• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Living Well Kitchen logo

  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Meme
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Favorites
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Appetizer & Snacks
      • Snacks
    • Main Dish
      • Vegetarian
      • Seafood
      • Meat
      • Poultry
      • Pork
    • Specific Recipes
      • Vegetarian
        • Vegan
      • Kid Friendly
      • Gluten Free
      • Dairy Free
      • Nut Free
      • Egg Free
      • Soy Free
    • Sides
      • Vegetables
      • Beans
      • Grains
      • Potatoes
      • Bread
      • Sauce
    • Salad
    • Soup
    • Drinks
    • Dessert
    • Slow Cooker
    • Instant Pot
  • Videos
    • Recipes
    • Bloopers
  • Easy Meals
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
open menu
go to homepage
open search bar
Homepage link
  • Easy Meals
  • Breakfast
  • Main Dish
  • Dessert
  • Slow Cooker
  • Videos
  • Intuitive Eating
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Special Diet ยป Egg Free ยป Squash Casserole

    Squash Casserole

    Published: Nov 4, 2018 ยท Updated: Mar 11, 2019 ยท This post contains affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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.

    plate of squash casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans, and chicken

    Disclosure: I might make a commission for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you.

    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.

    ingredients to make squash casserole: squash, flour, butter, salt, pepper, milk, bread, onion, cheese

    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!

    sliced squash and diced onion about to go in boiling water

    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!

    butter and flour being cooked in a saucepan

    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.

    cream sauce and squash for squash casserole

    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.

    squash casserole being stirred together

    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.

    sprinkling bread crumbs over squash casserole

    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.

    cooked squash casserole


    MORE HOLIDAY SIDE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    • Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Thanksgiving Roasted Vegetables
    • Butternut Squash Soup
    • Homemade Cranberry Sauce
    • Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Dip

    plate of squash casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans, and chicken

    Squash Casserole

    Southern Squash Casserole is a creamy, classic casserole that tastes great served on your holiday table or as a side dish for fried chicken.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 12
    Author: Meme

    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

    *This casserole is easily halved.
    *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.
    Did you try this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment & recipe rating below. Bonus points for tagging @memeinge & #livingwellkitchen on Instagram! THANK YOU! xo
    Click here for Nutrition Facts

    *
    Nutrition Facts
    Squash Casserole
    Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
    Calories 108 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0g
    Cholesterol 16mg5%
    Sodium 293mg13%
    Potassium 457mg13%
    Carbohydrates 10g3%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 4g4%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 475IU10%
    Vitamin C 26.2mg32%
    Calcium 115mg12%
    Iron 0.8mg4%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    *

    What to use in this recipe:


    Meme

    Doesn't this recipe look good?! You should probably pin it for later:

    plate of squash casserole, green beans, chicken, and mashed potatoes

    • Pin
    • Yummly
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Previous Post: « Roasted Carrot Soup
    Next Post: Gifts for Travel Lovers »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie says

      November 16, 2018 at 2:12 pm

      5 stars
      I love the idea of a squash casserole. Def going to try this for Thanksgiving!

      Reply
    2. Lindsey says

      November 16, 2018 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      Love those buttered breadcrumbs on top!

      Reply
    3. Holly Pelton says

      November 17, 2018 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    4. Liz Shaw says

      November 17, 2018 at 11:50 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love all of the other recipes you can pair this with for a satisfying dinner- with plenty of leftovers. Thanks for this!

      Reply
    5. Lorie says

      November 18, 2018 at 9:40 pm

      5 stars
      Good old comfort food at it's finest--this one is a keeper!

      Reply
    6. Tawnie Kroll says

      November 19, 2018 at 10:12 am

      5 stars
      This was so easy and yummy, so excited to add this to my regular menu planning!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome!

    Meme (a brunette female) is holding umbrella and spinning around in front of the Eiffel Tower wearing a denim jacket, skirt, and blue shoesHi, I'm Meme -- a thirty-something girl from Alabama living in San Diego! Join me as I prove that living a guilt-free, healthy lifestyle can be budget friendly, delicious & fun!
    Read More

    Let's Connect

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Most Popular

    pork tenderloin with gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans on white plate with yellow and white striped napkin

    Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin

    jar of chocolate sauce with a spoon in it. empty small glass ice cream cups with a bowl of cherries on a wicker table

    Easy Chocolate Sauce

    Protein Pancakes from Living Well Kitchen

    protein pancakes

    white plate with a slice of zucchini lasagna

    Zucchini Lasagna

    spatula holding a microwave cookie

    Microwave Oatmeal Cookie

    Gluten free Crab Cakes from Living Well Kitchen @memeinge

    Gluten free Crab Cakes

    Almond Butter Banana Cookies from Living Well Kitchen

    almond butter banana cookies

    scoop of chicken salad on top on yellow and red bell peppers on a white plate with cottage cheese, onion, lemon and celery

    No Mayo Chicken Salad

    Intuitive Eating

    fancy china with turkey, cranberry sauce, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green beans and silver fork with rosรฉ and grapes on table

    How to Enjoy Less Stressful Holiday Meals

    brunette female holding a heart shaped pizza in a Parisian cafe

    Why Emotional Eating Isn't Bad

    girl sitting on brick wall in front of Mission Bay

    How to be Lazy and Live Well

    How to Celebrate Food from Living Well Kitchen

    How to Celebrate Food

    Easy Meals

    white cup of cheeseburger chowder topped with cheese, bacon and green onions with another cup of soup and canned veggies

    Cheeseburger Chowder

    white countertop with green napkin and two plates of sweet potato bacon hash topped with fried eggs and a mug of tea with plate of bacon crumbles

    Sweet Potato Bacon Hash

    Salmon with Mango Yogurt Sauce from Living Well Kitchen

    Salmon with Mango Yogurt Sauce

    toast with mashed chickpeas and avocado with cut open avocado, can of chickpeas, and cilantro

    Avocado Chickpea Toast

    Soups:

    two white bowls of soup with turkey on white wooden table with red soup pot

    Leftover Turkey Quinoa Soup

    two white bowls of chili topped with cilantro and avocado on a counter with lime, cilantro, grey napkin and blue pot of chicken chili

    Jalapeรฑo Popper Chicken Chili

    two white bowls of chili, one with avocado and a spoon, the other with tortilla chips popping out. sitting on a green napkin with hot sauce and a pot of chili

    Lentil Chili

    white bowls with sausage kale soup with french bread and fresh kale

    Sausage Kale White Bean Soup

    As Seen On:

    As Seen On

    In Season

    blue napkin with plate of Avocado Salmon Burgers with lime slices

    Avocado Salmon Burgers

    orange mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and bottle of bourbon with container of cocoa powder on blue and white towel

    Bourbon Hot Chocolate

    two wine glasses with coffee ice cream drinks, bottles of brandy and Tia Maria, on white and gold napkins, with Christmas cookies

    Tia Maria Cocktails

    pile of ginger cookies on a gold and white napkin

    Ginger Cookies without Molasses

    Footer

    sign up for recipe texts

    Living Well Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    • Home
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Recipes

    Copyright © 2021

    We use cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled

    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

    Non-necessary

    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

    115shares