This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
Learn how easy it is to cook perfectly tender acorn squash in the Instant Pot (pressure cooker acorn squash). Make it extra delicious by adding the butter and brown sugar topping or keep it plain to use in other dishes. Recipe also includes oven roasting instructions.
Why You’ll Love This Acorn Squash Recipe
This acorn squash recipe is an amazing fall/winter side dish and one of my must-have Thanksgiving sides. The butter and brown sugar topping pairs perfectly with the natural sweetness and nuttiness of the acorn squash. Delicious!
- Perfectly tender: Cooking in the Instant Pot results in tender and delicious acorn squash.
- Quick and easy: This recipe is super easy to prepare with a few simple ingredients and cooks in about half the time it would take in the oven.
- Versatile: Make the recipe as written with the delicious butter and brown sugar topping or add whatever flavors or toppings you love! You can also just cook it plain to use in other recipes.
- The perfect fall/winter side dish: It frees up the oven for main dishes that need to be baked or roasted and is a budget friendly ingredient during the fall and winter seasons.
- A must-have Thanksgiving side: This is definitely a must-have side dish on my Thanksgiving table. I like to mash it up and place in a serving dish but you can also serve the halves. It’s so cozy and comforting and pairs so well with roast turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce and all the other delicious Thanksgiving sides.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Just a few simple ingredients are needed to make this Instant Pot Acorn Squash recipe:
- Acorn squash: The star of the show! To choose a ripe acorn squash, look for one that is heavy for its size, has smooth dull skin and no soft spots. It should have a dark green color and the portion that had been in contact with the ground when growing should be a deep orange.
- Brown sugar: Any type of brown sugar works.
- Butter: Either salted or unsalted is fine.
- Salt: If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt.
- Cinnamon: This is optional but it pairs really nicely with the butter and brown sugar.
Detailed ingredient list and directions located in the recipe card below.
Special Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot: This should come as no surprise since this is an Instant Pot recipe! In order to make sure the squash will fit, use a 6-quart Instant Pot or larger. I use the 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo. You can also use a different electric pressure cooker brand too.
- Trivet: Your Instant Pot should have come with a metal trivet. You can also purchase the Instant Pot trivet separately as well or use a steamer basket.
How To Cook Acorn Squash In The Instant Pot
Let me show you how easy it is to make Instant Pot acorn squash!
Step 1: Prep squash
Wash the acorn squash and pat dry. Cut it in half from stem end to bottom with a very sharp knife. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and stringy bits. Tip: A melon baller works great for scraping out the stringy bits if you have one.
Note: For plain cooked acorn squash, just skip the butter and brown sugar topping in the next step and move on to Step 3.
Step 2: Add butter and brown sugar topping
Poke the acorn squash halves on the inside a few times with a fork. This is not necessary but will help the butter and brown sugar flavors absorb more easily into the flesh. Divide brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and salt between both halves of the acorn squash.
Step 3: Pressure cook
Pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot and set the metal trivet inside. Place the acorn squash halves on top of the trivet. Secure the lid and turn the valve to the “Sealing” position. Set to pressure cook on high pressure for 7 minutes. Once the cook time is over, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes are up, carefully release any remaining pressure by turning the valve to the “Venting” position. Remove the lid and carefully remove the acorn squash halves.
Note: Check doneness by piercing the acorn squash with the tip of a knife. If it is not tender enough, pressure cook for 1-2 minutes more.
Step 4: Serve
You can simply serve the halves with a spoon or make a mash. To make a mash, scoop the cooked squash flesh out, mash up with a fork and adjust the flavors if you like by adding more brown sugar, butter, etc.
Prefer caramelized tops? To caramelize the tops of the acorn squash halves, pop them under the broiler in the oven for a few minutes. You could also use the air fryer lid if you have the Instant Pot Duo Crisp or a regular air fryer to brown the tops quickly.
New to the Instant Pot or confused by the terminology? Check out these Instant Pot Tips For Beginners.
How To Bake Or Roast Acorn Squash In Oven
No Instant Pot? No problem! This acorn squash recipe can also be made in the oven.
Preheat oven to 400F / 200C. Place the acorn squash halves, cut-side up in a baking dish or onto a rimmed baking sheet. Divide brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and salt between both halves of acorn squash. Bake for about 45-60 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork or the tip of a knife.
Ways To Serve It
Cook it plain to use in other recipes or add the butter and brown sugar topping for a delicious and simple side dish. You can also add different flavors or toppings as well!
Serve the halves with a spoon or serve it mashed. To make a mash, simply scoop out the cooked flesh, mash it up with a fork and add more butter and brown sugar to taste if you like
Variations
- Add warming spices: The cinnamon is delicious but you could also add warming spices like nutmeg, allspice or pumpkin spice.
- Make it dairy free or vegan: Substitute the butter for vegan butter or coconut oil.
- Use a different sweetener: Substitute the brown sugar for honey or maple syrup.
