Spice Roasted Butternut Squash

Simply cube the squash, toss it with olive oil and spices, and roast it until it's golden and tender.

Frequently asked questions

How do you give squash more flavor?

When fully ripe, butternut squash is the sweetest of the winter squashes. Roasting brings out its nutty flavor notes and enhances that sweetness by caramelizing the cut squash's exterior.

What are the best spices for butternut squash?

Roasted butternut squash is a terrific backdrop for all kinds of savory seasonings — we especially love it with this simple combination of cumin, coriander, and cayenne along with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

This recipe is a nearly foolproof way to prepare butternut squash, creating a versatile, delicious dish you're bound to revisit again and again throughout the fall and winter. Given its short list of ingredients, it's especially important to start with a fully ripened squash to maximize all the flavors. When purchasing a butternut squash, look for a deep, uniformly tan color. Choose squash with firm, matte skin that's free of blemishes and is heavy for its size. A key sign of underripe squash is pale, glossy skin; similarly, any green spots indicate it's not ready to be eaten.

Should you happen to have an underripe squash on your hands, time is your friend. Stored in a cool, dry environment, your butternut squash will continue to ripen.

Make ahead

To make things even easier at mealtime, you can peel, seed, and cut your butternut squash in advance. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.