If you’re growing yellow squash, you already know how quickly it can go from “yay it’s growing” to “what am I supposed to do with all of this?” The good news is that yellow squash is incredibly versatile and can be used in way more than just a basic side dish. From grilling and roasting to sneaking it into meatballs, pasta sauce, and muffins, here are some of my favorite ways to use up a summer squash harvest.

What to Do With Yellow Squash

Yellow squash is mild, versatile, and easy to work into everything from breakfast to dinner. Here are a few ideas to keep in your back pocket all summer long:

Keep It Simple

• Slice and grill it with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little Parmesan.
• Roast it with zucchini, onions, and garlic for an easy side dish.
• Sauté it with pesto and chicken, then serve over pasta or chickpea pasta.
• Add it to stir-fries or fried rice.

Sneak It Into Your Favorite Recipes

• Shred it into muffins or quick breads — you’d never know it’s there!
• Add it to turkey or grass-fed beef meatballs for extra veggies.
• Toss it into scrambled eggs or breakfast casseroles.
• Dice it into taco meat, pasta sauce, or chili.
• Blend it into mac and cheese sauce for a veggie boost.

Make It the Main Event

• Hollow it out and make stuffed squash boats with taco filling or Italian sausage.
• Bread it with almond flour or panko and bake it into “fries.”
• Thinly slice it into a squash gratin or casserole.
• Make squash fritters with egg, Parmesan, and a little flour.
• Make a creamy blended yellow squash soup.

There are so many ways to use yellow squash that you definitely don’t have to eat the same sautéed squash on repeat all summer. If you have a favorite recipe that uses yellow squash, this is also a great time to experiment with adding it in — especially to recipes where extra vegetables won’t change the overall flavor or texture too much.

Can You Freeze Yellow Squash?

If you’re swimming in yellow squash, freeze some for later! Shred it and portion it into 1- or 2-cup amounts before freezing. It’s perfect to pull out later for soups, muffins, casseroles, sauces, meatballs, and more.

Freezing shredded squash is especially helpful if your garden is producing more than you can keep up with. Instead of letting those extra squash go to waste, stash them in the freezer and you’ll have an easy vegetable to add to recipes all fall and winter.

Yellow Squash FAQs

What is the best way to cook yellow squash?

Yellow squash can be grilled, roasted, sautéed, baked, or added to soups, sauces, casseroles, and more. For a quick side dish, simply sauté or grill it with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Can you eat yellow squash raw?

Yes! Yellow squash can be eaten raw. Try thinly slicing it and adding it to salads, bowls, or veggie platters.

Do you have to peel yellow squash?

No. Yellow squash has a thin, edible skin, so there’s no need to peel it before cooking.

Can you freeze yellow squash?

Yes. Shredded yellow squash is especially easy to freeze and can be used later in soups, muffins, casseroles, sauces, and meatballs.