Vegan Vegan Holidays Vegan Thanksgiving Vegan Thanksgiving Sides Steamed Butternut Squash 5.0 (3) 2 Reviews Butternut squash steams quickly, making this a great cooking technique to enjoy this fall vegetable as a weeknight side dish. For extra flavor, toss the steamed butternut squash with salt, pepper and a little bit of olive oil, butter or Parmesan cheese after cooking. By Carolyn Casner Carolyn Casner See More Carolyn Casner is a longtime recipe tester and contributor for EatingWell. Over the years, she has tested and developed hundreds of recipes for the magazine and website. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 4, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Jump to recipe Close Credit: Photo: Rachel Marek, Food: Holly Dreesman, Props: Sue Mitchell Active Time: 15 mins Additional Time: 15 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 10 Yield: 10 servings Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb Diabetes-Friendly Nut-Free Dairy-Free Healthy Immunity Low-Sodium Low-Fat Soy-Free Heart-Healthy Vegan Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free Low-Calorie Jump to Nutrition Facts This super-simple side dish takes just 15 minutes to make.Butternut squash contains fiber and antioxidants like beta carotene, which aids vision.You can mash the steamed squash like potatoes and add whatever seasonings you like. How to Cook a Butternut Squash Quickly One of the fastest and easiest ways to cook butternut squash is to steam it. Halve the squash, remove the peel and seeds and cut the flesh into uniform cubes and you're ready to steam. To make the process go even faster, look for prepackaged butternut squash cubes in the produce section where other prepared vegetables are sold. (Have a little more time on your hands? Try Roasted Butternut Squash.) Do I Have to Peel Butternut Squash before Cooking? While the peel is technically edible, it is tough, so it's better to remove it before cooking. If you want to skip the peeling, opt for a winter squash with more delicate skin such as delicata or honeynut squash. Photo: Rachel Marek, Food: Holly Dreesman, Props: Sue Mitchell How to Use Steamed Butternut Squash Steamed butternut squash can be dressed up simply with a little salt and pepper, oil or butter and tossed with Parmesan cheese, chopped nuts or fresh chopped herbs. If you don't like cubes, you can mash steamed butternut with a pinch of salt and pepper and a teaspoon or two of butter or olive oil with a fork. From there, you can enjoy it as is, or add the mashed butternut to soup or risotto for a fall spin. Photo: Rachel Marek, Food: Holly Dreesman, Props: Sue Mitchell Can I Cook Steamed Butternut Squash Ahead? Because it is delicate, butternut squash is best enjoyed right after it's cooked, but that doesn't mean you can't get a head start! You can prepare and chop the squash and store it in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3 days before cooking. If you've bought the packaged variety, cook it within a day or so of the sell-by date on the package. Additional reporting by Hilary Meyer Photo: Rachel Marek, Food: Holly Dreesman, Props: Sue Mitchell Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1/2x 1x 2x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. This recipe was developed and tested at its original yield and has not been tested at other yields. Note that only the ingredient list is scaled, so you may need to make adjustments to ingredient amounts, cooking times and equipment sizes in the recipe steps. Scaling could also impact the nutrition analysis. Original recipe (1X) yields 10 servings 1 (20 ounce) package cubed peeled butternut squash Directions Bring 1 inch of water to boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Add squash. Cover and steam until very tender, about 15 minutes. Photo: Rachel Marek, Food: Holly Dreesman, Props: Sue Mitchell Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, October 2017; updated November 2022 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 26 Calories 0g Fat 7g Carbs 1g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 10 Serving Size 1/2 cup Calories 26 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 7g 2% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Total Sugars 1g Protein 1g 1% Total Fat 0g 0% Vitamin A 6027IU 121% Vitamin C 12mg 13% Folate 15mcg 4% Sodium 2mg 0% Calcium 27mg 2% Iron 0mg 2% Magnesium 19mg 5% Potassium 200mg 4% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.