It's easy to cook squash without cutting it up first! The secret is your crock pot. Here's how to cook butternut squash in a slow cooker with no peeling or chopping required!
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Cook squash without cutting it
Butternut squash is one of my favorite comfort foods-creamy, a little sweet, and downright delicious. But you know what I don't love? Peeling and chopping it.
Here's the good news: butternut squash is so much easier to cut and peel once it's cooked-no wrestling awkwardly with a knife.
If you've ever tried cutting a raw butternut squash, you know the struggle. The knife never quite makes it through on the first try, the squash rolls around on the cutting board, and those stringy seeds get everywhere. And if you decide to peel it before cooking? That's a whole other challenge.
Honestly, I usually skip the hassle and either roast the whole butternut squash in the oven, or grab pre-cut squash from the produce section at the grocery store (not the cheapest way, but certainly the fastest). Because once it's cooked, this rich, flavorful squash is perfect for all kinds of fall and winter recipes-you just don't need to fight with it first.
Selecting a Squash
Picking a good butternut squash is pretty simple. Look for one that's firm, heavy for its size, and free of bruises, dents, or soft spots. The skin should be matte, not shiny or waxy, and the stem should be dark brown and intact. A fully ripened squash will have a uniform tan color-no green streaks (which mean it wasn't fully ripe) or brown spots (a sign of frost damage).
Choosing the right squash is the hardest part-because making crock pot butternut squash couldn't be easier. You get that same rich, roasted flavor without ever turning on the oven!
How to Cook Whole Butternut Squash the Easy Way
The crock pot method takes easy to a whole new level. I'm not even sure you can call this a recipe since there's just one ingredient and hardly anything to do.
Here's how to cook butternut squash the easy way-take a whole butternut squash and put it in the crock pot. Turn it on. Yep, slow cooker butternut squash is that easy.
After 4-5 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low in the slow cooker, you've got a delicious, ready-to-enjoy roasted butternut squash. The squash will be perfectly cooked and easy to cut into. No wrestling required. The squash seeds scoop right out and it's easy to peel. The flesh can be chopped into cubes or enjoyed as is. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper or drizzle with olive oil, if you like, and it's ready to eat!
So many people try to "doctor" up this sweet squash by adding apple juice, brown sugar, maple syrup and all sorts of other ingredients, but honestly? Squash doesn't need any of that to taste sweet, rich and delicious. If you select a ripe squash in good form, it doesn't need any extra sweetness; it's great on its own!
You can use your crock pot butternut squash for anything from butternut squash soup to baked goods (you can even use it in place of pumpkin). It's also great for a quick breakfast. Simply heat and top with a fried egg. And it's amazing in this frittata recipe for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
I like to cook a butternut squash in the slow cooker and store it in the fridge for a quick, hearty side dish. Just slice off or scoop out as much as you need. You can store it in the fridge for several days once it's cooked.
Can butternut squash be frozen? Absolutely! Puree is in the food processor and freeze it in one cup portions. That way you can easily grab and thaw as much squash as needed for a recipe.
So, if you're ready to enjoy delicious butternut squash all season long, get out your slow cooker. Making crockpot butternut squash is just about the easiest recipe out there.
Crock Pot Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash washed
- toppings of choice
Instructions
- Place whole squash in a slow cooker and cook until soft and easily pierced, about 4 - 5 hours on high or 6 - 8 hours on low.
- When cool enough to handle, cut in half and scoop out seeds.
Nutrition
Easy crock pot recipe ideas
Want more easy recipes to make in your slow cooker? Check out these 30 paleo crock pot recipes.
JoAnna Santellan says
Could spaghetti squash be cooked the same way in a slow cooker? That's a really tough one to cut up. Thanks!
Lisa says
Hi JoAnna, I haven't tried it with spaghetti squash yet, but it seems like it should work. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
Jan says
I just did spaghetti squash last week in the crock pot. It was so hot here in California, I just couldn't turn on the oven. But I really wanted spaghetti squash! I had already cut it in half, so i just scooped out the seeds and cooked it on high for about 3 hours. It probably would have been softer with 4 hours, but people were getting hungry around here.
