Grilled Acorn Squash with Maple Butter

The grill isn’t just for summer burgers and steaks! This Grilled Acorn Squash with Maple Butter brings sweet, smoky, and savory flavors together in a way that’ll take your fall grilling game to a new level. It’s the side dish that combines classic fall flavors with the smoky char of the grill.

Grilled acorn squash with maple butter is one of my go-to recipes for fall side dishes. It is easy to make and actually quite impressive on the plate! Pair this with Smoked Pulled Ham, Smoked Turkey Breast, or a Rack of Pork for a feast. To nail this recipe, we will rely on two key elements: proper cutting technique and temperature control. 

The wedge-cut shape maximizes contact with the grill grates, allowing for even caramelization. Then, the grilling process happens in two stages. First, a hot direct-heat sear develops color and flavor. Then, moving the squash to a cooler zone allows it to cook through while maintaining its structure (AKA no mushy squash here!).

This two-zone method ensures perfectly cooked squash every time! This method also works well for thick vegetables or cuts of meat that need time to cook properly, so keep this idea in mind when making other recipes.

Key Ingredients

• Acorn Squash — Choose squash with dark green coloring and no soft spots.
• Butter — I use unsalted butter, but if you use salted, you can cut back on the salt a little bit.
• Maple Syrup — Lends that cozy, autumnal flavor.
• Red Pepper Flakes — For a bit of heat!
• Soy Sauce — To balance out the sweetness and add a layer of umami flavor.
• Salt & Black Pepper — To taste.
• Walnuts or Pecans — Chopped nuts add a crunchy texture to balance out the soft squash.
• Lemon Zest — To brighten the dish up!

Substitutions or Variations for Flavor

• Syrup – Swap maple syrup for honey or agave nectar, if you don’t have maple syrup on hand.
• Soy Sauce – Replace soy sauce with Worcestershire sauce for a different umami profile!
• Nuts – You can try different nuts like hazelnuts or sliced almonds!
• Herbs – Add fresh herbs like thyme or parsley for a bright flavor.
• Spice – Kick up the heat more with hot sauce!
• Cheese – Add blue cheese crumbles for a funky kick.

How to Make Grilled Acorn Squash

1. Preheat. Preheat the grill for 2-zone cooking, around 350-375°F.

2. Make Marinade. Combine the butter, syrup, pepper flakes, soy sauce, and black pepper. Taste and adjust with salt as needed. Stir the sauce and lightly brush all sides of the acorn squash slices with the sauce.

3. Grill. Grill the squash by placing each wedge on the grates over the coals. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, watching for the browning and caramelization to occur. Flip the slices and repeat, moving to the cooler side of the grill when ready. Close the lid of the grill and cook for another 30 minutes, flipping every 7-8 minutes to ensure even cooking. Check for tenderness with a temperature probe, which should read around 208-210°F for doneness.
4. Serve. Serve with the chopped nuts and leftover maple butter sauce. Zest the fresh lemon over everything, and season with salt as needed.

Top Tips

Here are some of my top tips for grilling acorn squash:

• Use a large knife to slice the squash! It can be a little bit tricky to slice through acorn squash. So make sure you use a large, sharp knife that can get the job done. Slice it half, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Then, slice each half into 1 1/2 to 2 inch thick slices.
• Preheat the grill! It is important to preheat the grill before adding the squash to the grill, to more accurately determine the cooking time and get those quintessential grill marks.
• Be careful of the flare-ups on the grill. As the butter drips down it will ignite the coals, and the sugar from the sauce can burn easily.

Pairings, Side Dishes and Complementary Recipes

Acorn squash on the grill stands up well as a side dish with so many things. I like to serve this fall grilling recipe with holiday meals like:

• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Smoked Pulled Ham
• Rack of Pork
• Smoked Prime Rib
• Smoked Spiral Ham

Frequently Asked Questions

More Recipes to Try

• Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
• Smoked Baked Potatoes
• Tangy Blue Cheese Slaw
• Grilled Zucchini Squash Skewers
• Cranberry Jalapeño Poppers