Smoked Butternut Squash

Smoked Butternut Squash is an easy, delicious side dish recipe to make with only a few simple ingredients. Perfect for eating as is or using the soft squash to blend into a creamy and delicious squash soup.

The flavor of butternut squash is irresistible. It's one of my favorite winter vegetables to cook because it's versatile. Who knew that this smoked butternut squash recipe was going to be one of my favorite things to cook on the grill?

Add a bit of butter and some kosher salt, and you've got the perfect side dish that will pair with anything. Minimum prep time also means that this is a simple squash recipe that you can prep, cook, and enjoy - just about that fast, too!

Speaking of fast recipes, be sure to check out my Grilled Delicata Squash. While it's "technically" another grilled squash recipe, it has its own uniquely delicious taste.

Ingredients

Butternut Squash - Be sure to wash, peel, and take out the seeds. You want to cut the squash into rings that are about ¾-1 inch thick.

Oil - Any type of oil will work. Vegetable oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, etc.

Salt & Black Pepper - We season these lightly to enhance the natural flavors.

How to make Smoked Butternut Squash

Step One: Butter the squash pieces with oil.

Step Two: Add them to the grill and smoke at 250 degrees for one hour. They should be tender and have a nice smoke flavor.

Variations

Sweet flavors - Once the butternut squash is smoked, this is where the fun can start! You can easily pair this dish with diced apples, drizzle with maple syrup, or sprinkle some brown sugar and butter right on top to enjoy.

Add nuts - Adding chopped pecans, pumpkin seeds, or walnuts on top makes a perfect pairing, too. They're also great for adding nutrients and protein.

Spices - Garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder are good savory choices. Sweeter baking spices are great with the natural sweetness of the squash, too, like nutmeg or cinnamon.

Add herbs - Adding cooked garlic cloves is a great flavor enhancer. The fun part about smoking squash is that it can be a sweet or savory dish.

Common Questions

How do I know when the squash is done cooking?

It needs to be fork-tender. No matter if you're smoking this on the grill, in your pellet grill, or even deciding to cook it on the stovetop, the one common aspect of this recipe is that for the squash to be done, it needs to be fork tender.

It's as simple as carefully taking a fork and poking the squash. If it's easy to poke into, it's done and ready to remove. If it's hard to poke, it needs more time on the smoker.

What can I do with cooked squash?

So many things! No matter if you're making butternut, acorn, or even another type of winter squash, you can easily cook and turn it into so many delicious dishes.

Using an immersion blender is a fast and simple way to make this recipe into 3-ingredient butternut squash soup. Add it to bowls, and serve.

You can also add ingredients to the cooked squash, too. Cooked onion and bacon paired with this flavor are really good. It's also simple to add those ingredients right into a soup base, too.

How do I cut and prepare butternut squash to cook?

Using a sharp chef’s knife is going to be important. Since you are peeling the outer layer of the squash, it needs to be a sharp knife that can cut easily.

Also, be sure to use a cutting board since there are seeds inside that will make a mess. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon after you've sliced the squash, so that way you can have the perfectly circled squash rings to either then eat after they're cooked or blend up into a creamy and delicious soup.

What toppings do you add to butternut squash soup?

Soup toppings are some of the best! You can add a tad bit of sour cream or Greek yogurt right on top for a creamy and savory taste.

You can also add any type of crumbled cheese, too. Crumbed feta cheese and goat cheese are two really great options because they're rich and delicious, making them a great contrast to the richness of the soup.

Dicing up some chives or onions and also adding fresh cilantro are wonderful flavor notes to add as well.

And if you're a fan of contrast with your soup textures, fried onions or croutons are always a delicious and welcomed crunchy addition.

The fun thing about adding toppings to soup is that you can easily change up the flavor and taste of every single bowl just by changing up the toppings that you're craving.

Recipe

Like what you see? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Love this recipe? Leave a comment & a 5-star rating right here! Make sure you don’t miss new recipes by getting email updates! 

Originally Published January 11, 2023. Revised and Republished August 19, 2025.