Easy Stuffed Acorn Squash is a simple, healthy dinner. Filled with flavor, gluten free + perfect for a quick fall dinner!
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This Turkey Mushroom Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash is perfect for eating on a cold fall/winter night.
Acorn squash gets roasted to perfection and tossed with protein packed turkey, mushrooms, apples and melty cheddar cheese for the perfect salty and sweet combo.
Done in under an hour and SO easy to make, this stuffed acorn squash recipe is going to be your new favorite.
If you’ve never made stuffed acorn squash, you’re in for a treat. I love making stuffed squash recipes, and they’re some of the most popular recipes on my website!
Every fall these Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Boats and Paleo Turkey Taco Stuffed Delicata Squash are always a hit!
Stuffed squash recipes are great because they’re affordable (it’s always great to eat in season!), they’re packed with great healthy carbs, and they’re just super yummy!
Acorn Squash FAQ:
Yes, you can. I prefer not to eat acorn squash skin, but it is edible. It’s tougher than a potato skin and almost has a waxy feel to it.
The texture of acorn squash is similar to butternut squash or a baked potato. It is soft.
Acorn squash tastes similar to butternut squash. It’s sweeter, but definitely not as sweet as fruit. It takes on the taste of whatever you season it with.
I eat these stuffed acorns squash out of the skin with a fork. I scrape the filling with my fork and discard the skin.
This Turkey Mushroom Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe is the ultimate cheesy, filling, protein packed delicious dinner!
Like all great dinner recipes – this was made with only a few ingredients, and done in under an hour.
Ingredients for Stuffed Acorn Squash:
To make stuffed acorn squash you’ll need:
- acorn squash
- chicken stock
- mushrooms
- ground turkey
- apples
- olive oil
- spices
- cheese
Lean ground turkey, mushrooms + apples are seriously the most delicious combination!! We love this recipe because it’s very versatile.
You can leave off the cheese for an awesome, hearty, paleo/whole30 meal, or you could even add some rice or quinoa if you’re looking for a heartier, more carb based meal!
(I’m slightly biased on the whole cheese thing though, cause.. I mean…look at that bubbly, brown, cheesy goodness!!)
How to cut and prepare acorn squash
To cut acorn squash, slice from the stem towards the pointed edge of the squash directly down the middle.
Acorn squashes have ridges in them, so if you can find a ridge to guide the knife through it will be easier to cut
Once the acorn squash is cut in half, scoop out the seeds. You can just use a regular spoon. Make sure you scrape the inside of the squash until it is smooth and not stringy. Discard the seeds.
Your acorn squash is now ready to roast!
How to make stuffed acorn squash:
Don’t be fooled by the many steps, stuffed acorn squash is actually easy to make!
- Cut, prep + roast your acorn squash.
- While the acorn squash cooks, cook your turkey, apple, mushroom filling.
- When the acorn squash is finished roasting, scoop out the filling to create ‘boats’ and add to the turkey mixture.
- Stir the filling together so it’s evenly mixed.
- Stuff the acorn squash
- Top with cheese and bake!
Substitutions for stuffed acorn squash:
There are a lot of ways to customize this stuffed acorn squash!
Meat– You can use ground beef, ground pork, sausage or ground chicken instead of turkey in this recipe if you’d like. We also have a Beef Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.
Whole30/Paleo – simply omit the cheese
Mushrooms – If you don’t like mushrooms, omit them. You could also add in some chopped onions in their place, but I would halve the amount.
Herbs – If you don’t have fresh rosemary, sub with 1 tablespoon dried rosemary. You can also sub with thyme.
Cheese – Cheddar, mozzarella or gruyere are all delicious!
Vegetarian – I haven’t tried making this vegetarian, but I think it would be delicious if you subbed in chickpeas and a mix of quinoa or rice as the filling.
WW Freestyle – The only points in this recipe come from the olive oil and cheese. Feel free to sub/adjust to have a lower point meal. Points calculated using 99% fat free turkey
Can I make this stuffed acorn squash paleo or whole30?
Yes. To make this Turkey Mushroom Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash paleo or whole30 just leave off the cheese!
Will this recipe also work with spaghetti squash?
I haven’t tried making this recipe with spaghetti squash but I’m sure it would be delicious! Check out this recipe for Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Boats to see how to cook the squash.
I would follow the directions in that post and just sub in this filling instead of the chicken/broccoli filling.
Stuffed Squash FAQ
Yes, you can eat the skin of acorn squash. We personally don’t love it because it’s a little bit tough and can be hard to digest, but you can absolutely eat it!
