11 Butternut Squash Substitutes for Autumn and Winter

Butternut squash is a kind of winter squash that grows on a vine and is also known as butternut pumpkin or gramma depending on where you live. It is often used in cuisine when pumpkin, sweet potato, carrots, and even pasta are in insufficient supply.

Is there anything else that can be used in lieu of butternut squash if you don’t have any? Here are several alternatives to butternut squash to consider.

• The Acorn Squash
• Squash, Kabocha
• Delicious Squash
• Squash (Buttercup)
• Yummy Sweet Potato
• Sweet Pumpkin
• Squash (Hubbard)
• Carrots
• Squash with a Turban

Each fruit and vegetable has a growing season during which it is at its peak. Several of the winter fruits and vegetables listed above may be prepared or eaten raw.

If none of the aforementioned substitutions work for you, don’t worry; we’ll go through the whole list of excellent alternatives below for you to pick from.

11 Best Substitutes For Butternut Squash

There are several varieties of winter squash to pick from. Butternut squash is one of the greatest winter squashes.

It’s a winter pumpkin with a light orange rind and a bright orange inside. The skin and interior are stiff and solid, with the shape of an elongated pear. Butternut squash, like pumpkin and zucchini, is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Don’t be concerned if you run out; no food is irreplaceable, and butternut squash is no exception. Just browse the options below to find your ideal match.

Acorn Squash

Because of its creamy color, thick skin, and delicate taste, we all enjoy butternut squash. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to get at your local grocery store.

That is why we have acorn squash, which is a decent substitute for butternut squash. You may now easily go to the grocery store and get a terrific product that tastes similar to butternut squash.

Acorn squash has a milder taste and higher protein content than butternut squash.

It has a buttery and sweet taste that makes it versatile in a variety of cuisines. Acorn squash has a gentler flesh and is less sweet than butternut squash, but its skin is more difficult to remove.

Acorn squash includes dietary fiber, which may aid in metabolic management and the prevention of diarrhea, indigestion, cramps, and bloating.

Also, it may help in the management of blood sugar levels in the body, the prevention of diabetes, and the maintenance of steady glucose concentrations.

Kabocha Squash

Kabocha squash may be used in place of butternut squash. It has a delicate and creamy taste as well as a beautiful orange hue, making it great for winter soups.

Kabocha squash is spherical in form and has a rich green skin. It is a winter squash with an orange center and strong skin that is picked in midsummer autumn.

Kabocha, also known as Japanese squash, is a popular delicacy in Japan but is grown all over the globe, particularly in California, Mexico, Thailand, and South Africa.

Kabocha tastes like a mix of pumpkins and sweet potatoes. It has a sweet, earthy taste with walnut overtones and is high in beta-carotene, fiber, and vitamins A and C.

Although the skin of many winter squash varieties, such as butternut squash and acorn squash, is thick and unattractive to eat, the rind of Kabocha is somewhat thinner and edible.

Kabocha is a versatile squash that may be used in a variety of cuisines, from delectable soups to delectable desserts. Kabocha is easy to cook with oils and may be served in a variety of ways since it has less water than other squash.

Delicata Squash

The next greatest thing to butternut squash is delicata squash. Winter squash comes in a variety of kinds. This one is a little smaller than the others.

This vegetable is delicious because it contains a lot of brown sugar. Because of this, it tastes like potatoes.

It is high in vitamin C and low in calories, thus it is beneficial to the health. Most butternut squash dishes may be substituted with delicata squash. It’s ideal for the majority of the recipes.

Butternut squash is the most widely used taste reference since it is the most well-known. Delicata squash is similar to Butternut squash in flavor and texture, but it is also similar to sweet potato owing to its rich flavor and juicy texture.

Delicata squash does not need much preparation since its center is edible and its shape is the same.

Most people cook delicata squash by cutting it into inch sections horizontally, scraping out the seedlings from each hole, and then chopping it into rings.

Buttercup Squash

Buttercup squash is a dark green winter squash that may be used in lieu of butternut squash. It has a rich, creamy taste and an orangish body. It takes a lot of light and heat to grow little fruits. It has a high concentration of carotenoid and vitamin C, making it a healthy meal to eat. It can almost always be substituted for butternut squash in any recipe.

It is reported to be the most comparable to kabocha squash in terms of sweetness and taste. When cooked, it sweetens well and has a beautiful smooth finish. It is not clumpy like spaghetti squash or acorn squash.

Sweet Potato

If you’re having trouble following to a diet but yet want to have something crunchy on the outside and sweetened on the inside, try the seasoned, mashedsweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes have a great nutritional value and are high in many nutrients. This product is a great substitute for butternut squash, and it’s even better in terms of carbs and sugar.

Sweet potatoes become thick, crispy, and delicious when cooked. Sweet potatoes must be cooked before baking to become smoother and stringier on the inside. Another method for preparing sweet potatoes is to fry or bake them at high heats until crisped and toasted.

Sweet potatoes are one of the most adaptable vegetables on the planet. They’re not just tasty as a side dish, but they’re also a great low-fat and gluten-free pasta substitute in dishes like roasted butternut squash or kabocha pumpkin curry.

Sugar Pumpkin

Another pumpkin on the list is sugar pumpkin, often known as pie pumpkin. It is shorter, more flavorful, and has less fiber than butternut squash. It is also a member of the winter squash family.

