooled enough to handle, cut the squash in half.
- Using a spoon, remove the seeds and strings from the core of the acorn squash.
- Drizzle 1-2 tbs avocado oil and a pinch of salt on the inside of the acorn squash. Place the squash on a sheet pan with the cut side down and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Cook the quinoa per the packaging direction (I like using vegetable stock or broth along with a pinch of salt).
- Gently smash the hazelnuts with the side of a knife or roughly chop them up.
- Toast them in a small saucepan on medium heat for about one minute. Set aside.
- In a frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil over medium heat. Cook the chopped onion for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Add the kale and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until wilted.
- Add the hazelnuts and cooked quinoa to the onion and kale mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove the acorn squash from the oven and stuff it with the quinoa mixture.
- Top with goat cheese (optional)
- Enjoy!
Notes
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
