Butternut Squash Casserole with Parmesan-Panko Topping

Photos by Emily Caruso

Every Thanksgiving, something comes up that prevents me from cooking for our family. When I was in grad school, it was papers and projects that were due after the holiday weekend, then we lived out-of-state for a few years. When we finally moved back home, I was ready to cook up a Thanksgiving feast, but pregnancy-related nausea and food aversions got in the way of my plans. But this year is the year! So the pressure is on.

My main objective is to find some new and different recipes to try that aren’t so new and different that everyone will hate them. Bonus points for things that can be made in advance and that don’t require a ton of ingredients—with an active 5-month-old hanging out with me while I cook, anything that needs a lot of time and labor is a no-go. This Butternut Squash Casserole hits all of those prerequisites.

Butternut squash isn’t something my family usually has on Thanksgiving, but this casserole is a more savory spin on the traditional sweet potato casserole that’s a holiday staple in so many households—it’s different, but not in a “hey guys, here’s a platter of kohlrabi!” way. If you like your squash on the sweet side, you can even add a touch of maple syrup to it before transferring it to the casserole dish and finishing it off with a cheesy-and-crispy panko topping. Everyone loves cheesy and crispy!

This casserole is easy to make in advance too. You can make the butternut squash filling, pop it in a freezer bag, and keep it frozen for up to 2 months. Alternately, you can assemble the entire casserole, cover it, and keep it in the refrigerator for a day or two. When cooking, add 5-10 minutes to the baking time to ensure that it’s heated all the way through.

Butternut Squash Casserole with Parmesan-Panko Topping

A savory butternut squash and sage casserole with a crispy panko topping.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

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Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash (about 2 pounds), halved and seeded
• 3 tablespoons creme fraiche
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• A few twists of cracked black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the squash cut-side-down on the baking sheet and bake for about 40 minutes, or until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Remove the squash from the oven and let it cool slightly. Maintain the oven temperature.
3. Once the squash has cooled enough to touch, scoop the flesh into a large bowl. Use a potato masher to mash it to a smooth consistency. (If you prefer it completely pureed, use a food processor instead.) Stir in the creme fraiche, sage and nutmeg, then season to taste with salt. (If the squash isn’t sweet, you can also add a touch of maple syrup or brown sugar at this point—some squash is sweeter than others.)
4. Lightly spray a small baking dish with olive oil. Transfer the squash mixture to the baking dish, then top with the cheese. Stir together the panko, olive oil, black pepper and a pinch of salt in a small bowl, then sprinkle on top of the casserole in an even layer.
5. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until heated through and the panko topping is golden brown.