Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 23 Delicious Squash Recipes You Can Cook in Any Season Upgrade your favorite comfort foods with this nutrient powerhouse. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is a food writer and editor with more than a decade’s experience working on titles such as Food Network Magazine, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping. She is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and is currently overseeing all food and nutritional content for Well+Good as senior food editor. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: CAITLIN BENSEL Think squash is only good for soup or serving on Thanksgiving? Think again. Whether it's fall, winter, spring, or summer, you can count on at least one delicious type of squash to be in season. From spaghetti squash and classic butternut to acorn, kabocha, and pumpkin (it's a squash!), you've got a delicious array of options to work with. Squash isn't just a sweet, rich addition to your menu, either. It's also loaded with vitamins, fiber, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Here, we've rounded up 23 of our favorite squash recipes that'll give you something silky, soothing, and seriously healthy to eat all year round. The 30 Healthiest Foods to Eat Every Day 01 of 23 Summer Nachos Greg DuPree Yes, this dish has "summer" in the name because it's made with some of the season's tastiest vegetables—zucchini and corn—but feel free to make it at any point during the year when that nacho craving hits. Zucchini is fairly easy to find year-round, though you could also substitute another type of squash if needed, and canned corn is a fine substitute when you can't get your hands on the fresh stuff. get the recipe 02 of 23 Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree If you've never eaten a raw squash salad before, you're in for a real treat. Double whammy: it tastes delicious, and there's no need to cook a thing. Tossing the squash with salt helps them soften and absorb every bit of flavor. You'll top the dish with a chopped almond dressing for a light and flavorful finish. get the recipe 03 of 23 Slow-Cooker Squash Lasagna Romulo Yanes 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. As an alternative, feel free to use your Instant Pot to make this delicious squash dish too. The winter vegetables in the lasagna layers add a bit of brightness to the cozy dinner; ricotta and mozzarella bring more scrumptious flavor and next-level creaminess. get the recipe 04 of 23 Kabocha Squash Sticky Buns Brie Passano Though we'll never say no to a traditional sticky bun, these buns lean more savory than sweet. It makes for a more festive and fall-themed treat, and because you're using two cans of crescent rolls, it 100 percent qualifies as an easy-to-bake brunch recipe. get the recipe 05 of 23 Spaghetti Squash Parmesan Greg DuPree No one will miss white pasta noodles once they taste this creamy, cheesy, comforting meat-free rendition made from spaghetti squash. Make sure not to skip the breadcrumbs: they add a deliciously salty, crunchy finish to the dish. get the recipe 06 of 23 Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon Caitlin Bensel This isn't your standard lentil soup. Rather, our recipe for Red Lentil Squash Soup With Lemon is extra-warming, thanks the delicious combination of butternut squash, carrots, harissa paste, fresh ginger, and plenty of spices. get the recipe 07 of 23 Summer Squash Farro Bowl Caitlin Bensel If you can't track down some zucchini or yellow squash, try making this delicious grain bowl with another sturdy gourd instead, such as pumpkin or kabocha squash. Either option will pair very well with the other ingredients in this vegetarian meal, including chickpeas, farro, and avocado. get the recipe 08 of 23 Slow-Cooker Ragù With Spaghetti Squash Caitlin Bensel If you're searching for a hands-off dinner, give this spaghetti squash dish a whirl. The handy 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 some freshly grated Parmesan just before serving and you're good to go. get the recipe 09 of 23 Goat Cheese and Mushroom–Stuffed Acorn Squash Greg DuPree Thanks to their relative sturdiness, acorn squashes are great gourds to stuff. In this case, each squash half is packed with mushrooms, spinach, bread cubes, and goat cheese. Serve the stuffed squash with a side salad and you've got a delicious vegetarian meal that's ready in under an hour. get the recipe 10 of 23 Zucchini Pesto Pasta Caitlin Bensel This pasta is coated in a zucchini-cashew pesto that even vegetable haters won't be able to resist. After shredding the zucchini, you'll squeeze extra moisture out of it to ensure the sauce has a silky body. Combined with roasted, salted cashews and peppery basil, the finished product is unique and crave-worthy. Plus, it pairs perfectly with the creamy ricotta topping you'll plop on top of the spaghetti. get the recipe 11 of 23 