Parmesan Butternut Squash (with Lemon and Thyme)

This Parmesan Butternut Squash has added flavor from lemon and thyme, and this is a delicious way to celebrate fall. And if you really like the flavor of Parmesan, go ahead and use a bit more cheese!

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I love this Parmesan Butternut Squash that’s roasted with olive oil, lemon, and thyme. And I’m a huge fan of butternut squash even if it’s a bit of a splurge on carbs! Definitely it’s one of my favorite winter comfort foods, something I learned about from my Grandma Denny who was a fabulous cook.

And if you’re a carb-conscious eater like me who loves this delicious winter squash, you may be happy to hear that butternut squash has a lot of fiber, so this Parmesan Butternut Squash might be lower in net carbs than you think. I hope you’ll try the recipe if you’re a fellow lover of all things squash!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe with ingredient amounts.)

• large butternut squash
• fresh thyme leaves, or use 1 T Dried Thyme (affiliate link)
• Olive Oil (affiliate link)
• fresh-squeezed lemon juice, I used my fresh-frozen lemon juice
• coarsely grated parmesan cheese
• salt and fresh-ground black pepper to add at the table

Is Butternut Squash Hard to Cut Up?

I highly recommend buying a whole squash and cutting it up instead of those pricey pre-cut squash cubes that show up this time of year, and I shared tips for how to peel and cut up a butternut squash. But if cutting up the squash isn’t going to happen at your house, use the pre-cut squash! 

How high in carbs is the Parmesan Butternut Squash with Lemon and Thyme?

This tasty squash recipe has about 23 net carbs per serving.

How to Make Parmesan Butternut Squash (with Lemon and Thyme):

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. Preheat oven to 450F/220C.
2. Read about how to peel and cut up this type of squash if you haven’t done it.
3. Peel squash, then cut into pieces about an inch square.
4. Fresh thyme is great here, but if you use dried thyme I’d use less and crush it with a Mortar and Pestle (affiliate link) or something heavy
5. Mix together olive oil, lemon juice, and thyme, then put squash into a bowl and toss with that mixture.
6. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray (or mist with olive oil) and spread out squash cubes in a single layer with flat sides down.
7. Roast 30 minutes, then turn and roast about 15 minutes more.
8. Sprinkle with coarsely-grated Parmesan and put back in the oven for about 5 minutes more.
9. Serve Parmesan Butternut Squash hot, and wait for compliments!
10. Let each person season to taste with a little salt and fresh-ground black pepper as desired.

Make it a Meal:

Since Parmesan Butternut Squash is a bit of a splurge on carbs, I would serve it with one of these main dishes that are extra low in carbs:

• Apricot Glazed Pork Chops
• Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Breasts
• Artichoke Chicken Bake
• Janet’s Dijon Mustard Chicken
• Air Fryer Lamb Chops

Still hungry for butternut squash?

You can use Winter Squash to find all my recipes for this type of Autumn vegetable.

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Yield: 6 servings

Parmesan Butternut Squash (with Lemon and Thyme)

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

I love roasted butternut squash, and this Parmesan Butternut Squash is roasted with lemon and thyme and then finished with Parmesan, for such much amazing flavor! And if you're skeptical about the combination of butternut squash, Parmesan, and lemon, I promise it's amazing!

Ingredients

• 1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into pieces about 1 inch square (use a squash that's at least 4 lbs.)
• 2 T fresh thyme leaves (or use 1 T dried thyme)
• 3 T olive oil
• 1 T fresh squeezed lemon juice (see notes)
• 1/2 cup coarsely grated parmesan cheese (more or less to taste)
• salt and fresh-ground black pepper to add at the table

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450F/220C. Spray a large baking sheet with a little non-stick spray or mist with olive oil.
2. Peel the squash, then cut into pieces that are about an inch square. (Read my step-by-step instructions for how to peel and cut up a butternut squash if you haven't done it. )
3. Wash the thyme leaves if needed and pat dry with paper towel, then chop with chef's knife. If you only have dried thyme, use half as much and crush it with a mortar and pestle or heavy knife.
4. Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, and thyme, then put squash cubes into a bowl and toss with that mixture.
5. Spread out the squash cubes on the baking sheet so they're in a single layer with flat sides down.
6. Roast for 30 minutes, then turn and roast for about 15 minutes more (or until squash is getting soft and is nicely browned.
7. Sprinkle with coarsely-grated Parmesan and put back in the oven for about 5 minutes more.
8. Serve hot, with salt and freshly-ground black pepper to add at the table as desired.

Notes

You could definitely replace fresh thyme with frozen thyme or use fresh-frozen lemon juice for this recipe.

This recipe created by Kalyn, and updated with greatly improved photos with help from Jake and Kara.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 218Total Fat 9.4gSaturated Fat 2.3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5.5gCholesterol 7.2mgSodium 260mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 9.9gSugar 6gProtein 5.2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

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Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Butternut squash does have fiber so this squash with Parmesan, lemon, and thyme has about 23 net carbs per serving. It would be approved for Phase 2 or. 3 of the original South Beach Diet, but use moderation for the higher-fat ingredients if you’re strictly following South Beach.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Winter Squash to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or ;on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe for Parmesan Butternut Squash was posted in 2008. It was updated with better photos in 2018 and last updated with more information in 2025.

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