These sweet smoky roasted brussels sprouts and acorn squash rings make the perfect fall veggie side dish!
roasted acorn squash and brussels sprouts with honey, smoked paprika and sage salt from Eats Well With Others

This time of year always afflicts me with side stress.

Not, like…stress in my side.

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That would be weird.

Actually this is the first November in approximately four years that I haven’t been running-injured on Thanksgiving. And my thighs are oh so thankful for it.

They celebrated by running a 4 mile race on a 23-but-feels-like-8-degree-fahrenheit morning this past Sunday with one of my oldest running friends.

I almost lost a pinky and part of my earlobe. It was a worthy cause.

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But I digress.

Side stress = stress over sides.

Especially when you demand that those sides be modestly healthy, mostly veggie…and appeal to the palate of the general population (aka your brother). Not an easy task.

You would think, being a vegetarian, that I’d be pretty adept at this kind of thing. But my tastes are decidedly…out there. And no one wants to eat a meal that consists entirely of pumpkin served twelve ways.

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Or do they?

Well this is acorn squash served only one way, but it’s one of the most delicious, crowd-pleasing ways that I’ve ever encountered. Acorn squash slabs are brushed with a honey smoked paprika salty blend, while brussels sprouts are tossed with it, and then the two get all roasted up to sweet smoky salty side dish perfection.

I served it at my work Thanksgiving potluck and it was demolished. Even the veggie-haters ate it. And that says something.

If you are in any kind of position to change up your Thanksgiving menu at this late date or even if you just happen to have some extra sprouts and squash tucked away in your fridge, then you need to give this a go.

Side stress ain’t got nothin’ on this.

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One year ago…Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranates, Roasted Carrot and Red Quinoa Salad

Four years ago…Butternut Squash Puree

Roasted Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts with Honey, Smoked Paprika, and Sage Salt
 
These sweet smoky roasted brussels sprouts and acorn squash rings make the perfect fall veggie side dish!
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 medium acorn squash, trimmed
  • 1 lb brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 tsp honey
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 4 large sage sprigs (about 16 leaves)
  • 2 tsp coarse sea salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Slice the squash crosswise into ½-inch rings, scooping out the seeds from the center of each.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, paprika, and kosher salt. Arrange the squash on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper and the brussels sprouts on a second baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the honey/oil mix over the acorn squash slices and toss the brussels sprouts with the rest. Place the sage leaves in a small baking pan.
  3. Transfer all the pans to the oven. Roast the sage leaves until they are crisp, about 15 minutes. Set aside. Raise the oven temperature to 400. Continue roasting, turning the squash once midway through, for about 30 minutes.
  4. Transfer the squash and brussels sprouts to a platter. Crumble the sage in a small bowl and mix with the coarse sea salt. Sprinkle some of the sage salt over the veggies before serving.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ⅛th of recipe

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70 Responses to Roasted Acorn Squash and Brussels Sprouts with Honey, Smoked Paprika, and Sage Salt

  1. Johanna GGG says:

    took me a while to see the brussels sprouts – is the idea to hide them from the sprout haters 🙂 Of course I would love this – hope you have a good thanksgiving with lots of yummy healthy sides 🙂

  2. Barbara says:

    Everyone tries to find new sides for the big holiday dinners. Not always easy. Acorn squash is so pretty and so delicious…Nobody could resist after seeing your photos, Joanne. Love the idea of sage salt…

  3. patsy says:

    I’m all over a side dish like this… but, the family likes their “traditional” veggies on Thanksgiving. I’m thinking that I’ll make this over the weekend with the leftover turkey!

  4. I would gladly eat a meal consistign of pumpkin serves 12 ways! Sign me up for that Thanksgiving 😉 This looks delicious. Loving brussels lately, so the more the merrier.

  5. Haha – this is one heck of an awesome side (stress) dish!
    The acorn squash look so so pretty!

  6. Mmm sage salt, I’ve never given that a try, I’ll have to! Have a great Thanksgiving full of lots of yummy food!

  7. Just stumbled on your lovely blog and happy to find it. Everything looks so delicious and this is something I’d gladly take anytime!

  8. Monica says:

    Oh boy – I never thought I would love vegetables as much as I do now and here I am drooling over these sides. No side stress is right! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know everyone at your table will be eating well.