Lisa says
That's great Jan! I love not having to turn on the oven when it's hot 🙂
Jen says
We use our crockpot to cook spaghetti squash ALL the time. 🙂 Just pierce it a few times, add a bit of water, and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Susan says
It works! I make spaghetti squash like this all the time. AWESOME!
Sandra Farrer says
Can’t wait to try it! Great idea
Carissa says
Yep, I have done it.
JB says
Tried it last night, perfect! Washed the squash, put in the crock (no liner needed), on low...went to bed. Woke up to perfectly cooked squash, didn't burn, skin came off effortlessly, safely. Cubed it, added lots of butter, and put it in the fridge...we'll enjoy it tomorrow with the rest of the Thanksgiving meal. I am thankful for so much, and yes, for reaading how to effortlessly, safely, cheaply cook squash; thank you.
Linda Crowl says
Doesn't the squash burn on the bottom?
Victoria Hamstra says
So smart! Literally hate cutting butternut squash and will avoid recipes because of it. Thanks for the idea!
Elana Singer says
Did I understand correctly that you didn't even add any water?
Lisa says
That's right, Elana. The photo is exactly how I cooked it. I just put the lid on and turned it on!
Lynn Correll says
Making this today! You say no water needed, but should I rotate so it does not burn?
Laura W. says
I cooked it for the first time today. No water, no rotating …. put the lid on and let it cook. Mine was wonderful! SO easy!!
MissBeth says
Thank you! Oh my goodness, butternut squash is back on the shopping list.
Lisa says
Yay! You won't believe how easy it is!
Brenda says
Worked great. I had a short, fat butternut squash that fit in my 4 quart slower cooker. I cooked it 4 hours on
high and it was wonderful. Don't like to peel and cut up raw butternut squash. Thank you.
Lisa says
Yay! Thanks for letting me know, Brenda!
Peggy says
Does the part that touches the crock pot burn?
Lisa says
No it doesn't, Peggy. It browns a little bit, but it doesn't burn.
Carmen says
You are a genius. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa says
Thanks Carmen 🙂
Lesa says
Thank you for such an easy fix to my squash problem. Using a knife nod hammer to cut one in half is now history
Lisa says
You're welcome, Lesa! I think this will be safer than using a knife and hammer. 🙂
Susan says
I made 3 large squash like this, this weekend. Thanks for sharing. So easy!
Charlotte from AZ says
This is absolutely a wonderful tip! I will be trying this ASAP! We love butternut squash, especially for soup, but the cutting and peeling always make me think, "not today, maybe next week." Looks so easy...thanks so much for sharing!
David says
How long and how do you keep the butternut squash after cooking in the crock pot?
Lisa says
I keep it in the refrigerator up to 3 or 4 days. If I need to keep it longer I freeze it in one cup portions, so I can thaw as much as I need.
Sally says
How long would you say the frozen one cup portions last? I'm trying to get into freezer prep meals (or solo ingredients) and this is just too simple to pass up!
Lisa says
It should keep for several months in the freezer.
Carolyn says
Brilliant! I've got one on the counter right now that I JUST CAN'T FACE. I've done the same thing with acorn squash (a total non-recipe, right? But it works!) Don't know why I didn't think of it for butternut. THANK YOU!
KalynsKitchen says
Hi Lisa,
You are officially brilliant. Just letting you know I am featuring this recipe today on Slow Cooker from Scratch, along with a couple of your other Paleo slow cooker recipes. Happy Thanksgiving!
Lisa says
Thanks Kalyn! I love 1-ingredient recipes 🙂
Brenda says
I USE THIS METHOD ON ALL WINTER SQUASH. WORKS GREAT. TIME VARIES ON HIGH DEPENDING ON SIZE OF SQUASH.
Jennifer Cross says
I was wondering if this would work with sweet potatoes? I love them but hate turning on the oven for just potatoes.
Christina says
I have cooked both sweet potatoes and baking potatoes in the crock pot and you don't even need to use tinfoil to wrap up each potato. They are easy and perfectly cooked.
