Name: Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup cooked white quinoa; 2/3 cup chopped very firm tofu, (drained); 2 delicata squash; 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (divided); 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (divided); 1/2 Serrano chili (seeded, and finely chopped (about 2 teaspoons)); 2 large shallots (thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)); 1 1/2 apples (cored, and diced (about 1 1/2 cup or more)); 1/2 cup golden raisins; 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 - 3 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 bags pre-washed baby spinach; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese; Toasted pumpkin seeds (garnish)

This vegetarian stuffed squash recipe fills roasted delicata squash boats with quinoa, tofu, apples, raisins, spinach and Parmesan cheese. It's the perfect weeknight dinner and dinner party entree, or a delicious side dish for the meat eaters at the table.

The stuffing can be made ahead, or made while the squash roasts. The best part is the skin of delicata squash is completely edible, so there's no need to peel the skin.

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Stuffed Delicata squash with spinach, quinoa, raisins, apples and tofu stuffing, all on a plate.

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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe for delicata squash
🧅 Ingredients + Notes
🔪 Recommended Equipment
📝 Instructions Overview
⏰ Tips to Simplify and Save Time
👩‍🍳 Preparation Tips
💡Ideas for Possible Variations
🍽 Side Dish Ideas
🤷‍♀️ FAQ
📇 More Delicata Squash Recipes
Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe

Stuffed squash dishes like this delicata squash recipe are ideal for vegetarian dinners that look special, but don't take a lot of fuss.

For example, stuffed butternut squash with quinoa, apples and figs can be a gorgeous, filling main dish for Thanksgiving. And my carnivore loving husband says my stuffed acorn squash with cornbread, apples and charred peppers is his favorite vegetarian dinner. And stuffed peppers with a Jambalaya mixture of rice and red beans is a great vegetarian recipe for Mardi Gras.

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe for delicata squash

One of the many reason I love Delicata squash is that it has a thin skin that's edible. So there's no need to peel it. And it's super easy to slice in half and scoop out the seeds.
This squash makes perfect "boats" for stuffing.
It's a filling vegetarian dinner that's vegan, and full of protein, and a great source of beta carotene.
The quinoa can be made ahead.
The entire filling can be made ahead, or made while the delicata squash roasts.
This dish is gluten free.
It's gorgeous enough for a dinner party, but simple enough for a weeknight dinner.

Two whole delicata squash on a wooden tray.

🧅 Ingredients + Notes

Cooked white quinoa - if you don't care for quinoa, substitute brown rice or even wild rice.
Delicata squash
Serrano chile
Shallots
Apples - both Fuji and Honeycrisp are perfect!
Tofu - extra firm (optional)
Raisins - either yellow or brown raisins are fine in this recipe.
Herbs and spices - fresh sage leaves, ground cinnamon, salt and pepper.
Lemon juice
Baby spinach
Vegan "Parmesan" cheese
Fresh parsley - optional.
Roasted pumpkin seeds - store bought or make your own spiced pepitas (optional). Or grind them up to a pumpkin seed meal using a mini-chopper to sprinkle the pumpkin seed meal over the stuffed squash.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and foods I use in my kitchen. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. To view my entire storefront of recommended kitchen tools and equipment, check out my shop on Amazon.

🔪 Recommended Equipment

Delicata squash sliced in half, revealing all the seeds.

📝 Instructions Overview

Detailed instructions for making this stuffed delicata squash are in the recipe card below, but here's an overview!

Step 1

Make the quinoa. If you don't already have cooked quinoa on hand, make it first and set it aside for cooling.

Step 2

Press. Press the tofu to drain.

Step 3

Roast. Prep the delicata squash halves into "boats" and roast.

Step 4

Make the stuffing. Sauté the chile and shallots for a few minutes, and add the apple. When it begins to soften, add the tofu, raisins, herbs and spices. Cook for a couple of minutes.

Add the lemon juice and spinach. When the spinach wilts, stir in the cooked quinoa and cheese.

Step 5

Stuff. Stuff the roasted delicata squash with the stuffing. If it cools down too much, just slide back into the oven to reheat a bit.

Step 6

Serve. Serve with chopped parsley and roasted pumpkin seeds, if desired.

⏰ Tips to Simplify and Save Time

Make the quinoa ahead of time, and store in a container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Some markets sell frozen cooked quinoa in their freezer cases. It only needs to be steamed for a few minutes to be ready to use.
Press and drain the tofu ahead of time, or use a tofu press.
Make the stuffing ahead.
Eliminate the herbs and spices except for salt and pepper.
Nix the tofu.

