Butternut Squash Sausage Casserole (Printer-Friendly)

Savory squash and sausage bake with quinoa and gooey cheese topping

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 3 cups baby spinach
05 - Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)

→ Meats & Protein

06 - 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, casing removed)
07 - 1 cup cooked quinoa

→ Dairy

08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pantry & Spices

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried sage
13 - 1 teaspoon paprika
14 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Liquids

15 - 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

# Steps:

01 - Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
02 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
04 - Increase the heat slightly, add the Italian sausage, and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon (about 7–10 minutes).
05 - Add the butternut squash to the skillet. Stir in dried thyme, dried sage, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash starts to soften.
06 - Add the baby spinach and cooked quinoa, stirring until the spinach wilts.
07 - Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth and simmer for 3–4 minutes.
08 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spread evenly and top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
10 - Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
11 - Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan before hitting the oven, meaning minimal cleanup maximum flavor
  • The quinoa soaks up all those seasoned juices while baking, making every bite satisfyingly hearty
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if there are any
02 -
  • If your squash chunks are larger than an inch, they won't cook through in time, so keep them uniform
  • The sausage releases a lot of fat, so don't add extra oil beyond the initial two tablespoons
  • Letting the casserole rest for those 5 minutes is crucial or it'll be too runny when you scoop it
03 -
  • Buy a whole butternut squash and cube it yourself rather than buying precut, the texture is noticeably better
  • Use a box grater for the Parmesan instead of buying grated, the flavor is infinitely better
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