43 Delicious Squash Recipes To Cook in Any Season

Summer Nachos

Yes, this dish has "summer" in its title because it stars two of summer's tastiest vegetables—zucchini and corn—but you can make it any time that nacho craving hits. Zucchini is fairly easy to find year-round, though you could substitute summer squash, and canned corn works well if you can't get your hands on the fresh stuff.

Try It: Summer Nachos

02 of 43

Slow-Cooker Squash Lasagna

The only thing better than a lasagna bubbling away in the oven is a lasagna bubbling away in your slow cooker, set-and-forget-style. Two packages of frozen winter squash puree help make prep quick and easy, while ricotta and mozzarella bring next-level creaminess to this meatless main.

Try It: Slow-Cooker Squash Lasagna

03 of 43

Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley

If you've never eaten a raw summer squash salad, you're in for a treat. This one packs a double whammy: It tastes delicious and there's no need to cook. Tossing the summer squash and zucchini with salt helps them soften and absorb every bit of flavor. Top with a chopped almond dressing for a light and flavorful finish.

Try It: Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley

04 of 43

Kabocha Squash Sticky Buns

Though we'll never say no to a traditional sticky bun, these buns lean more savory than sweet. They make for a festive, fall-themed treat and, because you're using two cans of store-bought crescent rolls, it 100 percent qualifies as an easy-to-bake brunch recipe.

Try It: Kabocha Squash Sticky Buns

05 of 43

Spaghetti Squash Parmesan

No one will miss the pasta noodles once they taste this creamy, cheesy, comforting meat-free rendition made in a roasted spaghetti squash bowl. And don't skip the breadcrumbs! They add a deliciously salty, crunchy finish to the dish.

Try It: Spaghetti Squash Parmesan

06 of 43

Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon

Red Lentil Squash Soup Recipe — Caitlin Bensel

This isn't your grandmother's lentil soup. It's extra-warming thanks to the delicious combination of butternut squash, carrots, harissa paste, fresh ginger, and plenty of spices.

Try It: Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon

07 of 43

Summer Squash Farro Bowl

If you can't track down zucchini or yellow squash, try making this delicious grain bowl with another sturdy gourd. Pumpkin or kabocha squash pairs well with the other ingredients in this vegetarian meal: namely chickpeas, farro, and avocado.

Try It: Summer Squash Farro Bowl

08 of 43

Slow-Cooker Ragù With Spaghetti Squash

If you're searching for a hands-off dinner, give this spaghetti squash dish a whirl. The slow cooker does most of the work, and you're left with a feast that pairs pasta-like vegetable noodles with a Bolognese-inspired sauce. Top each plate with freshly grated Parmesan just before serving and you're good to go.

Try It: Slow-Cooker Spaghetti Squash Ragù

09 of 43

Goat Cheese and Mushroom–Stuffed Acorn Squash

Thanks to its relative sturdiness, acorn squash is a great gourd to stuff. In this recipe, each squash half is packed with mushrooms, spinach, bread cubes, and goat cheese. Serve with a side salad and you have a delicious vegetarian meal that's ready in under an hour.

Try It: Goat Cheese and Mushroom–Stuffed Acorn Squash

10 of 43

Zucchini Pesto Pasta

In this dish, pasta is coated with a zucchini-cashew pesto that even vegetable haters won't be able to resist. Zucchini combines with roasted, salted cashews and peppery basil for a pesto that's unique and crave-worthy. It pairs perfectly with the creamy ricotta topping plopped atop the spaghetti.

Try It: Zucchini Pesto Pasta

11 of 43

Butternut Squash Soup With Sage and Parmesan Croutons

This squash soup is filled with flavor thanks to homemade sage-and-Parmesan croutons, which taste delicious no matter what time of year it is. Serve this satiating soup with a side salad or grilled chicken for a complete meal.

