50+ Seriously Awesome Squash Recipes to Make All Year Long

updated Jul 19, 2022

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Cooked crispy, saucy stuffed zucchini fresh out of the oven — Credit: Photo: Tara Donne; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell
Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Sausage

No matter the season, there is a variety of squash that’s in its prime and just waiting to make its way to your dinner table or even show up for breakfast. It’s impossible to miss the thin-skinned zucchini and sunny yellow squash that take over the market (and maybe even your garden) all through summer and early fall. Then as the cooler temps move in, so do hearty, sweet, and nutty winter squashes, like butternut, delicata, acorn, and spaghetti.

And as for what to do with squash, well, you’ve got more options than you might guess. Whether roasted, sautéed, or grilled, all varieties of squash are strong contenders for a side dish that can partner with almost anything. But that’s just the beginning when it comes to squash recipes, because these vegetables can be baked into casseroles, cooked with pasta, simmered into soup, tossed into salads, and so much more. No matter the season, here are 50+ squash recipes to keep on hand.

Butternut Squash Recipes

Butternut squash is a total favorite, and for good reason. It’s so wildly versatile: It can be puréed into a creamy sauce, mashed into irresistible dips, roasted for sides and salad, blended into comforting soups, and so much more.

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Butternut squash mac and cheese isn’t just a recipe for sneaking more vegetables into your diet: Adding butternut squash to your mac and cheese also gives it a gorgeous golden hue, makes for an extra-silky sauce, and adds a sweeter, earthier taste to the classic.

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Butternut Squash and Parmesan Dip

Butternut squash is roasted and then blended with herbs and Parmesan for a blissfully creamy dip.

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Couscous Salad with Butternut Squash and Cranberries

Take your pick between serving up this make-ahead salad warm or cold. It's great both ways.

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Butternut Squash Fettuccine Alfredo

Here’s the best way to get your fill of butternut squash with your pasta: Turn it into a decadent sauce, rich with cream and kissed with nutmeg.

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Creamy One-Pot Butternut Squash Pasta with White Beans and Kale

This 30-minute vegetarian dinner is packed with protein, thanks to a can of white beans a dollop of Greek yogurt. It cooks all in one pot (sauce and all!), making for easy cleanup.

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Butternut Squash in Fresh Green Curry

Sweet butternut squash is a nice contrast to the spicy curry paste and rich coconut milk sauce in this vegan curry.

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Southwestern Butternut Squash Soup

Minimize the prep work for this warm, spiced soup by starting with a couple of containers of pre-chopped squash.

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Roasted Butternut Squash Purée with Goat Cheese

Tangy goat cheese and fresh sage help turn basic butternut squash purée into a totally impressive side.

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Butternut Squash Risotto

This easy risotto is filled with tender chunks of squash and flavored with earthy sage.

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Coconut Shrimp Curry with Butternut Squash and Spinach

This South Indian-inspired curry is made with a paste of fresh coconut, ginger, shallots, and dried red chiles, and is best enjoyed over steamed rice.

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Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut squash, sage, and apple join forces in this easy Instant Pot soup that celebrates all the flavors of winter and fall.

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Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Mushrooms, Sausage, and Butternut Squash

This fall-inspired recipe for crispy sheet pan gnocchi that comes together in 30 minutes.

Spaghetti Squash Recipes

Sure, you can use spaghetti squash as a low-carb substitute for your pasta, but there’s so much more that this winter squash is capable of. Our favorite way to enjoy spaghetti squash is to stuff it with more veggies and cheese and transform it into comforting casseroles.

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Broccoli and Cheese Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Inspired by broccoli and cheese casserole, spaghetti squash joins the mix in this one-skillet recipe.

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Creamy Pesto Spaghetti Squash

Homemade creamy pesto is a fast, flavorful way to upgrade mild-mannered spaghetti squash. Serve it as a summery main, or alongside your favorite protein.

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Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai

This riff on pad Thai swaps the rice noodles for tender strands of spaghetti squash.

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Easy Low-Carb Meatball-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

This delicious low-carb spin on spaghetti and meatballs starts with roasted spaghetti squash and includes plenty of gooey, melted cheese.

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Skillet Chicken Parm Spaghetti Squash

This is a lightened-up, veggie-packed version of classic chicken Parmesan, all baked in a single skillet.

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Cheesy Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash

Strands of spaghetti squash are tossed with a garlicky three-cheese mixture for a satisfying keto-friendly side dish.

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Lasagna-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

If you're still on the fence about spaghetti squash, this is the recipe that will win you over once and for all.

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Sausage and Kale Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Crisp, spicy sausage, juicy tomatoes, salty cheese, and buttery strands of squash — this satisfying dinner has it all, and it’s incredibly easy too.

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Spaghetti Squash with Asparagus, Ricotta, Lemon, and Thyme

This is the perfect winter-to-spring transition dinner.

Acorn Squash and Delicata Squash Recipes

Unlike other winter squash varieties, acorn and delicata squash both have thin skin that’s totally edible and doesn’t need to be peeled away. Roast them, stuff them, or toss them into your favorite salad or pasta dish.

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How To Roast Acorn Squash

This step-by-step guide will help you cook perfect acorn squash every time.