👩‍🍳 Preparation Tips

Tofu has a lot of liquid in it, so be sure to press it before cutting it up. Wrap the tofu with paper towels, and place between 2 cutting boards, with the top one weighted by a skillet. Or use a tofu press.

💡Ideas for Possible Variations

Swap out quinoa for rice.
Top with bread crumbs such as these Browned Butter Breadcrumbs instead of roasted pumpkin seeds, or ground pumpkin seed meal.
Eliminate the tofu without making any other changes.

Two halves of a stuffed Delicata squash on a cutting board with slices of cornbread.

🍽 Side Dish Ideas

Air fryer Brussels sprouts is a wonderful fall side dish, as are these roasted cabbage steaks.

Roasted carrots are another great side with this dish.

If you only want a salad, go with a simple salad dressed in a vinaigrette. (This one is from my cookbook.)

Or stay with the apple-ish theme, and serve an apple chutney on the side.

This Easy Buttermilk Cornbread is another winner side dish with this stuffed delicata.

🤷‍♀️ FAQ

Is delicata squash high in carbs?

Not compared to most other winter squash. For example 1 cup delicata squash has about 8 grams of net carbs versus 13.6 for butternut squash. Spaghetti squash is even low with 5.5 grams of net carbs.

Do you have to peel delicata squash?

No, since the skin is thin, it's completely edible.

Can I make this dish ahead?

Yes. The entire dish can be made ahead, but I don't recommend stuffing the delicata squash until it's reheated.

And I don't recommend storing the roasted delicata squash in the refrigerator after roasting for more than 2 days, as i can be become soggy.

Reheat the stuffing separately, and then stuff the squash.

📇 More Delicata Squash Recipes

Delicata Squash and Apple Galette

Spicy Delicata Squash Salad with Kale

Spicy Squash Boats With Fruity Quinoa Pilaf

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4.80 from 35 votes

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe

Roasted delicata squash boats filled with sautéed spinach, apples, and raisins is a delicious vegetarian main dish everyone will love. The stuffing is made while the delicata squash roasts so that the total time to make this recipe is 25 minutes.

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Prep Time25

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Course: Vegetarian Main Dish, Vegetarian Side

Cuisine: American

Keyword: delicata squash, spinach, Thanksgiving, winter squash

Servings:

Calories: 394.4kcal

Author: Susan Pridmore

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup cooked white quinoa
⅔ cup chopped very firm tofu, drained
2 delicata squash
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
¾ teaspoon kosher salt divided
½ Serrano chili seeded, and finely chopped (about 2 teaspoons)
2 large shallots thinly sliced (about ¼ cup)
1 ½ apples cored, and diced (about 1 ½ cup or more)
½ cup golden raisins
1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 - 3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 bags pre-washed baby spinach
¼ cup grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese
Toasted pumpkin seeds garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400˚F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cook the quinoa if you don't have any on hand.
Drain the liquid from the tofu by wrapping it in a paper towel and placing it on a cutting board. Place another cutting board on top of it, and weight it with a heavy skillet.
Slice off the ends of the delicata squash, and slice in half, lengthwise.
Using a spoon, scrape out the pulp and seeds so that you have 4 squash 'boats'. Arrange on the parchment paper lined baking sheet, facing up, and lightly oil with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Lightly salt.
Roast with the squash cut side facing up for 25 - 30 minutes, or until tender.
Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat, and sauté the Serrano chili, shallots, and apple until everything is softened, about 10 minutes.
Add the drained tofu, raisins, sage, cinnamon, the remaining salt, and pepper, and continue to cook for 5 minutes while stirring with a wooden spoon.
Add the lemon juice and spinach leaves.
Using tongs, move the spinach around, gently tossing it with the other ingredients in the pan. In less than 5 minutes, the spinach should be wilted.
Add the cooked quinoa and cheese, and toss.
When the delicata squash is tender, spoon the filling into each scooped out cavity.
If the filling cools too much, slide the filled squash back into the oven for a few minutes to reheat.
Serve with a sprinkle of chopped parsley and roasted pumpkin seeds.
The squash can be served whole or sliced into 3" wide crescents.

Notes

Possible Variations

Swap out quinoa for rice.

Top with breadcrumbs such as these Browned Butter Breadcrumbs instead of roasted pumpkin seeds.

For the Meat Eaters at the Table

Add 1 cup of crumbled spicy sausage or chorizo to the stuffing, or shredded pork.

Side Dish Ideas

Air fryer Brussels sprouts is a wonderful fall side dish, as is this Garlic Roasted Cabbage.