Learning how to cook Acorn Squash in the microwave is a breeze, skip the time-consuming oven and cook microwave acorn squash in just 12 minutes. Top with the classic butter and brown sugar, or lighten it up with a savory acorn squash that has olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs.

The acorn squash in microwave is gluten-free, paleo (without the sugar and switching to ghee or oil), vegetarian, and can be low carb without the brown sugar.

You can also swap the brown sugar for honey or make an acorn squash in the microwave with maple syrup.

If you’re looking for more quick and easy side dishes, then you’ll also love our Mexican street corn salad that starts with microwave corn, cold broccoli salad, easy cheesy roasted green beans, or 7-minute pressure cooker spaghetti squash.

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Can You Microwave Acorn Squash?

The first question you might be asking yourself is CAN you microwave acorn squash? Most recipes seem to call for oven-roasted acorn squash and you rarely hear of microwave acorn squash recipes.

Cooking acorn squash in the microwave is the easiest way to prepare acorn squash, plus it has the following advantages:

• Acorn squash in the microwave is FAST, it only takes 12 minutes to cook
• It’s simple and requires no special tools other than a microwave, pan, and plastic wrap
• No need to worry if it’s starting to burn like oven cooked squash
• You can walk away and just come back in 12 minutes

How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Microwave

Learning how to cook acorn squash in the microwave is the quickest cooking method for squash, it’s easy, and it makes cooked acorn squash the perfect choice for a last-minute dinner idea, for meal prep, or with lunch. 

How awesome is you can microwave acorn squash in the morning and then fill it up with leftovers to take for a healthy work lunch? Making microwave acorn squash also helps in a pinch when you realize you forgot to put it in the oven for dinner and it takes 45 minutes to bake.

We include instructions for making the classic brown sugar and butter acorn squash, but here are some other ideas if you want to lighten things up or want a savory acorn squash microwave recipe:

• Olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs
• Pesto sauce
• Homemade alfredo sauce
• Your favorite pasta sauce
• Fill the acorn squash with leftover stew, cooked vegetables, grains, or protein.

What’s Needed for Acorn Squash (Microwave Version)

To make simple acorn squash in microwave, there are no fancy ingredients, squash has so much flavor already, you don’t need to do much to it to have it turn out fabulous and tasty! 

• 1 acorn squash (weighing 1+ lb)
• plastic wrap
• microwave-safe dish
• knife

Optional Toppings

• 1-2 tablespoon butter
• 4 teaspoon brown sugar (or maple syrup, or Swerve Golden)
• sprinkle of sea salt

How to Make Acorn Squash (Microwave Recipe)

Remove any stickers and wash the acorn squash. You can use a vegetable brush if you have one.

Cut the squash in half lengthwise, cutting down through the stem piece also. Press down on the back of the knife to put your weight into cutting the squash in half.

Remove the seeds and membrane.

Place the 2 squash halves with the cut side face down in a microwave-safe dish. Cover with plastic wrap.

How long to microwave acorn squash?

Microwave the acorn squash for 10-12 minutes. If your squash is closer to 1 lb, acorn squash in the microwave might just take 10 minutes, if it’s a larger squash, the cooking time could take up to 12 minutes.

You can test whether or not the acorn squash is done by piercing through the outer green shell. If the fork or knife can easily cut into the squash, then you know it’s done. If it doesn’t seem all the way cooked through, add 2 more minutes to the cooking time.

There are so many ways to eat a microwaved acorn squash! We include the ingredients to make the classic brown sugar and butter squash everyone loves, but we also add suggestions for shaking things up a bit and doing something different.

Brown Sugar Butter Acorn Squash

Add ½ Tbsp-1 tablespoon of butter to each acorn squash halve.

Sprinkle each half with 1-2 teaspoon brown sugar.

Sprinkle with a dash a sea salt.

Microwave for 60 more seconds, or until both the butter and brown sugar are melted.

Enjoy! Each acorn squash halve is one serving.

Acorn Squash Nutrition

Acorn squash is considered one of the winter squashes, it’s packed in nutrients, high in antioxidants, plus it boosts the immune system and decreases inflammation.

Acorn squash is also high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and B vitamins. Here’s the nutritional information for 1 cup of cooked acorn squash:

• Calories 115
• Carbs 30 grams
• Fat 0 grams
• Fiber 9 grams
• Vitamin A 18 % of the Daily Value
• Vitamin C 37% of the Daily Value
• Vitamin B1, B6, and B9- between 10-23% each

We’ve been cutting back on sugar and processed carbs from our diet, eating healthy starches like winter squashes, grains, and sweet potatoes make a fantastic substitute. While serving microwaved acorn squash with brown sugar is classic, and we do ourselves from time to time, our favorite way is to skip the added sweetener and dairy and simply add olive oil, salt, and pepper.

To make this paleo acorn squash, skip the sweetener and use ghee instead of butter, or coconut oil. Swapping the butter for oil will also make this an easy vegan acorn squash recipe.

Is Acorn Squash Keto?

One acorn squash half has 20 net carbs and 85 calories, since most keto dieters eat a maximum of 20 net carbs per day, this means that acorn squash is not keto-friendly.

My husband is following a keto diet to lose weight, so there are many keto recipes on our website. Unfortunately, this isn’t a keto acorn squash recipe, even if you skip the sweetener. Acorn squash is one of the highest carb winter squashes.

Spaghetti squash IS keto-friendly and is lower in net carbs, which is why we love to make this instant pot spaghetti squash recipe.

More Healthy Side Dish Recipes

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