
Loaded Acorn Squash
Serves 4-6 | Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 45 minutes
Recipe by Mariah Reil, MS, RD, LN
Ingredients:
2 acorn squash
1 tbsp olive oil
½ onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb lean, Reil Ranch grass-fed ground beef
1 container baby bella mushrooms (about 1-2 cups)
¼ cup dried cranberries
½ cup low sodium beef or chicken broth
½ tsp rosemary
½ tsp sage
1 tsp black pepper
½ cup pecans
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450. Slice squash in half and discard seeds/inside. Drizzle insides with olive oil.
- Bake facing down for 20-25 minutes. Scoop out and set aside.
- In a large pan, sauté onion and garlic until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add ground beef and cook through.
- Add mushrooms, dried fruit, broth, and spices and cook until the mushrooms are soft, about 5-8 minutes.
- Add the inner squash and pecans and stir to incorporate.
- Scoop stuffing into the squash boats and sprinkle with cheese.
- Bake at 450 for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.
Grass-fed beef can be an easy choice to work towards consuming more important nutrients. In addition to Omega-3 fatty acids, grass-fed beef also contains a greater amount of Conjugated-Linoleic Acid. CLA is an important type of Omega-6 fatty acid. However, it is sometimes difficult to get from diet alone. Choosing grass-fed beef over conventional beef can be one way to include more CLA in your diet. Studies have shown that people who consume greater amounts of CLA have a reduced risk of certain diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, and certain forms of cancer. Try this tasty recipe, filled with nutrients that the whole family will enjoy!