Cook a sweet acorn squash in your Instant Pot in only 7 minutes! This delicious Instant Pot acorn squash recipe can be made and eaten plain, turned into a creamy puree, used in other recipes, or brushed with a sweet honey butter sauce and served for Thanksgiving dinner. Or, turn it into a stuffed acorn squash to make a hearty meal.
While roasting acorn squash in the oven takes nearly an hour, it takes just 5-7 minutes in a pressure cooker. Add on the 10 minutes it takes to pressurize the pot and a 10 minute natural release, and you can have a sweet and creamy acorn squash cooked and ready to serve in less than 30 minutes. That's half the time as the oven!
I love roasting acorn squash in my air fryer with a honey butter and walnut topping, then eating it for lunch, as a side with dinner, or serving it for winter holidays. You can also blend it into a homemade puree and use it for soups, pumpkin pasta sauce or acorn squash pasta sauces, or as a substitution for pumpkin puree.
Table Of Contents
What Is Acorn Squash?
Acorn squash is a variety of Cucurbita Pepo and is considered a starchy vegetable in the same species as zucchini. It has a hard-to-cut skin and is often found in the United States in the fall months. It's a popular ingredient in Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes, although lesser known than it's cousins, pumpkin and butternut squash.
Acorn squash is full of antioxidants and vitamins, including beta-carotene and vitamin A. It's said to promote eye and skin health, and lower the risk of heart disease and cancer.
What Does Acorn Squash Look Like?
Acorn squash has round ridges as pumpkins do, but can be described as more heart shaped or oval than circular. The bottom comes to a slight point and the top is typically flat. It has a short stem and ranges in color. Acorn squash can be orange, white, dark green, or a combination of these colors.
What Does Acorn Squash Taste Like?
If you're new to acorn squash, you're probably wondering what it tastes like and if you'll like it. It has a sweet mild flavor and can be compared to pumpkin, butternut squash and zucchini in texture. However, it's more mild than these squashes, with its flavor being brought out when combined with sweet butter or sugar-based sauces.
How To Prepare Acorn Squash For Cooking
To prepare an acorn squash for the pressure cooker, thoroughly wash the skin. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the squash in half, from stem to bottom. Remove the seeds and stringy pulp with a spoon. There is no need to cut off the stem, as it will easily fall off once cooked.
Tools Needed
You need:
- Electric pressure cooker, either a 6 quart, 8 quart, or 10 quart. Three quart Instant Pots will work too, if you have an acorn squash small enough to fit inside of it.
- Silicone sling, trivet, or steamer basket: the acorn squash is placed on this for easy removal and so that it's elevated out of the water so any of these will work.
- Basting brush: only needed if using the optional honey butter or brown sugar cinnamon sauces.
Optional Sauce
If you'd prefer your acorn squash with a sweet sauce, here are 2 delicious options.
Honey Butter
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tbsp honey
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
Brown Sugar Cinnamon
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
kristinas's tips
Make The Best Acorn Squash
- The same method can be used to pressure cook any edible winter squash, such as butternut squash and sugar pumpkins.
- Pressure cook a whole acorn squash by putting it into the Instant Pot without cutting it first. This increases the pressure cooking time to about 12 minutes, though. Once the squash is done, it can be easily deseeded.
- The silicone slings and trivets or steamer baskets work the best for this recipe. The silicone creates friction which keeps the squash from sliding when removing from the pressure cooker.
- If using the optional sauce, put the squash into the air fryer or use your air fryer lid to roast it for a few minutes after basting.
Instructions
Making acorn squash in the Instant Pot is incredibly simple.
- Add 1 ½ cups water to the Instant Pot. Insert a trivet, silicone sling, or steamer basket into the inner pot. Place the acorn squash halves on top, skin side down.
- Close and seal the pressure cooker lid. Set to pressure cook/manual on high for 7 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then complete a quick release of the remaining pressure. Remove the lid and lift the trivet out of the inner pot to cool slightly.
- (Optional) If using one of the sauces, mix the ingredients together in a small bowl. Brush the flesh with the sauce before serving. Walnuts and pecans can be added, too! Alternatively, air fry for 2 minutes to roast the squash with the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your pressure cooked acorn squash:
- Plain, out of the shell
- Mashed, mixed with butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg
- Pureed, as a baby food (or for those who need a soft food diet)
- Cubed and tossed with creamy pasta, rice dishes, or in stews
How To Store
Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Store in freezer-safe storage containers for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or oven, or reheat from frozen.
Enjoy!
Recipe
Instant Pot Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash cut in half and deseeded
Optional Sauce 1
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
- 2 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Optional Sauce 2
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Add 1½ cups of water to the Instant Pot. Insert a trivet, silicone sling, or steamer basket into the inner pot. Place the acorn squash halves on top, skin side down.
- Close and seal the lid. Set to pressure cook on high for 7 minutes. Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then complete a quick release of remaining pressure. Remove the lid and lift the trivet out of the inner pot to cool slightly.
- Optional. In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for your sauce of choice. Brush the flesh with sauce before serving. Alternatively, air fry for 2 minutes to roast the squash with the sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Marianne Gage says
I do this and it is great. Then i fill them with some stuffing and sausage.
Maple syrup and butter is good too.
Jeannie says
love discovering new ways to prepare acorn squash and this turn out so good!