Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere: Two Ways!

I tell ya, it’s not easy naming recipes. There’s just too much that I want...

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

I tell ya, it’s not easy naming recipes. There’s just too much that I want to convey in each recipe. Simply, this dish is a gluten-free version of a spaghetti stuffed acorn squash. But, it’s much more than that.

It’s roasted butternut squash noodles tossed in a fresh turkey bolognese sauce, stuffed into a roasted acorn squash and topped with gooey melted gruyere cheese. Remember when I said cheese was my exception?

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

After the eBook fiasco, I really needed something comforting. What do I turn to? Bolognese. However, I had an intense gym workout that morning and I didn’t want to “undo” that with a big bowl of carbs.

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

Oh and also, I don’t even have real pasta in my pantry. I did have about 4 butternut squashes. I also had gruyere cheese that I was saving for a “wine and cheese” night. But heck, ya gotta prioritize! And something cheesy was a number 1 priority.

I wasn’t sure which way to stuff the acorn squash. Should I roast it, scoop out the flesh and combine it into the bolognese (featured to the left, below)? Or, should I roast it and then just stuff in the bolognese (featured to the right, below)? Well, as the recipe title says, I tried it both ways.

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

I liked the one on the left better. I loved the way the flavors of the acorn squash mixed in with the bolognese. Plus, I was able to stuff in more butternut squash noodles. Each spoonful was jam-packed with bolognese, acorn squash and butternut squash noodles.

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

To be honest, I could have eaten this without the gruyere, it was so juicy. If you don’t eat dairy, skip it!

But, the gruyere really does put the cherry on top. I couldn’t wait to cut in when it came out of the oven. Waiting to eat it while I photographed was torture.

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

Finally, I dug in. Gruyere cheese is amazing and adds a silky smooth coating to the vegetables. Outstanding.

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere

As my boyfriend says when he eats something decadent that has no wheat, “But it’s gluten-free!”

This is the type of dinner you want when you’ve had a long or rough day. It’s got everything – lean proteins, loads of veggies and its topped off with something that makes you feel like you’re eating something indulgent. Right up my alley.

Butternut Squash Noodle Turkey Bolognese Stuffed Acorn Squash with Melted Gruyere: Two Ways!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 1 acorn squash
  • olive oil to drizzle
  • 1 serving of my Bikini Bolognese*
  • 1 cup butternut squash noodles Blade C
  • olive oil cooking spray
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shaved gruyere cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Cut the acorn squash in half. Scoop out all of the insides and make sure all seeds are removed. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and massage into squash flesh with fingers.
  • Place the acorn squashes cut-side down on a baking tray. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until easily pierced with a fork. Once done, remove from oven and flip over so that the cut side is up to cool. Set the oven to broil.
  • While the acorn squash is roasting, make the bikini bolognese.
  • Five minutes before the acorn squash is done roasting, add the butternut squash noodles onto a baking tray coated with cooking spray. Roast for those last 5 minutes and then add it to the skillet with the bolognese. Stir to combine and spoon half of the mixture into 1 of the acorn squash halves. Set aside.
  • For the other acorn squash, spoon out the flesh of the acorn squash and add it to the remaining bolognese mixture. Stir to combine thoroughly and add back into the acorn squash skin.
  • Sprinkle each acorn squash halve evenly with gruyere cheese and place in the oven to broil for 5 minutes, checking periodically to make sure the cheese is bubbling but does not burn.
  • Remove the acorn squash from the oven and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*Make this while the acorn squash is roasting. Recipe: https://inspiralized.com/2013/07/09/tasting-tuesday-bikini-bolognese/
with love, Ali

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  • Do we sub the zucchini noodles for butternut squash noodles in the bikini bolognese recipe?
  • Could I possibly use a spaghetti squash I have lurking in the fridge for this fabulous recipe?!..I'm thinking the spaghetti "strands" could stand in for the butternut squash noodles?….Thoughts?!..I hate waste…but so want to make this here in the land of great Gruyère! (French/Swiss border!)
    • You could definitely use spaghetti squash, if you don't have the butternut squash noodles on hand! The flavors go well with many different types of vegetables, but it won't have that same spaghetti-like texture! Give it a try, I'm sure it will still be delish.