Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole
A comforting casserole featuring sweet butternut squash and Honeycrisp apples, topped with savory sausage and Gruyere cheese.
Equipment
- Baking sheet For roasting the squash and apples.
- Skillet For cooking the sausage and vegetables.
- Medium Baking Dish For assembling the casserole.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 2 units Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and cubed
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 0.5 pound sweet Italian sausage, crumbled
- 2 small fennel bulbs, thinly sliced
- 1 unit onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
- salt
- black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon dried sage
- 1.5 teaspoons Herbes de Provence
- olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with foil sprayed with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the butternut squash and apples. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, maple syrup, dried sage, and Herbes de Provence. Toss to coat well.
- Spread the mixture on the prepared baking sheet and roast for about 35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the crumbled sausage until browned and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- If needed, add a little more oil to the skillet. Caramelize the sliced fennel and onion for 10-12 minutes until golden and jammy.
- Once the squash and apples are roasted, switch the oven to broil.
- Combine the roasted squash and apples with the sausage, fennel, and onion mixture in a bowl. Add the remaining maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to a medium baking dish.
- If using fried sage leaves, heat oil in a small saucepan. Fry the sage leaves for about 20 seconds, then drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
- Top the casserole with grated Gruyere cheese and broil for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and golden. Keep an eye on it to prevent burning!
- Garnish with fried or fresh sage leaves before serving to add a touch of elegance.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, omit the sausage and add more vegetables like mushrooms or spinach. No alcoholic drinks allowed, please substitute with a non-alcoholic option.