Instant Pot Acorn Squash

Instant Pot Acorn Squash is a healthy winter squash that makes a great side dish recipe. This winter vegetable can be sweetened or stuffed with rice and meat.

Acorn squash is a winter squash that has a tough, thick exterior skin that is dark green color. Sometimes there are patches of orange on these smaller-sized winter squashes.

When we use to have a vegetable garden we would grow acorn squash. They are very easy to grow and just as easy to cook. Acorn and butternut squash are my favorite winter squashes.

If you are looking for a great butternut squash recipe we have an Oven Roasted Butternut Squash recipe you will want to check out.

Today I'm going to teach you how I make Instant Pot acorn squash that is a little on the sweet side.

Prepping The Instant Pot Acorn Squash

Instant Pot acorn squash is a winter squash that is healthier than most other squashes. It's not as starchy as the other winter squashes and it is loaded with nutrients making it a great vegetable.

This is a pretty simple recipe to make. Like all vegetables, you should wash and dry the squash before cooking it.

Since acorn squash has that rougher thicker skin. I find that placing it in the microwave for a minute or two helps with cutting. The heat from the microwave heats the squash up making it easier to sink the knife into it.

Place the semi-heated acorn squash on a cutting board. With a longer-sharper knife cut the ends of the squash off then cut in half.

I find it easiest if I place my knife blade in the middle of the squash while it's standing on a cut end. Cutting towards the other end of the squash then turning the squash around and cut the other side.

With the squash cut in half, I will take a large spoon and scrape the seeds out. You can save the seeds and roast them for a treat or dry them out to plant in a vegetable garden.

Cooking The Acorn Squash

Into the inner pot of your Instant Pot place the trivet that came with your IP in. Add the amount of water that is needed for the size of your IP.

To help get to know your IP a little better we have a list of Instant Pot terms that may help.

With the acorn squash cut in half and the seeds are removed. Place the squash halves onto the trivet. Depending on the size of the acorn squash you may have to play around to get it to fit. If you have a stackable egg trivet, you could place one half of the squash on each of the trivets.

In the inside of each half of the squash add a tablespoon of both butter and brown sugar. As the squash cooks the butter and sugar will melt together and adding a buttery sweetness to the squash. Some people like to add maple syrup and that will work. You could also sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon onto the acorn halves.

Place the lid onto the IP and press the pressure cooker button, make sure it says high pressure. Adjust the cooking time using the plus-minus buttons to 10 minutes. Make sure your steam release valve is set to sealing.

The cooking time could vary depending on the size of the squash. The smaller sized squashes will take around 7-8 minutes and large squashes will take around 10-12 minutes. The size I cooked was 2.32 pounds and it took 10 minutes to cook with 7 minutes to natural release.

Finishing Touches

It will take a few minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure, then it will start to count down. Once the timer has gone off and the cooking time is done let the IP do a natural release for 10 minutes or until the pin drops on the lid.

A natural release is when you let the steam naturally release from the Instant Pot. You don't have to do anything to the IP, when the LCD screen says L10 or you hear the pin drop that means it's ready. Turn the knob to the steam release valve to let out the remaining steam.

Carefully remove the trivet with the squash from the inner pot. Give the squash a few minutes to cool so you can pour the brown butter into a bowl.

Then start scooping the squash out from the green skin. Once you have all the squash removed from the skin take a spoon and mix the squash with the brown sugar butter together in a bowl.

Serve and enjoy. This Instant Pot Acorn Squash is a great side dish recipe that goes really well with turkey, chicken, and pork.

My Creative Manner is answering the question "what's there to eat" ~ Jen

Other My Creative Manner recipes you may enjoy are:

• Isnatnt Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
• Instant Pot Cranberry Sauce
• Stuffed Pork Loin
• Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
• Healthy Tuscan Chicken Pasta ~ Instant Pot
• How To Make Mashed Potatoes In And Instant Pot
• Baking Essentials