Creamy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Mash with Sage & Pecans
This creamy slow cooker butternut squash mash is an easy, comforting holiday side dish featuring fresh sage and toasted pecans. Silky smooth and slightly sweet, it’s perfect for Thanksgiving, potlucks, or cozy family dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (slow cooker on LOW) or 2-3 hours (HIGH)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (LOW) or 2 hours 10 minutes (HIGH)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 lbs butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
- 2 tbsp fresh sage leaves, finely chopped, divided
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 1 to 1 1/4 tsp salt, to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Peel the butternut squash, remove seeds, and cube into 1-inch pieces (about 3 lbs total).
- Add cubed squash to a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Dot with 3 tbsp butter, sprinkle with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and half the chopped sage. Pour in the milk.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours, until squash is fork-tender.
- Drain excess liquid if needed. Add sour cream and remaining 1 tbsp butter. Mash with a potato masher or blend with an immersion blender until silky and smooth.
- While mash rests, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium. Add pecans and remaining sage; toast for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- Spoon mash into a serving bowl. Top with toasted pecans and sage. Drizzle with extra melted butter if desired.
Notes
For dairy-free or vegan, use vegan butter, coconut yogurt, and almond milk. For nut-free, skip pecans or use pumpkin seeds. Stir once during cooking for even texture. If mash is too thick, add a splash of milk; if too thin, let sit uncovered to steam off excess liquid. Toast pecans just before serving for best crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/2 cup per se
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 17
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 3
Keywords: butternut squash, slow cooker, holiday side, Thanksgiving, creamy mash, sage, pecans, vegetarian, gluten-free