Smoked Butternut Squash

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
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Updated on 12/18/21
Two halfs of a butternut squash on an old wooden garden table

Zsuzsanna Békefi / Getty Images

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 90 mins
Total: 95 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Butternut squash can work well as the base for all kinds of recipes, whether it's roasted and then simmered in a soup, or cubed and sautéed in a dish tossed with pasta, or served on its own.

Butternut squash pairs well with bacon, sage, Parmesan cheese, cinnamon (and other spices, such as cloves and ginger), pasta, and sausage. By smoking butternut squash, it picks up a whole new dimension of flavors. The smoky flavor of this squash will make any dish it is used in all the better. Best of all, you get to customize the smoke factor, both in terms of how much you want the squash to absorb, and what kind of wood to use. These choices will impact the flavor; the longer you smoke it, the stronger the smoke flavor.

To pick a wood, make sure it will pair well with vegetables. Apple, oak, and pecan woods all impart a mild sweetness and would work well with squash. Woods such as hickory and mesquite are too strong and will overpower the squash.

Ingredients

  • 1 large butternut squash

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons kosher salt

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Prepare smoker for a 1 1/2-hour cook time at around 275 F.

  3. Cut stem end of the butternut squash off, about an inch from the top. Slice squash lengthwise. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place on smoker and cook until soft all the way through.

  4. A butternut squash smoked for an hour and a half will have a strong smoke flavor. While this will cook down some when used in other recipes (like smoked butternut squash soup), to reduce smoke flavor, cut smoking time in half and finish squash in oven.​

How long does butternut squash last?

The answer to this question depends upon a few factors. Butternut squash is a hardy vegetable and stores well. Unpeeled, whole squash can last at room temperature for several weeks if kept in a cool, dry spot, especially if the squash was purchased locally.


Peeled, uncooked squash, such as the prepped vegetables you might buy in the supermarket produce department, will keep for a couple of days in the refrigerator before it starts to get a little soft.


Roasted butternut squash will keep in the refrigerator for up to five days in a tightly covered container. Reheat it covered in a low oven, heat it up in a skillet with a little olive oil, or pop it into a soup to reuse and make a new meal out of it.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
53 Calories
5g Fat
4g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 53
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2116mg 92%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 15mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 98mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)