Maple-Glazed Chicken with Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese, & Pecans

Tonight, I was jonesing to make a new recipe, and came across a delicious-sounding seasonal recipe for Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese, & Pecans in my Complete Vegetarian Cookbook. Along with it, I made up a recipe for Baked Maple-Glazed Chicken that ended up being a perfect accompaniment to the squash. If you’re looking for a delicious fall-inspired recipe, give this a shot. You’ll be glad you did!
Oven-Roasted Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese, & Pecans
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. butter, melted
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/2 tsp. fresh-ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1/3 c. crumbled goat cheese
- 1/3 c. pecans, toasted and crushed
- 2 tsp. thyme
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425º F.
- Remove the skin from the butternut squash, halve, and de-seed.
- Cut squash into 1/2″ thick half-moon pieces.
- Arrange squash pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush squash with butter, salt, and pepper.
- Bake squash for 20-25 minutes, rotate the baking sheet, and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes.
- Flip each squash piece, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until tender and browned.
- Transfer squash pieces to a platter or plates, and drizzle each with syrup, goat cheese, and pecans.
Baked Maple-Glazed Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1 tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Directions
- Combine syrup, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and pepper. Add chicken and marinate for 2-3 hours in the refrigerator, flipping over mid-way through.
- Preheat oven to 400º F.
- Place chicken on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip each breast over and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until done and the juices run clear.
- Meanwhile, add the rest of the marinade to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, bringing to a simmer. Reduce the marinade by about half of the original amount.
- When the chicken is done, drizzle with the maple reduction and top with parsley, if desired.
Wrapping Up
Even though these two dishes take a bit of time to prep and make, the end result is definitely worth it. I recommend pairing these dishes with some Broiled Parmesan Green Beans, or perhaps some Oven-Roasted Brussel Sprouts – whatever sounds best to you.
Bon Appétit!