Stuffed Acorn Squash (Farro, Sausage, & Apples)

Stuffed acorn squash, with farro, sausage, and cheese, plus apples and dried cherries, is a delicious mix of sweet and savory. It’s a fall favorite!

I’m so excited to share this recipe with you. It’s a favorite of ours and it’s a perfect recipe for fall when the markets are overflowing with all types of squash. Stuffed squash is a cozy and nutritious meal, and it’s not difficult to make – all the things we love about a recipe!

What is there about stuffing something that makes it seem like a special occasion? Maybe it’s just combining all those yummy foods together into one smashingly good dish, or maybe it’s the presentation. It does look kind of fancy and special because you went the extra mile and stuffed something.

There’s something about the combination of sausage and apple, sweet dried cherries, a little bit of sage, and flavorful cheddar, all in a cozy little package, that is pure comfort food. The best part is, it’s so filling, hearty, and healthy (and less than 400 calories per serving). It’s a win-win in my book.

About This Recipe

Maybe you think stuffed squash might be a hassle to make but it’s actually so easy! The farro can be prepped ahead so it’s ready to go or you can substitute quinoa, bulgur, rice or couscous if you happen to have some in your fridge or freezer. We love this stuffed butternut squash with quinoa, bacon, and kale.

I’ll get you going on the recipe here and give you lots of tips and ways to make it your own. This recipe is super versatile; you can pretty much stuff the squash with whatever you like. It’s easy to make it vegetarian or dairy-free. In fact, if you have both a meat-lover and a vegetarian in your family, you can easily customize a stuffed squash for each at dinnertime.

Look for the printable recipe card near the end of the post with complete instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.

What You’ll Need

• Acorn Squash: This acorn-shaped squash is dark green with some orange blotches. It’s a winter squash and the skin is usually inedible. When baked, the skin makes a perfect bowl for the filling. The recipe calls for 3 squash and each filled half is one serving so you’ll have six servings total.
• Turkey Sausage: Look for bulk sausage, that is, uncooked sausage that isn’t in links. If you are unable to find that, use link sausage and simply squeeze the sausage out of the links before cooking. Pork sausage is a good substitute, too.
• Onion and Celery: These two vegetables add flavor and nutrition.
• Apple: Apple really complements the fall flavors in this recipe and it provides a bit of sweetness as well. Any type of apple is fine.
• Dried Cherries (or Cranberries): Actually, raisins are fine or even dried apricots. Use what you happen to have in the house or what you like best.
• Farro: This ancient whole grain has a hearty, nutty flavor. It’s very nutritious. It is not gluten-free because it’s in the wheat family. It’s similar to spelt, einkorn, or emmer.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Any type of cheese can be used but cheddar really goes well with the other flavors.
• Dried Sage Leaves and Garlic Powder: Easy pantry items but if you would rather use fresh sage leaves and garlic cloves, even better!

How To Make Stuffed Squash

Begin by scrubbing the squash well. They can be pretty muddy especially if you bought them at a farm stand. Cut them in half and scrape out the seeds and stringy pulp. For more specifics about how to do it, check out how to cook acorn squash (2 ways).

I like to take off a small slice from the bottom sides of each half so that the squash has a flat bottom. Otherwise they have a tendency to roll over, spilling out the stuffing.

Rub a little olive oil on the cut sides and season with salt and pepper. Bake the squash cut sides down for about 45 minutes or until they are soft.

You’ll want to get the farro cooking right away unless you have some already cooked. Follow the package directions. It usually takes 30-40 minutes, depending on what variety you use.

Meanwhile, as the squash bakes, brown the sausage and vegetables in a large skillet. Add the apples, and the rest of the ingredients except the cheese. Stir and cook until everything is warmed through and the apples are softened.

Once the squash has finished baking, all that’s left to do then is to stuff them. Fill each half as full as you can! Top each with a sprinkle of cheese and return them to the oven for 10 minutes or so to heat through and melt that flavorful sharp cheddar cheese.

Serve immediately. A crisp green salad is a good accompaniment, like this arugula salad with a lemony vinaigrette. If you want to carry on the fall theme, serve an apple cider mule (fall Moscow mule) or apple cider mocktails.

If you have room for dessert, try apple crisp with ginger or pumpkin streusel bread.

FAQs

Make It Vegetarian/Vegan

Omit the sausage. Use a vegetarian meat substitute, substitute chickpeas, or add sautéed finely chopped mushrooms. Walnuts or pecans are a nice addition, too. If you’re vegan, omit the cheese or add a cheese substitute. If you’re not vegan, go ahead and add a little more cheese. All of those are delicious options!

Make It Paleo/Whole30

To make it paleo, leave out the farro. To make it Whole30, omit the farro and cheese. Try adding chopped walnuts, pecans, or mushrooms.

Make It Gluten-Free

Substitute quinoa or brown rice for the farro. .

Make It Dairy-Free

Simply omit the cheese. There’s plenty of flavor without it!

Make-Ahead Ideas

As I mentioned above, cook grains such as farro, quinoa, and brown rice ahead of time and store them in the fridge or freezer. It’s so handy and saves a lot of time.

Bake the squash and prep the stuffing up to one day in advance. When ready to bake, stuff squash and bake as directed, adding an extra 10 minutes baking time since all the ingredients are cold.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Leftover stuffed squash can be stored in a tightly covered container and refrigerated for up to 3 days. It can be frozen for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results.

To reheat, warm in the microwave in 30 second increments or heat in the oven at 350°F until heated through.

More Stuffed Recipes

Are you liking the idea of stuffing? Check out these recipes!

• Caprese Couscous Stuffed Tomatoes
• Vegetarian Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
• Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers – Southwestern
• Pizza Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
• Apple Gouda Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Fajita Stuffed Chicken
• Easy Crockpot Stuffing – perfect every time!