Butternut squash is my favorite member of the squash family (with acorn squash sliding into a strong second place!), but I must confess I didn’t have my first taste of it until I was an adult. It just wasn’t a thing in my childhood home. We ate yellow squash and zucchini weekly, it seemed. But none of the more “exotic” (exotic = labor intensive) squashes made the cut in my mom’s kitchen. So spaghetti squash, butternut squash, acorn squash, pie pumpkins and the like, all captured my interest when I had the opportunity to try them for myself as an adult.
Once I got past the initial intimidation of working with them, because I really need all 10 of my fingers the delicious opportunities were endless. One of my favorite creations with spaghetti squash are still these Spicy Mexican Spaghetti Squash Cakes. And I’ve also made this Roasted Acorn Squash with Quinoa Vegetable Stuffing, which is a recipe I really need to make for us again soon.
However, butternut squash has the most intriguing name of them all. I mean, it just sounds delicious! I was so relieved when I tried it for the first time and it lived up to it’s name; it’s earthy and slightly sweet. It’s also very similar in texture and color to a sweet potato, which made it instantly familiar and comforting to me.
How to prepare chipotle butternut squash mash
I typically prepare butternut squash keeping with very traditional recipes. I coat it with olive oil, season it simply with salt, pepper, and light brown sugar; I then I roast it until it’s fork tender. However, in this recipe for Chipotle Butternut Squash Mash, a familiar and comforting roasted butternut squash is mashed up with some spicy Southwestern-style flavors for a delicious change of pace!
Along with a measure of luscious cream cheese, a homemade paste of chili in adobe sauce, lime juice, and fresh cilantro is prepared and mixed into mashed butternut squash. The result is an attractively colorful side dish complete with rich flavors and a creamy texture.
This spicy butternut squash mash goes well with all poultry and any roasted or grilled meat.
This flavor-packed Chipotle Butternut Squash Mash will make guests at dinner forget about plain, old mashed potatoes, and be prepared because they will probably ask for the recipe! I hope you’ll share it!
Also, this spicy Butternut Squash Mash is a tasty low-carb and gluten free side dish option any time of the year, but the rich copper color of this dish makes it especially festive for autumn meals! 🍂🍁🎃
Happy eating, y’all and remember sharing is caring! xo – M
🍂🌻🎃More autumn-inspired recipes you might enjoy:
- Pumpkin-Apple Muffins
- Pumpkin Upside Down Cake
- Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup
- Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing
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Welcome to the fourth annual #FallFlavors! We have 21 bloggers sharing over SIXTY recipes using fall ingredients like squash, apples, maple, pecans, and many more. Follow #FallFlavors to see all the delicious recipes on social media.
Please check out the other autumn-inspired recipes shared today by some talented food bloggers!
Monday #FallFlavor Recipes
Beverages
- Apple Cider Mule from Art of Natural Living
- Caramel Apple Sangria from Our Crafty Cocktails
- Jack Rose Cocktail from Books n’ Cooks
Breads
- Apple Cider Donuts from Sweet Beginnings
- Pumpkin Banana Muffins from Hostess At Heart
Salads, Soups, and Sides
- Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Chipotle Butternut Squash Mash from A Little Fish in the Kitchen
- Cider Baked Squash from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Loaded Cauliflower Casserole from Blogghetti
Main Dishes
- Black Pepper Pork Tenderloin with Fig Preserves from The Spiffy Cookie
- Easy French Onion Chicken Recipe from Family Around The Table
- Maple Bacon Smoked Sausage from Palatable Pastime
Desserts
- Air Fryer Apple Crisp from Devour Dinner
- Air Fryer Apple Pie Egg Rolls from An Affair from the Heart
- Caramel Apple Rice Krispies Treats from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Maple Syrup Pancake Cookies from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies from Best Cookie Recipes
- Pumpkin Dump Cake Recipe from Our Crafty Mom
- Pumpkin Rabdi from Magical Ingredients
- Pumpkin Whoopie Pies from Jen Around the World
Follow the Favorite Fall Recipes Facebook group and follow the Favorite Fall Flavors Pinterest board for more fall inspiration!
