I’m always looking for ways to turn a farmers’ market haul into cozy dinners, easy lunches, and a few treats for the freezer. Squash does all of that without trying. From quick weeknight bakes to slow-simmered soups, here are 20 squash recipes I reach for when I want color on the table and something everyone will actually eat!
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All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville Test Kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.
Summer Casseroles to Feed a Crowd
When it’s too nice out to fuss, I lean on simple casseroles that do the heavy lifting in the oven while I set the table or pour drinks. Here are some family-friendly and potluck-ready squash casserole recipes to try!
1. Oven Roasted Ratatouille
Oven Roasted Ratatouille
This Oven Roasted Ratatouille is packed with layers of fresh veggies, marinara sauce, and melty cheese. A simple, cozy side dish that tastes like comfort!Step-by-step videos can be seen below the recipe card.
$6.48 recipe / $0.81 serving
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Thin-sliced eggplant, zucchini, squash, and tomatoes get tucked over a marinara base and roasted until tender, then finished with a little mozzarella for that pizza-ish vibe. I love serving this oven roasted ratatouille with crusty bread. 😋
2. Squash Casserole
Squash Casserole Recipe
This easy Squash Casserole is creamy and cheesy with a buttery cracker crust. It’s full of sweet yellow squash and is SO simple to make!Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
$5.72 recipe / $0.95 serving
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This creamy, golden squash casserole bake comes together fast and is oven-ready in about 15 minutes of prep. It’s perfect for potlucks and stays bubbly and delicious even after a short rest, so timing is low stress.
3. Summer Vegetable Tian
Summer Vegetable Tian
Fresh summer vegetables and savory herbs are layered together then topped with cheese before baking to perfection in this summer vegetable tian.Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
$6.68 recipe / $1.11 serving
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This summer vegetable tian delivers tender tomato, potato, and squash slices with salt, pepper, thyme, and a little cheese for a budget-friendly side that feels fancy.
All Things Zucchini
Need a quick side or a make-ahead dinner? Zucchini’s got range, and I have a few favorite recipes I keep on repeat all season long. If you love zucchini too, be sure to check out more of our zucchini recipes before you go!
4. Zucchini Lasagna
Zucchini Lasagna
This zucchini lasagna recipe uses zucchini slices instead of traditional noodles to create a low-carb, gluten-free, and delicious lasagna!Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
$18.43 recipe / $1.84 serving
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Swap noodles for zucchini ribbons and keep all the saucy comfort with this zucchini lasagna. This veggie-packed lasagna is totally gluten-free, delicious, and the perfect way to showcase my zucchini harvest!
5. Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Zucchini Boats
Zucchini Boats are the perfect mashup for meat and veggie lovers. An easy and fun way to switch up your weeknight dinner routine!
$9.93 recipe / $2.48 serving
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With a garlicky sausage filling and a golden mozzarella finish, these zucchini boats check all the boxes for a satisfying weeknight dinner!
6. Zucchini Slice
Zucchini Slice
Zucchini Slice is an easy and budget-friendly Australian dish featuring fresh zucchini baked into a cheesy egg-based batter.
$5.60 recipe / $0.70 serving
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I like to bake one pan of this zucchini slice recipe, chill it, and cut tidy squares for lunchboxes, picnics, or quick breakfasts. It’s part frittata, part snack, and fully portable.
Make the Best Out of Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is a versatile veggie that roasts into tender strands…perfect for speedy bowls and cozy bakes! Try these easy spaghetti squash recipes and find your new weeknight favorite.
7. Roasted Spaghetti Squash
Roasted Spaghetti Squash
There’s a hard way and an easy way to roast spaghetti squash. Here’s the easiest way to get buttery roasted strands of squash on your table fast.
$1.51 recipe / $0.37 serving
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Ever wondered how to get buttery, strand-perfect spaghetti squash every time? This simple roasted spaghetti squash is made with olive oil and salt, transforming the squash in about 55 minutes. I love serving it with a rich pasta sauce and garlic bread!
8. Spaghetti Squash Bowls
Southwest Spaghetti Squash Bowls
Spaghetti squash makes a great fiber-filled low-carb substitute for rice in these Southwest Spaghetti Squash Bowls.
$7.00 recipe / $1.75 serving
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Bowl meals are some of my favorite ways to use leftovers, and this combo always tastes fresh. These Southwest spaghetti squash bowls are meat-free but pack a punch of protein from the black beans. Paired with the salsa and cheese? They’re like a lighter, veggie-loaded twist on a burrito bowl.
9. Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
If you’re looking for a knock-out recipe that takes minutes to put together, this mouthwatering Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is it!
$5.38 recipe / $1.35 serving
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Sausage stuffed spaghetti squash bakes right on a sheet pan with Italian sausage and melty mozzarella for a cozy, low-effort dinner the whole fam will love!
Acorn Squash fALL Favorites
Acorn squash is the unsung hero of fall produce! It’s super easy to prep, naturally sweet, and can be roasted or stuffed into the coziest seasonal meals. Here are 2 easy acorn squash recipes I urge you to try this fall!
