Keto Baked Butternut Squash (4-cheese!) — Low Carb Quick (2024)

This simple 4-cheese Keto Baked Butternut Squash is easy to make and it’s low carb too! It’s a perfectly customizable dish for any family meal, especially with autumn weather.

My family loves savory comfort food casseroles and they’re even better with cheese. This flavorful squash recipe is inspired by baked spaghetti squash and shrimp.

Is butternut squash keto?

Yes, you can have butternut squash on the keto diet. One serving of butternut squash contains 15 net carbs per cup and is considered keto friendly.

This gluten-free butternut squash recipe may be enjoyed on a low carb or keto diet so long as it fits within your daily macros, and especially if you’re scooping out the majority and adding in other ingredients like cheese and spinach.

ingredients

If you are more strict keto, stuff your squash with additional protein and remove more of the butternut squash.

Add-ins for protein include: cooked steak cubes, shrimp, or cubed chicken.

• butternut squash
• cream cheese
• garlic cloves
• shredded parmesan and mozzarella– for sharpness and creaminess
• gorgonzola cheese– you may also use goat cheese or extra mozzarella cheese
• fresh spinach
• olive oil, salt and pepper
• Red pepper flakes (to taste, optional)- gives added spice and heat

how to roast a spaghetti squash whole

1. Pre-heat the oven.
2. Chop the squash length-wise in two. Season the inside with salt and pepper and place them with the inside down into a baking tray.
3. Bake for 30 minutes and then turn them around to bake for another 10 minutes, or until squash is fork-tender. The amount of time will depend on the size of the squash.

tips

• Be sure to scoop out enough squash and add it to the sautéed mixture of spinach, garlic and cream cheese in order to refill the butternut squash halves.
• Red pepper flakes or shaved parmesan cheese is a great topper for baked squash.
• To get four servings is ideal to choose a medium to large-sized squash or four small ones.

recipe substitutions

• Swap sautéed spinach for broccoli, mushrooms or peppers.
• Add an Italian cheese blend to replace any of the cheeses.
• Swap butternut squash for spaghetti squash.

FAQ

is it ok to freeze butternut squash?

Freezing is not recommended after the squash has been stuffed and cooked.

However, individual squash and topping may be frozen prior to baking.

Store each in an individual zippered freezer bag.

leftovers

Store baked butternut squash in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat in the microwave or oven-safe dish.

What to do with leftover filling?

If you have leftover spinach-cheese filling, try adding it to steak, shrimp or pasta.

Can I make this in the air fryer?

Yes, but I do recommend using a small squash and then only air frying one half at a time.

Set to 350-375 degrees depending on your air fryer.

Keto Baked Butternut Squash

This 4-cheese keto butternut squash is baked to cheesy perfection with fresh spinach, mozzarella, cream cheese, and gorgonzola. So easy!

4.53 from 17 votes

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6

Calories: 305kcal

Author: Amber @ Low Carb Quick

Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash halved
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 3 garlic cloves
• ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 oz gorgonzola cheese
• 4 cups packed fresh spinach
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to 400F.

• Chop the squash length-wise in two. Season the inside with salt and pepper and place them with the inside down into a baking tray. Bake for 30 minutes and then turn them around to bake for another 10 minutes, or until squash is fork-tender. The amount of time will depend on the size of the squash.

• In the meantime, prepare the filling. Sauté chopped garlic in a skillet with heated olive oil, once garlic is fragrant add roughly chopped fresh spinach and sauté for one minute or until spinach is tender. Remove from heat and add softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, shredded parmesan, and gorgonzola cheese. Stir to combine.

• Once the butternut squash is fork-tender, remove from it the oven. Pull out some of the squash pulp in order to make some space to fill it. Mix the pulp with the rest of the cheese filling. Finally, fill the squash and bake it for another 10 minutes or until cheese is evenly melted.

Notes

• Scoop out enough squash and add it to the sautéed mixture of spinach, garlic and cream cheese in order to refill the butternut squash halves.
• Red pepper flakes, a dollop of sour cream and chives, or shaved parmesan cheese is a great topper for baked squash.

Keto diets

• scoop out extra for strict keto and instead use more spinach and cheese blend
• top with pork rind crisps or cheese crisps for added flavor

Nutrition

Serving: 1quarter squash | Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 793mg | Potassium: 659mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 15803IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 395mg | Iron: 2mg

See Also

Paleo Pizza Bowls {Whole30, Keto}