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–+ servings
A skillet of caramelized brown butter butternut squash

Caramelized Browned Butter Butternut Squash

4.91 from 10 votes
Emily Dixon, One Lovely Life
This gorgeous browned butter squash recipe is the PERFECT side dish--savory, sweet, and gorgeously caramelized all over! (Gluten Free) 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Print Pin
Servings: 4 -6 as a side dish
Calories: 99kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 lbs. Butternut squash peeled, seeded, and diced into 1/2 inch cubes (it's a small dice!)
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1/2 cup Water
  • 1 Tablespoon Brown sugar optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt or more, to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper or more, to taste
  • Optional: fresh thyme for garnish

Instructions

  • Brown Butter
    . Melt butter in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring regularly, until butter has browned and smells nutty/caramel-y, about 4 minutes. 
  • Sautée Squash. Carefully add squash cubes to the pan (careful of splatters!) and stir to coat with the browned butter. Sauté squash over medium 10-12 minutes, until the squash is starting to brown, and soften.
  • Build Flavor. Add brown sugar (if using), 1/2 cup water, salt, and pepper, and cook an additional 10-12 minutes, or until water has cooked off and the squash is caramelized and tender.
  • Serve & Store. Garnish, if desired, then serve warm. Store leftovers in airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days. 

Notes

  • Prep Ahead. Squash can be peeled, seeded, and diced a day ahead of time for easier preparation on the day you plan on cooking it. Dice and store in an airtight container or plastic zip-top bag in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
  • Dice Small! The most common mistake in this recipe is not dicing the squash small enough. If you cut it larger (1-inch pieces vs 1/2 inch pieces), your squash will take longer to cook and won't caramelize as well. 
  • Use Real Butter! Margarine or vegan butter will not work here, since brown butter is made by caramelizing the milk solids in the butter. 

Video

Course: Side Dish, vegetables
Cuisine: American
Keyword: browned butter butternut squash, browned butter squash, Butternut Squash, butternut squash recipe, Butternut squash side dish

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cup (1/6 recipe) | Calories: 99kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1.4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2.4g | Cholesterol: 10.2mg | Sodium: 103.2mg | Potassium: 469.5mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 4.4g | Vitamin C: 27.8mg | Calcium: 66.2mg

Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.

Find it Online:

https://www.onelovelylife.com/caramelized-browned-butter-butternut-squash/