No! Acorn squash is not a bad carb! Acorn squash is a delicious, healthy carb that is great to mix in with your diet. It’s loaded with nutrition, low in calories and so yummy!
Most meats go well with squash. Cooked squash goes well with ground beef, ground sausage, ground turkey and cooked chicken!
Raw acorn squash will last up to 2 months if stored in a cool dry place. Cooked acorn squash will last 2-4 days in your refrigerator.
How to store stuffed acorn squash:
I would not recommend freezing the stuffed acorn squash, but it does hold well in the refrigerator. It will be fine for 3-4 days in the fridge.
If you want to make the filling/stuff the acorn squash ahead of time you can also do that and bake when you’re ready to eat!
What kind of apples should I use?
You can use any type of apple in this recipe and it will be yummy, however – I prefer honey crisp apples! They’re my favorite.
Other healthy dinner recipes to try:
- Paleo Turkey Taco Stuffed Delicata Squash
- Beef Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Whole 30 Greek Chicken Spaghetti Squash Bake
- Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Boats
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 2 whole acorn squash cut in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground turkey or ground beef
- 1 1/2 cups baby bella mushrooms chopped
- 1 cup honey crisp apples peeled + chopped in small pieces
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 2 teaspoon fresh rosemary chopped finely
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, gruyere or mozzarella all work great!)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees
- Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment + spray with olive oil to prevent squash from sticking
- Slice acorn squash in half, scoop out seeds and place flat on sheet sprayed with olive oil.
- Bake the squash for 20 minutes, until it is tender when pierced with a fork
- While the squash cooks – heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan. Sauté turkey in olive oil for 10-15 minutes until brown.
- While the turkey is cooking, chop mushrooms, apples + herbs.
- Add in chopped mushrooms, apples, chicken stock, and spices to the pan with the cooked turkey. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
- When the squash is done, remove from the oven + scoop out most of the cooked center, leaving a little bit of filling in the acorn squash.
- Add the squash filling to the turkey/mushroom/apple mixture in the pan+ stir until completely mixed in.
- Scoop the turkey/squash mixture back into the squash + top with cheese of choice
- Bake them at 450 for 5-10 minutes until cheese melts. Optional: broil for 2-3 minutes so the cheesy gets crispy.
Video
Notes
- Meat– You can use ground beef, ground pork, sausage or ground chicken instead of turkey in this recipe if you’d like. We also have a Beef Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe.
- Whole30/Paleo – simply omit the cheese
- Mushrooms – If you don’t like mushrooms, omit them. You could also add in some chopped onions in their place, but I would halve the amount.
- Herbs – If you don’t have fresh rosemary, sub with 1 tablespoon dried rosemary. You can also sub with thyme.
- Cheese – Cheddar, mozzarella or gruyere are all delicious!
- Vegetarian – I haven’t tried making this vegetarian, but I think it would be delicious if you subbed in chickpeas and a mix of quinoa or rice as the filling.
- WW Freestyle – The only points in this recipe come from the olive oil and cheese. Feel free to sub/adjust to have a lower point meal. Points calculated using 99% fat free turkey
Samantha
Question! Would this recipe also work with spaghetti squash? If so, would the cook time or temperature change?
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Samantha, I’m not sure how this would work with a spaghetti squash… The filling of spaghetti squash is much more water-y than acorn squash. I would recommend just cooking your spaghetti squash and turkey mixture separately, shredding the spaghetti squash and then serving the turkey over it when you’re done. Hope that helps!
Kimberly Baxter
Wonderful recipe! A family favorite. A great way to get my kid to eat acorn squash!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you like it, Kimberly!!
karen
can i subtitute the mushroom with somthing else
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Karen – there is a list of substituions in the recipe. If you don’t have or don’t like mushrooms, simply omit them.
Dilyn
This is so delicious! I’ve made it several times. Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m so glad you like it, Dilyn!
Whitney
Did you use red or green apples?
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Whitney, You can use either. I prefer red apples but any type of apple will work!
Jenn
This is a perfect fall meal. It’s so simple to make and so filling and delicious!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much!! I totally agree- it’s so cozy and yummy for fall!
Amy
The ingredients say ground turkey but in the instructions,#9,
you refer to sausage. Is it turkey sausage or just ground turkey?
Thank you. Looks so good!
The Clean Eating Couple
Hi Amy – It’s just ground turkey, that was a typo. However, you can make this with sausage, turkey or ground beef. It’s delicious no matter what you use!
