This delicious recipe for Mexican-Style Ground Beef Stuffed Butternut Squash is a perfect blend of flavors and textures, featuring black beans, corn, tomatoes, green onions, mild green chiles, and a cheesy topping of cheddar and pepper jack cheese. It’s not only a feast for the eyes but also a hearty meal that serves four. Let’s dive into the ingredients, cooking instructions, and some helpful tips to make this dish a success!
Ingredients
For the Stuffed Butternut Squash
- 2 medium butternut squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or your preferred cooking oil)
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained
- 1 can (4 oz) mild green chiles, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 6 green onions, chopped
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
Grocery List
- Butternut squash (2)
- Olive oil (1 tablespoon)
- Extra lean ground beef (1 pound)
- Onion (1 medium)
- Garlic (3 cloves)
- Black beans (1 can)
- Corn kernels (1 can)
- Mild green chiles (1 can)
- Cherry tomatoes (1 cup)
- Green onions (6)
- Chili powder (½ teaspoon)
- Cumin (½ teaspoon)
- Smoked paprika (½ teaspoon)
- Cheddar cheese (½ cup, shredded)
- Pepper jack cheese (½ cup, shredded)
Cooking Instructions
Preparation Steps:
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Prepare the Squash: Cut each butternut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
- Roast the Squash: Place the squash halves cut-side down on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and roast for about 30 minutes until tender.
Filling Preparation:
- Cook the Beef: While the squash is roasting, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic; sauté until softened.
- Add Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in black beans, corn, green chiles, cherry tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until everything is heated through.
Stuffing and Baking:
- Stuff the Squash: Remove the roasted squash from the oven and carefully flip them cut-side up. Scoop out some flesh to create more space for stuffing.
- Fill with Mixture: Spoon the beef mixture into each squash half generously.
- Add Cheese: Top each stuffed squash with shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheese.
- Final Bake: Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Cooking Time
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes
- Cooking Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
Nutritional Information (per serving)
- Calories: Approximately 568 kcal
- Protein: 38 g
- Fats: 34 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
Tips & Notes
- For added flavor, consider mixing in some spices like cayenne pepper or fresh cilantro before serving.
- This dish is great for meal prep; you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- To make it vegetarian, replace ground beef with quinoa or lentils.
Join Our Kitchen Companion Community!
Join our kitchen companion community for more mouth-watering recipes like this one! Discover famous recipes that bring flavor and joy to your dining table every day.This Mexican-style stuffed butternut squash combines comfort food with healthy ingredients, making it a perfect choice for any occasion! Enjoy your cooking adventure!
