Cheesy Squash Casserole
on Jul 29, 2022, Updated Jul 02, 2024
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Squash Casserole is a fun, easy way to eat yellow squash. It is quick to whip up and can be used as a delicious side dish, which you could pair with an entree like Mississippi Pot Roast, Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork, or make the casserole your main course for the ultimate comfort food.
The Cheesy Squash Casserole recipe is a perfect way to use up summer squash. It’s also an easy, quick recipe so what’s not to love?
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious Flavor: The combination of sautéed squash, onions, and crunchy topping creates a delightful mix of flavors and textures.
- Easy Preparation: This recipe is incredibly straightforward, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced cooks. It’s a hassle-free way to make a satisfying dish.
- Use of Summer Squash: It’s an excellent way to make the most of your summer squash harvest, ensuring none of it goes to waste.
Recipe Ingredients:
- Yellow squash: the base and star of the recipe!
- Onion: this adds flavor and texture to the casserole
- Butter: always a good option in my opinion, you’ll cook the squash and onions in it and then it adds to the creaminess in the casserole
- Eggs: I use these to help thicken the casserole and they give it a nice thick custard
- Milk: this helps to give it that great custardy/eggy texture
- Seasonings: salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, ground black pepper are what I used to give this dish some flavor.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: cheese adds flavor and creaminess to the baked dish
- Buttery round crackers (such as Ritz): you are going to crush these up and put them on top and when they bake they make the most delicious crust on the top of the casserole, the crackers are so good with all of the other creamy aspects of the dish
See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
Popular Substitutions and Variations
- You can use whatever squash you have on hand or prefer, but could also substitute zucchini.
- Experiment with different types of cheese like cheddar, mozzarella, or gruyere to change the flavor profile.
- Substitute dairy milk with almond milk, soy milk, or even buttermilk for a unique twist.
- Swap out Ritz crackers for breadcrumbs, panko, or crushed potato chips for a different crunch.
- Include cooked bacon bits or diced ham to make it heartier and more protein-packed.
How To Make Squash Casserole:
- Sauté the onions and squash in the butter to help get some of the moisture out of the vegetables. You don’t want a soupy casserole!
- Add the milk, eggs, seasoning, and cheese to a bowl and mix to combine.
- Add the cooked squash into a greased pan, and then pour the egg mixture on top. Top the dish with crushed crackers and bake.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Squash casserole is a great candidate to make ahead and freeze. Make the casserole according to the instructions but don’t top with the ritz crackers or bake it. Cover the casserole in foil or a tight plastic wrap for optimal freshness. When you are ready to eat the frozen casserole, I suggest letting it thaw the night before in the refrigerator. And don’t forget to top with the ritz crackers before baking!
This is why we cook the squash and onion together in the skillet before adding it to the casserole, it helps to remove extra water from the vegetables. Constantly stir the squash to try and cook until the moisture cooks off.
You don’t need to peel yellow squash prior to cooking because the skin is soft and will continue to get more soft as it is cooked, and will be fine to eat.
More Vegetable Sides to Consider:
Side Dishes and Salads
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Vegetable Sides
Zucchini Fritters
Cornbread Recipes
Zucchini Corn Bread
Vegetable Sides
Baked Cauliflower
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Cheesy Squash Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 or 3 medium yellow squash, 4 cups sliced
- 1 medium onion
- 4 tablespoon butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk, I used whole
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 sleeve buttery round crackers, such as Ritz, about 30 crackers
Instructions
- Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by spraying it well with cooking spray or buttering it well. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Prepare the yellow squash by washing it up, trimming the ends and slicing it 1/4 inch thick. If it’s quiet big you can slice the squash in half, end to end, and remove the seeds before slicing. They can get pretty tough if they squash is big.
- Chop the onion or cut it into thin slices.
- In a large skillet heat the butter over medium to medium-high heat and add the squash and onion. Cook until the squash is just tender, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the squash is cooking add the eggs, milk, salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper if using, and black pepper and stir well to combine (I like to whisk it all together with a fork).
- Add the cheese to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
- Crush the crackers so that they are fine crumbs.
- When the squash is done spread it evenly in the bottom of your prepared pan.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the squash.
- Top with an even layer of the crushed cracker crumbs.
- Bake for 45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center doesn’t jiggly or slosh when you shake the pan a little.
- Allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes before serving hot or warm.
Can you assemble & freeze?
In my mind the squash will get too squishy buuutttt I don’t know that. I feel like it might turn to slime.
After chatting back and forth with you on IG I needed this! I didn’t have yellow squash but I did have zucchini. This turned out so delicious! When I visit my mom In Alabama squash casserole is a weekly special at one of the restaurants they frequently visit. When we go I always go on squash casserole night! It’s so good.Your recipe was just as delicious! And my veggie hating hubby ate 2 servings! I can’t believe I’ve never made this myself. This will be going into my rotation.
Why are there 😕so many AD’S?? Can’t read the recipe for the AD’s.
I produce 10+ free recipes a WEEK, the ads are how I’m able to do that, it’s how my business makes money. Thank you for supporting me, in spite of the ads. I do try to keep my ads on the lowest setting.
Made this so many times! Everyone loves it!