Amy
Thank you so much for the quick reply. I just made it (using ground turkey) and the filling is very tasty! Since I’m not ready to eat it yet, I’m skipping step #10 and storing the filling and squash boats separately, to bake later. I’m also thinking if that works, this is going to be a great addition to Thanksgiving dinner.
Angela Lee
I made this without the apples and it was amazing! I will definitely be making again and can’t wait to try it with the apples. I love following The Clean Eating Couple on Instagram.
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m so glad you liked this recipe, Angela! And so happy you’re following 🙂
Ryan
SO delicious! The perfect combination of yummy fall flavors! Family approved from a very picky bunch and super easy/ quick to make. We added goat cheese on top due to dietary reasons and it was still very good! I’ll definitely be mking this again!
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m so glad you liked this recipe, Ryan! I’m totally going to try this with goat cheese – it’s my favorite type of cheese so I’m sure it’s delicious!
Kristina
Healthy + satisfying recipe full of delicious Fall flavors!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked them, Kristina! They’re the ultimate fall dinner 🙂
Dee K
Is this recipe for 2 acorns, halved or 2 acorn halves? The way I read it you’d use 2 acorns but recipe implies 1 acorn.
The Clean Eating Couple
The recipe is for 2 acorn squash. You cut them in half, so there are 4 halves.
Lori
Loved the the stuffed acorn squash. I used butternut because that is what I grew in my garden. It turned out amazing.
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much Lori! Glad it worked well with the butternut squash + so cool that you grew it yourself!
Terri
This was so good. Tastes like Fall. Definitely making it again!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Terri! It’s one of my favorite fall recipes!
Lindsay Daniels
I made this tonight and it was a hit! So delicious! I did add onions to mine because I’m in love with onions. 😉
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Courtney! Glad you liked it. Onions/fresh garlic are a great addition!
Jenn
So easy and so delicious! The whole family loved it!
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m so glad you + your family liked it, Jenn!
Meghan
OMG this is DELICIOUS!!! I used spicy turkey sausage, chopped onion and garlic. YUMMM!!!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Meghan! I’m glad you liked it – I need to try it with spicy turkey sausage, that sounds so good!
Sharon
Super Delicious and easy to put together. Big hit with my hubby too! I will make this again!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Sharon! It’s one of our favs!
Liz
Wow, I love this so much! I’ve made this two times now on separate Sundays and reheated all week for my work lunches. It reheats really well. I haven’t gotten to try it with the rosemary yet. I did add garlic and allspice and really like the flavor those added. Will definitely be making this regularly from now on.
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m glad you like them, Liz! They reheat super well. Love the addition of the garlic + allspice!
Vicky
Great recipe and incredibly flavorful! I made the recipe as is with the exception that I kept the acorn squash in 10 minutes longer before stuffing it with the turkey (because it wasn’t tender yet). Highly recommend and look forward to making again!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Vicky! Sometimes acorn squash needs a little bit longer to cook depending on how ripe they are!
Ashley
This recipe is so easy and delicious! My fiance already asked for me to make it again 🙂 Thanks Liz for so many healthy, yummy recipes!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Ashley! That makes me so happy to hear. Love that you + your fiancé enjoyed it!
Vanessa
Such a great fall recipe! Very filling, delicious and easy to put together!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Vanessa! It’s one of our favorite fall meals too 🙂
SARA M WEISBRODT
Husband approved! Delicious and perfect flavor for the holidays
The Clean Eating Couple
Yay! Love to hear that! Thanks for trying the recipe!
Lisa
I am not a fan of squash but my husband loves it. I found this recipe and thought it would work for both of us and boy does it, I used sausage and it was delicious! I am sure all the ideas for filling would be just as good. I have made this twice already and both times I ate every bite! I can’t think of any other way I will ever enjoy squash! Thank you!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Lisa! It is really yummy with sausage!
Amber
It was a great, simple recipe and tasted amazing. I added plant based ingredients such as vegan mozzarella and plant based italian sausage. It was hearty and filling.
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Amber! Glad you enjoyed it + love that you were able to make it vegan!
Jenny
I just want to preface this review by saying I am a terrible cook. I try, but if a recipe isn’t written out clearly enough for me, I somehow manage to mess it up! I followed this recipe to the letter and let me say – it was SO GOOD! I did end up with enough filling to fill an extra squash but other than that it turned out exactly the way it was supposed to and it was delicious to boot! Even my kids ate it (they are super picky but just picked out the mushrooms and ate everything else which is a miracle!) I really can’t wait to have this again and continue trying the recipes on this site because apparently they are “bad cook” proof!!