Try It: Butternut Squash Soup With Sage and Parmesan Croutons

12 of 43

Butternut Squash Bake With Wild Rice

In this recipe for wild rice and butternut squash, chunks of roasted butternut squash mingle with caramelized onions and mushrooms. — Victor Protasio

Billed as the perfect Thanksgiving side, we won't judge you for whipping it up any time the temperature dips below 60 degrees. Butternut joins wild rice, caramelized onions, Parmesan, and mushrooms bathed in a hearty rosemary-infused cream sauce. Serve with a vegetable main or a lean protein to balance out the richness.

Try It: Butternut Squash Bake With Wild Rice

13 of 43

Grilled Skirt Steak With Squash Ratatouille

In this dish, bright summer-vegetable flavors—courtesy of yellow squash, zucchini, and eggplant—take on deep, charred richness that complements the tender, juicy beef. While perfectly filling on its own, if you're feeling especially hungry, serve it with some buttery herbed rice or classic mashed potatoes.

Try It: Grilled Skirt Steak With Squash Ratatouille

14 of 43

Squash, Mushroom, and Kale Soup With Dill

This flavorful, veggie-packed soup comes together in just 30 minutes. In it, you'll find a medley of mushrooms, butternut squash pieces, orzo, and baby kale. A garnish of fresh dill adds a bit of brightness to this delicious meal.

Try It: Squash, Mushroom, and Kale Soup With Dill

15 of 43

Mini Squash Calzones

These calzones may be small, but we promise there's a full meal inside these compact hot pockets. Each is filled with caramelized butternut squash and onion, along with fiber-filled Swiss chard and a chili-infused, double-cheese mixture. There's no way you can eat just one of these hand-held bites.

Try It: Mini Squash Calzones

16 of 43

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta With Leeks

This meatless recipe calls on frozen butternut squash to make a creamy pasta sauce, so this dish works all year round. That sauce, also made with leeks and half-and-half, coats the pasta, which is topped with crunchy store-bought fried onions and Parmesan cheese. All this hearty goodness comes together in less than 30 minutes.

Try It: Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta With Leeks

17 of 43

Roasted Butternut Squash With Tahini Sauce

Sure, you can roast butternut squash with little more than olive oil, salt, and pepper; but this recipe is next level. The butternut is roasted and tossed in a salty, sweet, creamy tahini-based sauce. Sprinkle the finished dish with pepitas, sesame seeds, and cilantro for added flavor and a satisfying crunch.

Try It: Roasted Butternut Squash With Tahini Sauce

18 of 43

Linguine With Squash, Bacon, and Goat Cheese

This 30-minute pasta dish is a thrill for your taste buds thanks to sweet butternut squash pieces, salty bacon bits, and tangy, creamy goat cheese crumbles. If you're looking for a crunch, sprinkle some toasted breadcrumbs on the noodles before you dig in. You won't regret it.

Try It: Linguine With Squash, Bacon, and Goat Cheese

19 of 43

Baked Barley Risotto With Butternut Squash

If you're intimidated by the sound of risotto, don't be. We promise this colorful version practically cooks itself. It starts with sautéed butternut and onion joined by barley with white wine and chicken broth. Once the barley is cooked, finish by stirring in some spinach, Parmesan, and butter. Voila!

Try It: Baked Barley Risotto With Butternut Squash

20 of 43

Slow-Cooker Black Bean and Zucchini Chili

This big-batch recipe is great for game day, and works on just about every other day, too. Mild-flavored zucchini cubes fit seamlessly with seasoned ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, and tons of beans. Top each bowl with sour cream, sliced avocado, and fresh cilantro for the full chili experience.

Try It: Slow-Cooker Black Bean and Zucchini Chili

21 of 43

Ginger-Coconut Pork With Butternut Squash

ginger-coconut-pork-1019foo — Victor Protasio

This coconut-infused, pork-and-butternut stew is simmered until meltingly tender and deeply flavored. The broth base is coconut water, with soy and fish sauce to bump up the umami, plus garlic and ginger for spice. Finish with sliced scallions and, for even more brightness, add Thai basil, mint, or cilantro.

