Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin with tender slices of butternut squash layered with melted gruyere cheese in a creamy sage sauce and topped with a crispy Parmesan-walnut topping is an elegant side dish for Thanksgiving or dinner.

Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin is a simple but elegant side dish for your Thanksgiving, holiday, or dinner table that is packed with seasonal ingredients and warm flavor for autumn or winter fare.

This casserole with bright orange butternut squash peeking out from beneath a blanket of melted gruyere cheese in a bath of creamy sage sauce and a crisp herbed walnut-Parmesan topping will leave you begging for seconds of this golden baked dish.

Smooth, rich, and creamy, this side dish is perfect for Thanksgiving or holiday tables, and is easy to make ahead!

How to Prepare Butternut Squash for Butternut Squash Gratin

Prepping your butternut squash is probably the most time-intensive part of this recipe, but thankfully it's pretty simple! Here's how to do it.

1. Peel. Cut off the top and bottom of the squash, only enough to remove the stem and the bottom. Butternut squash can be peeled with a sharp vegetable peeler. If your vegetable peeler is not sharp enough, you can also use a sharp paring knife.
2. Seed. Once your squash is peeled, cut it in half length-wise. There are seeds in the bottom bell-shaped portion, like a pumpkin. Scrape out the seeds using a spoon and discard.
3. Slice. Thinly slice the remaining squash to use in the recipe. I like to use my mandolin to make sure the slices are thin enough and uniform. This ensures that they cook through evenly.

Butternut Squash Gratin Variations

• Sweet Potatoes - This entire recipe will also work very well for sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced, instead of butternut squash. Pumpkin or acorn squash will also work well.
• Cheese - I love the bitter nuttiness of Gruyere with the sweet butternut squash, but feel free to substitute your favorite cheese here, such as a nice smoky gouda or freshly grated parmesan.
• Dried Sage - To use dried sage instead of fresh, use 1½ teaspoons dried sage in place of fresh.
• Thyme - Instead of sage, you can alternately use fresh thyme in the actual sauce.
• Gluten Free - To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free bread crumbs. Alternately, you can use only finely chopped walnuts and omit the bread crumbs.

Make Ahead Instructions

As with most dishes that are delicious for the holidays, the real winners are those that can be prepped and made ahead.

While some gratins are tricky to make ahead because the vegetables on the top layer can dry out or discolor, this butternut squash version will not. You can make butternut squash gratin ahead because it will stay moist, and keep well for up to 2 days, covered and stored in the refrigerator.

To do this, prepare your gratin, including covering with parchment and foil. Do not bake. Then, cover with the casserole dish cover if you have one (though it's not necessary since it's already covered with foil.). Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

When you are ready to cook and serve, remove casserole cover, but leave the foil and parchment paper on. Bake at 375°F for 1 hour. This is 15 minutes longer than the time in the recipe, and will account for the chilled ingredients and dish. Then uncover and finish baking as the recipe instructs.

Serving Suggestions

This is a super great dish to serve at holiday meals with ham, turkey, or prime rib.

It also will go well as an everyday side dish with any protein of your choosing, including pork chops, chicken breasts, steak, salmon, and more!

More Side Dish Recipes You'll Love

• Candied Sweet Potatoes - Spiced sweet potatoes crusted in brown sugar and butter for a side so sweet, it could be dessert!
• Brussels Sprouts Gratin - Creamy, cheesy brussels sprouts baked in a casserole to golden bubbly perfection.
• Bourbon Glazed Carrots - A quick stove top side dish with tender carrots glazed in brown sugar and bourbon for a unique and delicious bite.
• Southern Sweet Potato Casserole - A classic holiday casserole with mashed sweet potatoes and a sweet brown sugar and pecan topping.
• Best Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing - The best stuffing recipe ever, passed down in our family over generations. Even stuffing haters have been turned with a helping of this stuffing.

Butternut Squash Gratin Video

UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in November 2014. It was updated with new pictures, tips, and videos and republished in October 2024.