The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Every Type of Squash
From acorn to zucchini
From a summer barbecue to Christmas dinner, only one veggie is there through it all: squash. Presenting a cheat sheet to help you cook 15 different varieties to perfection.
Acorn Squash
This winter squash has a thick green skin and a sweet, orange interior that’s best eaten with a fork. Cut it in half, top it with maple syrup, butter and pecans, and bake it in the oven.
Banana Squash
These big guys are hard to miss. Long and narrow, they can be up to two feet in length. Their rich flavor and soft texture make them a great choice for soups like coconut curry.
Buttercup Squash
This common winter squash has dense flesh that’s tasty when roasted and then blended into a sauce. Add it to mac and cheese to give it a creamy kick.
Butternut Squash
Roast this sweet, nutty winter squash, chop it and toss it into a fall pasta salad.
Carnival Squash
This festive winter veggie is beautiful enough to display as a decorative dinner centerpiece—then slice and stuff it with pear and blue cheese.
Delicata Squash
It’s our favorite winter squash because you don’t even need to peel it. Just slice it, roast it and sub it for meat in tacos.
Hubbard Squash
Inside the tough, lumpy skin is a sweet interior. Cut it into cubes, bake it in the oven and then combine it with pasta, pancetta and sage.
Kabocha Squash
If you’re a fan of pumpkin, you’ve gotta try its sweeter, creamier cousin. Roast it, then mash it with coconut milk, honey and nutmeg for an amazing seasonal side.
Pumpkin
Move beyond pie and add pumpkin puree to cream-cheese bread with a cinnamon streusel topping.
Red Kuri Squash
Leave the skin on this bright orange beauty—it’s edible. Slice it, then roast it and toss it into a winter salad with kale and pomegranate seeds.
RELATED: 16 Homemade Salad Dressings That Will Actually Make You Want to Eat Salad
Spaghetti Squash
Meet nature’s most edible bowl. After roasting, add toppings like spinach and mozzarella for a lower-carb (but just as tasty) alternative to pasta.
Straightneck Squash
This traditional yellow summer squash can get soggy when baked, so add cracker crumbs and cheddar cheese on top for an irresistible crunch.
Sweet Dumpling Squash
You can eat every inch of this fabulous winter gourd, so roast it and then stuff it with quinoa and veggies for a healthy, beautiful main dish.
Turban Squash
Don’t be intimidated by its weird, lumpy exterior. This mild winter heirloom squash is great roasted and then tossed with grapefruit and pomegranate seeds.
Zucchini
Buy a spiralizer, stat. This common summer squash is crunchy, dense and best when twisted into zoodles.