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Home » Recipes » Cheesy Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

Cheesy Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

By: Liz  /  Published: October 19, 2020  /  Updated: October 19, 2020  /   Leave a comment

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This shop has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RalstonGoldenRecipe

This Cheesy Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash makes the perfect appetizer or side dish for Thanksgiving. The sweetness of the acorn squash pairs perfectly with the nutty, savory cheese, rice and bacon.

cookie sheet with cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash

Ingredients for Cheesy Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

  • Ralston Family Farms™ Golden Rice, 24 oz.
  • 2 acorn squash
  • Dijon mustard
  • Garlic
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • Half-and-half (Can also use cream or milk)
  • Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • Cooked, crumbled bacon

ingredients for cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash

How to make the best baked acorn squash 

Step by step instructions on how to make oven-baked acorn squash in recipe card below.

Start by cooking the Ralston Family Farms Golden Rice. It’s easy! Add the measured rice and water to the saucepan, bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer for about 15 minutes until rice is tender and water is absorbed.

boiling Ralston Family Farms Golden Rice on stove

Remove the rice from the heat and let sit for 5 or 10 minutes and you’ll have the fluffiest, most delicious rice.

rice in bowl next to rice box

Cut each acorn squash in half . You may need to slice off a small section of the bottom to ensure it will lay flat in the baking dish. Scoop out all the seeds and fibers from the center.

acorn squash with and without seeds

Next, start layering the ingredients.

  1. Baste the inside of the acorn squash with Dijon mustard and sprinkle with garlic.
  2. Spoon in the cooked Ralston Family Farms Golden rice.
  3. Add half of the cheese.
  4. Pour in half-and-half, cream or milk.
  5. Add remainder of the cheese.
  6. Sprinkle on crumbled bacon.

how to make cheesy stuffed acorn squash

Now it’s time to bake the stuffed acorn squash and since it needs to be covered tightly with foil, you’ll want to use a baking dish with higher sides to help keep the foil from touching and sticking to the cheese.

bacon topping on cheese on acorn squash in casserole dish

Bake with foil on for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes. The squash will be fork-tender and all the cheesy rice goodness will blend together. 

Use tongs to carefully pick up and transfer the squash to your serving platter.

package of rice next to cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash

All that’s left to do is provide forks and dig in.

putting fork in stuffed acorn squash

Every bite should have some tender squash and cheesy rice filling in it.

cheese strings in stuffed acorn squash

Cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash can be served as appetizers or entrees — your choice!

cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash close-up

Stuffed acorn squash recipe variations and tips

Can I use another kind of cheese?

If you prefer, you could use Mozzarella or Swiss but they’re not quite as flavorful and melty-perfect as Gruyere.

Can I use instant rice or traditional rice?

Technically yes, but I promise you that using sustainably grown, milled and packaged Ralston Farms Golden Rice will make for a much creamier, more tender grain and an overall better taste experience. I really like the golden-nutty texture. Plus, it’s Non-GMO and has a shorter cooking time than traditional rice, making it as convenient as it is healthy. It’s great for quick after-work or school night meals.

Where can I find Ralston Farms Golden Rice?

Publix! They have the Golden Rice, Red Rice, Natures Blend Rice, Jasmine Rice and Basmati Rice varieties. 

Publix Limited Time offer BOGO: Buy one Ralston Family Farms Rice product and get one free from 10/29 through 11/6. Products: RFF Red Rice (16 oz) RFF Purple Rice (16 oz) RFF Golden Rice (24 oz) RFF Natures Blend Rice (24 oz) RFF Jasmine Rice (24 oz) RFF Basmati Rice (24 oz)

Ralston Family Farms Golden Light-Brown Rice

Can I add other ingredients?

Of course! Use sausage or ground beef in place of bacon, add diced zucchini, baste with olive oil instead of Dijon mustard and season with Herbes de Provence… the possibilities are endless.

One of my favorite recipe variations uses Thanksgiving leftovers. Add a bit of chopped turkey, stuffing and cranberries to the cheesy rice mixture for a memorable after-Thanksgiving meal.

Ralston Family Farms Golden Rice is absolutely perfect for fall recipes and even though Thanksgiving is still a month away, it’s never too early to make your recipe plans with Ralston Family Farms rice so take advantage of the following limited-time BOGO offer at Publix. (See my Thanksgiving recipe variation above.)

Buy one Ralston Family Farms Rice product and get one free from 10/29 through 11/6. Products: RFF Red Rice (16 oz) RFF Purple Rice (16 oz) RFF Golden Rice (24 oz) RFF Natures Blend Rice (24 oz) RFF Jasmine Rice (24 oz) RFF Basmati Rice (24 oz)

Ralston Family Farm Light-Brown Rice, Golden

cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash on cookie sheet

cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash on cookie sheet

Cheesy Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash

Liz - Eat Move Make
This cheesy rice stuffed acorn squash makes the perfect appetizer or side dish for Thanksgiving. The sweetness of the acorn squash pairs perfectly with the nutty, savory cheese, rice and bacon.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Entree
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 540 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 acorn squash
  • ½ cup Ralston Family Farms Golden Rice
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic minced fine
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups Gruyere cheese shredded
  • 1 cup half-and-half (may substitute cream or milk)
  • 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Prepare Ralston Family Farms Golden Rice according to package directions using 1/2 cup rice and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water.
  • Meanwhile, eat cut acorn squash in half and scoop out the inside fibers and seeds. You may need to cut the pointed bottom of the squash so that it can lay flat in the baking dish. Baste each of the four halves with the dijon mustard then sprinkle the garlic bits evenly into each half.
  • Start layering the ingredients for each half starting with about 2 heaping tablespoons rice, 2 heaping tablespoons cheese, 1/4 cup half-and-half, 2 more heaping tablespoons cheese and 1 strip crumbled bacon. (There may be some filling ingredients left depending on the size of your acorn squash.)
  • Place the acorn halves carefully into a baking dish with high sides so that you can cover the pan with foil tightly (leaving the foil tented so it doesn't stick to the cheese). Bake covered for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 30 minutes. Enjoy!
All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only and nutrition may vary according to exact products and the online nutrition calculator being used. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on EatMoveMake.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 23gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 677mgPotassium: 929mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1474IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 635mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

About Liz

Liz is a midwestern mom gone southern (accent in transition). She lives in North Carolina and loves cooking, baking, traveling, movies, crafts, hot and cold tea, wine, pizza and the occasional nap. She also revels in the fact she's a crazy cat lady.

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I’m Liz! Thank you for visiting Eat Move Make. Here you will find a collection of easy & delicious year-round recipes, seasonal ideas, and DIY craft inspiration. Visit my About Me page for more of my story.

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Hey there, i’m Liz!

I’m the founder of Eat Move Make and a North Carolina mom of two humans and six cats. I love to cook, bake, craft and travel. I’m also addicted to tea (but not sweet tea).

When I’m not creating something in my kitchen, and since my kids are now adults, I’m all about my bucket list of travel destinations and adventures.

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