Try It: Ginger-Coconut Pork With Butternut Squash

22 of 43

Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry

This veggie-filled meal takes just 20 minutes to make and is packed with zucchini and summer squash, eggplant, jalapeño slices, and unsalted peanuts. A spicy cornstarch-soy sauce mixture surrounds the crisp vegetables served atop white rice. If you don't love spice, leave out the jalapeño.

Try It: Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry

23 of 43

Roasted Pork Chops and Butternut Squash With Kale

This lean meal pairs juicy bone-in pork chops with roasted butternut squash, kale, and fresh sage. While this recipe takes nearly an hour to make from start to finish, it only requires 30 minutes of hands-on prep.

Try It: Roasted Pork Chops and Butternut Squash With Kale

24 of 43

Soy-Simmered Squash With Miso Hummus and Togarashi

soy simmered squash with miso and hummus — Greg Dupree

This recipe lets winter squash—kabocha or acorn—play a starring role in a Japanese-inspired meatless main dish. Skin-on squash wedges are sautéed and then simmered in a soy-rice wine broth until fork-tender, resulting in deep, savory flavor with every bite.

Try It: Soy-Simmered Squash With Miso Hummus and Togarashi

25 of 43

Butternut Squash Fries

We don't often use "healthy" and "fries" to describe the same recipe, but it's certainly the case with this one. This fiber-packed, oven-baked butternut version tastes like a cross between zucchini and sweet potato fries.

Try It: Butternut Squash Fries

26 of 43

Butternut Squash Tartines

A tartine is essentially an open-faced sandwich with a French accent. This recipe could also be called "Squash on Toast," but doesn't tartine sound so much fancier? This one features roasted butternut slices atop toasted country bread slathered with a lemony ricotta spread that's perfect for brunch, lunch, or as an appetizer.

Try It: Butternut Squash Tartines

27 of 43

Creamy Butternut Squash and Parsnip Soup

Butternut and parsnips share top billing in this bright, creamy soup that's served with a dollop of plain yogurt and a sprinkling of lime zest. There's no roasting here, which means you can make this from start to finish in just 25 minutes.

Try It: Creamy Butternut Squash and Parsnip Soup

28 of 43

Tortellini With Squash, Egg, and Breadcrumbs

Squash, Egg, and Tortellini With Toasted Breadcrumbs — Gentl & Hyers

Chopped zucchini plays an important role in this hearty dish, sautéed with store-bought, cheese-stuffed tortellini. Topped with a fried egg, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs, the whole thing comes together in just 25 minutes.

Try It: Tortellini With Squash, Egg, and Breadcrumbs

29 of 43

Butternut Carbonara

Carbonara is a traditional Italian pasta dish typically made of cured pork, egg, and grated cheese, and this recipe is all that and more. The "more" is the addition of butternut puree to the sauce, giving it an orange hue, extra nutrients, and a subtle autumnal flavor.

Try It: Butternut Carbonara

30 of 43

Cottage Pie

This British comfort-food classic is a spinoff of shepherd's pie, except it calls for ground beef instead of lamb, and that's where the squash comes in. Cubes of butternut simmered with peas and onions combine with browned ground beef to make the hearty stew at the base of this layered dish.

Try It: Cottage Pie

31 of 43

Garlic Toast With Squash, Pesto, and Olive Oil-Braised Chickpeas

Whether you serve this as an app, snack, side, or a light meal, you'll love how easy these are to assemble and how nutritious they are. A layer of mashed, roasted kabocha squash is spread atop garlicky oiled toast, topped with herb pesto and olive oil-braised chickpeas.

Try It: Garlic Toast With Squash, Pesto, and Olive Oil-Braised Chickpeas

32 of 43

Superfood Lentil Salad

Zucchini doesn't get titular credit in this recipe, but it should. This salad features quickly broiled zucchini cubes that mingle with lentils and golden raisins, all dressed in a sunflower seed vinaigrette. Turn this nutritious side into a meal by topping it with avocado, grilled salmon, or pan-crisped tofu.

