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Dive into creamy, cheesy comfort with this yellow squash casserole, a holiday side dish boasting a deliciously crunchy, buttery topping.
Cheesy Easy Squash Casserole
This decadent yellow squash casserole is the perfect addition to your side dish repertoire. Packed with thinly sliced yellow squash, a decadent cheese blend, and a satisfyingly crunchy Ritz cracker topping, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Similar to our Cheesy Zucchini Casserole, this recipe offers a crunchy twist and pairs beautifully with all your favorite holiday dishes – Roast Turkey, Best Mashed Potatoes, Dinner Rolls Recipe, and pies. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make, leaving you more time to spend with loved ones during the festive season.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Easy. This easy side dish is incredibly simple to make, requiring minimal prep work and just a few ingredients.
- Summer freshness. This casserole is a great way to showcase the flavors of fresh summer squash when it’s in season. It’s a light and colorful dish that’s perfect for warmer-weather meals.
- Budget-friendly. This comforting and satisfying casserole is a budget-friendly dish that utilizes affordable ingredients.
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 20 minutes
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil – or olive oil
- 4-5 medium yellow summer squash, thinly sliced and halved – or butternut squash – we cut them to be about 1/4 inch thick.
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided – Use mild or sharp cheddar cheese or replace some of the cheddar and combine it with mozzarella cheese, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, or even a smoked Gouda
- ½ cup sour cream – or plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 sleeve Ritz Crackers, crushed medium to fine – or another brand of buttery cracker, or crushed cornflakes
how to make Yellow squash casserole
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F
- SQUASH. Add the oil in a large skillet set to medium heat. Add the squash and butter. Cook until soft about 7-8 minutes
- ASSEMBLE. Pour the squash into a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, sour cream, and Italian seasoning. Add garlic salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour into a 9×13 greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese on top. Set aside.
- Add the crushed crackers into a gallon Ziploc bag and add the melted butter. Toss to coat the cracker crumbs. Spread evenly over the top of the casserole.
- BAKE. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
PRO TIP: How to Prevent watery casserole
Slice the squash and sprinkle with ½-1 teaspoon salt. Place it in a colander for 15-20 minutes then saute. Doing so before baking helps to remove excess moisture and prevents the casserole from becoming watery.
Yellow Squash Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 4-5 medium yellow summer squash, thinly sliced and halved
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 sleeve Ritz Crackers, crushed medium to fine
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Add the oil in a large skillet set to medium heat. Add the squash and butter. Cook until soft about 7-8 minutes
- Pour the squash into a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese, sour cream, and Italian seasoning. Add garlic salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour into a 9×13 greased baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese on top. Set aside.
- Add the crushed crackers into a gallon Ziploc bag and add the melted butter. Toss to coat the crackers. Spread evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Prepare the casserole according to the recipe up until the point of baking. Tightly cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or with aluminum foil to prevent the casserole from drying out or absorbing any refrigerator odors.
- When ready to bake, add the cracker crumb topping then bake according to the recipe instructions.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and are best consumed within 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Add More Veggies?
- For extra flavor and color, add other vegetables like chopped onions, bell peppers, or corn kernels to the squash mixture.
Make Yellow Squash Casserole Ahead of Time?
- Prepare the casserole according to the recipe up until the point of baking. Tightly cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap or with aluminum foil to prevent the casserole from drying out or absorbing any refrigerator odors.
- When ready to bake, add the cracker crumb topping then bake according to the recipe instructions.
How to Store Squash Casserole?
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and are best consumed within 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
My all time favorite!!!
I really loved this casserole. It can stand alone or pair with a variety of different dishes.
I lIke how the base of this casserole can easily be seasoned to yOur Preference. My husband liked it hotter with chili flakes while the rest of us liked it as it was written.
A great little side dish for the holidays. Yummy squash with a crunchy topping. Healthy and easy to make!
I love squash and with the added topping it makes it extra special. Adds a nice little crunCh to an already good casserole dish.
i’m not suret here is a more flavorful easy to make dish than this? I just love that this is vegetarian and the crackers on top just take it to another level. Thanks for an awesome simple to make recipe!
My husband is a big fan of Squash and would love to have it more often. he’d be delighted to see this on the dinner table.
This was delicious!! thanks so much!
Can’t wait to use this with all the squash I harvested over the summer!
We had this last year & I didn’t know how much I would like it!! Love the cheese & crackers on top. They give it a nice flavor!