Microwave Acorn Squash

This easy Microwave Acorn Squash cooking method yields perfectly tender acorn squash in no time at all! Load up your favorite fillings like the comfort food classic combination of butter and brown sugar for a super quick vegetable side that everyone loves!

Super Easy Roasted Acorn Squash

There is nothing simpler than using the microwave to cook healthy food that tastes great. I love an easy recipe for those evenings when I don’t have a ton of time to make dinner, and this microwave acorn squash side dish is so delightful!

A veggie side dish is always a go-to, and acorn squash goes with nearly any main dish I love to make. In just 20 minutes, this warm and filling side dish is ready, and it smells so delicious as it wafts through the air while heating in the microwave.

Jump to:

• Super Easy Roasted Acorn Squash
• What You'll Need
• How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave
• Storing Cooked Acorn Squash
• Freezing Acorn Squash
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

Let’s get going with this in-a-snap microwave recipe. Just like some of my other favorite microwave steamed veggies like microwave carrots and microwave steamed broccoli, you will see that using the microwave is a great way to get a side dish done in no time!

What You'll Need

Only 4 simple ingredients are needed for this microwave acorn squash recipe. What could be easier?

You will be impressed by how something so basic turns out to be gourmet quality. The comfort food feeling acorn squash brings to the table (literally) will treat your family to homemade goodness you just can’t get from takeout or frozen foods.

• Acorn Squash – This is enough for 2 servings. Get additional acorn squash if you wish to make more.
• Water – This will aid in the steaming in the microwave.
• Butter (1 tablespoon pat portion for each acorn squash half) – Butter makes the acorn squash taste even yummier. Then again, when has butter let you down?
• Light Brown Sugar (1 packed tablespoon portion for each acorn squash half) – Brown sugar has a nice flavor that pairs perfectly with acorn squash. It is much better than white sugar. You will notice the delicious difference.

This recipe makes 2 generous servings of one-half of the squash per person. So if you want more, simply multiply the recipe to your needed servings. Slightly sweet and totally satisfying, microwave acorn squash will satisfy your family and they will surely be asking for second helpings!

How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave

Who needs to use the regular oven when the microwave is so much faster? When you have one of those hectic evenings, rely on technology to help you make dinner without delay. Your hungry family will be thankful that they won’t have to wait hours for dinner to be served.

1. Prepare your acorn squash by cutting it in half (lengthwise) and coring out the seeds.
2. Leave as much flesh as possible in each half of the acorn squash. Rinse the acorn squash under the faucet after coring.
3. Place the acorn squash halves facing sliced side downward in a microwave-safe bowl or dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Heat on high in the microwave for 5 minutes, uncovered.
4. Transfer the heated acorn squash halves to individual bowls and add 1 tablespoon each of light brown sugar and butter to each half. Heat again on high for an additional 5 minutes in the microwave. Use a fork to poke the acorn squash to check for tenderness after heating. If needed, heat the acorn squash in additional 1-minute increments until it reaches your desired level of tenderness. The acorn squash should be nice and soft for the best texture.
5. Remove the acorn squash from the microwave and cool for about 5 minutes before serving. *Watch your fingers, the bowls will be HOT!

You can add salt to taste if desired. Sometimes I like to sprinkle some cinnamon and nutmeg on the acorn squash too. It also tastes yummy with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Enjoy!

Storing Cooked Acorn Squash

Prior to cooking or cutting your garden acorn squash keep it in a cool, dry, and dark area for up to a month possibly even two months. However, store-bought acorn squash is best used within two weeks of purchase (because we don't know how old the squash is already).

Once cooked, wrap the fully cooled acorn squash tightly with plastic cling film. Transfer the wrapped squash to an airtight container or plastic storage bag.

Your cooked acorn squash will last in the refrigerator for 3 - 4 days. If the squash is not packaged within the first 1 - 2 hours after cooking, discard the cooked squash. *Bacteria will grow quickly at room temperature!

Freezing Acorn Squash

Acorn squash should be cooked before freezing anyway, so now is a great time to freeze your microwave acorn squash! Cut the cooked acorn squash into chunks and transfer them to an airtight freezer container or heavy-duty plastic freezer storage bag.

Once frozen, the cooked acorn squash retains great quality for up to a year. Properly frozen acorn squash that is maintained at 0ºF ( -18ºC ) can last much longer.

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