Roasted butternut squash coated with a shallot garlic butter and then topped with crunchy parmesan rosemary breadcrumbs.
What you are looking at right here is the official new addition to the Pappa family Thanksgiving. My mom (the head turkey day master) doesn’t know it yet, but this butternut squash is happening this year. In a big way! This will be the ultimate test as to whether or not my Mom reads any of my blog posts ? If she doesn’t… well… surprise! Thanksgiving is about to be lit!
I cannot believe that we are only 10 days away from Thanksgiving, which leaves us with about 7 days to get the menu together. I am here to tell you that this butternut squash gratin is the side dish you have been looking for, trust me.
Perfectly roasted butternut squash coated with a shallot garlic butter and then topped with parmesan rosemary breadcrumbs. Come on! This is some serious deliciousness right here.
What I love most about this perfect side dish is that it isn’t cloyingly sweet or mushy. I love Thanksgiving, I really truly do. The stuffing and mashed potato and cranberry sauce, OMG seriously one of my favorite meals ever. The challenge, however, is that most side dishes for turkey day are either sweet or mushy or both sweet and mushy (hey there marshmallow sweet potato madness, you know what I’m talking about!). I feel like the meal needs something with texture and more savory goodness.
Enter rosemary parmesan butternut squash gratin. This is it. Look no further. The earthy rosemary is designed to compliment all of the Thanksgiving flavors and the crunchy parmesan breadcrumbs provide the texture you are after.
You can easily double or triple this recipe (we have 35+ people for turkey day so I would in fact triple this), and if you don’t feel like slicing the squash you could easily use pre-cut squash. If using pre-cut the dish will look more like a casserole than a pretty layered gratin, but time-saving may just trump style.
A few simple ingredients, a recipe that doesn’t have to be perfectly followed (more cheese, sure. Less rosemary, if you want), and an end product that will please a crowd.
I hope your whole family loves this healthy, yummy, perfectly fall, ideal Thanksgiving side dish.
Thanks for reading Abra’s Kitchen! If you make this recipe tag #abraskitchen on Instagram 🙂
Rosemary Parmesan Butternut Squash Gratin
Roasted butternut squash coated with a shallot garlic butter and then topped with crunchy parmesan rosemary breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup shallot, chopped (1 medium shallot)
- 1/4 cup garlic, chopped (5 cloves)
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (or GF breadcrumbs)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (plus more for garnish)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°, prepare a baking dish by coating lightly with olive oil. (I used a 8.5x8.5" square baking dish)
Peel the butternut squash, and slice in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds, and cut into 1/2" thick slices. Arrange squash in the baking dish in an overlapping fashion
In a medium skillet over medium-high heat saute shallot and garlic for 4 minutes
Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, and rosemary in a small bowl. Spoon 3 tbsp of shallot butter mixture into breadcrumb mixture and stir until well combined
Pour shallot garlic butter over butternut squash, lifting squash slices to coat all squash with mixture. Season squash with salt and pepper
Coat butternut squash with breadcrumb mixture
Bake uncovered for 55 minutes or until squash is tender and breadcrumbs are browned and crisp
Serve immediately with a sprinkle of additional fresh rosemary on top
Recipe Notes
- If squash softens before breadcrumbs crisp increase temperature for 5 minutes until you achieve a browned crispy top
- In a pinch substitute finely chopped onion for the shallot
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Jordan says
November 20, 2017 at 10:31 amSuch a good idea to use butternut squash for a gratin! Potatoes are so last year. 😉 Can’t wait to try this out and see what everyone thinks!
AbraPappa says
November 21, 2017 at 4:45 pmhahah, potatoes are totally last year!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
November 21, 2017 at 8:06 amOh wow yummmmm. Now this is what I want on my Thanksgiving table in two days!! Glad I saw this recipe now! 🙂
AbraPappa says
November 21, 2017 at 4:45 pmHappy Thanksgiving Dominique!! Thanks for reading 🙂
Sarah says
November 21, 2017 at 7:42 pmThis looks absolutely delicious. I was just looking for a new butternut squash idea!
AbraPappa says
November 24, 2017 at 12:11 pmThanks Sarah! I love a savory squash dish 🙂
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
November 22, 2017 at 1:18 pmI just made something similar this week. What a great side dish for all the holiday meals.
AbraPappa says
November 24, 2017 at 12:23 pmThanks Gloria!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
November 22, 2017 at 10:20 pmi love butternut squash in general but this parm crust is making me want to try this ASAP
hope your family will be delighted with the recipe…if not, more for you 😛
Analida Braeger says
November 23, 2017 at 11:13 amI just love the herbal kick you get from rosemary and your recipe looks so good! If you need a fall cocktail with your leftover rosemary try this grapefruit rosemary mojito! https://ethnicspoon.com/grapefruit-rosemary-mojito/ Happy Thanksgiving!
AbraPappa says
November 24, 2017 at 12:23 pmI love the idea of that mojito Analida! Grapefruit cocktails are my favorite.
Veena Azmanov says
November 25, 2017 at 8:59 amI love roasted butternut squash and this sounds so yum. Love the Parmesan and rosemary combination
Leslie says
November 25, 2017 at 1:29 pmSo yummy – this didn’t make it to my Thanksgiving spread, but I’ll be making it really soon!
Julie says
November 25, 2017 at 3:38 pmJust a heads up – not sure if it’s intentional or not, but you repeat the paragraph ending with the hashtags four times in your post. It might be a new SEO tactic, but I just thought I’d point it out in case it was a cut and paste error!
AbraPappa says
November 25, 2017 at 8:11 pmDefinitely not an SEO tactic! Thanks for pointing this out, but on my end I’m not seeing any repeats? I’ll look into it on different browsers.
Thanks again!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
November 27, 2017 at 10:22 amGratins are so great and I really like having a recipe for a low-calorie one. This is the type of dish everyone would enjoy.
elÇitra Kale says
November 27, 2017 at 2:58 pmİ like your idea using butter nut squash for gratin.. the great new idea to try
Amanda Mason says
November 28, 2017 at 7:47 pmThis looks SO delish and I love that I can user Gluten Free breadcrumbs! And all that garlic! YUM!
AbraPappa says
December 4, 2017 at 9:22 amIt’s all about that garlic 🙂
Amelie says
December 4, 2017 at 7:03 amI love how beautifully this butternut is presented. I’m going to make this for Christmas!
AbraPappa says
December 8, 2017 at 8:16 amThanks Amelie!
Kristin says
November 21, 2018 at 6:51 amCan this be made ahead of time? Do the bread crumbs on top at the last minute?
AbraPappa says
November 26, 2018 at 7:31 amI’ve never tried making it ahead of time, but it should work. Yes, I would add bread crumbs when you reheat it.
Jen says
December 16, 2018 at 7:18 pmI will be making this at same time as roasting brussel sprouts at 425 degrees. What would the cook time be at this temperature? Would it be better to add the breadcrumb mixture a little later so it doesn’t burn? Can’t wait to try this!!
AbraPappa says
December 17, 2018 at 2:13 pmhmm… I would add the breadcrumb mixture at the very end so it doesn’t burn and I would say it should be done in around 35-40 minutes at 425°, but I can’t say for sure. I would just pierce the squash with a knife and when it is super tender it is done. Then add the breadcrumbs and bake for another 5 minutes.