Sausage & Butternut Squash Skillet makes for a wonderful dinner during the fall and winter. The combination of warming spices, butternut squash and sweet Italian sausage creates a recipe that’s heartwarming and healthy–not to mention, low-carb and paleo too!
DID YOU KNOW? Butternut squash has over four times the recommended daily value of vitamin A and over half the recommended intake of vitamin C in just one serving!
Vitamin A has the ability to fight diseases like cancer and autoimmune disorders, it can also help prevent the common cold and other infections. Part of how it protects against such a large number of infections and diseases is because vitamin A reduces inflammation, which is at the root of most diseases.
Inflammation is generally caused by an overactive immune system that attacks more than it should. Vitamin A helps to keep your immune system in balance therefore reducing inflammation.
In addition, butternut squash contains high amounts of vitamin C, anothercommon immune system booster that not only helps prevent and treat colds, but also lessens or inhibits the development of more serious conditions from common infections.
Consider adding more butternut squash to your diet to help boost vitamin A & C. Try this yummy Sausage & Butternut Squash skillet.
What you need for Sausage & Butternut Squash Skillet
Sweet Italian sausage (find pastured pork sausage here)
Butternut squash
Chicken broth
Onion
Garlic
Fresh sage
Fennel seed
Ground cloves or ground allspice
Crushed red pepper
Ground nutmeg
Avocado oil
Sea salt & black pepper
Want more wholesome squash recipes? You’re going to love these …
Sausage & Butternut Squash Skillet makes for a wonderful dinner during the fall and winter. The combination of warming spices, butternut squash and sweet Italian sausage creates a recipe that's heartwarming and healthy--not to mention, low-carb and paleo too!
1 1/2poundsbutternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes*
1largeonion, chopped
4clovesgarlic, sliced
1tsp.crushed red pepper
1/4tsp.ground nutmeg
1/2cuporganic chicken broth
Sea salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
In a medium bowl, mix sausage, finely chopped sage, fennel seed, cloves/all spice and ground black pepper.
In a large skillet with a lid, heat oil over medium-high. Add the sausage mixture and cook, breaking into large pieces until browned.
Add the squash, onion, garlic, crushed red pepper, nutmeg and coarsely chopped sage; season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add broth and cover. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender, 18 to 20 minutes.
Notes
* TIME SAVER: You can find containers of peeled and cubed butternut squash at most grocery stores.
Shrimp Pad Thai is absolutely delicious and will soon be one of your favourite weekly dishes! This recipe combines shrimp with spaghetti squash noodles, vegetables for texture and flavor, and is coated with the most delicious creamy lime almond butter sauce! It’s gluten & grain free, paleo and low-carb.
Quick fact about me … I had a BIG crush on Pad Thai during my university days–and since I lived in Toronto at that time, I always gravitated towards Thai restaurants when I ate out. To this date, there’s just something about the combo of spices and flavours in Thai cuisine that I find magical!
Unfortunately, when I changed my diet to better serve my body, Pad Thai was one of the dishes I had to give up (teardrop).
Luckily, I eventually realized that I didn’t really need to give up my favourite dishes in order to feel good, I just needed to get creative and modify them. Ergo, I created this flavourful paleo version of Pad Thai that I could easily make whenever a craving hits–and let me tell you, I’ve made this recipe way more times than I can count!
Typical take-out Pad Thai can be loaded with lots of unwanted ingredients – crappy oils, sugar, MSG, and lots of sodium. However, this healthy Shrimp Pad Thai is made with shrimp, eggs, veggies, and uses spaghetti squash noodles instead of rice noodles to keep it lower carb & paleo.
Check out this delicious Shrimp Pad Thai with simple and clean ingredients. It’s one of my favourite recipes to date!
Want more healthy Asian recipes? You’re going to love these …
Shrimp Pad Thai is absolutely delicious and will soon be one of your favourite weekly dishes! This recipe combines shrimp with spaghetti squash noodles, vegetables for texture and flavor, and is coated with the most delicious creamy lime almond butter sauce! It's gluten & grain free, paleo and low-carb.
2tbsp.pine nuts or crushed almonds, lightly toasted
Instructions
Cut spaghetti squash lengthwise and remove seeds. Bake at 400 for 30-40 min. Fork should pierce skin easily when squash is cooked. Use a fork to scrape out the strands of squash. Set aside. (I suggest preparing the other ingredients as the squash cooks).
Finely chop carrots and green onion by hand or in a food processor. Set aside.
Using a large pan over medium heat, sauté garlic and ginger in 1 tbsp. avocado oil until fragrant. Add carrots, onion and enoki mushrooms and continue to cook until carrots are tender. Season with salt.
