Southern Squash Casserole is a creamy, classic casserole that tastes great served on your holiday table or as a side dish for fried chicken. Made with fresh or frozen yellow squash, this easy casserole can be made year round and requires minimal prep work without any weird ingredients.
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While yellow squash has never topped my "favorite veggies" list, this squash casserole is must have on my Thanksgiving and Christmas table.
The cooked squash and onions with the creamy sauce covered in buttery breadcrumbs makes for a satisfying and tasty holiday side. Also, I love serving squash casserole with fried chicken.
Why you should make Squash Casserole
What's nice about this recipe is that it is not a mushy, it's creamy but not overly cheesy, and it has just enough spice without overpowering the squash.
The squash is cooked but not overcooked, the sauce is thick but not too rich, and it's nice and comforting.
How to Make this Southern Squash Casserole
Making squash casserole is pretty simple. You have to boil to squash and onion before you assemble the casserole to help cook the squash & onions a little plus allow the squash to release some of their juices.
While you're letting the squash drain, you will make the sauce by cooking some flour in butter. Whisk in the milk, add the cheese, and season. When your squash is as drained as possible -- this is very important... you want to dry your squash as much as possible, so your casserole isn't soupy -- you'll fold it into the sauce.
Transfer to a casserole dish and top with breadcrumbs (or butter crackers) and butter. Bake and enjoy!
Tips for Making Healthy Squash Casserole
I said it before, but it's worth repeating: make sure your squash is very well drained. I like to gently press it and then use a towel to blot dry. If you don't make sure to dry the squash then you run the risk of having a soupy squash casserole, and that sounds terrible!
Make Ahead Tips
You can prepare the casserole ahead of time, but you don't want to add the topping until just before baking. And make sure to take the casserole out of the oven before you start to preheat the oven, so your casserole dish isn't very cold when you add it to the oven. Adding a cold baking dish in a hot oven could cause it to break.
I have tried in the past to prepare the cheese sauce in advance and assemble later, but I found that it didn't hold up as well.
Variations
Alternatives:
You can easily use frozen squash and onions in the casserole, and I generally do because the squash is already sliced for you to same time.
Any type of flour will work. I've successfully used white whole wheat flour, whole wheat pastry flour, and unbleached all purpose.
Substitutions:
To make this gluten free, you can use cornstarch in place of the flour. Use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and whisk it into 1/2 cup cold milk. To make the sauce, you'll melt the butter then whisk in the cornstarch-milk mixture. Add remaining milk and cook until thick. Follow directions as normal.
Also, you will want to use gluten free bread or gluten free crackers in place of the regular bread/cracker topping.
Storage Tips:
Refrigerate leftovers and transfer to an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for one month.
What to serve with this dish
I'm partial to enjoying this squash casserole on Thanksgiving or Christmas, but it's also great with fried chicken like I previously mentioned. Some of my favorite holiday sides are below.
Final thoughts:
Looking for an easy southern squash casserole? This creamy, classic casserole tastes great served on your holiday table or as a side dish for fried chicken. Made with fresh or frozen yellow squash, this easy casserole can be made year round and requires minimal prep work without any weird ingredients.
MORE HOLIDAY SIDE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:
- Sweet Potato Casserole
- Thanksgiving Roasted Vegetables
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Dip
Squash Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 pounds yellow squash sliced
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 2 tablespoons butter divided
- 2 tablespoons flour any kind
- 8 ounces milk whole or 2%
- 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 1 cup)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup breadcrumbs or butter crackers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add squash and onions. Boil for 5 minutes or 7 minutes if vegetables were frozen. Drain and set aside.
- Melt butter in pot over medium heat. Add flour; cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Very gradually add milk while constantly whisking. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
- Remove from heat; add cheese, salt, and pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Add in squash mixture, and stir well.
- Spoon squash mixture into a 2-quart baking dish or keep in the pot. [If making-ahead, cover and refrigerate].
- Meanwhile, mix together remaining tablespoon of butter and breadcrumbs. Sprinkle squash mixture evenly with breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until mixture is thoroughly heated and breadcrumbs are lightly browned. Enjoy!
Notes
*2 slices bread makes about 1 cup breadcrumbs.
*Can be made ahead up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate without breadcrumbs. Bring to room temperature before covering with breadcrumbs and baking.
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What to use in this recipe:
Meme
Doesn't this recipe look good?! You should probably pin it for later:
Natalie says
I love the idea of a squash casserole. Def going to try this for Thanksgiving!
Lindsey says
Love those buttered breadcrumbs on top!
Holly Pelton says
Squash is one of my favorite vegetables to cook with! This casserole was perfect for my meal prep this week and the breadcrumbs on top were my favorite part!
Liz Shaw says
I absolutely love all of the other recipes you can pair this with for a satisfying dinner- with plenty of leftovers. Thanks for this!
Lorie says
Good old comfort food at it's finest--this one is a keeper!
Tawnie Kroll says
This was so easy and yummy, so excited to add this to my regular menu planning!