Apple Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe
A wholesome fall casserole featuring roasted butternut squash, apples, caramelized onion, crispy bacon, pecans, and warm spices, finished with honey for a savory-sweet delight.
4 Servings
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted, divided
- 3 cups butternut squash cubed
- 2 medium firm apples cubed
- 1 small red onion chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh sage chopped
- 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon chopped into ½-inch pieces*
- ½ cup pecans roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
Preheat and prepare the dish.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil and set aside.
Combine vegetables and herbs.
- In a large bowl, toss the cubed butternut squash, apples, red onion, 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil, sage, and thyme. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix until evenly coated.
Roast the base.
- Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Roast in the preheated oven until the squash is fork-tender, approximately 25–30 minutes.
Cook the bacon.
- While the vegetables roast, heat a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8–10 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl lined with paper towels to absorb excess grease. Allow to cool for 5–10 minutes.
Prepare the topping.
- Once cooled, discard the paper towels and return the bacon to the bowl. Add the remaining tablespoon of coconut oil, chopped pecans, honey, cinnamon, and cloves. Season lightly with salt and black pepper and toss to combine.
Finish baking.
- Remove the roasted squash mixture from the oven. Sprinkle the bacon-pecan topping evenly over the casserole. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the topping is golden and fragrant.
Cool and serve.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm.
Notes
This dish is naturally gluten-free as written. Ensure the bacon and coconut oil (or any substitutions used) are certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.