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Kid-Friendly Stuffed Acorn Squash: Easy Wild Rice Recipe

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A hearty and delicious stuffed acorn squash recipe with wild rice and sausage that even picky eaters will love. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish is quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium acorn squash
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup wild rice blend
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 pound ground mild Italian sausage (or 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms for vegetarian)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium apple, diced small (Honeycrisp or Gala)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional for topping)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut each acorn squash in half from stem to tip. Scoop out seeds and stringy bits. Rub cut sides and cavities with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Place cut-side down on a baking dish.
  2. Roast squash for 25-30 minutes until fork-tender but still holding shape.
  3. Rinse wild rice blend. In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 35-40 minutes until tender and liquid is absorbed. Fluff with fork and set aside.
  4. While rice cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage, breaking it up, until browned (5-7 minutes). Transfer to a bowl, leaving 1 tablespoon drippings. Add onion and cook 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add apple and cook 2 minutes. Return sausage to pan, add cooked rice, cranberries (if using), sage, and thyme. Stir and cook 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning.
  5. Remove squash from oven, flip cut-side up. Divide filling among halves, mounding slightly. Sprinkle with Parmesan if using. Return to oven and bake 10-15 minutes until filling is heated through and cheese is golden.
  6. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm.

Notes

For picky eaters, dice apple and onion very small so they cook down. Use ground turkey instead of sausage with extra sage and salt. For dairy-free, skip Parmesan or use plant-based alternative. Pre-roasting squash is essential for perfect texture. Choose squash of similar size for even cooking. Use pre-cooked wild rice to save time.

Nutrition

Keywords: stuffed acorn squash, wild rice, kid-friendly, fall recipe, easy dinner, healthy, family meal

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/kid-friendly-stuffed-acorn-squash-easy-wild-rice-recipe/