Butternut Sausage Casserole (Print version)

A comforting baked dish with roasted squash, savory sausage, quinoa, and gooey cheese topping.

# Required ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 3 cups baby spinach
05 - Fresh parsley, for garnish

→ Meats & Protein

06 - 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
07 - 1 cup cooked quinoa

→ Dairy

08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pantry & Spices

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried sage
13 - 1 teaspoon paprika
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Liquids

15 - 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent, approximately 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Increase heat slightly. Add Italian sausage and cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking apart with a wooden spoon for 7-10 minutes.
05 - Add butternut squash, thyme, sage, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until squash begins to soften.
06 - Stir in baby spinach and cooked quinoa until spinach wilts completely.
07 - Pour in broth and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
08 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Spread evenly and top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
11 - Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one dish while the oven does most of the work
  • The sweet squash and savory sausage create this perfect cozy flavor balance
  • Makes fantastic leftovers that actually taste better the next day
02 -
  • Cutting the squash into even 1-inch cubes is crucial or you'll end up with some pieces mushy while others stay hard
  • Removing the sausage casing before cooking makes it so much easier to break apart evenly
  • Letting the casserole rest for those 5 minutes seems annoying but it makes serving way less messy
03 -
  • If your squash feels tough to peel, microwave it for 2 minutes first to soften the skin slightly
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre-grated for way better melting and flavor
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