Beef, Bacon & Butternut Squash Bowl (Paleo)

Kyra Williams for The Upside Blog

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An alternative to plain mashed potatoes, this vibrant, fall-inspired recipe makes for a delicious side dish and can even be eaten as a main entrée. Start with a base of sweet butternut squash combined with caramelized onions and dried parsley. Mix in some crispy bacon and grass-fed beef for a hot, paleo-friendly meal (or side dish) that you’ll love!

Paleo Mashed Butternut Squash with Bacon and Beef | Vitacost.com/Blog

Ingredients

1 butternut squash
1 lb. grass-fed beef
6 bacon strips
2 red onions, quartered
4 Tbsp. coconut oil
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Cut butternut squash in half lengthwise.
  2. In baking dish, place both halves facedown and fill with 1/4-in. water. Bake about 45 minutes or until squash is fully tender, then remove seeds and scoop out guts into bowl and set aside.
  3. In deep frying pan, heat coconut oil and add onions. Cook over medium heat until caramelized.
  4. While squash and onions cook, fry bacon. Remove from pan and break into tiny pieces. Set aside.
  5. Cook beef in leftover bacon grease or just enough grease to coat the pan.
  6. In giant bowl, mash squash with salt, pepper and parsley. Mix in beef and bacon and serve with onions on top.

Cooking tip: Instead of baking the butternut squash, cut into chunks and boil until tender

Kyra Williams

Kyra Williams hasn’t always been fit. She used to be quite the opposite, in fact. During her college years, she lived on pizza and beer and packed on an unhealthy amount of pounds, due to total inactivity. One day, something clicked, and Kyra knew it was time to lose the weight. Since that time, she’s fallen so in love with fitness that she’s made it her life’s work to help others to make the changes they need to become fit, active and healthy.

Kyra is a self-employed, NASM-certified online personal trainer and nutrition expert, Crossfit Level One Trainer, USA Weightlifting and USA Powerlifting Coach, and she’s helped women all over the world through her online training services and training programs. For more info or to connect with Kyra, visit kyrawilliamsfitness.com.