It is abundant in vitamins and hence a nutritious complement to your diet. This sort of pumpkin is excellent, therefore it would be a fantastic option for a pie.

Sugar pumpkins have a wonderful, creamy, rich scent and a smooth, thick texture, similar to butternut squash. When cooked, sugar pumpkins get increasingly sweeter as the starch burns and converts into sugar.

Sugar pumpkins are also distinguished by their dry, immaculate inside. When you carve a standard field pumpkin, you’ve surely noticed that the inside is fibrous and moist.

It is inappropriate for baking due to these features. If you’ve ever cooked with these pumpkins, you’ve undoubtedly realized that the taste is bland and somewhat harsh. In addition to its sweetness, sugar pumpkins have a less gritty interior, making them suitable for cooking and eating in general.

Moreover, all sugar pumpkins, regardless of variety, are categorized as winter squash, suggesting that they have a harder skin and are harvested later in the growing season than summer squash. Yet they all have one thing in common: tasty, healthy meat that is perfect for cooking.

Hubbard Squash

Hubbard squash is a creamy, pumpkin-flavored squash. It contains a lot of sweetness and is a fantastic alternative for butternut squash. It is abundant in vitamins A and C and has a high nutritional value. It’s also a terrific pastry ingredient, especially if you’re creating pie.

Hubbard squash has a sweet potato and pumpkin flavor, making it great for pastries and soups. While high in sugar, this squash might be flavorless at times, so mash it instead. You can also cook the flesh in the same way you would a potato and incorporate it with rice or other grain side dishes.

Hubbard squash is distinguished by its rough skin and a variety of skin tones. Its flesh is golden-orange and dry, with a creamy and sweet taste. They come in a variety of shapes, including teardrops, pointed points, and round and stubby.

Hubbard squash has the unique ability to be stored for five months or more if kept cool and dry. Their flavor will not deteriorate over this period, but rather enhance as the starch granules slowly convert to sugar.

Hubbard squash may be found at farmers markets and store vegetable sections throughout the autumn and winter months. The root must be dry, unbroken, and firm, with no splits, scratches, mushy, or discolored patches. It should have a robust feel given its size.

Carrots

When carrots are ready to pick, you know it’s winter. Without the fuss, these orange stems have the same delightful flavor of butternut squash. While carrots are not in the squash family, they may be used in recipes that call for butternut squash. Carrots are often used in pastries and pies.

Carrots have a moderate flavor and may be served raw, added to salads, or used in soups, pies, or main meals; they taste well in all of them. They are also great for different delicacies because to their somewhat sweet and pleasant flavor.

Carrots are also quite nutritious. As a result, it will complement your diet well. Moreover, carrots are intriguing since a variety of factors impact flavor and contribute to the final product. Create delicious meals using it as a substitute.

Carrots may be used in place of butternut squash in your favorite holiday dishes. To produce a delicate meal, they may be cooked and prepared in the same way as butternut squash.

Turban Squash

Turban squash is a large winter squash with a diameter of 10 to 15 inches and a weight of 5 to 6 pounds. Its shell is decorated with greenish, tangerine, yellow, and white patterns, and its inside has a light orange-yellowish colour.

Turban squash has an irregular shape, a thick, bumpy, colorful surface, and a delicate, nutty taste that may be used in a variety of sweet and savory recipes such as stews, sauces, and delicious foods.

Turban squash may be used in practically every recipe that calls for winter squash, including acorn, kabocha, and butternut squash.

Banana Squash

Banana squash is a kind of winter squash, and the first thing you should know about it is that it is massive. They can grow to be 2 to 3 feet long, with a rather tiny aperture of 6 inches, and weigh up to 36 pounds when completely grown, according to this description.

Banana squash has a mellow, sweet flavor that is similar in taste and look to butternut squash. This winter squash may be used in any recipe that calls for orange-fleshed winter squash, such as pumpkin, acorn, or kabocha.

Plums, bacon, and beef are all good choices, as are herbs like basil, oregano, and mint, as well as spices like turmeric, garlic powder, and ginger. It also complements peaches and raisins.

Sweet Dumpling Squash

Sweet dumpling squash is a small, sturdy winter squash with creamy skin and spotty green stripes.

It pairs nicely with maple syrup and other sweet glazes because to its sweet taste. It’s a delicious delicacy that can be utilized in both sweet and savory dishes.

The seeds and stringy flesh of the fruit may be eaten as a delicacy after being roasted. The flesh of the fruit is light yellow or orange in color, with a fibrous pulp.

Sweet dumpling squash is highly sweet, as the name implies, and roasting enhances its sweetness even more.

Butternut Squash Substitute Related FAQs

How many carbohydrates and sugars can butternut squash pack into a single serving?

Despite its advantages, butternut squash is a high-carb item that is not suggested for individuals on a low-carb diet.

If you do not have a pumpkin, can you use Butternut Squash?

Squash may always be substituted for pumpkin in recipes. You need not be concerned; these replacements will still be wonderful.

Can carrots substitute for butternut squash?

Using carrots instead of butternut squash may limit yields, and other ingredients may need to be tweaked to compensate for the taste difference.

When substituting butternut squash for carrots, use less sugar since it has a richer, creamier, and sweeter taste.