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Acorn Squash Egg-in-a-Hole

Instead of the usual slice of bread with a hole cut out for a fried egg, a thick slice of acorn squash makes for a seasonal replacement that also happens to be gluten-free and Paleo-friendly.

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Stuffed Winter Squash

Take your pick between acorn, delicata, dumpling, or carnival squash. They all work well in this must-make winter recipe.

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Acorn Squash Stuffed with Bread, Cheese, and Bacon

This is the most delicious way we know to turn acorn squash into a meal. Partner it with a simple salad and you've got dinner.

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Penne with Acorn Squash and Pancetta

It's helpful to roast the acorn squash in advance, so when you make the pasta it comes together in a flash.

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Roasted Delicata Salad with Warm Pickled Onion Dressing

If you've only had delicata squash as a basic side dish, you've got to try this salad. It skips the lettuce and makes squash the star.

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Maple-Roasted Delicata Squash with Bacon

Crispy bacon and a drizzle of maple syrup perk up roasted delicata squash is this easy side dish.

Zucchini Squash Recipes

Green-skinned zucchini is perhaps the most popular (and definitely the most abundant!) variety of summer squash. It’s great simply grilled, roasted, or sautéed, and becomes even more magical when it’s baked into quick bread, layered into a lasagna or savory tart, and cooked into a cheesy pasta dinner.

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Zucchini Banana Bread

There are endless ways to bake a loaf of banana bread, but come summer when the market is bursting with zucchini, there is absolutely nothing better than a loaf of ultra-tender, lightly spiced zucchini banana bread.

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Super Easy and Delicious Zucchini Butter (or Marmalade)

Delicious on toast or sandwiches, zucchini butter is a great little staple to have in your summer cooking repertoire.

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One-Pot Creamy Zucchini Pasta

Whole-milk ricotta cheese is the secret to this extra-luxe and lemony zucchini pasta.

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Grilled Zucchini

Grilling gives the mild-mannered squash a spunky, smoky attitude, plus it pairs well with just about anything else you’re serving.

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Caramelized Zucchini Phyllo Pie

Crisp, flaky layers of phyllo dough encase a savory filling of caramelized zucchini, sweet summer corn, two types of cheese, and lots of fresh herbs.

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Spicy Ground Pork & Zucchini Stir-Fry

This stir-fry might be simple and straightforward, but it still manages to pack in a ton of flavor with the help of a couple of pantry ingredients.

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Zucchini Parmesan

This summery riff on classic eggplant Parmesan celebrates the custardy goodness of tender zucchini. The zucchini is breaded and shallow-fried, then layered into a baking dish with mozzarella, Parmesan, and marinara.

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Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Sausage

Peak summer squash are stuffed with a lemon-kissed sausage filling and baked on top of a two-ingredient cherry tomato sauce. The result is crispy, saucy, veg perfection — a guaranteed hit with the entire family.

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I'm pretty sure that zucchini bread is the whole reason that zucchini exists. The shredded zucchini gives this bread a subtle sweetness and a soft texture.

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Fresh Corn Galette with Zucchini, Thyme, and Goat Cheese

This savory galette is a bit of a show-off. It looks rustic and elegant all at the same time, without even trying.

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Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Recipe

Bite-size zucchini batons in a crunchy panko and Parmesan coating and air fried until golden and crisp.

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Sausage and Peppers with Zucchini Noodles

The classic combination of sausage and peppers is tossed with tender zucchini noodles in this easy summery one-pot meal.

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Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Although you can't see or taste it, zucchini gives this triple-chocolate cake its super-moist and tender texture.

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Panko Parmesan Zucchini Fritters

This Italian summer staple brings the best of the summer garden — zucchini, basil, and parsley — into a freshly-fried patty.

Yellow Summer Squash Recipes

Yellow summer squash can be used in many of the same ways you’d use zucchini. We especially love using it as a bed for baked eggs, grilling thick slices for a warm salad, and cooking it into risotto.

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Summer Squash Shakshuka with Baked Eggs

Here's a riff on classic shakshuka using summer squash and zucchini as a bed for baked eggs. It's perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner.

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Summer Squash Gratin

This summer squash gratin is the perfect way to use up that bumper crop of zucchini and yellow squash in your garden.

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Summer Squash Risotto

Grated zucchini and fresh basil partner up in this creamy Parmesan risotto.

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Pickled Yellow Squash

Whether you use it as a condiment, serve it as a side dish, or toss it in a salad, pickled yellow squash is always a hit.

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The Ultimate Grilled Zucchini Salad

Use any combination of yellow squash and zucchini for this impressive summer salad from the grill.

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Heidi Swanson's Summer Squash Soup

This bold and vibrant summer soup is one of our favorite ways to use up a bunch of summer squash.

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Summer Squash Succotash

While classic succotash is all about the corn and lima beans, this version makes summer squash the star.

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Sautéed Zucchini and Squash with Thyme and Feta

Salty feta and fresh herbs instantly perk up this weeknight sauté.

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Grilled Gnocchi with Summer Squash and Burst Tomatoes

In this recipe, both the ingredients and the technique speak to the season, because everything — including the gnocchi — is cooked on the grill. That means you can stay outside and eat it al fresco, paired with a glass of rosé and a pretty summer sunset.

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