Chipotle Butternut Squash Mash
5
servings20
minutes45
minutesThis Chipotle Butternut Squash Mash will bring new pizzazz to your side dish repertiore. This is a tasty gluten-free, low-carb option any time of the year, but the rich copper color of this side dish makes it especially festive for autumn meals.
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Ingredients
- For roasting the butternut squash
1 medium butternut squash (about 2.5- 3 lbs)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
salt and pepper
- For the mash
1/3 package reduced fat cream cheese, room temperature
1 can (7.5 oz) chipolte peppers in adobo sauce
1 – 2 tablespoon(s) lime juice
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
- Pre-heat oven to 425°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set the pan aside. Slice butternut squash open, lengthwise. Using a melon baller or a spoon remove the pulp and seeds from the cavity.
- Use a pastry brush to coat both halves of the squash with olive oil. Lightly sprinkle each half of the squash with salt, pepper and one tablespoon of brown sugar. Roast for 35-40 minutes or until the squash is fork tender. Remove pan to a rack and allow the roasted the squash to cool completely.
- While the squash is cooling, use a fork to remove 1 large chipolte pepper in adobe sauce from the can. Place the single chipolte pepper, cilantro and lime juice into the jar of a small blender (A Magic Bullet is perfect for this). Pulse the blender a few times (about 30 seconds) or until the contents are well blended. Pour the chipolte mixture into a small bowl and set it aside.
- Peel the cooled, roasted squash and cut it into large chunks. Place the squash in a large mixing bowl and use a potato masher to mash it until reasonably smooth. Add salt, pepper, softened cream cheese, and the chipolte pepper mixture to the bowl with the mashed squash. Use a wooden spoon or and electric mixer to mix all of the ingredients together until completely combined.
- Reheat the Chipolte Butternut Squash Mash in the microwave as needed before serving (typically about 1-2 minutes, stirring at least once). Garnish with extra, coarsely chopped cilantro leaves, serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Recipe from A Little Fish in the Kitchen blog at www.alittlefishinthekitchen.com. All content is owned by Marcelle G. Bolton. Please contact the author for permission to republish.
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I’ve got a son who will just love this mash. It will be fun to make with him
Mmmmm I love a good mash. Love the chipotle added too. that’s so fun
Wow, that’s a lot of chipotles in one dish! It reminds me of when I got a recipe from a restaurant in Santa Fe, and it called for an entire can of chipotles. I thought we were all going to explode at the dinner table! I love the sound of this, as I also make sweet potatoes with chipotle. This is definitely one to keep in mind for fall cooking. (All the way might reduce the chipotle a little bit.)
Hi David, I list the whole can of peppers in the ingredients list, but in the recipe instructions I specify for just one single pepper going into the paste. Even though the can is small (7.5 oz), those peppers with the seeds intact pack a punch. I made the mistake of adding a whole can to a pot of soup once, we were all very warm at that winters night!! Haha I hope you enjoy it, it’s a really nice change from mashed potatoes!
I usually make stews with butternut squash. This mash sounds tasty and interesting. The chipotle should give an amazing kick to this mash! I love this version instead of mashed potatoes.
I love how this takes winter squash “out of the box.” I ate a ton last winter and was tired of it by spring–this will help this year!
I’ve cheated the last few times and bought the already cubed squash but I definitely need to hit the farm and get some whole ones and try this!
Butternut squash is one of my favorite veggies. We use it for EVERYTHING during the fall months.
This looks like the perfect fall side dish.
I am loving the southwestern chipotle flare to this butternut squash mash. It sounds incredible.
I bet this would be perfect for the holidays! And so nutritious.
Butternut squash is my favourite too. The mash sounds fantastic flavoured with chipolte pepper.
This has got to taste amazing! Most definitely making this soon and yes I agree, it’s an “exotic”squash 🙂