Acorn squash is a versatile and delicious vegetable perfect for stuffing and baking. This recipe uses venison and corn as a filling, creating a hearty and flavorful dish. The venison is cooked with a blend of spices, including chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic, resulting in a succulent and savory filling. The corn adds a sweet and crunchy contrast to the richness of the meat. The stuffed squash is then baked until tender, and the result is a comforting and satisfying meal that showcases the best of fall produce.
In addition to the venison and corn filling, the article also includes recipes for three other variations of stuffed acorn squash. The butternut squash stuffed with wild rice and mushrooms is a hearty and vegetarian-friendly option, while the spaghetti squash stuffed with turkey and vegetables is a lighter and healthier take on the classic dish. For those who prefer a seafood filling, the salmon and spinach stuffed acorn squash is a delicious and elegant choice.
With its detailed instructions, helpful tips, and stunning photography, this article is an excellent resource for anyone looking to create a delicious and impressive stuffed acorn squash dish. Whether you choose the venison and corn filling or one of the other variations, you'll be sure to enjoy this fall-inspired meal.
VENISON AND WILD RICE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
These acorn squash are stuffed with great Northwoods flavors!
Provided by Aaron
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Game Meats Venison
Time 1h10m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Bring rice and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the rice is tender, about 40 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place squash, cut-side down onto a deep baking dish filled with 1/2-inch of water. Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes, then drain water and set aside.
- Bring some water to a boil in a saucepan, then remove from the heat. Add the cranberries and let stand for 5 minutes, then drain and reserve. Cook the ground venison in a skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly cooked and crumbly.
- Stir together the wild rice, cranberries, venison, and brown sugar. Season with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
- Turn the oven on to Broil. Rub the inside of the squash halves with the butter, then place cut-side up on the baking dish. Stuff with the rice mixture, then broil in the oven for 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 366.8 calories, Carbohydrate 51.6 g, Cholesterol 70.2 mg, Fat 13.1 g, Fiber 3.4 g, Protein 13.9 g, SaturatedFat 7.9 g, Sodium 113.5 mg, Sugar 30.2 g
GROUND BEEF STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This is an elegant-looking dish that can be served for special-occasion meals as well as everyday dinners. This is a "must" for our family when our garden squash is in bloom. --Ruth Stone, Lindsay, Nebraska
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Invert squash in two ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes. Add water and cover with foil. Bake at 375° for 40-45 minutes or until tender. , Meanwhile, cook the beef, celery and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. Add the apple, rice, sunflower kernels and curry. Cook and stir until apple is tender. Remove from the heat. Stir in the egg, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and 3/4 teaspoon salt. , Place squash cut side up on a baking sheet. Place 1 teaspoon remaining brown sugar and 1 teaspoon butter in each half. Sprinkle with remaining salt. Fill with meat mixture. , Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 496 calories, Fat 20g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 115mg cholesterol, Sodium 886mg sodium, Carbohydrate 62g carbohydrate (18g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 23g protein.
STUFFED ACORN SQUASH II
Acorn squash stuffed with ground beef, pork sausage, onions, garlic, and cheddar cheese. Serve with tossed salad and crusty bread for a simple, tasty meal.
Provided by Andytofu
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Pork Ground Pork Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Sprinkle squash with salt and pepper, and lightly spray with cooking oil. Place in a baking dish flesh side down, and cover with plastic wrap.
- Microwave on high for 10 to 15 minutes, or until flesh is fork-tender.
- Meanwhile, cook beef and pork in 1 tablespoon of oil on medium high heat until well browned, stirring frequently to crumble. Drain, and set aside. In the same skillet, cook the onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Combine beef and pork with cheese and onions, and spoon mixture into squash halves.
- Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and squash is lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 587.6 calories, Carbohydrate 41 g, Cholesterol 96.6 mg, Fat 36.6 g, Fiber 11.6 g, Protein 27.9 g, SaturatedFat 14.4 g, Sodium 1511.5 mg, Sugar 10.4 g
BEEF-STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
My husband is retired, so we do quite a bit of traveling. I like to cook, travel and add to my collection of fund-raiser cookbooks. I have one from every state except Vermont!-Jean Gaines, Bullhead City, Arizona
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h35m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. Invert squash in an 11 x 7-in. baking dish. Add water and cover with foil. Bake until tender, 50-60 minutes. , Meanwhile, cook beef, onion and celery over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the flour, salt and sage until blended. Add milk. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Stir in rice. , Transfer squash to a baking sheet. Fill cavity with meat mixture. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Remove from oven; sprinkle with cheese and bake 3-5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 276 calories, Fat 9g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 42mg cholesterol, Sodium 408mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
BAKED STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
This makes a substantial vegetarian - or vegan if you leave out the cheese - Thanksgiving main dish. It is another riff on the native American tradition of the Three Sisters - corn, beans, and squash. I used acorn squash here, and it serves as a vessel for the sweet and pungent bean, corn and tomato filling. Acorn squash comes in various sizes; the larger ones, which are sometimes all I can find, take almost an hour to soften and cook through; the finished squash can be cut in half or even into thirds if too big for one serving. With everything that comes on the Thanksgiving sideboard, that will probably be the case. I always bake the squash for about 20 minutes before cutting it in half; they soften up a little bit, which makes it much easier to cut.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, main course, side dish
Time 2h
Yield 8 substantial main dish servings, 12 to 16 smaller servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place squash on a baking sheet and bake 20 minutes, until soft enough to easily cut in half. Wait until cool enough to handle (about 15 minutes), then cut in half (stem to tip) and scoop out seeds and membranes.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring often, until it begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add red pepper and a generous pinch of salt and cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down slightly, about 5 minutes. Add honey, maple syrup or pomegranate molasses, vinegar, salt and cayenne, and bring to a simmer. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes, until thick and fragrant. Taste and adjust seasonings. Stir in beans and corn and simmer another 5 minutes.
