Toaster Oven Delicata Squash

Toaster Oven Delicata Squash makes a great snack or side dish. It’s naturally sweet, easy to prepare, and the skin is edible – so there’s no peeling!

Cooked delicata squash slices on a roasted pan.

How to Cook Delicata Squash In A Toaster Oven

Start by adjusting your toaster oven’s cooking rack to the lowest position and preheating to 425°F on the BAKE setting.

You can line the baking sheet with a small silicone baking mat for easy cleanup. Or just lightly oil the pan to help prevent the squash from sticking.

We opt to save our baking mats for toaster oven cookies and always go with an oiled pan instead. It’s a bit messier but you’ll get more caramelization (brown crispy bits = nuttier flavor) on your roasted squash.

But I’m not coming over to wash your dishes, so do what works best for you.

Sliced delicata squash on a cutting board.

Next, give your squash a good scrub and rinse in the sink. Dry it really well. Water makes squashes slippery and trying to slice a slippery squash is a terrifyingly bad idea.

Now that you’ve scrubbed and dried your squash you’ll need to slice it and scoop out the seeds/guts. Depending on the size of your toaster oven, you may have a few options.

Boats vs. Slices?

If you have a smaller toaster oven, like our little Oster, it may be easiest to make two “boats” with the squash.

Two halves of delicata squash cooking in a small toaster oven.

To make the boats slice the squash in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds with a spoon.

With a larger toaster oven, like our Breville Smart Oven Pro (BOV845BSS), you’ll have enough room to spread out slices of the delicata squash if you want. The slices make a fun snack and are great for adding to sandwiches, salads, and wraps.

To make the slices cut the squash in half widthwise. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and slice into ½-inch pieces.

Seasoned slices of delicata squash in a bowl

Once you have sliced and seeded your squash, place it on the prepared pan or in a bowl (for the slices) and drizzle with oil. Use your fingers to rub the oil across all of the exposed flesh, then season with salt and pepper.

If you’re cooking the boats place them with the flesh facing the pan and skin facing outward. The slices just need to be in an even layer, otherwise, they’ll steam (instead of roast) if they’re overlapping.

Roast the delicata squash for 15 to 20 minutes for the slices and 20 to 25 minutes for the boats.

Roasted slices of delicata squash in a toaster oven.

If you’re cooking the slices, halfway into the cooking time, flip them with a fork or tongs. You’ll want to be a little careful here, the squash is delicate during cooking.

How To Tell If The Squash Is Ready

  • The halves or “boats” will be ready when a fork easily slides into the back of the squash.
  • The slices will be ready when they are lightly browned and tender.
Cooked delicata squash boats on a toaster oven baking sheet.

There’s no bad way to enjoy your roasted Delicata squash. It’s great in a salad, stuffed with quinoa salad, added to a cheesy toaster oven quesadilla, or just warm from the oven.

More Tasty Toaster Oven Vegetable Recipes

Closeup of roasted squash rings on a baking pan.

Toaster Oven Delicata Squash

Yield: 2 people
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Delicata squash is the easiest squash to cook in a toaster oven. Roast sweet and creamy slices or make “boats” for stuffing. 

Ingredients

  • 1 Delicata Squash, scrubbed clean and towel dried
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons Olive Oil or Avocado Oil
  • Salt and Black Pepper

Instructions

  1. Adjust your toaster oven’s cooking rack to the bottom placement and preheat to 425F on the Bake setting. Lightly oil a roasting pan or line with a silicone baking mat. 
  2. To make boats: Slice squash in half lengthwise and scrape out seeds.
  3. To make slices: Cut the squash in half widthwise, scoop out seeds and slice into ½-inch pieces.
  4. Place squash on the prepared pan and drizzle with oil. Use your hands to rub the oil onto all exposed flesh and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  If cooking full halves place them interior side down on the pan.
  5. Roast squash at 425 F until fork tender and caramelized, about 15 minutes for the slices and 20 to 25 mins for the boats.
  6. For the slices, after about 10 minutes of cook time, carefully flip them with a fork to ensure browning on both sides.
  7. The “boats” will be ready when a fork easily slides into the back of the squash.

Notes

Nutritional Information is an estimate for a serving of 4.5 ounces of cooked squash.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: Half of recipe
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 91Total Fat: 0.8gSaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 6.5mgCarbohydrates: 22.5gFiber: 3.2gProtein: 1.7g

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2 Comments

  1. What great ideas for squash, I especially love the quesadillas. I have never had delicata squash, never even seen them in Germany, but I was told their taste is pretty similar to butternut squash. Maybe I should make the quesadillas using that. 🙂

    1. Hey, friend! I’d say the delicata is a little closer to an acorn squash at least in terms of ease of prep. A few pieces of thinly sliced acorn squash would make a good substitute but imagining any cooked squash stuffed in a quesadilla sounds pretty good, lol.

      Oh yeah, any kind of beans work too (we use kidney and pinto beans all the time) I remember you mentioned cooked black beans aren’t as easy to come by in Germany.

      I hope you and you’re family are enjoying a beautiful autumn (and squash season!) this year 🙂