Create a space in the middle of the pan, add eggs and scramble with fork. Mix in with vegetables and let cook for 1-2 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine all sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Turn heat to low, add cooked spaghetti squash and sauce into pan and mix all ingredients together until sauce coats everything.
Add in cooked shrimp (see instructions below) and gently combine all ingredients until warm.
Plate the Pad Thai and garnish with nuts and cilantro.
Shrimp: (can be cooked at the same time as Pad Thai)
In a separate pan, cook shrimp in 1 tbsp avocado oil over medium heat. Season with salt and black pepper. Turn shrimp halfway through cooking.
Once shrimp are cooked, set aside until ready to add to the other pan.
Notes
*You can easily replace shrimp with chicken if you'd like. Just cut 1lb of chicken breasts or thighs (boneless, skinless) into bite-sized pieces and cook as you would the shrimp.
Burgers with Portobello “Buns” are the perfect healthy & low-carb food that can be enjoyed all year round! These burgers are also keto & paleo–and can be made AIP friendly with a couple modifications.
Fire up the BBQ or bust out the stove top pan for these juicy Burgers with Portobello “Buns”! They’re the perfect low-carb, keto & paleo burger!
Serve these burger patties open-faced or sandwich them between two portobello “buns”. Grab onto these delicious burgers with your hands or enjoy them with a fork and knife.
Dress up your burger with your favourite condiments and toppings OR give my easy smoked paprika mayo a try (see this easy recipe below).
If you’re looking for an AIP friendly burger omit the yellow mustard inside the burger patty and avoid the smoked paprika mayo topping.
Enjoy these delicious burgers with any of these healthy sides …
Burgers with Portobello "Buns" are the perfect healthy & low-carb food that can be enjoyed all year round! These juicy burgers are also keto & paleo--and can be made AIP friendly with a couple modifications.
4-8portobello mushrooms, depending on whether you want open-faced or sandwiched burgers
1tbsp.avocado oil
Sea salt & black pepper, to taste
Easy Smoked Paprika Mayo
3tbsp.avocado oil mayo, I use Chosen Foods
1/2tsp.smoked paprika
Instructions
Burger Patties
Add carrot, onion, garlic, yellow mustard, sea salt and black pepper into a food processor and process until ingredients are finely chopped.
In a bowl, combine ground beef with ingredients from food processor.
Form 4-5 burger patties using your hands. Once you've flatted the meat, press your finger into the center to form an indent in your patty (this will help cook the inside of the burger).
Cook burgers on stove top over medium heat, flipping occasionally. Cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the burger (~ 15 minutes). You can also cook your burgers on the BBQ.
Portobello Mushrooms
While burgers are cooking, remove stems from portobello mushrooms and place in a large stove top pan with oil.
Cover and cook over medium heat, flipping occasionally. Water from mushrooms should release into pan, preventing the mushrooms from burning. If there is not enough liquid, add a splash of white wine, lemon juice or water.
Once mushrooms have cooked for 10-minutes, remove lid and let any remaining juices cook off. Season with sea salt and black pepper.
Place cooked burger patties on top of portobello mushrooms, top with smoked paprika mayo (or other condiments/toppings) and close off with another portobello mushroom or leave it open-faced.
Smoked Paprika Mayo (optional)
Add mayo and smoked paprika into a small bowl and mix until ingredients are blended well.
Notes
If you're cooking the burger patties on the BBQ, feel free to cook the portobello mushrooms on the BBQ too.Need an AIP friendly burger? Omit the yellow mustard inside the burger patty and avoid the smoked paprika mayo topping.
This Quick “Spaghetti” Bolognese is so easy to make and absolutely delicious! All you need is a handful of wholesome ingredients like spaghetti squash, ground beef, tomato passata & garlic. It’s a hearty & quick week night or weekend meal. Gluten & grain free, low-carb and paleo.
One of the dishes I missed most after going gluten & grain free was a nice big bowl of spaghetti. It truly was a heartbreaking moment in my life and it took every ounce of willpower I had to turn down pasta of any kind – especially when Nonna had anything to do with it!
Life got a little easier when I wrapped my head around this thing called a “spaghetti squash” – and eventually I saw the light again once I mastered this pale yellow oval vegetable/fruit!
I’m no longer deprived of one of my favourite childhood dishes – and can eat a giant bowl of this “spaghetti” without feeling “heavy” or bloated. ‘Spaghetti Sunday’ is officially back!