Try It: Superfood Lentil Salad

33 of 43

Roasted Root Veggie Quinoa Bowls

You're right, squash isn't a root veggie, but neither are Brussels or spinach, and they're in this dish, too. They mingle with actual root veggies—parsnips and red onions—for a veggie medley that's a nutritional powerhouse. This recipe calls for store-bought butternut cubes, which helps put this dish on the table in 30 minutes.

Try It: Roasted Root Veggie Quinoa Bowls

34 of 43

Ratatouille

Zucchini joins a bevy of fresh summer produce—onions, eggplant, bell peppers, and tomatoes—in this French vegetable stew. Serve this versatile dish hot or cold, on its own or with eggs, a grilled protein, or tossed with pasta.

Try It: Ratatouille

35 of 43

Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Touted as an autumnal soup, it's appropriate anytime you're in the mood for a big orange hug. Its flavor comes from red curry paste, fresh ginger, and garlic; and its creaminess from coconut milk and tofu.

Try It: Curried Butternut Squash Soup

36 of 43

Cheesy Vegetable Pasta

This one-dish wonder is perfect for a meatless Monday meal. It features broiled chunks of zucchini, eggplant, and onions combined with cooked pasta—ziti or penne—surrounded by tomatoes and feta and topped with mozzarella.

Try It: Cheesy Vegetable Pasta

37 of 43

Beef and Beer Pot Pie

A pot pie is comfort with a crust, and this recipe is no exception. Chopped butternut squash livens up the beefy filling, lending it color, nutrients, fiber, and creaminess. The whole thing is topped with a time-saving sheet of puff pastry, making this dish easy as pie.

Try It: Beef and Beer Pot Pie

38 of 43

Zucchini Frittata With Parmesan

Zucchini Parmesan Frittata — Sheri Giblin

Squash for breakfast? Of course...and for brunch, lunch, and dinner, too. This meatless frittata—essentially a crustless quiche—finishes under the broiler to give its top and outer edges a little crispness. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it's ready in just 25 minutes.

Try It: Zucchini Frittata With Parmesan

39 of 43

Zucchini-Butter Spaghetti

Zucchini what? Yes, you read that right. This recipe turns grated zucchini, shallots, garlic, and butter into a decadent, luscious sauce to toss with really any kind of pasta or even your favorite grain.

Try It: Zucchini-Butter Spaghetti

40 of 43

Zucchini Tzatziki Slaw

This refreshing summer side starts with the traditional shredded cabbage but adds zucchini shreds to the mix for a lighter, more diverse-tasting slaw. Its Greek-inspired tzatziki sauce skips the cucumber in favor of Greek yogurt, sour cream, lemon, and honey.

Try It: Zucchini Tzatziki Slaw

41 of 43

Lemon-Coriander Roasted Chicken With Leeks And Squash

This dish is fancy enough for a holiday celebration and rustic enough for a simple one-pot weekend family gathering. A whole chicken roasts atop a bed of acorn squash slices and leeks, which catch all those flavorful chickeny drippings.

Try It: Lemon-Coriander Roasted Chicken With Leeks And Squash

42 of 43

Grilled Mediterranean Salad

No, you're not seeing things: That is a meatless pasta salad with grill marks. Zucchini planks are grilled for this salad—as are red bell peppers and onions, and even the Halloumi cheese—cut into bite-sized pieces, and then tossed with cooked pasta and a vinaigrette.

43 of 43

Zucchini Pie

This savory pie is loaded with grated zucchini, provolone, and Parmesan. Crustless and quiche-like, it manages to be rich and light at the same time. It requires only 15 minutes of prep time, but be sure to allow at least 45 minutes to bake and 10 minutes to cool down before serving.

Try It: Zucchini Pie

Was this page helpful?