Last Updated on March 30, 2023
This recipe was a hearty one-dish meal that my family enjoyed. I can’t pass up the mini carnival or acorn squash when I see them at the store. They’re just so darn cute.
I like to use unsweetened dried cherries which I found at Trader Joe’s. It can be difficult to find dried cherries without sunflower or safflower oil and added sugar. To bring a little burst of sweetness to them, I like to soak them in a little apple juice.
Shared on the Paleo AIP Recipe Roundtable #153.
PrintWinter Squash with Savory Bacon & Apple Stuffing (AIP, Paleo, GAPS, SCD)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dried cherries
- 1/2 cup no sugar added apple juice
- 3 small to medium acorn or carnival squash
- 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
- cinnamon for sprinkling, plus more (see below)
- 8 oz. bacon
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 1/2 cups diced celery
- 16 oz. mushrooms, diced
- 2 apples, peeled and diced
- 2 lbs. ground beef, or 1 lb. ground beef and 1 lb. ground pork
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 Tablespoon dried sage
- 1 Tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a small bowl, soak dried cherries in apple juice and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Slice squash in half and scoop out the seeds.
- Brush the inside with melted coconut oil and sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Place squash in a baking dish cut side up and bake 30-40 minutes, or until they pierce easily with a fork.
- Meanwhile, make filling. In a large saute pan with sides, cook diced bacon on medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Remove all but 2-3 tablespoons of fat from pan and discard or save for another use.
- Add onion, celery, mushrooms and apples to pan and saute on medium low until softened.
- Add ground beef (or beef and pork) and break up with large spoon, until cooked through.
- Add minced garlic, sage, thyme and cinnamon and stir well. Remove from heat.
- Drain dried cherries (discarding apple juice) and add to the pan, along with the cooked bacon and stir well.
- When squash is tender, remove from oven and scoop filling into squash cavity.
- You can serve immediately or pop back into the oven to heat through for about 5 minutes.