Ground Turkey Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe
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Jump to RecipeThis stuffed acorn squash with ground turkey recipe is a delicious and fun twist on a holiday meal. A tasty and hearty dinner that is a true cozy fall favorite.
A great and tasty alternative to a full turkey dinner, serve with a bright, fresh salad and a side of roasted veggies! This versatile dish is simple to make and is a wonderful fall meal idea the whole family will love.
Want more hearty fall dinner ideas? Try our one-pot frozen cheese tortellini soup, copycat Carmine’s penne alla vodka, or our favorite spinach artichoke alfredo pasta.
Here is one of the best acorn squash recipes to enjoy this fall! This stuffed acorn squash with ground turkey is a hearty meal idea made with lean meat, fresh chopped veggies, and wonderful fall herbs and spices.
This recipe inspiration came from my dad who made a version with stuffed sausage. I opted for lean ground turkey, and this came out so fantastic! Both the hubby and I gave it an A+!
Why This Stuffed Acorn Squash Recipe Works
- It’s satisfying, hearty, earthy, and SO good!
- A delicious one-pot meal idea the whole family will love.
- Perfect for guests or entertaining.
- A fun way to use ground turkey and squash together!
- Anyone can make this recipe by following our directions below.
Modern Meal Prep for Fall
This stuffed acorn squash with ground turkey is the perfect recipe for easy homemade meal prep. I am a huge fan of meal prepping, batch cooking, and making recipes ahead. I love the convenience of cooking once and being able to enjoy homemade meals during the week when I don’t have time.
With just a little planning and prep, you can have a week’s worth of dinners ready in the time it would take to make one portion. Just batch cook this squash, divide into individual containers, and place in the fridge for later! Easy peasy.
What’s In This Turkey-Stuffed Acorn Squash?
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
- Turkey: I used ground turkey but you can also use cooked turkey that is leftover from Thanksgiving. Just make sure to finely chop it first.
- Acorn Squash: we got ours from a farm down the street, it’s one of my favorite fall squashes! This recipe also uses vegetables like carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.
- Ground Sage: a fall spice staple must-have. I use this ground sage.
- Sea salt and black pepper
- Parmesan cheese, or a dairy-free alternative like nutritional yeast!
How To Make Stuffed Acorn Squash with Turkey
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Halve the acorn squash carefully, and scoop out the seeds (save them for roasting, yum!) and place the empty acorn squash halves on a sheet pan. Roast the squash for about 40 to 50 minutes until it is fork tender.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot, brown the turkey meat for 8 to 10 minutes until it is cooked all the way through, with no pink showing. Drain great. (Skip this step if the turkey is already cooked). Remove meat from pan, and set aside in a bowl.
- To the same pot, add the olive oil, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, garlic salt, ground sage, and black pepper. Sauté on low heat for about 7 or 8 minutes until the veggies have begun to soften. Add the cooked turkey to the pot, and cook over low heat until the mixture is well-combined and hot.
- Remove acorn squash from the oven, and carefully fill each squash with 1/4 of the cooked turkey mixture. Place the stuffed squash back in the oven for 15 minutes to heat.
- Remove from oven and top with parmesan cheese (or alternative) and a little extra ground black pepper. Mangia!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can try this recipe with shredded light or dark turkey meat if desired. It will give the dish a different feel and texture, but have the same wonderful taste.
Store leftover stuffed acorn squash in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven, and enjoy hot.
Absolutely! Stuffing acorn squash with prepared stuffing mix (like on Thanksgiving) with shredded turkey is a great way to use leftover stuffing!
More Great Fall Meal Ideas
- Oven Baked Chicken Shawarma Skewers
- Dairy-Free Chicken and Dumplings
- Orange Chicken with Marmalade
- Baked Ricotta Mac and Cheese Recipe
- Ground Elk Meatloaf Recipe
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Ground Turkey Stuffed Acorn Squash
Equipment
- Sheet Pan
- Pan
Ingredients
- 2 acorn squash halved and seeds removed
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 carrots chopped
- 3 celery stalks chopped
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- Parmesan cheese optional as a topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Halve the acorn squash carefully, and scoop out the seeds (save them for roasting, yum!) and place the empty acorn squash halves on a sheet pan. Roast the squash for about 40 to 50 minutes until it is fork tender.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot, brown the turkey meat for 8 to 10 minutes until it is cooked all the way through, with no pink showing. Drain great. (Skip this step if the turkey is already cooked). Remove meat from pan, and set aside in a bowl.
- To the same pot, add the olive oil, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, garlic salt, ground sage, and black pepper. Sauté on low heat for about 7 or 8 minutes until the veggies have begun to soften. Add the cooked turkey to the pot, and cook over low heat until the mixture is well-combined and hot.
- Remove acorn squash from the oven, and carefully fill each squash with 1/4 of the cooked turkey mixture. Place the stuffed squash back in the oven for 15 minutes to heat.
- Remove from oven and top with parmesan cheese (or alternative) and a little extra ground black pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
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