Sausage-Stuffed Acorn Squash with Gouda

Ingredients

  • 4
    medium acorn squash
  • 2
    tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste
  • 1
    pound bulk hot Italian sausage
  • 1
    small onion, chopped
  • 2
    medium apples, cored and diced
  • 1
    tablespoon minced fresh sage
  • 1
    cup packed fresh baby spinach, chopped
  • 2
    tablespoons apple butter
  • 8
    ounces Gouda, shredded and divided

Directions

  1. 1

    Heat oven to 350 F. Line a 15 x 10-inch baking pan with aluminum foil.

  2. 2

    Cut tops off of squash; remove seeds and discard. Brush cut sides of squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place squash, cut side down, on prepared pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until tender.

  3. 3

    Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer sausage into a bowl. Wipe out the pan.

  4. 4

    Sauté onion in remaining olive oil in the same pan over medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add apples and sage; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until apples are tender. Stir in the spinach, apple butter and sausage. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes longer or until heated through. Remove from the heat. Stir in 1 1/2 cups gouda.

  5. 5

    Spoon sausage mixture into squash. Bake for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining gouda. Bake for 5-6 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Recipe provided by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.