- Oil 1 or 2 baking dishes or a sheet pan that will accommodate all the squash. Season cavities and cut sides of the squash with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil or melted butter. Fill with bean mixture. Mix together bread crumbs, Gruyère and remaining olive oil and sprinkle over the filling. Brush exposed edges of squash with oil. Place in the baking dish or on baking sheet and cover tightly with foil. Bake large squash for 45 minutes, check smaller squash after 30 minutes. The flesh should be easy to penetrate with the tip of a knife. Uncover and return to oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until breadcrumbs and cheese are lightly browned. Serve hot or warm.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 513, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 90 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 18 grams, Protein 23 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1088 milligrams, Sugar 11 grams
ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH VENISON AND CORN
I had never worked with Acorn Squash before, so I kind of made it on the spot, but it is delicious! This is a yummy, cheap way to use left overs and still have fall flavors. You can substitute the meat for beef or leave it out and add extra veggies for a vegetarian meal. Can be used as a side dish for a larger group accompanying a larger entree.
Provided by gregobr8
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 2 stuffed squash halves, 2-3 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- 1. Cut the squash in half and clean out the seeds. Rub brown sugar and nutmeg on flesh of squash. Place on pan, cover with tin foil and bake at 350 for about 50 minutes, or until squash is fork tender.
- 2. While squash is cooking, cook about 1 cup of rice.
- 3. In pan, pour about 1 teaspoon olive oil and warm, then add 1 clove of garlic and cook until garlic just starts to brown. Add in venison and cook till browned.
- 3. Add corn and rice to venison mixture and warm mixture thoroughly. (I used left over corn and rice) After all is warmed through, add butter and water.
- 4. When squash is done, pull out and remove foil. Turn oven to broil.
- 5. Stuff center with venison and corn mixture. You may have some left over stuffing, keep it warm for serving. Sprinkle shredded cheese over squash and stuffing. Place back in oven for about 5-7 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- 6. Let cool for about 5 minutes or until you can't wait to eat!
STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
Relates Susan Reynolds of Livermore, Colorado, "One of my husband's favorite foods is acorn squash. I had an abundance of zucchini and acorn squash, so I put together this concoction. He pronounced it 'perfect'!"
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h25m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, combine the first nine ingredients. Add beef; mix well. Cut squash in half; remove and discard the seeds. Fill with meat mixture. Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 400° for 1 hour or until squash is tender. Uncover and bake for 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 335 calories, Fat 13g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 110mg cholesterol, Sodium 920mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 22g protein.
STUFFED ACORN SQUASH WITH BEEF AND ONION
Found this recipe in a very old cookbook. Somewhat tweaked this recipe, and have tried it. Worth trying.
Provided by weekend cooker
Categories Onions
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 acorn squash halves, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Invert squash in a greased 15x10x1 baking pan.
- Fill pan with hot water to a depth of 1/4 inch.
- Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or until tender.
- Cool, and when cool enough, to handle scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4 inch shell. ( There should be about 3 cups).
- Place shells cut side up in a greased 15x10x1 baking pan, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the pulp, egg, salt, and pepper.
- Dissolve bouillon in the 2 tablespoons water, and add to squash mixture.
- In a small saucepan, saute onion and beef in butter until tender, then stir in the stuffing mix.
- Set aside 1/4 cup of this for topping, and add remaining stuffing mixture to the squash mixture.
- Bake at uncovered at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until heated through.
Tips:
- Choose the right acorn squash: Look for ones that are about the same size and have a deep green color.
- Cut the squash in half: Use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and pulp.
- Roast the squash: Place the squash halves cut-side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in a preheated oven at 400°F for 30-40 minutes, or until the squash is tender.
- Prepare the venison filling: While the squash is roasting, brown the venison in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and garlic and cook until softened. Stir in the corn, black beans, tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the chili is thickened.
- Stuff the squash: Divide the chili mixture evenly among the roasted squash halves. Top with cheese and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately.
Conclusion:
Acorn squash stuffed with venison and corn is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for a fall meal. The roasted squash is tender and flavorful, and the venison filling is rich and savory. The combination of flavors and textures is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting way to prepare venison, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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