10. Roasted Acorn Squash
Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe
This easy Acorn Squash recipe is roasted with savory spices, brown sugar, and sweet raisins. Perfect for holiday spreads or everyday meals.
$6.75 recipe / $0.75 serving
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My roasted acorn squash is sweet but savory, with garlic, brown sugar, poultry seasoning, cinnamon, AND raisins. Don’t knock it until you try it! It’s just too good to miss. (And it’s SO easy to make!)
11. Stuffed Acorn Squash
Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash
Wild Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash makes a great vegetarian (or vegan) Thanksgiving main dish, or a delicious dinner for any chilly fall evening!
$6.19 recipe / $1.55 serving
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Sweet, nutty, and packed with hearty wild rice, this stuffed acorn squash is a simple vegetarian dish that tastes as good as it looks. I’d happily serve this as a veggie or vegan main at Thanksgiving or Christmas!
Delicious Butternut Squash Recipes
Butternut squash is probably one of my most-used fall ingredients. It’s mild tasting, with a subtle sweetness that makes it perfect for everything from soups and pastas to roasted sides and casseroles. But if you struggle cutting butternut squash, don’t let that put you off! Not only do we have a bunch of delicious recipes to try, but we also have a handy guide on how to cut butternut squash, too.
12. Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted Butternut Squash is the perfect fall side dish! It’s budget-friendly, easy to make, and only uses a few pantry staples.
$5.67 recipe / $0.47 serving
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I can’t get enough of roasted butternut squash. The edges caramelize nicely, and the middle becomes unbelievably tender. The hardest part is waiting for it to roast for 35 minutes in the oven!
13. Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut squash soup is a warm and creamy soup made with roasted butternut squash, rich cream, and cozy herbs like sage and nutmeg.
$3.72 recipe / $0.93 serving
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WOW. Creamy, rich, and perfectly spiced, this butternut squash soup is what cozy nights were made for. It also reheats like a dream, so I like to make a big batch and store the extras in my freezer (future me is always grateful for that).
14. Butternut Squash Curry
Butternut Squash Curry
This butternut squash curry is easy, inexpensive and so deliciously warm, cozy, and filling. It’s the perfect vegetarian comfort meal!
$7.23 recipe / $1.81 serving
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Enjoying meat-free dishes is one of the easiest ways to reduce your grocery budget. In this butternut squash curry, sweet squash meets a fragrant mix of curry spices, coconut milk, and garlic to create an aromatic and totally vegan meal that’s ready in about 35 minutes!
15. Stuffed Butternut Squash
Stuffed Butternut Squash Recipe
This easy Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe is filled with Italian sausage, veggies, seasonings, and cheddar cheese. Perfect for the holidays!
$13.05 recipe / $1.63 serving
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My family can’t get enough of this easy stuffed butternut squash recipe. Between the maple glaze, melty cheese, and savory filling, there’s never a single bite left on their plates!
our Favorite Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkin is the squash of the fall season. It always makes its way into our holiday menu in one way or another! From the classic pumpkin pie flavors to something a little unexpected like chili, here are some delicious ways to make the most of your pumpkin patch haul.
16. Pumpkin Chili
Easy Pumpkin Chili
Pumpkin chili is hearty but light and packed with fiber and other nutrients. It’s the perfect warm and cozy bowl of fall flavors.
$9.73 recipe / $1.62 serving
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I already know you’re going to be obsessed with this simple pumpkin chili—it’s hearty, warming, and packed with flavor without feeling heavy. The pumpkin makes it extra rich and smooth, and it’s perfect for chilly fall nights.
17. Pumpkin Smoothie
Pumpkin Smoothie
Forget the PSL, this pumpkin smoothie should be the official drink of October. It’s fast, easy, and tastes like a pumpkin pie milkshake!
$0.94 each
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Yep, you heard that right. A pumpkin smoothie that’s just as autumnal as a PSL, just colder, creamier, and caffeine-free. It’s basically dessert disguised as breakfast, and I’m not mad about it.
18. Pumpkin Pie Bars
Pumpkin Pie Bars
These easy Pumpkin Pie Bars are rich, creamy, full of warm spices, and made with a buttery shortbread crust. The perfect stress-free dessert to make this holiday season!
$6.11 recipe / $0.68 serving
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These pumpkin pie bars are my favorite shortcut to all the flavor of pumpkin pie. The creamy pumpkin filling is baked over a buttery shortbread crust and sliced into perfect little squares for sharing. Ideal for potlucks!
19. Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats are a great way to use up leftover pumpkin purée and are a delicious make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings.
$0.95 each
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Got some leftover pumpkin puree? Then you’ve got no excuse not to make these pumpkin pie overnight oats. This seasonal meal-prep hack will keep you full on a budget AND satisfy any pumpkin spice cravings!
20. Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin Butter Recipe
This recipe for Pumpkin Butter is easy, perfectly spiced, and budget-friendly. Spread it on toast, pancakes, or your favorite fall snacks!
$4.27 recipe / $0.17 serving
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I’ve always got a stock of pumpkin butter in my freezer. To make it, I cook down pumpkin puree, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, and other simple ingredients until smooth, then spread it on toast, pancakes, waffles, or anything else I fancy!

