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    Home » Recipes » Vegetables

    Old Fashioned Squash Casserole

    Published: May 23, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe - Pin Recipe
    The photo collage shows the serving dish of squash casserole above a photo of the skillet cooking the zucchini.

    Old fashioned squash casserole is an easy stovetop side dish to serve for a special family meal. Sliced yellow squash and zucchini are sautéed in butter and tossed in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce with crispy bread crumbs in under 30 minutes.

    A white bowl is filled with sliced zucchini squash covered in cheddar cheese and bread crumbs.

    This summer, I've been relying on super simple main dishes like my easy baked chicken breasts or broiled chicken tenderloins and then putting all my focus on making totally delicious vegetable-based side dishes like this old fashioned squash casserole.

    I've learned that when I put in the extra effort to make the vegetables taste absolutely incredible, my kids are a whole lot more likely to try some new ones.

    Moms have been putting cheddar cheese on vegetables as a way to get fussy kids to eat them since the dawn of time.

    This recipe goes one step farther and adds crispy bread crumbs for crunch.

    I found this dish to be so delicious, it was my favorite thing on our dinner plate that night!

    Jump to:
    • Why This is the Best Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Saute the Squash
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • More Old Fashioned Side Dishes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why This is the Best Recipe

    This rich and cheesy dish is the best old fashioned squash casserole because:

    1. Creamy & Delicious: If you're trying to entice your kids to try squash, this recipe is a total winner with all that ooey gooey cheddar cheese and crispy bread crumbs.
    2. Tender Vegetables: When you saute the zucchini and squash, you can control the temperature and keep them from getting overdone. Pull them when they are just tender.
    3. Quick & Easy: Cooked on the stovetop, this casserole is finished in under 30 minutes.

    Ingredients

    All the ingredients to make the casserole are on the counter.

    To make the sautéed squash, all you need to have on hand is:

    • Yellow Squash
    • Zucchini
    • Sweet Onion: Like Vidalia
    • Butter
    • Cheddar Cheese
    • Heavy Cream
    • Bread Crumbs
    • Dried Dill
    • Dried Basil
    • Salt & Pepper
    • Grated Parmesan Cheese

    Saute the Squash

    For this recipe, use a large, deep skillet that can hold all those sliced veggies.

    Place the skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter.

    Add the sliced onion to the skillet and cook until just softened.

    The sliced onion is cooking in melted butter in a deep skillet.

    While the onions are cooking, slice the yellow squash and the zucchini into ¼-inch thick rounds.

    You do not need to peel the squash. I think the round circles look so pretty in the final dish, but you could cut the squash into half lengthwise and make half moons if you prefer.

    The yellow squash and zucchini have been sliced into ¼-inch thick slices.

    Add the squash to the hot skillet and stir them into the onions. Try to spread the squash out in a single layer as best you can. You want as much of the surface of the squash to touch the hot pan as possible.

    Season the vegetables with the dried dill, basil, salt and pepper.

    NOTE: If you want to use fresh dill or fresh basil instead of dried herbs, add them in with the cream at the end.

    The squash have been added to the skillet and seasoned. A spoon is stirring them.

    Once the squash have softened, about 5 - 6 minutes, Pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a bubble.

    Stir the mixture once in a while so the cream doesn't burn on the bottom of the pan.

    The cream sauce is bubbling all around the squash in the skillet.

    Once the squash are tender and the sauce has thickened, add the shredded cheddar cheese and grated parmesan cheese and stir until everything has melted together.

    The shredded cheddar has been sprinkled over the top.

    Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top and serve immediately.

    The finished squash casserole is about to be served from the skillet.

    Variations

    While I think this recipe is totally delicious as is, there are some great ways you could play with it for simple variations:

    • Spicy Squash Casserole: Add a diced red pepper and some crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet with the onions.
    • Swiss Cheese Squash Casserole: Swap the shredded cheese to another flavor. Swiss cheese would be perfect.
    • Tomato Squash Casserole: Add a batch of my roasted cherry tomatoes just before you add the bread crumbs.
    • Greek Squash Casserole: Use a Greek herb blend, olive oil instead of butter, and mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar.

    Serving Suggestions

    The squash has been spooned into a white serving bowl.

    This comforting zucchini and yellow squash casserole is a delicious side dish to be served with a wide variety of main dishes for an easy family dinner.

    Bake a pan of my baked chicken breasts in the oven while the squash cooks on the stovetop.

    The roasted chicken with potatoes would be a great main, too.

    Keep things easy with a Crockpot spiral ham or even a pan of oven baked salmon.

    • A baking pan lined with foil has finished baked chicken breasts on top.
      12 Easy Baked Chicken Breast Recipes
    • The roasted chicken sits on top of roasted vegetables in a round roasting pan.
      Easy Roasted Chicken with Vegetables
    • The spiral ham is on a roasting rack so it can be broiled to make the brown sugar glaze crispy.
      Crockpot Spiral Ham with Brown Sugar Glaze
    • A platter of oven baked salmon next to roasted asparagus has a fork showing the flaky pink fish.
      Oven Baked Salmon

    More Old Fashioned Side Dishes

    Comfort food is at its best with good old fashioned recipes like these delicious side dishes:

    • A white baking dish has baked zucchini gratin with breadcrumbs on top.
      Grated Zucchini Gratin
    • A serving of crispy green bean casserole is in a blue dish with a fork.
      Crispy Crockpot Green Bean Casserole
    • A sliced open acorn squash has been filled with red dried cranberries and a spoonful of brown sugar.
      Slowcooker Acorn Squash with Apples
    • A baking dish filled with the finished sweet potato casserole with pecan topping.
      Make Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole

    📖 Recipe

    A white bowl is filled with sliced zucchini squash covered in cheddar cheese and bread crumbs.

    Old Fashioned Squash Casserole

    4.75 from 4 votes
    Turn ordinary fresh zucchini and yellow squash into a decadent side dish for a special meal by pairing them with a touch of cream, shredded cheese, and crispy bread crumbs. This is the perfect side dish for grilled fish or chicken when your garden is overflowing with squash!
    TOTAL TIME 25 minutes minutes
    PREP TIME 10 minutes minutes
    COOK TIME 15 minutes minutes
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • ½ onion thinly sliced, Vidalia would be perfect
    • 2 yellow squash cut into ¼-inch thick slices
    • 2 zucchini cut into ¼-inch thick slices
    • ¼ teaspoon dried dill
    • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ tsp pepper
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 3 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
    • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs

    Instructions

    • Place a deep skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until just softened.
    • Add the sliced squash and zucchini and saute for 5 - 6 minutes over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the dill, basil, salt, and pepper over the top and stir.
    • Add the heavy cream. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes, or until the squash are just tender, stirring occasionally so the cream doesn't burn on the bottom.
    • Add the grated parmesan cheese and the cheddar cheese and stir them in until mostly melted, up to 1 minute. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top and serve immediately.
    COURSEVegetables
    CUISINEAmerican
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    The photo collage shows the serving dish of squash casserole above a photo of the skillet cooking the zucchini.

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

    More about me →

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