  9. i dont even know how you guys run or even walk in that cold..delicious looking squash. Happy Thanksgiving.

  10. Yum! Your scorn squash with sprouts sounds incredible! What a great recipe! Happy Thanksgiving!!

  11. I want a meal of pumpkin 12 ways, can we make that happen? But maybe we should do winter squash so this acorn squash can be included!

  12. This looks absolutely delicious! Also, hooray for an injury free Thanksgiving this year!

  13. Beth says:

    That looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it out.

  14. Pretty sure anything you make for Thanksgiving, I’d eat. Even if it was 12 different dishes made from pumpkin. 🙂

  15. Forget your picky brother! I’ll take this dish any day, any time, Joanne. Of course, I am a fan of Brussels sprouts in any form. Also, I am in love with smoked paprika. It gives such depth of flavor, almost meaty flavor, to everything.

  16. I know what you mean! I’ve been on the search for sides just like this. Love Brussels.

  17. Dayum girl!! I gotta try this looks so beautiful and delicious!!!

  18. Acorn squash always makes me smile….I love how pretty and scallop-y it looks after it’s been sliced and cooked. I was planning on making simply roasted brussels sprouts for tomorrow, but I think I may have to make a last minute switch-a-roo and add some acorn squash….seriously loving this dish!

  19. There is brussel sprouts in there too? I am so in! Acorn squash isn’t very popular in my house because the man is biased to butternut squash. But this one will gladly be all mine 🙂

  20. Side stress. I love it. These squash and brussels sprouts look like the perfect cure to side stress if you ask me! Love the combo of honey and smoked paprika.

  21. Acorn squash cross-sections really are the prettiest. I love seeing geometry in nature 🙂 Love all the veggies here!! Happy Thanksgiving, Joanne!

  22. sandra says:

    Wow that is a lovely sight to see – golden squash with lovely seasoning. Your acorn squash looks like delicata… is the skin edible??

  23. danielle says:

    This sounds so good – I love squash and brussel sprouts.

  24. Meg says:

    I’ve become absolutely obsessed with Brussels sprouts — we eat them at least twice a week! This recipe sounds fantastic, and I definitely feel you on side stress. My husband and I eat “weird” things, we’re told, and it was hard coming up with what to bring to my parents’ house this Thanksgiving. I’m somewhat abashed to admit we’re just bringing the standard baked ham and green bean casserole . . . but maybe we’ll try expanding next year. Or just make something “weird” for ourselves. 🙂

  25. Both squash and Brussels sprouts are my favourites! This is totally right up my alley.

  26. Breathtaking and beautiful, Joanne!! Happy Thanksgiving, thanks to you for all your posts, always enjoyable and so nicely done!

  27. Megan says:

    This side dish looks gorgeous. Sadly, my family tells me I’m not allowed to mix the squash and brussels sprouts. Ha. I have side stress too. I want to do some sort of light quinoa side but without any squash or brussels sprouts in it since we are having those as separate sides.

  28. Kate says:

    This whole month has been a bundle of stress for me!

  29. This is such a fabulous, wholesome, meal. Delicious!

  30. Tara says:

    Nom nom, Brussels sprouts for the win! They are one of my favorite greens.

  31. I love this whole sage salt idea. Flavoured salts are the best!

  32. So many vegetables yet so much flavour, this looks very delicious 😀
    Acorn squash is also new to me 🙂

    Cheers
    CCU

  33. I love the combination of flavors here Joanne! Have a great Thanksgiving 🙂

  34. gloria says:

    Hope you have a happy and fun and not-stress Thanksgiving dear Joanne:))

  35. Teffy says:

    I’ve actually never tried acorn squash, funnily enough.
    Most grocers here only stock butternut squash, so I don’t tend to go out of my way for a specific type unless I have something in mind. and now I do!

    { Teffys Perks Blog } X

  36. ramblingtart says:

    These are beautiful and sound so delicious. 🙂 I’m a big fan of vegetable sides like this. 🙂

  37. debbie says:

    This will be my first meatless Thanksgiving and I so appreciate recipes like this. Happy Thanksgiving to you and “the boy.!”

  38. Hannah says:

    Yep this is great all the great.

