By Megan McFadden in Ingredient — Nov 19, 2021

50 Cozy Vegan Winter Squash Recipes to Try This Season

Winter squash is a squash variety that is harvested in the fall and eaten in the winter. Try these vegan winter squash recipes today.

Introduction

Winter squash refers to a variety of squashes that are harvested in the fall and are typically eaten in the winter months. Unlike summer squash, which is harvested when immature and has a tender skin, winter squash is harvested when mature, resulting in a hard, thick skin. The flesh of winter squash is also firmer and denser than that of summer squash.

Common types of winter squash include:

Acorn Squash: Named for its acorn-like shape, this squash has a mildly sweet and nutty flavor. It is often baked or roasted and can be stuffed with various fillings.
Butternut Squash: This squash has a sweet, nutty flavor and smooth, creamy orange flesh. It's commonly used in soups, stews, and roasted dishes.
Delicata Squash: This squash has a thin, edible skin and a sweet, nutty flavor. It's often sliced and roasted, and the skin becomes tender when cooked.
Kabocha Squash: Also known as Japanese pumpkin, kabocha has a sweet, rich flavor and a texture similar to sweet potato. It's commonly used in stews, curries, and side dishes.
Pumpkin: While pumpkins are often associated with Halloween decorations, sugar pumpkins are smaller, sweeter varieties that are ideal for making pumpkin puree for pies and other desserts.
Spaghetti Squash: When cooked, the flesh of spaghetti squash can be separated into strands that resemble spaghetti. It has a mild flavor and is often used as a low-carb alternative to pasta.

Before we celebrate Thanksgiving and then dive into the Christmas season, I wanted to share a compilation of various winter squash recipes.

Try these vegan winter squash recipes today.

1. Acorn Squash Salad

So let’s talk about salads. I don’t get how winter squashes can be in a salad, but some bloggers find a way. Try this acorn squash salad from Crowded Kitchen.

2. Acorn Squash Soup Bowls

A considerable advantage of winter squashes is they work well for soup bowls. Serve fall soup in acorn squash bowls from Minimalist Baker.

3. Maple Roasted Acorn Squash

One of my favorite fall flavors is maple. If you like it too, try maple roasted acorn squash from Sweet Simple Vegan.

4. Apple Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

Stuffed squash tastes so good around Thanksgiving. Have some stuffed acorn squash from ShortGirlTallOrder.

You may also like my blog posts on vegan Thanksgiving recipes and more vegan apple recipes.

5. Acorn Squash Caesar Salad

When in doubt, a salad is a great option as a side or main course. Try this acorn squash Caesar salad from This Savory Vegan.

6. Delicata Squash Bake

I have a couple of delicata squashes at my house, and I should use them soon before they spoil. Maybe I can make this delicata squash bake from Minimalist Baker.

7. Delicata Squash Fries

You can make fries out of other things besides potatoes to feel a teensy bit healthier. One idea is to make delicata squash fries from The Simple Veganista.

8. Roasted Delicata Squash

Squash tastes so good after cooking it in the oven. Roast some delicata squash with the help of Love and Lemons.

9. Roasted Delicata Squash With Curry Spices

I like making veggies in the oven with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Holy Cow! Vegan uses curry spices when roasting delicata squash.

10. Quinoa Stuffed Delicata Squash

Try some quinoa stuffed delicata squash from ShortGirlTallOrder. Just swap the shredded Mexican cheese with Daiya’s Mexican cheeze to make it vegan.

11. Thai Butternut Squash Curry

Butternut squash is probably the most popular winter squash around. Let’s start with some butternut squash curry from Rainbow Plant Life.

12. Butternut Squash Fudge

My grandpa used to make the best fudge. If you want to try something different than the norm, have this butternut squash fudge from Green Smoothie Gourmet.

13. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

One of my go-to meals, when I run out of food or don’t like what I make, is mac and cheese. Try butternut squash mac and cheese from Okonomi Kitchen.

Here are more vegan mac and cheese ideas.

14. Kale and Butternut Squash Pizza

After a long day and not having anything made in the fridge, I tend to warm up a frozen pizza. If you prefer homemade, have a kale and butternut squash pizza from The Baking Fairy.

Try more vegan pizza today.

15. Butternut Squash Soup

Last weekend, my brother made some butternut squash soup for the family while more people were home for my mom’s side of the family’s Thanksgiving. Try this butternut squash soup recipe from The Garden Party.

16. Butternut Squash Burrito

If you’re in the mood for some Mexican food, burritos are yummy and easily customizable. Here is a butternut squash burrito recipe from Plant-Based on a Budget.

You may also be interested in making vegan tacos and having vegan Mexican food.

17. Spiced Squash Filo Pie

Filo pies come from the Middle East, not from the Philippines. Have a squash filo pie from School Night Vegan.

18. Butternut Squash Cranberry Salad

One iconic fruit during this time of the year is cranberries. Use dried cranberries in this butternut squash and cranberry salad from I Can You Can Vegan.

There are more ways to use cranberries besides in salads.

19. Butternut Squash White Bean Chili

If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen my sneak peek of this blog post. It was me making this butternut squash and white bean chili from From My Bowl.

20. Butternut Squash Pasta

The last butternut squash recipe I have for you is some pasta. Try some butternut squash pasta from Romy London.

21. Tsukimi Dango

Tsukimi dango are Japanese rice balls made to celebrate the autumn moon. Use kabocha to make vegan tsukimi dango from Veggiekins.

22. Kuih Seri Muka

Kuih seri muka is a Malaysian sweet. Have some kuih seri muka from WoonHeng.

You may also like reading about vegan candy recipes and vegan Halloween candy.