The Clean Eating Couple
I’m so happy to hear this, Jenny! I’m glad your whole family enjoyed the recipe and that it was easy to follow! Sometimes depending on the size of squash and the amount of filling in it you’ll wind up with extra filling 🙂
Morgan frangione
Loved this recipe, so easy and delicious
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Morgan! Glad you liked it!
Cristina
Can I use water in place of the Chicken Stock? I have all of the ingredients on hand except for that and obviously I’m not sending my husband out to the store for just the stock right now due to the pandemic! Any other suggestions for substitution of the stock?? Thank you!!
The Clean Eating Couple
Yes! If you have veggie or beef stock that will work too 🙂
Shama Khan
love this! i have been eyeing this recipe for over a year and i finally just made it. never really been a fan of apples but trying to branch out my pallet. it is delicious. if any body is wondering about the vegetarian version it comes out great! i also added a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon just to make it extra fall tasting. it looks amazing and i feel like a little chef in the making. thanks for sharing such an appealing recipe!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you enjoyed it, Shama! This makes me so happy to hear!
Amanda
SO, SO, SO YUMMY! I made this for my meal prep for the week and I am so excited for lunch everyday! I will definitely make this again!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Amanda! Than you so much!
Elizabeth
This recipe is amazing! I had never tried an acorn squash before, but the pictures just looked so good and it just got a little chilly here, so I was in the mood for some fall flavors! Next time, I do want to try a different cheese as all I had was cheddar and I think using mozzarella would take it over the top! I highly recommend!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it!! It’s so good with any cheese on top but we love mozzarella or even gouda/gruyere 🙂
Janina Wojcik
Made this today, and WOW this was so good. I did change up the recipe a little. I used ground turkey 99% fat free and turkey sausage. I also added some chopped leaks. So easy to make and quick too!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you enjoyed it, Janina! Thank you!!
Tiffany
Super simple and filling fall recipe! Made our house smell amazing and we had plenty of leftovers to enjoy.
The Clean Eating Couple
Love to hear that, Tiffany! Thank you 🙂
Kristen
This was such a good fall recipe! I picked up some acorn squash at the store on a whim and found this recipe on Pinterest . The meal ended up looking great and tasting even better! It was quite easy to put together as well. I omitted the mushrooms because I’m not a huge mushroom fan and didn’t have any on hand. I will 100% be going back to this recipe and cooking it for friends and family.
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked the recipe, Kristen! You can easily leave out the mushrooms or even add in other veggies like broccoli.
Heidi
Made this for our family of six and everyone raved about it! A perfect fall dish with great depth of flavors. The kids also thought it was fun to have their own “bowl”. This one is going in my recipe file.
The Clean Eating Couple
Love that, Heidi!! They are fun to eat 🙂 Thank you so much for trying them!
Bridget
Loved this one! My mom who normally doesn’t like squash of any kind (?!) even loved it- I doubled the recipe and I’m glad I did because 4 of us ate an entire squash each. I added some spinach that I needed to use, and it was just a perfect fall meal, the mixture of apple with it is a great touch. I had some leftover of the stuffing that didn’t make it into the squashes that I ate with rice the next day for lunch. So good!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Bridget! Love the addition of spinach – great way to add more veggies!
Catharine
This was such a cozy fall recipe. The flavors combined so well. I ended up using a spaghetti squash instead since I had one on hand and it worked perfectly. I’m not a huge fan of mushrooms but know they are super nutritious so finding ways to mix them in like this are perfect.
The Clean Eating Couple
Glad the spaghetti squash worked out! I haven’t tried that. This recipe is definitely a great way to sneak in veggies!
Lisa Cohen
I made this last week and again this week. Love it! However, I highly recommend roasting the squash seeds, It’s simple and delicious…I found the best squash seed roasting instructions on line…
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you liked the recipe, Lisa! Thank you!
Justyna Arraes
OMG this recipe was so easy and delicious ! Definitely
one of my favorite!!! Can’t wait to make it again! ❤️
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you liked the recipe, Justyna!!
Magdaleny
Can I say how awesome this recipe was! Easy to follow and yes a little preparation but worth it. Also, I did not have ground turkey so I used pork and it came out great as well. The same with dried figs. I didn’t have so I used raisins. Overall, I give it 5 stars and will do it again.
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you liked it, Magdaleny!! Thank you!
