This thick, fall-inspired stew pairs sweet Italian sausage with the velvety, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness of slow-cooked butternut squash. Whiskey lends a subtle sweetness without added sugar, while the sausage and crushed red pepper flakes bring just enough heat to keep things interesting. Tossed with aromatic fennel seeds and a classic Italian herb seasoning mix, every spoonful of this delicious one-pot stew is pure, rustic warmth.
I know, I know; another butternut squash soup recipe. Well, not exactly. Technically, it’s a butternut squash stew recipe. So how is this stew recipe different than all of the other soup recipes? Well, to begin with, I used a red onion instead of the sweet yellow onion I traditionally use in most soup, chili, stew, and chowder recipes. Followed by using a little bit of flour as a thickener instead of adding potato, rice, or pasta. Y’all, that right there is why I consider this stew a stew instead of a soup. The flour is what gives this stew its stew-like appearance and texture.
And then, of course, because it’s me and y’all know just how much I like to sneak a little bit of alcohol into recipes for flavor, there’s a wee bit of whiskey. Or should I say a generous amount of whiskey? Sure, I’ve used whiskey in soup and stew recipes before; however, it’s not an ingredient I regularly tend to reach for. And finally, there’s the seasonings. Instead of just adding salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, I also added a generous teaspoon of fennel seeds and a little bit of crushed red pepper flakes, followed by more crushed red pepper flakes when serving.
The result? A thick, hearty stew that isn’t overly rich. Yes, there’s the sweetness from the whiskey and the Italian sausage, but honestly, the tender butternut squash and seasoning help balance everything else out. Now, is this a 100% healthy recipe? No. However, there is zero heavy whipping cream, butter, or cheese anywhere to be seen. Not that I’m saying those would be a bad thing to add to this stew. You do you. But as far as I’m concerned, this bowl of warm fall-inspired deliciousness is pretty gosh darn perfect all on its own.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Pound Sweet Italian Sausage
- 1 Large Red Onion, Peeled & Finely Diced
- 1 Teaspoon Finely Ground Sea Salt
- 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Whiskey
- 1 (32-oz.) Carton Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
- 6 Cups Peeled & Chopped Butternut Squash (See Suggestions)
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No Salt)
- 1 Teaspoon Fennel Seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (Additional for Serving)
Directions:
- Place the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the sausage. Sauté the sausage for 5 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon to break it up.
- Add the diced red onion and the salt. Sauté for 7 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the flour. Stir constantly for 2 minutes.
- Slowly and carefully add the whiskey. Stir constantly for 2 minutes. Stir well to scrape any flour off the bottom of the pot.
- Slowly add the chicken broth. Stir well to scrape any flour off the bottom of the pot.
- Add the remaining ingredients, stir well to combine, and bring to a simmering boil.
- Once the stew reaches a simmering boil, stir again, cover with a lid, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with additional crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Suggestions:
- You can use either sausage links or loose sausage for this recipe. If you are using sausage links, use a sharp knife to slice down the casing. Peel the casing off each sausage link, then discard it.
- One large red onion should yield about 1 1/4 cups of peeled, finely diced onion. A little more or less won’t make a huge difference.
- I used Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey for this recipe. If you don’t want to use whiskey, you can replace it with apple juice, apple cider, or additional chicken broth.
- Two small butternut squash, weighing about 2 pounds combined, will yield enough for this recipe. A little more or less won’t make a huge difference. Chop the squash into bite-sized pieces of uniform size so they cook evenly.
- Use this Homemade Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No-Salt) for this recipe. If you are using a store-bought Italian herb seasoning that contains salt, you may wish to reduce the amount of salt used in this recipe.
- This recipe will yield 4 bowls of stew.
Improvements:
- Use Hot Italian Sausage for this recipe.
- Add 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream to the stew.
- Wilt fresh spinach into the stew before serving.
- Serve topped with grated Parmesan or Cheddar.
- CLICK HERE to see all of our other amazing soup, chili, stew, and chowder recipes. Make sure to check out all of our other Stew Recipes.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tablespoon Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Pound Sweet Italian Sausage
- 1 Large Red Onion, Peeled & Finely Diced
- 1 Teaspoon Finely Ground Sea Salt
- 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Whiskey
- 1 (32-oz.) Carton Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
- 6 Cups Peeled & Chopped Butternut Squash (See Suggestions)
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No Salt)
- 1 Teaspoon Fennel Seeds
- 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (Additional for Serving)
Directions:
- Place the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the sausage. Sauté the sausage for 5 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon to break it up.
- Add the diced red onion and the salt. Sauté for 7 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the flour. Stir constantly for 2 minutes.
- Slowly and carefully add the whiskey. Stir constantly for 2 minutes. Stir well to scrape any flour off the bottom of the pot.
- Slowly add the chicken broth. Stir well to scrape any flour off the bottom of the pot.
- Add the remaining ingredients, stir well to combine, and bring to a simmering boil.
