Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice & Cranberries

Posted by Casey on Nov 30th 2025

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice & Cranberries

A hearty fall dish featuring grass-fed beef and local seasonal ingredients

Serves: 4 | Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 45 minutes

This recipe showcases TC Farm's grass-fed ground beef paired with seasonal acorn squash and wild rice for a wholesome, locally-sourced meal.


A wholesome fall favorite that brings together the best of Minnesota's harvest season. Roasted acorn squash halves are filled with a savory mixture of wild rice, grass-fed ground beef, dried cranberries, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for cozy autumn dinners, and easily adaptable for vegetarians by swapping mushrooms for the beef. 

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup wild rice
  • 5 cups salted water - for cooking wild rice
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries - chopped
  • 3 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 acorn squash
  • 1/2 large onion - diced
  • 1 lb TC Farm ground beef
  • 3-4 garlic cloves - minced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2-3 tbsp butter (for squash)
For a veggie version: substitute equal parts mushrooms for ground beef

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Cook wild rice in salted water - simmer 45 minutes
  3. Cut acorn squash in half, place cut side down in a large glass pan with 1/2 inch water - bake for 40 minutes or until soft
  4. Chop dried cranberries and soak in apple cider vinegar
  5. Cook ground beef, then add onions, garlic and seasonings. Continue to cook until onions are soft and translucent
  6. Once wild rice is cooked, strain and add to the ground beef mixture along with the cranberries and the apple cider vinegar soak
  7. Remove cooked squash from pan, drain water, and return squash to pan - cut side up. Fluff squash with a fork and add butter
  8. Add the filling to the squash halves ontop of the fluffed squash
  9. Broil for 1-2 minutes
  10. Serve & enjoy!

Check out our other favorite preparations in our recipe collection, or try our ready-to-eat meals if you want that home-cooked taste without the work!