When the temperatures start to drop, winter squash takes centre stage. Sweet, hearty, and incredibly versatile, these colourful vegetables are a staple of fall and winter cooking around the world.
Butternut squash is probably the most familiar, but there are many varieties worth discovering—and each one has its own flavour, texture, and best uses.
Here’s your guide to some of the most popular winter squash and how to use them.
🎃 Pumpkin
Pumpkin is one of the most recognizable winter squashes, known for its mildly sweet flavour and creamy texture when cooked.
Best for:
Soups and purées
Roasted dishes
Curries
Baked goods
Pumpkin pie
For a savoury dish, roast pumpkin with olive oil, garlic, and herbs. For something sweet, use it in muffins, breads, or classic pumpkin pie.
🧡 Butternut Squash
With its sweet, nutty flavour and smooth, creamy texture, butternut squash is one of the most versatile varieties.
Best for:
Soups
Roasting
Risotto
Pasta sauces
Curries
Its natural sweetness becomes even more pronounced when roasted, making it an easy addition to almost any fall or winter meal.
Tip: Cubed butternut squash can be roasted with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little maple syrup for a simple side dish.
💚 Acorn Squash
Named for its distinctive acorn-like shape, acorn squash has a slightly sweet, nutty flavour and tender flesh.
Best for:
Roasting
Stuffing
Soups
Grain bowls
Because of its shape, acorn squash is particularly good when stuffed with grains, vegetables, herbs, or meat and roasted until tender.
🤎 Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is unique because its flesh separates into long, spaghetti-like strands when cooked.
Best for:
Pasta alternatives
Tomato sauces
Pesto
Roasted vegetable dishes
Simply roast or steam the squash, then scrape the flesh with a fork to create its signature strands.
Try it with: Tomato sauce, Parmesan, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil.
💛 Delicata Squash
Delicata is smaller and has a thin, edible skin, which means there’s no need to peel it before cooking.
Its flavour is sweet and slightly nutty, with a tender texture when roasted.
Best for:
Roasting
Salads
Grain bowls
Side dishes
Slice it into rings, remove the seeds, season, and roast until golden and caramelized.
🌰 Kabocha Squash
Also known as Japanese pumpkin, kabocha has dense, sweet flesh with a flavour somewhere between pumpkin and sweet potato.
Best for:
Soups
Curries
Tempura
Roasting
Stews
Its rich texture makes it especially satisfying in warming dishes during colder months.
How to Choose the Right Winter Squash
Not sure which one to pick? Think about what you're making:
You’re making…
A Simple Winter Squash Formula
Whatever variety you choose, winter squash is easy to prepare.
Roast + season + serve.
Cut the squash, remove the seeds, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast until tender and caramelized. From there, you can add herbs, spices, cheese, nuts, or a drizzle of maple syrup.
And don't forget the seeds—they can be seasoned and roasted for a crunchy snack or salad topping.
From creamy soups to hearty curries and comforting roasted dishes, winter squash is one of those ingredients that can carry you through the colder months in countless ways.
So next time you see a variety you've never tried before, pick it up. You might just discover your new favourite.