- Once the stew reaches a simmering boil, stir again, cover with a lid, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with additional crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
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Use this Homemade Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No-Salt) to make this Italian Sausage & Whiskey Butternut Squash Stew. Making your own Italian herb seasoning mix is a real game-changer, especially when there is no salt added. Not only does it give you the ability to control the salt content in your recipes, but it also allows you to customize the blend of herbs and spices to your liking. If you’re crazy about garlic, add more garlic powder. If you prefer food a little bit spicier, add additional crushed red pepper flakes. The best part about this homemade seasoning is that it only takes a few minutes to make and can be stored for use in all of your favorite Italian recipes. CLICK HERE for the recipe.
Is there anything better than coming inside from the cold to the smell of a simmering pot of butternut squash soup on the stove? Whether you’re craving a hearty, chunky version packed with earthy goodness or you’re longing for a velvety, smooth bowl of soup, destined to be paired with a perfectly gooey grilled cheese, we’ve got you covered. In this recipe round-up, you’ll find the best butternut squash soup recipes, guaranteed to chase away the chill, while filling your home with an irresistible aroma this fall and winter. CLICK HERE for the recipes.
In 2024, we cooked and baked our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, we shared a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December. CLICK HERE to find all of the 2024 Alphabet Challenge recipes.
In 2025, we cooked and baked our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, we shared a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December. CLICK HERE to find all of the 2025 Alphabet Challenge recipes.
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While store-bought boxed stuffing mixes offer a convenient quick-fix addition to any holiday meal, elevating them with a few simple ingredients can help transform them into a mouthwatering side dish your entire family will look forward to. With the addition of whiskey-soaked golden raisins, dried parsley, dried minced onion, finely ground black pepper, and crunchy diced celery, you’re sure to impress your guests with this easy and delicious baked stuffing side dish this holiday season.
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You really don’t need a mile-long list of ingredients to take a classic bowl of creamy puréed butternut squash soup from ho-hum to absolutely swoon-worthy. The secret to unlocking a five-star-worthy butternut squash soup lies in a generous splash of whiskey and a rich swirl of heavy cream. The whiskey lends a subtle, smoky sweetness that makes you wonder why you ever made it any other way, and the cream? Well, it turns the whole thing into a decadent bowl of pure, velvety comfort. After one spoonful, you’ll never look at butternut squash soup the same way again.
In 2026, we’ll be cooking and baking our way through the alphabet with several of our food blogger friends. Every other Wednesday, for the 2026 Alphabet Challenge, we’ll be sharing a new recipe featuring a consecutive letter of the alphabet, starting with A in January and ending with Z in December.
“A” – Homemade Apple & Whiskey Barbecue Sauce
“B” – Small-Batch Blue Cheese Dip with Dried Herbs
“C” – Dill Pickle & Mustard Seed Cream Cheese Spread
“D” – Parmesan & Cheddar Pimento Corn Chip Dip
“E” – Whipped Feta Lemon Zest & Basil Deviled Eggs
“F” – Lemony Potato & Fennel Rotisserie Chicken Soup
“G” – Chunky Garlic Stuffed Olive Deviled Eggs
“H” – Creamy Cilantro Herb Caribbean Potato Salad
“I” – Sun Dried Tomato Italian Dipping Oil for Bread
“J” – Jerk Seasoned Caribbean Honey Mustard Sauce
“K” – Spicy Cheddar Krispies Crackers (Rice Krispies)
“L” – Deviled Eggs with Lemon Caper Remoulade
“M” – Mexican Green Chile Pimento Cheese Dip
“N” – Smoky Southwestern Seasoning (No-Salt)
“O” – BBQ Deviled Eggs with Crispy Fried Onions
“P” – Southwestern Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
“Q” – Fresh Summer Corn & Zucchini Sausage Quiche
“R” – Mild Curry Chicken Salad with Diced Red Apples
“S” – Buttery Deviled Eggs with Celery & Shrimp
“T” – Butternut Squash, Thyme, Ham, & Wild Rice Soup
“U” – Fall Pear Ugly Duckling Cake (Cake Mix Recipe)
“V” – Kale Macaroni & Cheese with Balsamic Vinegar
“W” – Italian Sausage & Whiskey Butternut Squash Stew
Please make sure to check out the other great “W” recipes below. A huge thanks to A Day in the Life on the Farm for hosting this 2026 Alphabet Challenge event.
- Alcohol White Christmas Cake by Sneha’s Recipe
- Creamy White Bean Pesto Dip by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Grilled Buffalo Wings by Blogghetti
- Italian Sausage & Whiskey Butternut Squash Stew by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Levain-Style Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Pahadi Mooli Ki Kadhi by Mayuri’s Jikoni
- Vintage Avocado-Orange Fruit Dip by A Messy Kitchen
- Watermelon Quinoa Salad with Lime & Chilli Vinaigrette by Sizzling Tastebuds
- White Bean Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Windfall Apple Tart by Food Lust People Love
- Wurst-Mania: All About German Sausages by Culinary Cam
