Seasonal recipe
Roasted squash skillet
Generated still of a squash skillet. Not a photo of this recipe.
When tomatoes stop being honest, winter squash takes the pan. This is a weeknight skillet: browned cubes, wilted greens, optional beans — not a 14-ingredient harvest-bowl photoshoot.
~10 min prep · ~30 min roast · one pan if you skillet-finish greens · 2–3 servings
Northeast / Midwest / Mountain: peak fit late Sep–Oct. West Coast as markets turn (coastal greens still easy). South / Southwest when squash hits stands — don’t force if summer produce is still better.
Ingredients
- 1½ lb winter squash (butternut, kabocha, or delicata), peeled if needed, ¾-inch cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 tsp smoked paprika or chili flakes
- Black pepper
- 2 cups chopped kale or spinach
- Optional: 1 can white beans, rinsed · or 1 cup cooked grain
- Optional finish: lemon squeeze or grated hard cheese
Method
- 1. Heat and season. Heat oven to 425°F / 220°C. Toss squash with oil, salt, spice, and pepper on a sheet pan (or oven-safe skillet).
- 2. Roast. Roast 25–35 minutes, flipping once, until edges brown and centers are tender. Crowding steams — use two pans if needed.
- 3. Wilt greens. Move squash to a warm bowl (or push aside). On the stove over medium, wilt greens in the hot skillet with a splash of water and a pinch of salt, 1–2 minutes.
- 4. Finish. Fold squash back in; add beans or grain if using. Taste salt. Acid or cheese if you want brightness.
- 5. Skillet-only path. Cover on medium 10–12 min to steam-tender, uncover and raise heat to brown; then greens.
Seasonal swaps
- No good squash yet? Stay on the tomato-basil skillet while tomatoes are still honest.
- Loud apples in your region? Bake the early-fall apple skillet cake — don’t force dessert into this savory pan.
- Hardy greens only? Skip squash and make the kale & white bean pot instead.
- Make-ahead Roast squash up to 3 days cold; reheat hard in a skillet so it doesn’t go soggy. Wilt greens fresh.
Region note
When squash is at its best depends on where you live. Pick yours under Set my region below, and the home page recipes and produce checklist switch to match.
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Weekly list
Fall squash notes.