When Molly Gilbert’s cookbook “Sheet Pan Suppers” (Workman, $15.95) was published in 2015, I fell in love with her one-dish meals, concoctions created on a single rimmed baking sheet. Of course, slow cookers can be one-pot culinary heroes, but I appreciate that sheet pan cookery creates dishes that aren’t slow-cooker soupy. 

This sheet pan dish got rave reviews from kids and adults alike.

Turkey Sausage with Acorn Squash and Red Onion weighs in with a lovely balance of tantalizing flavors.

Sweet turkey Italian sausages roast with skin-on slices of acorn squash and thin wedges of red onion.

Acorn squash takes on a lovely texture as well as welcome flavors from surrounding ingredients.

The squash and onions get a welcome amount of sweet caramelization, contrasting nicely with the juicy snap of the sausages. A thin coating of cheese (either grated Parmesan or for a sharper contrast, Asiago) melts atop it all during a last three minutes of broiling. Out of the oven, chopped dried cherries or cranberries add an additional bit of flavor harmony. End of intro

Turkey Sausage with Acorn Squash and Red Onions
Yield: 4 servings
1 medium-large acorn squash, halved, seeded, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices
1 medium-large red onion, halved top to bottom, cut into 1/2-inch crosswise slices or wedges
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste
5 sweet turkey Italian sausages, 15 to 16 ounces
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese or Asiago cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves
1/4 cup dried cranberries or cherries, coarsely chopped

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position. If possible in your oven, arrange a second rack about 8 inches from the broiler element. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.

2. On rimmed baking sheet, toss squash and onion with oil. Spread out into single layer (most important for squash to be flat on the pan, not so much for the onions). Season with salt and pepper. Add sausages. Place on center rack in preheated oven. Roast about 17 to 19 minutes, or until squash is tender.

3. Remove from oven. Adjust oven rack to 8-inches below broiler element if you didn’t do so in Step #1. Turn on broiler. Sprinkle cheese and sage over vegetables and place pan on rack under broiler. Broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle cranberries or cherries on top.