23 Best Squash Recipes
If you thought you could only enjoy squash in the fall or wintertime, we encourage you to open your horizons and let squash into your life year-round. Sure, many of us associate squash as a Thanksgiving side dish, but the tasty gourd has more to offer than what may initially meet the eye. Believe it or not, you can do quite a bit with squash other than mashing it up or blending it into a soup; you can dice it, slice it, grill it, fry it, stuff it, and even shred it. We'd even venture as far as to say that squash is one of the most versatile foods out there, so long as you have a good repertoire of recipes.
Oh, you don't have a repertoire of gourdy recipes on hand? No worries, we've got you covered with some of our best squash recipes. Whether you're looking to liven up a salad or make yourself a comforting bowl of soup, these meals have no shortage of diversity. You'll also find an assortment of squashes to work with, from butternut to acorn to kabocha, so no matter your preferences and no matter what's available at your grocery store, there's a little something for every squash-lover on this list.
1. Yellow Squash Casserole
Those who prefer to take a savory approach will love this yellow squash casserole recipe. As the name suggests, this dish features thin slices of yellow squash baked into casserole form, along with some savory, cheesy additions like sour cream, onions, and cheddar cheese. The casserole is topped off with a buttery, garlicky breadcrumb topping, which also provides a nice crunch in an otherwise soft dish.
While you could make this casserole the star of your table, it plays best as a side dish, complementing main courses like steak or roasted chicken. You don't need a special occasion to enjoy this yellow squash casserole, as it comes together in just over 30 minutes and requires easy-to-source ingredients, many of which are likely already in your pantry or fridge.
Recipe: Fabulous Yellow Squash Casserole
2. Italian-Style Fried Squash
Who knew that squash made for such a satisfying snack? With this Italian-style fried squash recipe, you may find yourself coming back for seconds (and thirds) of these tasty little bites, which feature yellow squash slices fried in a crispy, Italian seasoning-infused coating.
Staying true to the Italian-style nature of this dish, you'll pair these snacks with marinara sauce for an acidic hit to balance out the fried goodness. And, to stay on theme, you could serve these fried squash as a side dish with spaghetti and meatballs or pizza.
Recipe: Italian-Style Fried Squash
3. Baked Acorn Squash
If your supermarket is chock-full of acorn squash, then put one or two to good use with this baked acorn squash recipe. You'll need to slice up the squash and remove the seeds, but then you can count on the oven to do the rest of the hard labor.
Featuring a simple seasoning blend of garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper, these squash slices make for a great side dish at dinnertime. While the beautiful orange hue of the squash may conjure images of autumn, you can enjoy this simple side dish at any time of year.
Recipe: Easy Baked Acorn Squash
4. Marinated Grilled Summer Squash
While many squash recipes give off autumnal or wintery vibes, this marinated and grilled summer squash recipe is just the opposite. Featuring both yellow squash and zucchini (yes, zucchini is a type of squash!) cut into long slices and then tossed on the grill, this recipe is a great way to incorporate gourdy goodness into your summer diet.
On its own, grilled squash wouldn't taste all that great, but that's where the marinade comes in. Before grilling, you'll soak the vegetables in a mixture of avocado oil, Champagne vinegar, Italian seasoning, thyme, and lemon juice. It's bright, acidic, and tangy, and it just so happens to give squash that perfect summer flavor profile.
Recipe: Marinated Grilled Summer Squash
5. Sautéed Pattypan Squash
Pattypan is a common variety of summer squash, and with a little bit of slicing, sautéing, and dressing up, you can transform it into something quite tasty. This recipe for sautéed pattypan squash is incredibly quick and easy — it only requires 20 minutes and a mere five ingredients to make.
Once you put in those 20 minutes of hard labor in the kitchen, the end result is a surprisingly refined dish that will bring some diversity to your dinner spread. You'll ultimately pair the squash with some fresh basil and Parmesan cheese for an added hit of freshness and flavor.
Recipe: Sautéed Pattypan Squash
6. Maple-Roasted Butternut Squash
This recipe for maple-roasted butternut squash presents the gourd in perhaps one of its most recognizable fashions. But, hey, roasted squash is a classic for a reason, and this simple recipe is one you'll want handy when you're in a pinch for a dinner side dish.
As the name suggests, you'll toss the cubed squash in maple syrup to give it a subtly sweet flavor profile. Cinnamon also comes into play for a hit of warmth, then you'll roast the squash in the oven for a quick and easy that you'll want to make again and again.
Recipe: Maple-Roasted Butternut Squash
7. Stuffed Acorn Squash
There's something so satisfying about cutting open a squash and then stuffing it with other foods like rice or vegetables. It probably has something to do with the fact that certain squash, like acorn squash, are naturally bowl-shaped, so why not take advantage of such a nifty feature?
Take advantage of is precisely what this stuffed acorn squash recipe does, at least in the context of using the squash as a vehicle for wild rice and sausage stuffing. Kale, raisins, and dried cherries round out the stuffing, providing some freshness and some much-welcome pops of sweetness.
Recipe: Stuffed Acorn Squash
8. Spiced Baked Butternut Squash
Those who prefer a little bit of heat will revel in this spiced baked butternut squash recipe, which provides just the right hit of spice without being overbearing. Butternut squash is naturally the star of the show here, but ingredients like cumin seeds, rosemary, and crushed garlic will bring some life to the dish.
The real kicker is the chili flakes, which add the ideal amount of warmth and spice to the squash. The oven will do the rest of the work, and though you will have to have a bit of patience as the squash roasts for about an hour, we can guarantee that the result will be well worth the wait.
Recipe: Spiced Baked Butternut Squash
9. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
Put a squashy spin on lasagna with this recipe, which calls for roasting and shredding spaghetti squash then using it as the base for the classic Italian dish. Of course, spaghetti squash isn't going it alone here, and you can expect to see other lasagna staples like ricotta cheese, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, spinach, and mozzarella all at play.
This lasagna tastes just as good as the kind you had growing up, but it's chock-full of nutrition and happens to be completely vegetarian. Meat eaters and vegetarians alike will love this squash-infused dish, and after all, who can resist all of that cheesy goodness?
Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
10. Pupusas De Ayote (Winter Squash Pupusas)
Pupusas are stuffed corn cakes and, in this case, they're stuffed with butternut squash (or winter squash), cheese, and pickled jalapeños. The result is a delightful treat that may seem intimidating to make from scratch, but they actually are quite easy to make and are well worth the effort.
The beauty of this recipe is that it's simple to customize. If you don't like spice, you can simply omit the jalapeño; if you want it extra cheesy, add extra cheese as desired. Once all of your pupusas are stuffed and shaped, you'll give them a quick fry before diving in.
11. Sausage And Butternut Squash Pasta
As it turns out, sausage and squash are quite the dynamic duo, and even better yet when both ingredients are featured in a hearty bowl of pasta. If all of that sounds appealing to you, then you'll definitely want to give this sausage and butternut squash pasta recipe a try, which surprisingly only requires 30 minutes of cooking.
Along with the sausage, squash, and pasta, you'll also enjoy a quick and easy cream sauce to tie the whole dish together. And don't forget the final garnish of freshly chopped parsley, which will add just the right amount of herbaceousness to an otherwise rich dish.
12. Squash Blossom Ricotta Pie
All of your cottage-core dreams are about to come true thanks to this squash blossom ricotta pie recipe. Just one glance at this beautiful pie and you'll be wondering where it's been your whole life — between the perfectly-golden crust, the elegant zucchini blossoms, and the savory ricotta/goat cheese filling, this pie is an absolute masterclass in impressive baked goods.
Now, we're not going to lie to you, this recipe is pretty involved. You'll be making the entire pie from scratch, down to the crust, and up to the final blossom. But this pie isn't meant to be thrown together at the last minute; it's meant for impressing, and impressing it shall be to even your pickiest of dinner guests.
Recipe: Squash Blossom Ricotta Pie
13. Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
There are truly countless things that you could add to a salad, so much so that sometimes it's hard to narrow it down when there are so many choices. Well, the next time you're craving a hearty salad, make things easy for yourself and opt for this roasted butternut squash salad recipe, which unsurprisingly features the ever-popular gourd as a chopped-up addition.
Of course, there's more to this salad than just the roasted squash. You'll also find a bed of spinach as the base, honey-roasted pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds all tossed together with a tangy Dijon vinaigrette.
Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
14. Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash
If you have some leftover chicken sitting in the fridge and want to repurpose it in a creative way, we can't think of a better option than this buffalo chicken spaghetti squash recipe. While this recipe yields an entire main course — and quite a hefty one, at that — it requires only five ingredients to make if you can believe it.
The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the squash to roast, but once it does, you'll shred it up and combine the flesh with chicken, buffalo sauce, ranch seasoning, and perhaps some blue cheese crumbles. And you don't even need to reach for a plate or bowl to serve it up — just put the mixture back into the squash shell, then voilà, dinner is served.
Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash
15. Butternut Squash Mac And Cheese
Parents everywhere can rejoice thanks to this recipe, which on the surface just looks like any old recipe for mac and cheese. A deeper dive into the ingredients will prove that there's butternut squash blended into this mac and cheese, so your kiddos will get a nourishing dose of vegetables without even knowing it.
The beauty of this mac and cheese is that it looks and tastes just like you'd expect the classic dish to taste. There's plenty of cheddar cheese at play here, so don't worry about this being a sad take on mac and cheese.
Recipe: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
16. Kabocha Squash Curry
For those looking to skip right to the warming, comforting squash recipes, you're in luck with this kabocha squash curry. As the name signifies, you'll be working with kabocha squash here, which is a type of gourd that looks somewhat like a pumpkin but tastes like a sweet potato. You'll soon find out that the squash's earthy, subtly sweet flavor works quite well in this curry, playing well with other components like coconut milk, curry powder, ginger, and spinach.
Another huge perk is that this curry comes together in a whopping 27 minutes, and most of that time is spent allowing it to simmer. Be sure to serve this curry with some fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime for a refreshing hit of acidity.
Recipe: Kabocha Squash Curry
17. Butternut Squash Bruschetta
We know that there are some bruschetta purists out there who will not even humor the idea of a recipe that doesn't feature tomatoes, but if you are the type who's willing to get a little bit creative, then this butternut squash bruschetta recipe will not disappoint. Indeed, there are no tomatoes to be found here, but you will find a delightfully sweet take on the classic appetizer.
You'll start with baguette slices as the base, then layer on a ricotta and sage mixture. Follow that up with some roasted squash, then top the whole thing off with a drizzle of honey. It's simple, refined, and guaranteed to be an absolute delight at your next gathering.
Recipe: Butternut Squash Bruschetta
18. Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells And Burrata
When you think of butternut squash pasta, visions of ravioli may initially flood your mind. While we certainly have nothing against ravioli, we'd like to bring a new pasta option to your attention: Stuffed shells. And what are they stuffed with? Well, none other than a rich and creamy ricotta and butternut squash filling.
As if there wasn't enough creamy goodness going on in this dish, you'll take things even further by topping the whole thing off with fresh burrata and Parmesan. Once the pasta is fully baked, you may be surprised at how much cheesy goodness you were able to stuff into (and outside of) these stuffed shells.
19. Grilled Corn And Summer Squash Salad
Who says that salad needs to have lettuce as the base? In this summery recipe, zucchini ribbons will serve as the salad base, putting a fun and delicious twist on our preconceived notions of what constitutes a salad.
Zucchini doesn't work alone here, and there are some other star players that will make this salad a truly unforgettable one. Between the grilled corn, poblano peppers, walnuts, and mint, you'll be wondering why you didn't start making unconventional salads a long time ago.
20. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
The only thing better than spaghetti squash lasagna is spaghetti squash lasagna boats — it's all of the goodness of the Italian dish loaded right into a halved squash. What's not to love about that?
This hearty take on the fun dish includes Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and so much cheese: Ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. It's hearty, it's nutritious, and it's very filling, so don't be surprised when you have leftovers with this one.
Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
21. Thai-Style Butternut Squash Soup
Of all the ways you could cook squash, there are fewer options more comforting than blending it down into a soup. Not only does this recipe yield a butternut squash soup, but a Thai-style one at that, thanks to additions like serrano chili, lemongrass paste, and coconut milk.
One spoonful of this soup will send your palate abuzz with hints of spice, sweetness, umami, acidity, and creaminess. This recipe really does balance just about every flavor profile perfectly, making it much more exciting than your average bowl of butternut squash soup.
Recipe: Thai-Style Butternut Squash Soup
22. Shaved Summer Squash Salad
If your impulsive farmer's market purchase is mere days away from turning to mush, put it to good use with this shaved summer squash salad recipe. And, of course, the impulsive farmer's market purchase in question is none other than zucchini and/or yellow squash, and hey, it was a good idea to buy it at the time and thanks to this salad, it's a good idea now as well.
This is something of a unique salad as it features a lemony, garlicky ricotta cheese base. You'll adorn said base with shaved summer squash ribbons, sunflower seeds, red onion, and even some serrano chiles for a bit of heat. This salad is bright and balanced, and, though it may not look like a typical salad, we can guarantee that it tastes just as good (if not better).
Recipe: Shaved Summer Squash Salad
23. Butternut Squash Ravioli
There are fewer foods in this world more comforting than butternut squash ravioli. Pasta comes in all different shapes and with all sorts of fillings, but there's something about ravioli and butternut squash that seems like the duo was just made for one another.
Butternut squash ravioli is impressive enough on its own, but it's even more impressive when you make it all from scratch, as you will in this recipe. Daunting? Perhaps a little, but you don't need any special tools or equipment. All you need is the ingredients, of course, and the strong desire for some fresh ravioli that will be far tastier than anything you've ever gotten at a restaurant.
Recipe: Butternut Squash Ravioli