Nutrition facts: Spaghetti squash vs. real spaghetti
Real spaghetti– 43 grams of carbs/cup & 220 calories/cup
Spaghetti squash is a great alternative if;
you want to lose weight (lower carbs & calories + more nutrients = weight loss)
you have IBS or gut issues (since gluten and grains can aggravate symptoms)
you have diabetes (lower carb foods = better blood sugar levels)
you’re following a paleo, keto or low-carb diet
Give this light, satisfying and delicious Quick “Spaghetti” Bolognese recipe a try. It’s a ‘kiss your finger tips then toss them away from your lips’ kind of dish!
This Quick "Spaghetti" Bolognese is so easy to make and absolutely delicious! All you need is a handful of wholesome ingredients like spaghetti squash, ground beef, tomato passata & garlic. It's a hearty & quick week night or weekend meal. Gluten & grain free, low-carb and paleo.
Cut spaghetti squash lengthwise and remove seeds with spoon.
Bake at 400 for 30-40 min (first 10-min bake with flesh down, then turn so skin is down for remaining time). Fork should pierce skin easily when squash is cooked. Note: Cooking time varies depending on the size of the squash. Check regularly to avoid overcooking the squash. You want the noodles to be ‘al dente’. Time your spaghetti squash so that it’s done cooking around the same time as your sauce, so your noodles don’t cool.
Use a fork to scrape out the strands of squash.
Quick Bolognese Sauce
In a sauce pan, briefly sauté garlic and dried basil in olive oil over medium heat. If you are using fresh basil, add basil leaves in after step 2.
Add tomatoes and bring to a light boil for 5 minutes. Add salt to taste.
Bring to medium-low heat and let simmer for 20-minutes.
In a separate pan, cook ground beef over medium heat until lightly browned. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add tomato sauce into pan with beef and let ingredients cook together over medium-low heat for a few minutes.
Place quick bolognese sauce on top of spaghetti squash and enjoy!
Keyword dairy free, gluten free, grain free, grass fed beef, healthy italian recipes, Italian recipes, spaghetti squash, tomato sauce
Sloppy Joes with Sweet Potato “Buns” is made with whole & simple ingredients and free of added sugars. It’s a healthy gluten & grain free + paleo friendly dish. This comfort food classic will definitely be a hit with the whole family!
Are you looking for a gluten free and gut friendly replacement for buns or bread?
Sweet potato “buns” to the rescue!
Not only are sweet potato “buns” tasty, but this whole food is packed with nutrients that you won’t get from plain old bread.
There are so many classic dishes and sandwiches that you can easily transform into a healthy and gut-friendly alternative with a little help from these “buns”.
Try sweet potato “buns” with:
Sloppy Joes (see recipe below)
Burgers and sliders
Bacon, egg, lettuce & tomato sandwich (BELT)
Tuna sandwich
Pulled pork sandwich
Cut sweet potato into rounds (like I did for this recipe) OR lengthwise for larger “buns” and cook using the instructions below. Fill your sweet potato “buns” with yummy ingredients and grab it with your hands or dig in with a fork and knife – whatever your heart desires.
Sloppy Joes with Sweet Potato "Buns" is made with whole & simple ingredients and free of added sugars. It's a healthy gluten & grain free + paleo friendly dish. This comfort food classic will definitely be a hit with the whole family.
Heat avocado oil in pan then add onion and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 5-minutes or until onions become soft.
Add garlic and beef. Break a part beef and cook until beef is no longer pink.
In a separate bowl mix sauce ingredients together then add mixture to pan with beef. Add sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Let cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally. You can also lower the temperature and let cook for longer to get more flavour out of this dish.
Serve in-between sweet potato buns.
Sweet potato "buns"
Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch rounds with the peel intact.
Place sweet potato rounds in a single layer on baking sheet, brush both sides with oil and sprinkle with sea salt.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Flip halfway through baking time.
Pumpkin Chili is a hearty, paleo friendly and low-carb chili with a unique combination of pumpkin, zucchini, warming spices and cocoa. Your palate will be pleasantly surprised at how well these flavours come together.
You have the option of using either beef or turkey in this recipe–both work really well. Also, feel free to swap out canned pumpkin for roasted pumpkin OR if you don’t have any pumpkin on hand, you can use butternut squash, acorn squash or another similar squash.
So, if you’re a fan of chili and looking for a new recipe to test out on a cold fall or winter day, I highly recommend giving this non-traditional chili a try!
Would love to hear your thoughts on this recipe if you test it out. Just leave a comment below 🙂
Pumpkin Chili is a hearty, paleo friendly and low-carb chili with a unique combination of pumpkin, zucchini, warming spices and cocoa. Your palate will be pleasantly surprised at how well these flavours come together. You have the option of using either beef or turkey in this recipe--both work really well.
My mission is to help women heal their gut, lose weight and feel great through simple and delicious smoothies, whole food nutrition & healthy lifestyle habits.
