Description
A warm and savory dish of acorn squash stuffed with a flavorful ground turkey mixture, perfect for any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium acorn squashes
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cooked quinoa (or rice)
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh cilantro or parsley for garnish (optional)
- Optional add-ins: chopped bell pepper, corn, or shredded cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). While it’s heating up, slice your acorn squashes in half vertically. Remove the seeds and stringy bits, then drizzle the insides with a bit of olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Placing them cut-side down on a baking sheet, roast for about 25–30 minutes until the flesh is tender.
- Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the diced onions. Sauté them for about 3–5 minutes until they become translucent. Toss in garlic, stirring until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Add the ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned (about 5–7 minutes), ensuring it’s cooked through.
- Stir in the cooked quinoa (or your choice of rice), black beans, diced tomatoes, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix everything well and let it cook for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Remove the acorn squashes from the oven and carefully fill each half with the turkey mixture, mounding it generously.
- Return them to the oven for another 15 minutes to combine the flavors while the tops get a slight crisp.
- Once finished baking, take them out and let them cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, substitute ground turkey with mushrooms or lentils. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg