Go Back

Parmesan Herb Roasted Acorn Squash

Parmesan herb roasted acorn squash with a golden, crisp Parmesan crust. Sheet-pan roasting caramelizes the edges while the rings stay tender in the center.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

acorn squash
  • 2 acorn squash halved, seeded, and sliced into 1/2-inch rings
olive oil
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
garlic
  • 2 clove garlic minced
fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
fresh rosemary
  • 1 tsp fresh rosemary chopped
salt
  • 0.5 tsp salt
black pepper
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
parmesan cheese
  • 0.5 cup parmesan cheese grated

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and first roast
  1. Preheat oven to 400F, then line a sheet pan with parchment for easy cleanup. Position oven rack in the middle so the rings roast evenly.
  2. Toss acorn squash rings with olive oil, garlic, fresh thyme leaves, chopped rosemary, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated. Spread them in a single layer so edges can caramelize instead of steaming.
  3. Roast for 20 minutes at 400F, watching for lightly golden edges. Keep the rings undisturbed for the first roast to build browning.
Add Parmesan and finish
  1. Flip the squash slices and sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan. Make sure each ring gets a visible coating to encourage a crisp crust.
  2. Roast 12-15 minutes more at 400F until tender and the Parmesan is golden and crisp. Remove when the crust looks browned in spots and the centers pierce easily.

Notes

For best crisping, keep the squash in a single layer with space between rings—crowding traps steam and softens the Parmesan. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat on a sheet pan in a 400F oven until hot. Freezing is not recommended for the crisp crust, but the roasted squash can be frozen and reheated for a softer texture. Dietary swap: use a plant-based Parmesan alternative and roast as directed for a dairy-free option.