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    Instant Pot Butternut Squash

    Allergy Friendly Recipes Budget Cooking Dairy-Free Recipes Gluten Free Instant Pot Instant Pot Side Dishes Plant Based Recipes Real Food Seasonal Side Dishes October 16, 2021 | By Kristen Chidsey | 9 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Preparing butternut squash in the Instant Pot is the easiest way to prepare perfectly cooked butternut squash. This method for steaming butternut squash is not only simple, but it is FAST as the squash becomes fork-tender in just minutes. Perfect to serve as a side dish, use as baby food, or use in any recipe that calls for pumpkin or squash puree.

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash is the easiest and fastest way to prepare perfectly cooked, soft, and tender butternut squash.

    Bowl of Instant Pot Butternut Squash Puree

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash

    Preparing butternut squash in the Instant Pot is the fastest way to prepare soft butternut squash.

    The moist heat that the Instant Pot uses to cook, steams the squash to perfection. All the nutrients are left inside the squash, instead of boiled out into the water. The flavor is intensified and the results are perfection--in less than 30 minutes!

    It is the perfect way to prepare butternut squash puree, baby food, or just a soft side dish.

    Selecting Butternut Squash

    You want to purchase a butternut squash that is uniform in color, without any deep cuts or bruises, and that feels heavy for its size. A few surface scratches are fine but do not purchase a squash that has deep punctures or cuts.

    Butternut Squash on White/Gray Counter.

    How to Cut Butternut Squash

    The hardest part about making butternut squash is cutting the squash. It can be a workout!

    The easiest way to cut the squash is to cut in half lengthwise and then cut each of those in half widthwise.

    Scoop out the seeds in the center cavity of the squash and then cut the thicker bottom halves in half again. This will leave you with a total of 6 sections that are similar in size.

    Butternut squash cut into 6 sections on a wooden cutting board.

    How to Cook Butternut Squash in Instant Pot

    The process of pressure cooking butternut squash could not be simpler.

    • Place cold water into the inner pot of your pressure cooker. It is always important to use cold liquid for accurate cook time when pressure cooking.
    • Place a the metal trivet/rack inside the inner pot, or use a steamer basket. And then place the cut squash onto the rack or in the basket.
    • Set to cook for 7 minutes on high pressure. After cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes before doing a quick release of any pressure.
    Cut butternut squash on inner rack inside instant pot.

    How to Serve

    Once the squash is done pressure cooking, you can simply serve the soft sections with a bit of butter and salt, and pepper.

    Or you can prepare a mash using the soft flesh of the squash. Simply scoop out the flesh of the squash into a large bowl and mash with a fork. For a smoother butternut squash puree, place the flesh of the squash into a blender and blend until smooth. Pro-Tip: Be sure to leave the lid of the blender cracked open to let steam escape when blending.

    • Butternut Squash being mashed with a fork in a glass bowl.
    • Butternut Squash puree in blender.

    Uses for Butternut Squash Puree

    I love to use this butternut squash puree in a variety of ways. It has such a mellow, slightly sweet flavor that it blends into chilis, soups, sauces, and even quesadillas with little detection--making it a great way to add some veggies into your diet!

    • Add ¼-1/2 cup to Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce. The sweetness of the squash will also help to balance out the acidity from the tomatoes.
    • Spread a thin layer of the puree on a tortilla and top with cheese for a cheesy quesadilla that everyone will love.
    • Add ¼-1/2 cup to Instant Pot Chili to add a sweet flavor and balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
    • Use the butternut squash puree in place of pumpkin puree in Pumpkin Muffins or Pumpkin Bread.
    • Stir into oatmeal and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar.
    • Mix ½ cup of puree with 1 to 2 cups of refried beans and use in Bean Burritos.

    Storage Instructions

    Butternut Squash Puree can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    If using as baby food, freeze the puree in ice cube trays until solid. Pop the frozen squash out of the ice cube tray and store it in a storage bag in the freezer, pulling out cubes as needed.

    More Butternut Squash Recipes

    • Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
    • Roasted Butternut Squash
    • Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
    • Twice Baked Butternut Squash
    • Vegetarian Butternut Squash Chili

    If you give this Instant Pot Squash recipe a try, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below!

