20 best recipes to use up lots of summer squash
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Whether you’re looking for the best recipes to use up lots of summer squash or simply trying to find some inspiring summer squash recipe ideas, you’re in the right place!
Need summer squash recipe ideas?
If you grow summer squash in your garden, chances are there will come a point in the growing season that you have far more squash on your kitchen counter than you know how to use. Or maybe you just got some summer squash from the farmers market and you’re looking for recipe ideas.
Whatever the case may be, we’ll show you how to use a lot of summer squash for any meal of the day (including breakfast) and any course (including dessert). Yes, summer squash is a highly versatile ingredient!
Is summer squash the same as winter squash?
Let’s clear something up first… No, summer squash is not the same thing as winter squash even though they’re both in the Cucurbita genus and are both grown during the warm months.
Winter squash:
- is harvested once the fruit fully matures (yes, squash is technically a fruit);
- features a sweet inner flesh (think pumpkins or acorn squash);
- can be stored at room temperature for months or even years for some long-lasting varieties, so as to be eaten during the winter, hence its name.
Summer squash:
- is harvested while the fruit is still immature;
- needs to be eaten within days or weeks of harvest;
- is softer-skinned than winter squash and has a delicately savory flavor with just a hint of sweet.
For recipes, you should not substitute winter squash for summer squash or vice versa because you’ll get very different results.
Now, if you ever need to figure out how to use up lots of winter squash (like pumpkins), we’ve got you covered there as well! See our article: 14 delicious uses for winter squash and pumpkins.
Summer squash vs zucchini: what’s the difference?
Another question we get asked a lot is whether zucchini is the same thing as summer squash. Answer: yes, zucchini (whether green, yellow, or round) is a type of summer squash, but not all summer squash are zucchinis. Sort of like a car is a type of vehicle but not all vehicles are cars.
There are multiple types of summer squash and unique variants/cultivars under each type:
- cousa
- crookneck and straightneck (almost identical, minus the curves)
- pattypan
- tatuma/calabacita
- tromboncino (summer squash when immature, but matures to a winter squash – confusing!)
- yellow squash
- zephyr
- zucchini
For the recipes in this article, you can use any type of summer squash so long as it’s immature and tender, not mature, hard, and seedy.
20 summer squash recipes to use up LOTS of summer squash
We’re going to assume you know how to grill or stir fry squash, so those basic recipes aren’t included below.
Also, note that we’ve broken these summer squash recipes into the following categories to make them easier for you to find what you’re looking for:
- Preserved for later
- Breakfast recipes
- Lunch and dinner recipes
- Dessert recipes
1. Preserved for later: summer squash recipes
Salt & vinegar squash chips by Tyrant Farms (our sister site). Think potato chips, but healthier (these are made in a dehydrator or oven). This is our favorite way to use up a TON of summer squash for later use throughout the year.
Pickled squash, by A Farmgirl’s Dabbles. Loads of flavor and great texture in these simple, refrigerated squash pickles (you can leave out the red pepper flakes if you don’t want spicy heat though).
Fermented squash/zucchini with thyme and lemon, by Cultured Guru. If you’re trying to decide between squash pickles vs fermented squash, our vote is to go fermented. Fermentation creates a better flavor (in our opinion), plus it’s chock full of health-promoting beneficial microbes (aka probiotics) as you can read about in the recipe article. (The author and recipe creator is a microbiologist.)
Frozen zucchini/summer squash, by Downshiftology. Nope, you can’t just stick slices of summer squash in a freezer bag or you’ll end up with a mushy, mess when it comes time to cook. Downshiftology walks you through the simple but necessary steps to make the best frozen squash possible. We just hope you have more room in your freezer than we do!
2. Summer squash BREAKFAST recipes
Summer squash breakfast bread made with white whole wheat flour and seasonal berries, by Tyrant Farms. Yes, we can attest that this is a delicious recipe. Also, I might be eating a slice right now as I type this sentence!
Yellow squash frittata, by Low Carb Yum. In case you’ve never heard of them, frittatas are kind of like a crustless quiche. We’re frittata fanatics, partly owing to the fact that we love them and partly because we raise ducks and always have a lot of duck eggs to use up. Since peak duck egg season overlaps with peak summer squash season, this recipe will be a keeper for us!
5-minute summer squash pancakes, by Tyrant Farms. Need to have breakfast on the table in a hurry but want to use up some summer squash in the process? This is our go-to recipe for those mornings!
Summer squash egg bites, by Becky’s Best Bites. Another great summer squash breakfast recipe if you also have a lot of fresh eggs to put to use. Only thing we’d change: use your own homemade wholegrain breadcrumbs rather than refined panko breadcrumbs.
Sheet pan sweet corn and summer squash hash (with eggs), by Whole and Heavenly Oven. We didn’t grow sweet corn this year, but next time we have some, this meal will be on our table for breakfast.
3. Summer squash LUNCH & DINNER recipes
Squash tots, by Babaganosh. Like “tots” made from potatoes, but with squash. Kids will love these bite-sized squash tots, too! (The author also provides good ideas for dips.) If possible, substitute homemade and/or organic wholegrain breadcrumbs when making this recipe.
Baked parmesan squash rounds, by Five Heart Home. Looking for the simplest squash recipe ever – but one that tastes great? This one is for you.
Squash fritters with blueberry aioli, on Tyrant Farms. Confession: this summer, many of our squash have exited this mortal coil by way of this recipe. Squash fritters are great as-is, but go the extra step of making blueberry aioli and you’ve got some next level deliciousness on your plate.
Zucchini/summer squash “noodles”, by Downshiftology. This is a great primer on how to make (and use) a noodle alternative from your summer squash. It also includes a handy list of toppings/recipes you can make with your squash noodles. If you’re gluten-free or craving pasta but on a diet that forbids it, these recipes may help you scratch your itch.
Summer squash casserole, by Tasting Table. We’re southerners (we live in South Carolina to be precise). So we’re legally required to love squash casserole. Problem: most southern squash casserole recipes call for Ritz crackers, which we’re not fans of. However, this squash casserole recipe comes with top ratings and you can easily substitute whole wheat organic bread crumbs for Panko crumbs.
Parmesan baked squash slices, by Five Heart Home. Want the simplest squash recipe ever, but one that’s still delish? This one is for you. Slice squash into rounds, sprinkle with just the right amount of salt pepper and parm, then bake until golden perfection achieved.
Summer squash cornbread by The Meat Eater (apparently, they eat more than meat!). Remember, we’re from South Carolina, so cornbread is something we take very seriously. This recipe calls for medium ground cornmeal, not a “cornbread mix,” so that earns instant credibility in our book. The (optional) squash blossoms baked on top of the cornbread are also a beautiful touch.
4. Summer squash dessert recipes
Full disclosure: We rarely eat desserts, so these recipes are currently untested in our kitchen. However, our interest is piqued… If you haven’t used up enough of your summer squash throughout the day with the other recipes in our list, give these desserts a try!
Summer squash lemon bundt cake, by The Seaside Baker.
Summer squash pound cake, by Taste of Home.
Summer squash pudding on All Recipes. This looks more like a pudding cake than a true pudding, and it is has high ratings.
Summer squash chocolate loaf, by Taste of the Frontier. Because you can’t have a list of dessert options without chocolate, and this one looks mighty tasty.
Now you’re ready to get to the kitchen and start putting your summer squash to good use. Enjoy!
More squash articles you’ll want to sink your teeth into:
- How to grow squash: organic gardening guide
- 6 ways to prevent or stop squash vine borers
- 6 amazing pumpkin facts you probably didn’t know
