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Pesto & Potatoes
Pesto & PotatoesVerified

July 11, 2025

14 Ingredients
MEDIUM

If you’re looking for an impressive main dish to take center stage this Thanksgiving, try this Stuffed Acorn Squash. Filled with a wild rice stuffing made with cranberries, mushrooms and quintessential fall seasonings, this is a fantastic main dish for a vegan or vegetarian Thanksgiving menu. This also makes a great Thanksgiving side dish, as the presentation is stunning and is served right out of the roasted acorn squash.

Celebration Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Celebration Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash cover
From the Cook
1/2

Celebration Wild Rice-Stuffed Acorn Squash

Ingredients

servings
Sulphites allergen identified

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Instructions

1
|
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
2
|
Cut the acorn squash in half, lengthwise, and use a spoon or ice cream scoop to clean out the seeds. Brush 1 tablespoon olive oil onto the cut-side of each half, and season with kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Place cut-side down on the lined baking sheet, and roast for 30 to 35 minutes, until squash is fork tender.
3
|
While squash is roasting, prepare rice according to package directions. Recommendation: Substitute vegetable broth for water to infuse more flavor.
4
|
Once squash is roasted, carefully remove about 1 cup of the squash – ¼ cup from each half – from the center. Set aside.
5
|
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Once heated, add diced onions and cook until translucent, about 7 to 10 minutes.
6
|
Add celery and mushrooms and continue cooking, until mushrooms release liquid and start to brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Add minced garlic. Cook for another 1 minute.
7
|
Reduce heat to medium, and stir in prepared rice, cranberries, sage and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in reserved ½ cup of acorn squash to bind mixture together. Continue cooking until orange juice is absorbed.
8
|
Remove mixture from heat. Stir in pumpkin seeds. Spoon mixture into the center of each acorn squash half and place back on the baking sheet.
9
|
Return to the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, until fully heated through and the top of the squash is beginning to crisp. Serve.

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About the Cook

Pesto & Potatoes

Hi, I’m Reed Dunn, the home cook, food blogger and photographer behind Pesto & Potatoes. This is where I share fresh, seasonal plant-based and pescatarian recipes to inspire you in the kitchen and make answering “what’s for dinner?” a little easier.

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