Chipotle Chicken Stuffed Brown Sugar Roasted Acorn Squash

{Adapted from Half Baked Harvest}

Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Serving Size: 4

Ingredients

2 acorn squash, halved and seeded
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Brown sugar
Salt
Pepper
1/2 pound rotisserie chicken
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
3 whole canned chipotle chilies in adobo, minced (use less for less heat)
2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup cooked couscous (or rice or quinoa or a mix of all three)
1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Brush the insides of each acorn squash with 2 tablespoons melted butter and then sprinkle on a little  brown sugar, salt and pepper. Place in roasting pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the flesh of the squash is fork tender. Remove from the oven and pour any remaining liquid into a bowl to be used with the chicken mixture.

In a medium size bowl combine the chicken, any leftover brown sugar liquid from the squash, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chipotle peppers, fresh cilantro, oregano, cumin, chili powder, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Mix the spinach, chicken, and cooked couscous together. Stuff with the acorn squash with the chicken mixture, top with shredded cheese and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and acorn squash is crisp. Sprinkle on the pankco bread crumbs the last couple minutes of baking. Bake until the bread crumbs are golden brown.

Enjoy!

I made the entire meal ahead of time. I just stopped before topping the squash with cheese. I put the stuffed squash in the fridge overnight, covered. When it was time to for dinner, I pulled the squash out, uncovered it and baked it  at 425 degrees F for 30ish minutes, or until it is warmed through. Added some cheese, let it melt, then added the bread crumbs.

{photo via Half Baked Harvest}