    Mashed Instant Pot Butternut Squash in white bowl next to Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash

    Cooking butternut squash in the Instant Pot is not only simple, but it is FAST as the squash becomes fork-tender in just minutes.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegan
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes
    Pressure Build-Up and Release: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 27 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 56kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    • 1 butternut squash
    • 1.5 cups water
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Cut the squash in half lengthwise and then cut each of those in half widthwise, for a total of 4 sections. Scoop out the seeds in the center cavity of the squash. Cut the larger bottom 2 halves in half again, leaving you with a total of 6 sections that are similar in size.
    • Pour 1.5 cups of cold tap water into the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Add the metal rack/trivet or steamer basket to the inner pot.
    • Place the prepared squash on the trivet or in steamer basket.
    • Place the lid on the pressure cooker and be sure the vent knob is pointed towards sealed. Set the cook time for 7 minutes on high pressure. Hit manual/pressure cook and use +/- buttons to adjust until time reads 7.
    • Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10 minutes.
    • Serve sections with butter and seasonings. Alternatively, remove the flesh of the squash from the skin and place into a bowl to mash with a fork or place in the blender to blend until smooth.

    Equipment Needed

    • Electric Pressure Cooker (6 or 8 quart)
    • Steamer Basket for Instant Pot
    • or Instant Pot Rack

    Notes

    If using a blender to puree squash, be sure to leave the lid of the blender cracked open to let steam escape when blending. 
    Butternut Squash Puree can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
    If using as baby food, freeze the puree in ice cube trays until solid. Pop out frozen squash into a storage bag and pull out as desired. 
    When selecting a squash, look for one that is firm, uniform in color, devoid of large cracks or bruises, and feels heavier than it looks. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 56kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 440mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 13288IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!
    « Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake
    Stuffed Acorn Squash »

    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. MidwestLady

      November 07, 2020 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      Works like a charm! If your squash is freshly picked from a garden you may need to increase the minutes. Do not rush it. The slow release is important. Let it cool and scrape, then you can use the cooked squash for many recipes, see the info above.

      Reply
    2. Tara

      October 31, 2020 at 11:16 am

      5 stars
      Definitely plan to try all of your suggested uses for butternut squash and one more that will be such a help to our family: our bearded dragon eats butternut squash every three days and this is so much easier/faster than baking it and cheaper/less wasteful than buying it cubed in bags. Thank you!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        October 31, 2020 at 12:26 pm

        Oh what a great way to provide squash for your pet 🙂

        Reply
    3. Lisalia

      October 29, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and so easy to make. This was easier than buying a pre-packaged cut-up butternutsquash from Costco! Just perfect.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        October 30, 2020 at 7:06 am

        So glad this was so easy for you Lisalia!

        Reply
        • Dave

          October 15, 2021 at 9:01 pm

          How do you cut 4 quarters in half and only have 6 pieces?

          Reply
          • Kristen Chidsey

            October 16, 2021 at 8:19 am

            Hi Dave! I can see how that does not add up! However, the directions state to cut the squash in half and then each half in half--that leaves you with 4 pieces. 2 of the pieces (where there are no seeds) are smaller and don't need cut in half again. You just need to cut the 2 halves where the seeds are in half again. So that is 2+4 =6 But the way I worded it, was a bit hard to follow. I updated it to hopefully make it more clear.

            Reply
    4. Britni

      October 29, 2020 at 4:24 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for this! You made it so simple to get the perfect butternut squash!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        October 30, 2020 at 7:01 am

        So glad this recipe was simple and easy to follow for you!

        Reply

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    Preparing butternut squash in the Instant Pot is the easiest way to prepare perfectly cooked butternut squash. This method for steaming butternut squash is not only simple, but it is FAST as the squash becomes fork-tender in just minutes. Perfect to serve as a side dish, use as baby food, or use in any recipe that calls for pumpkin or squash puree.

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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    Preparing butternut squash in the Instant Pot is the easiest way to prepare perfectly cooked butternut squash. This method for steaming butternut squash is not only simple, but it is FAST as the squash becomes fork-tender in just minutes. Perfect to serve as a side dish, use as baby food, or use in any recipe that calls for pumpkin or squash puree.

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