23. Kabocha Squash and Chocolate Bread

Bread sounds excellent right now. Try kabocha squash and chocolate bread from Rainbow in My Kitchen.

Here are more vegan breakfast ideas and additional bread recipes.

24. Smoky Tofu Kabocha Buddha Bowls

I’m not that big of a fan of Buddha bowls because I wouldn’t say I like having cold main dishes that taste better hot. Since Buddha bowls are way more popular than I’m ever going to be, make this smoky tofu and kabocha Buddha bowl from Sweet Simple Vegan.

25. Kabocha Mac and Cheese

It's easy to make mac and cheese from a box, but that's not as good as homemade macaroni and cheese. A savory example is kabocha mac and cheese from Kula's Kitchen.

You might enjoy these mac and cheese recipes.

26. Kabocha Gratin

I haven’t had any gratin before, but it sounds good. Make kabocha gratin from Okonomi Kitchen.

27. Kabocha Curry

Even though traditional curry isn’t made with kabocha, you should make an exception for this recipe. Have kabocha curry from Running on Real Food.

28. Stuffed Kabocha Centerpiece

If you want an alternative to turkey or ham at your next holiday gathering, give stuffed squash a try. For example, here’s a stuffed kabocha recipe from Vegan Yack Attack.

29. Kabocha Soup

You can make soup out of whatever veggies you desire. Try kabocha soup from Well Vegan.

30. Kabocha Pasta Salad

If you’re confused why this is a Japanese pasta salad when pasta is from Italy, that’s because kabocha is a Japanese squash. Make this Japanese pasta salad from hot for food.

31. Pumpkin Ravioli

If you haven’t gotten the hint yet, I love pasta. That’s why I included lots of pasta recipes here, like some pumpkin ravioli from Plantifully Based.

32. Pumpkin Pasta Bake

Casseroles taste so good when it’s cold outside. Make pumpkin pasta bake with Bianca Zapatka’s help.

33. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies

Santa is coming to town next month, meaning we need to get our cookies ready for Christmas Eve. One idea is to make pumpkin chocolate chip marshmallow cookies from Plant Based RD.

Another suggestion is to bake more vegan cookies.

34. Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins

As a kid, my family made a decent amount of Jiffy cornbread muffins. If you prefer homemade ones with a fall twist, have these pumpkin cornbread muffins from From My Bowl.

35. Pumpkin Crisps

If you like chicken nuggets, here’s the recipe for you. Make pumpkin crisps from The Foodie Takes Flight.

36. Pumpkin Scones

Who likes tea? If you like tea as much as my sister-in-law, you should have some with these pumpkin scones from Raepublic.

37. Pumpkin Buns

It’s never too early to plan for next year’s Halloween party. I recommend making these pumpkin buns from Nourishing Amy.

You better make other Halloween dishes besides buns, or else you’ll have a lame Halloween party.

38. Pumpkin Seed Spread

You can make dishes with pumpkin seeds too. Try some toasted pumpkin seed spread, a recipe by Mississippi Vegan.

39. Pumpkin Lasagna

My older brother believes vegan lasagna will never be as good as regular lasagna. Lucky for me, vegan lasagna recipes, like this pumpkin lasagna from Eat Figs, Not Pigs, will get him to change his mind.

40. Pumpkin Pie

It would be horrible if I talked for eons about pumpkin recipes without including a pumpkin pie recipe. Here’s a vegan pumpkin pie recipe from The Banana Diaries.

Feel free to read my vegan pie blog post.

41. Spaghetti Squash Bake

My favorite winter squash is spaghetti squash. Make spaghetti squash bake from Vegan Richa.

42. Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash

My mom got me an air fryer, but I haven’t found that many reasons to use it besides my horrible attempts to make regular and sweet potato fries. Maybe I can use it to make this air fryer spaghetti squash from Keeping the Peas.

43. Spaghetti Squash Casserole

If you like casseroles, here’s an idea. Try this spaghetti squash casserole from kiipfit.

44. Spaghetti Squash Noodles

The best part about having spaghetti squash is it is a healthy alternative to pasta and noodles. Have spaghetti squash noodles from Running on Real Food.

45. Spaghetti Squash Bowls

You can make bowls with spaghetti squash too. Make vegan spaghetti squash bowls thanks to Veggies Don’t Bite.

46. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bowls

Another squash bowl idea is a lasagna bowl. Have a spaghetti squash lasagna bowl from Making Thyme for Health.

47. Spaghetti Squash Burrito Bowl

If you would rather have Mexican food, I recommend a burrito bowl. Here’s a spaghetti squash burrito bowl recipe from Cookie and Kate.

48. Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

I’m a huge fan of fettuccine Alfredo, but I usually make it with linguine instead. This spaghetti squash Alfredo from Dishing Out Health sounds delicious.

49. Spaghetti Squash With Ratatouille

Ratatouille is more than the vegan option I pretended to like for two seconds at my older brother’s wedding reception. It’s also a movie about a rat chef and a spaghetti squash dish by Sharon Palmer.

50. Spinach Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

The last winter squash recipe contains a green leafy veggie that many health enthusiasts love (spinach). Try spinach stuffed spaghetti squash from Bianca Zapatka.

Conclusion

Even though fall is almost over, you can make recipes with winter squash all year round. If you have a favorite winter squash, tell me what it is in the comments. Stay tuned for several Christmas blog posts and YouTube videos soon.

You may like my past blog post on vegan pumpkin recipes and my future ones on vegan butternut squash recipes, vegan spaghetti squash recipes, and vegan kabocha recipes. If you’re into fall recipes, try making food with sweet potatoes, apples, and cranberries. Lastly, summer squash lovers may enjoy my future blog posts on vegan zucchini recipes and vegan summer squash recipes.