We have been working really hard to stay on track with our meal planning. Since my husband and I both work full-time, knowing what we are eating ahead of time makes our lives SO much easier. We need meals that can be thrown together quickly (because of what time we get home), so we prep what we can ahead of time and the crock pot is our bestie!
We got off the meal plan train since we were always cooking the SAME foods. It got boring. We have been trying to get creative with our meals, and this side dish is one of our new favorites. This balsamic roasted butternut squash and onions is simple, but SO GOOD! The secret to getting the perfect roasted squash is to make sure you only coat it lightly with the oil & balsamic at first. (too much and the squash will steam in the oven instead of roast… leaving you with mushy squash! ew!)
You will need:
- Butternut squash peeled and cubed (I buy mine pre-cut from Trader Joes’s)
- 1 small onion (red or sweet)
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Salt
- Pepper
I don’t measure this out, since it all depends on how much squash you have. Put the squash in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Then put a very light drizzle of olive oil, enough to barely coat it. Then do the same with the onions, try to cut these with the stem to keep them all attached. Place on a roasting pan and put in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Be sure to give the squash plenty of space on the pan to roast! Take the pan out, drizzle with balsamic and toss everything around. (I use tongs to flip the onions, if they don’t stay together they will burn) Pop it back in the oven for another 20-30 minutes.
The squash is lightly caramelized on the outside, soft on the inside. The onions are sweet and tangy… the perfect compliment to the squash. You could easily make a meal of this, but adding crumbled feta or goat cheese and throwing it all on a bed a spinach tossed with a bit of olive oil. So good!
Oh my goodness. This looks delicious! I'm always looking for new side dishes! Pinning this one for future reference 🙂
It turned out really well! It is one of our new favorites!
This looks delicious!!! Think I might get the stuff to try this, this week. 🙂
You will love it! 🙂
This sounds like it would pair well with a nice rare steak. Yum! Pinning for later.
Thanks for pinning! 🙂
I need to do more with butter squash. Beautiful dish.
it is so good, and the kids actually really like it too.
This looks so yummy and easy! I try to menu plan too and agree it's gotten a tad repetitive lately. I just walked by a squash today at the store, because I couldn't think of something new to do with it! I'll pin this for later! Thanks love.
Yes that is the toughest part about meal planning for us too, also we need things we can cook quickly! 🙂
This looks great! I love the Trader Joe's tip.
–Melissa
http://www.melissamchee.com
Yes I am all for shortcuts! (and there is no way I cold cut up a butternut squash on my own while keeping all my fingers! ha!)
Yummy! This looks easy enough that I could make it lol. Pinned for later!
Haha! I only make easy recipes.. I stink at cooking complicated stuff!!
I have some butternut squash that I hadn't decided what to do with yet. Now I know! Thank you for the recipe. I will be pinning and trying it.
You will love it! I hope you are having a wonderful week!
Love roasting with balsamic….makes it so sweet and savoury. Love that you can use it so many ways.
Balsamic is one of my all time faves, I throw it on and in everything!
I love basalmic roasted anything!!! This sounds delicious!!! And don't you just love those prepped foods from TJ's?! So awesome, I need to try this! Pinned!
me too… it is my favorite! The chopped up stuff makes it so much easier, and TJ's is the only price that doesnt charge crazy prices for precut stuff.
ooh! this looks really yummy! and healthy! and easy! EXACTLY what I look for in recipes. 🙂
it is very healthy! It *is* the new year.. my more fattening recipes will roll around in April.. ha!
YAY, thanks for sharing! Can't wait to try this – love healthy and easy!
It is really good! I hope you like it.. have a wonderful week!
That looks so yummy! Perfect since I'm trying to eat as vegan as I can:)
Thats awesome! I dont eat meat, but I do eat fish.. vegan is tough for me… but everyone says they feel so much better when they eat that way.
I've just discovered my love for cooked red onions, so I am loving this recipe!!
Penn&Quill || Robin
I love butternut squash. And I love your addition of red onions. 🙂
This sounds good! I love the colors in this dish! Perfect for fall or winter. Can't wait to try, yum!
This sounds like something my mom and sister would love…and it's so healthy! 🙂
This looks so good!!! Definitely a side I can add to our family meals. Thanks for sharing!
butternut squash is the best thing ever. I am in the middle of a detox and there are a million things I can't have, but I can have this!
Yes, please! Love roasted squash & this sounds yummy!
I loved this squash post. Squash is a great food because it not only tastes good, but it builds strong bones and can even keep your skin looking great! We try to encourage kids to eat more of it so when we love seeing great posts like this getting the message out. We have a post about a great squash based recipe for kids which you might enjoy! http://www.organwiseguys.com/blog/butternut-squash-pasta-2/
Sounds so yummy! I think I need to add this to my dinner menu this weekend!!
Hey, I just wanted to let you know that I made this today for lunch and served it over pasta with steamed spinach and pecans. It was delicious!!!
Normally, I am not a squash fan. But you make it look GOOD, girl! I will have to try out this recipe!
Try to cut the onion with the stem? Guess I need to Google this because I'm not sure I comprehend.