Butternut Squash Soup With Sage and Parmesan Croutons Jim Franco This squash soup is filled with flavor thanks to homemade sage and Parmesan croutons, which will taste delicious no matter what time of year it is. Serve this satiating soup with a side salad or some grilled chicken to complete the meal. get the recipe 12 of 23 Wild Rice and Butternut Squash Bake Victor Protasio While this dish is basically the perfect Thanksgiving side, we won't judge you for whipping it up any time temperatures dip below 60 degrees. In addition to plenty of squash you'll find wild rice, caramelized onions, Parmesan cheese, and mushrooms all bathed in a hearty rosemary-infused cream sauce. Serve it with a vegetable main or lean meat to balance out the richness. get the recipe 13 of 23 Grilled Skirt Steak With Squash Ratatouille Greg DuPree In this dish, bright summer vegetable flavor, courtesy of yellow squash, zucchini, and eggplant, takes on deep charred richness that complements the tender, juicy meat. While this meal is perfectly filling on its own, go ahead and serve it with some buttery herbed rice or classic mashed potatoes if you're feeling especially hungry. get the recipe 14 of 23 Squash, Mushroom, and Kale Soup With Dill Christopher Testani This flavorful, veggie-packed soup comes together in just 30 minutes. Inside, 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. get the recipe 15 of 23 Mini Squash Calzones Greg DuPree Though these calzones may be small, we promise there's a full meal inside these compact hot pockets. Each one is filled with caramelized butternut squash and onion pieces, along with fiber-filled Swiss chard and a chili-infused double-cheese mixture. There's no way you'll be able to eat just one of these hand-held bites. get the recipe 16 of 23 Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta With Leeks Victor Protasio Since you can use frozen butternut squash to make this creamy pasta sauce, this dish works all year round. While the pasta cooks, you'll quickly brown store-bought fried onions for a super-crispy topping. Then, you'll make a sauce with the squash, leeks, and half-and-half. Coat the pasta in the sauce and add some Parmesan cheese, and you've got dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. get the recipe 17 of 23 Roasted Butternut Squash With Tahini Sauce Caitlin Bensel Sure, you can roast butternut squash with little more than olive oil, salt, and pepper, or you could give this recipe a try. Here, the veggie is roasted and tossed in a salty, sweet, and creamy tahini-based sauce. Sprinkle the finished dish with some pepitas, sesame seeds, and cilantro for added flavor and a satisfying crunch. get the recipe 18 of 23 Linguine With Squash, Bacon, and Goat Cheese Jim Franco 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, go ahead and sprinkle some toasted breadcrumbs on top of the noodles before you dig in. You won't regret it. get the recipe 19 of 23 Baked Barley Risotto With Butternut Squash Jonny Valiant While risotto might sound intimidating, we promise that this colorful version practically cooks itself. You'll start by sautéing some squash and onion before adding barley to the mix with some white wine and chicken broth. Once the barley is cooked, you'll finish off the meal by stirring in some spinach, Parmesan, and butter. Voila! get the recipe 20 of 23 Slow-Cooker Black Bean and Zucchini Chili Anna Williams This big-batch recipe is great for game day, but works on just about any other day as well. With each bite you'll be treated to seasoned ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, tons of beans, and hearty zucchini pieces. Since zucchini is a mild veggie, it fits seamlessly into this chili recipe. Top each bowl with sour cream, sliced avocado, and fresh cilantro for the full chili experience. get the recipe 21 of 23 Ginger-Coconut Pork With Butternut Squash Victor Protasio This coconut-infused pork and butternut squash stew is simmered until meltingly tender and deeply flavored. The base of the broth is coconut water, and it also includes both soy and fish sauce to bump up the savory umami flavor, plus garlic and ginger for spice. Finish the dish with plenty of sliced scallions, and for even more brightness, add some Thai basil, mint, or cilantro. Serve it with a side of white rice for a complete meal. get the recipe 22 of 23 Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry Greg DuPree This veggie-filled meal takes just 20 minutes to make and is packed with summer squash, eggplant, jalapeño slices, and unsalted peanuts. All of the ingredients are bathed in a spicy cornstarch-soy sauce that thickens around the crisp vegetables, and the whole thing is served over white rice. If you don't love spice, leave out the jalapeño. get the recipe 23 of 23 Roasted Pork Chops and Butternut Squash With Kale Sang An 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 work. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit