This butternut squash fries recipe is an easy crowd-pleaser that kids and adults alike will love! Crispy and sweet, they take little prep to get together. With a bit of oven time to crisp and caramelize, these are the perfect kid-friendly side dish.
Many consider this hard, thick skinned vegetable to be one for winter and fall.
But you know what? Butternut squash is one of my favorite vegetables, no matter the time of year.
While it might not be the most kid friendly food in the produce aisle, I’ve made an effort to introduce it to my kiddos with mixed results. I finally found a winner though, with these crispy butternut squash fries.
Tips to making butternut squash fries
Butternut squash can seem scary, but I promise, it’s not! Here’s some tips for making these crispy fries with no sweat.
- Peel the squash first. I find it usually takes me about 2 rounds of peeling to get through the thick skin, but after that I’m gold.
- Next, carefully cut through where the squash balloons out. This will give you a section of nothing but squash which is easy to turn into fries, and the bulbous bottom with seeds.
- Slice the bulb part in half, remove the seeds with a spoon, and slice. These will be less “fry” like, so they’re usually the ones I serve myself. They’ll still be delicious!
- Slice the remaining chunk into 1/2 inch slices before cutting into fries. I suggest cutting into bigger fries over matchstick style as they have more surface area and are more likely to crisp versus get overly soft.
- If you’d like, add a teaspoon or so of cinnamon to the seasoning of the fries.
- When turning and later removing from the sheet pan, do so gently. These aren’t as firm as traditional fries, especially before they crisp up.
This is a simple recipe for picky eaters – my kids gobbled them up when I served them with dip. I just mixed Greek yogurt with their beloved ketchup, but I think a cinnamon honey Greek yogurt dip would be awesome!
We also love this veggie dip for kids.
Butternut Squash Fries Recipe
This kid friendly vegetable recipe is something your kids won’t whine about getting on their plates. Fries are an easy way to introduce a different vegetable in a form they’re comfortable with!
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Butternut Squash Fries
Ingredients
- 1 large butternut squash
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 450.
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Peel your squash and then cut into sticks.
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On a baking sheet, toss with oil, salt and pepper to taste.
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Bake for 15 minutes, stir, and return for another 10-15 minutes.
Okay so tell me – what vegetable are your kids afraid of? What vegetables to do you buy the convenience version of? Let me know in the comments!
Heather @ Polyglot Jot says
Oh wow yum I’ve been loving butternut squash lately. These would be a fun way to switch it up. I’m laughing at the squash cutting thing. I get the same reactions from people when I roast squash all the time. I’d say butternut squash is relatively soft in comparison to like a spaghetti squash or pumpkin or something!
Morgan says
Right!? Cutting a big sweet potato is seriously asking to get a finger chopped off, I swear. Butternut squash is nothin.