Christine
Made this last night. Used ground chicken ( d/t a turkey allergy in the familt). It was really yummy and easy to fix! I love recipes that don’t take forever to make. Will be making this often this fall and winter.
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you liked it! Thank you Christine!
Jennifer
This was delicious and so filling! Will definitely be making it again!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Jennifer! thank you!
Eva S
Such a great fall meal! Made for meal prep and it was super easy and fun, great way to combine a bunch of fall flavors and healthy vegetables. I added apples, mushrooms, onions, shredded carrots, and kale and it was delicious. Will definitely be making again due to the ease and customizability of the recipe. Thank you!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Eva! Love that you were able to customize it 🙂
Jeannette
This was delicious! My grocery store only had golden acorn squash, but I actually may like them better. I used chicken sausage some ground chicken mixed in instead of ground turkey and it was very tasty!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Jeanette! I’m glad you liked it and that chicken sausage combo sounds great!
Megan
I’ve made this twice now and love it! The chicken stock adds such a good flavor. I grate white cheddar gruyere cheese on top and it’s a great flavor combo.
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you enjoyed them, Megan! Thank you!
Liz
Yummy! Made some tweaks and was a big hit with the hubby! Not sure the stock was needed, only added a splash. Added chopped onion, dried thyme and a touch of ground sage. Didnt needed added salt.
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Liz! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! That sounds great!
Ashley
Another winner! I loved this recipe—easy to make, delicious and all the flavors came together so nicely. Next time I make, I need to remember to roast the squash a bit longer before stuffing it but overall, I loved this recipe!
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you liked it, Ashley! Thank you so much!
Terralynne
I made this recipe for my family, and it was a hit, it was easy to make and ver flavourful. Instructions were easy to follow, i will definitely be making this again.
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much, Terralynne! I really appreciate it!
Colleen
Made this last night and it was great – both my husband and I really liked it. I was surprised by how easily the recipe came together – we could definitely make this on a weeknight after work. The apple and herbs gave the acorn squash a really nice fall flavor – we will definitely make it again!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Colleen! Thank you so much!
Jess
Wow, wow, wow, so so easy so simple. So yummy. Can’t wait to make make again. Amazing.
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you like it, Jess! Thank you!
Jillian
This was SO good! I’ve only ever had acorn squash with butter and brown sugar so this was definitely a very different direction. So satisfying. My husband who “doesn’t like squash” was even a fan. Thanks for this Liz!
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy. to hear you liked it, Jillian!
Sophia Cacace
I loved this recipe! I made it for me and my husband and it was so easy and filling! Definitely a must try if you haven’t already!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks Soph!! So glad you both liked it 💙💙
Katie Hartman
Seriously my favorite way to make stuffed squash. All the flavors blend together so well, prefect healthy comfort food. I probably made this once a week for a month straight.
The Clean Eating Couple
Thank you so much! I’m so happy you liked the recipe!
Kaitlin
My absolute favorite way to eat acorn squash now- and it’s so versatile!! I’ve used this as a base for every acorn squash that I’ve roasted- thank you so very much 🙂
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Kaitlin! Glad you like it!
Jess Mitchell
Made this again. Loved it. I had 3 squashes so used a whole one to mix in the stuffing. I added toasted almond for a crunch and texture.
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you liked it, Thanks Jess!
kalysam
I am doubling the recipe. Should I increase the cooking time?
The Clean Eating Couple
I don’t think you should have to increase the cook time for this. Maybe if your oven is overcrowded it could use a few more minutes.
Jess Mitchell
So good so easy. I made them for my mom she can’t stop talking about. Delicious. This is probably my 5th time making. Fantastic recipe.
The Clean Eating Couple
So happy you both liked the recipe, Jess!
Kristin
My husband and I weren’t in the mood for cooking tonight and almost leaned towards making an unhealthy, fast meal. Thank goodness he talked me out of it! I pulled up this recipe I saved from Instagram and not only was this delicious, but we enjoyed spending time making an easy, healthy recipe together. What a great way to spend unwinding from a long day and it didn’t feel like work at all. This has meat and veggies all stuffed into one delicious acorn squash!
The Clean Eating Couple
So glad you decided to make this recipe and were able to enjoy time together – that’s awesome! Happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Jill
This is a great recipe, one of my fall favorites!
Griff Neilson
Just harvested some acorn squash from my garden and it was right in time for this recipe. It was a great dinner recipe for our family and our kids really liked it too. Thank you for sharing this one!
The Clean Eating Couple
Thanks, Griff! Glad you and your family enjoyed it!