Anne says
I this is the best solution ever. My husband always perfers butternut, not acorn or something easier to cut up. I actually started growing it in my backyard since it was the only squash able to survive bugs and disease. I always get a hand cramp from trying to peel it to cube it, or cut a finger trying to dice it up. And then turning on the oven for an hour or more just to cook squash? I feel like its wasting so much energy. The slow cooker option is the most efficient use of my time. No peeling, dicing, watching the oven. Just "set it and forget it". If I forget it, its not going to burn. Love it.
Jane says
Can you cook it for less than 6 hours then peel, cube and roast it on the oven?
I love the roasted flavor.
Chelsi says
Does the squash ever overcook or burn on the bottom that touches the crock pot? Thanks! This will make my life MUCH easier.
Lisa says
Hi Chelsi, I have never had one burn, just take it out when it is soft and cooked through. Your cooking time may vary based on the size of the squash.
Girl of Green Gables says
This is an absolute life saver! I'm a very pathetically weak 23 year old with no upper body strength so I hated cooking recipes with butternut squash or spaghetti squash-- until now! You're a life saver!
Beth says
I love this because when I peel it, it makes my skin itch and or peel
Colleen Lubeck says
REALLY? NO water?
Lisa says
Really! No water needed.
Alicia says
This turned out perfect! Planning on using my cooked squash in soup tomorrow, thanks for posting! Super easy.
Janeen says
This is absolutely brilliant! I put mine in last night when I went to bed and it was ready when I woke up. What a time saver! It literally fell out of the skin, so easy. Always doing this from now on.
Thank you!
Susan says
What about using one of the crock pit liners? I cannot wait to try this.
Erin says
Can you do regular squash?
Brigid says
I am so excited to try this. I have one in my crockpot right now!!
Carol Sprik says
I love the idea. But I don't mind pealing the squash. I just use a potato peeler that takes a large cut and they peal real good. I found some seed that grow huge butternut squash, I am laughing at the idea of trying to get my 10 # butternut squash in a crock pot. I just took a picture, wish I knew how to send it.
Sarah D says
Can you use it to make soup after cooking it in the crockpot?
Lisa says
Absolutely! You can use it in this butternut squash soup recipe. Just substitute the slow-cooked squash for the roasted squash in step 3.
Jenna says
Would this work for an acorn squash too?
debby malcolm says
Have you tried using the slow cooker for beets?
Thanks for this.
Lisa says
I haven't, but that's a great idea! If you try it, let me know how they turn out.
Karen says
What do you want for a website? Your squash recipe Looks fantastic-have one sitting on my counter will try it in the near future. Tried to become a person that ge up dates - don’t know if I did it right. Hope so as we have a numbers of people that are eating gluten free- when we have a dinner your site is where I will come for inspiration.
Heather says
Love this recipe for butternut squash. My first one was small so it only took 2 hrs on high. I am not a crock pot user so was watching and could smell it was done. Today I am doing a big one and am so happy to not have to do any cutting ~
Barbara says
What a god sent!! I love my crock pots. I have several. Thank you for all the great recipes and ideas. Everyone’s comments and questions were very helpful. Thank you!!
Christina Myers says
So, I don't put anything into the Crock-Pot with the butternut squash? I only put the squash in and close it for that long???
Nothing else goes in there?
Lisa says
Nothing else, just the squash 🙂
Pegge Aldrete says
Has anyone tried the Butternut squash in an Instant Pot? I just got an Instant Pot (& a butternut squash) and am dying to try them both!!!
Susie says
My instant pot works as a slow cooker, as well.
Cynthia says
I’m trying your crockpot butternut squash recipe as I write this. Both crock pots going with two squash each- gardening season was late this year in Kansas, and we had to pick early before squash bugs and mosaic killed all the vine crops. But, we’re looking forward to lots of lovely soup this winter! I will try your one cup portion tip, as well.
Elaine says
This is brilliant! I did try it today, no water, 3 hours on high. Very tender. One question, though: when I cut it open, a lot of juice poured out of it. And after I scooped it out and into a bowl, there was a puddle at the bottom. I transferred it to a strainer to drain it. After that it was fine. Have you experienced this? Did I cook it too long?
Laura W. says
Can’t believe I saw this recipe! I cooked one today, turned out tender, sweet and delicious. No time consuming prep work. So easy … thrilled it will be easy to have more often. Going to make your Butternut Squash Soup this week! Thank you!! Who would’ve known!