  39. I always add smoked paprika to my Brussels sprouts. Some folks (meat eaters) have bacon… we have smoked paprika.

    Hope you and your man have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  40. Von says:

    I hate running haha…so running in freezing weather sounds like a terrible idea 😉 These roasted sqaush however, sound brilliant!! They look so pretty too! 😀

  41. Christine says:

    I just so happen to have an acorn squash and brussels sprouts sitting in my fridge at this very moment. So I’ll be whipping this up Fri. for dinner when everyone is insane-out-of-their-minds-shopping. Hope you have a lovely and peaceful Thanksgiving! 🙂

  42. Honestly, I don’t even care about the turkey. Thanksgiving is all about the sides anyway. And Pie. So pass me the squash and sprouts. Big bowl of happy, I say.

  43. I have squash and brussels sprouts in the fridge waiting to become this. I was actually just going to roast them tomorrow… but this looks so much better! haha… Thanks for eliminating my side stress!

  44. Hotly Spiced says:

    Congrats on getting out into the cold and running for a good cause. Your acorn squash looks very pretty. What a stunning vegetable. I’m not sure if we can buy those in Oz; I’m quite certain I’ve never seen any. Happy Thanksgiving xx

  45. I think you need to post me some acorn squash seeds so that I can try this!

  46. Monet says:

    Smile. I get that same side stress. Thankfully, this year, my mom is in charge of the menu. I’ll let her make the decisions (although I do wish she was serving this…we’ll save it for next year). Thank you for sharing! I hope you and yours have a beautiful Thanksgiving tomorrow!

  47. Eileen says:

    Hey, if your tastes are out there, so are mine! I think this sounds perfect for Thanksgiving, and the whole rest of winter besides. 🙂

  48. Katerina says:

    Don’t talk to me about stress! I am full of it! The squash and sprouts are totally mouthwatering!

  49. I think you’ve found the solution to side stress 🙂 I would never have thought of pairing smoked paprika with honey and sage but now it seems obvious!

  50. Kristi says:

    Happy Thanksgiving!!
    Acorn squash is one of my favorite veggies, Brussels sprouts are one veggie I haven’t yet tried.
    I’m heading out in the cold to run in a little while, and now that it’s getting closer… I am really not looking forward to it.

  51. Tahnycooks says:

    I am making this right now! I am so glad I thought I should take a second to see what you made! Delish!

  52. cquek says:

    Wishing you and your beautiful family a very happy Thanksgiving!

  53. Daniela says:

    Wow,this looks amazing,Joanne!
    The pumpkin is perfectly golden brown , can’t wit to try it.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

  54. I may have to rethink my brussel sprout hatred, because this dish looks fabulous! I hope your side stress is gone and you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  55. Deena Kakaya says:

    What a gorgeous and clever post…lovely way to use sprouts xx

  56. This sounds like the most perfect side dish ever!
    Happy Thanksgiving 😀

  57. sara says:

    Love! This looks so delicious – I love the squash rings. 🙂

  58. Looks delicious and a pretty presentation as well! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Joanne!
    xxoo Anna and Liz

  59. I would be fine with pumpkin served different ways 🙂 But this looks too good, I am so buying some squash in the near future!

  60. Great looking dish! Thanks for the recipe!

  61. This looks so delicious. I will have to put on to make list.

  62. I just want a big plate of veggies right now – loving all this goodness!
    Hope you had a great Thanksgiving girl!

  63. Kathryn says:

    I so so love the combination of squash and paprika; it works so well however you serve it. The addition of brussel sprouts just takes it over the top delicious! Hope you had a happy thanksgiving : )

  64. Reeni says:

    What a great pair sprouts and squash make! I can see why they disappeared so fast! Is it strange that I think this squash is cute looking?! Love squash rings.

  65. Looks amazing Joanne! I love the pairing of brussels sprouts and squash. Sounds wonderful and I’m sure it’s even tastier!

  66. This looks fantastic!! I wish I had some Brussels sprouts on hand, because I have everything else and would make this RIGHT NOW! I’ll just pin this with basically everything else you’ve been posting lately and make it later 😉

  67. dtrumpet says:

    how much oil. there is no oil listed in the ingredients but its mentioned in the directions

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