- Add a touch of heat: A sprinkle of cayenne pepper is delicious.
- Make it savory: It doesn’t have to be sweet. Could also add savory toppings like garlic, thyme, rosemary, sage, parmesan, etc.
- Make it firmer: Like a firmer squash? Cook for less time!
A Few Questions Answered
Allow to cool and then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Yes! It can be made 2-3 days ahead of time and reheated in the oven. If you turned it into a mash, place the mash into a baking dish, cover with foil and reheat in a 350F oven.
To cook more than one, don’t put on the butter and brown sugar topping. Just pile in as many halves as will fit on top of your trivet.
Yes! You can save them and roast them like pumpkin seeds.
More Instant Pot Recipes
Looking for more Instant Pot recipes? Here are a few that you might enjoy:
And if you love squash, then make sure to also check out this delicious Maple Roasted Delicata Squash recipe!
Did you make this Instant Pot Acorn Squash recipe? I would love to hear about it! Please leave me a comment below.
Instant Pot Acorn Squash
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 7 min (plus 10 min natural pressure release)
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how easy it is to cook perfectly tender acorn squash in the Instant Pot (pressure cooker acorn squash). Make it extra delicious by adding the butter and brown sugar topping or keep it plain to use in other dishes.
Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter
- pinch of salt (if using unsalted butter)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Prep squash: Wash the acorn squash and pat dry. Cut it in half from stem end to bottom with a very sharp knife. Use a spoon (or melon baller) to scrape out the seeds and stringy bits. Note: For plain cooked acorn squash, just skip the butter and brown sugar topping and move on to Step 3.
- Add toppings: Poke the acorn squash halves on the inside a few times with a fork. This is not necessary but will help the butter and brown sugar flavors absorb into the flesh. Divide brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and salt between both halves of acorn squash.
- Pressure cook: Add 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot and set the metal trivet inside. Place the acorn squash halves on top of the trivet. Secure the lid and turn the valve to the “Sealing” position. Set to pressure cook for 7 minutes (high pressure) followed by a 10 minute natural release. Once the 10 minutes are up, carefully release any remaining pressure by turning the valve to the “Venting” position. Remove the lid and carefully remove the acorn squash halves. Note: Check doneness by poking with a fork or the tip of a knife. If it is not tender enough, pressure cook for 1-2 minutes more.
- Serve: You can simply serve the halves with a spoon or serve it mashed. To make a mash, scoop the cooked squash flesh out, mash it up with a fork and add more butter and brown sugar to taste if you like.
Notes
- Instant Pot needs to be at least 6-Quart size: In order to make sure the squash will fit, use a 6-quart Instant Pot or larger. I use the 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo. You can also use a different electric pressure cooker brand too.
- Trivet: Your Instant Pot should have come with a metal trivet. You can also purchase the Instant Pot trivet separately as well or use a steamer basket.
- To caramelize the tops: If you prefer caramelized tops on the acorn squash halves, pop them under the broiler in the oven for a few minutes. You could also use the air fryer lid if you have the Instant Pot Duo Crisp or a regular air fryer to brown the tops quickly.
- New to the Instant Pot? Confused by the terminology? Check out these Instant Pot Tips For Beginners.
- Roasting Instructions: You can also make this recipe in the oven. Preheat oven to 400F / 200C. Place the acorn squash halves, cut-side up in a baking dish or onto a rimmed baking sheet. Divide brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and salt between both halves of acorn squash. Bake for about 45-60 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork or the tip of a knife.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
⬇ PIN it for later! ⬇
Loved this as a side for a dinner I recently hosted. They went perfectly with the autumnal themed menu. Someone even asked me for the recipe. Very tasty!
I’m so happy that it was a hit!
I would never have thought to do these in a pressure cooker and I don’t know why, because it was so easy, perfectly cooked and the butter and cinnamon sugar was incredible.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!
I see a lot these squash around but sadly, in Spain they didn’t arrive yet! They look exquisite though! Looking forward to try one with this recipe!
Hopefully acorn squash make it there soon! Definitely one of my faves!
Vanessa, I can’t even eat squash and my mouth is watering! The Instant Pot is so very convenient and I love that it’s so useful for great sides like these Acorn Squash.
i can’t believe i can make such a tender acorn squash in the Instant Pot! It was so easy to make and it freed up my oven toO!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I love how easy and healthy these are! I don’t know why the Instant Pot makes squash more fun than baking, but it does LOL. Thanks for another winner!
I love that using the Instant Pot means that the oven is free for other things!
Love that this can be done in the IP. Acorn squash is one of my favorites and this recipe has become my new go to.
I’m so happy to hear that! Definitely easy in the Instant Pot!
Quick and easy to make. This is a perfect acorn squash.
I’m happy that you enjoyed it!
This is a very cool recipe, low effort as well. We loved making this over the weekend.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it!
This squash recipe is delicious. Perfect Thanksgiving side dish to make for my family.
I love it with Thanksgiving dinner!