27 Summer Squash Recipes That Make the Most of the Season

You'll never get bored of summer squash with these pastas, salads, and grilled sides.

August 26, 2020

Image may contain Dish Food Meal Plant and Platter

Bring on the summer squash recipes! If you've ever grown zucchini or checked out a late August farmers market, you know this harvest is seriously abundant…and we couldn't be happier about it. Soft-skinned and tender, these mild-flavored squashes are just as delicious shaved raw into salads as they are sautéed or grilled—and that's lucky for us, because our fridges are overflowing with the stuff. That's why we're cooking plenty of jammy, caramelized squash pasta, crispy zucchini-lentil fritters dolloped with lemony yogurt, and fresh farmers market farro bowls. These are the summer squash recipes we're making straight through Labor Day, or at least until Honeynuts hit the market.

Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Maya Rossi
1/27
Yellow Squash Casserole With Easy Cheesy Cream Sauce
This creamy summer squash casserole with its buttery, crushed cracker topping counts as eating your veggies, right?
View Recipe
Photo by Laura Murray, FOOD STYLING BY CHRISTINA CHAEY
2/27
Farmers Market Farro Bowls
A little bit of prep work has a big payoff—a tasty, versatile lunch just waiting for its gochujang-lime dressing.
View Recipe

Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Claire Saffitz
3/27
Slow-Cooked Summer Squash with Lemon and Thyme
Cooking summer squash low and slow yields sweet, nutty, tender—but not mushy—results.
View Recipe
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Sue Li
4/27
Zucchini-Lentil Fritters With Lemony Yogurt
This zucchini recipe takes inspiration from the traditional crispy, crackly Bengali onion snacks, piyaju.
View Recipe

Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
5/27
Tofu and Summer Vegetable Curry
This quick vegetarian curry is a great way to use a CSA’s bounty of eggplant, summer squash, or whatever else your haul contains.
View Recipe
Photo by Alex Lau
6/27
Hoisin-Turkey Meatballs With Glass Noodles
Putting quinoa in meatballs might sound weird, but trust us, it keeps these meatballs light as air.
View Recipe

Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Judy Mancini
7/27
Summer Squash and Basil Pasta
Sautéed squash eventually gets jammy and saucy if cooked long enough, ideal as a way to coat big pieces of pasta.
View Recipe
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
8/27
Sweet and Spicy Grilled Summer Squash
The crosshatch pattern isn’t just for show (even though it does look cool)!
View Recipe

Alex Lau
9/27
Shaved Squash Salad with Tomatoes and Ricotta Salata
The juices from the tomatoes, squash, and dressing make for a magical combination—you’ll need crusty bread to soak it up with.
View Recipe
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
10/27
Salad Ramen
This is our idea of what a cold noodle salad dish should be.
View Recipe

Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Molly Baz, prop styling by Emily Eisen
11/27
Marinated Zucchini With Hazelnuts and Ricotta
Zucchini is anything but boring when bathed in a kicky vinaigrette.
View Recipe
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Frances Boswell
12/27
Hummus With Spiced Summer Squash and Lamb
Lots of toasted pita for scooping up everything is nonnegotiable.
View Recipe

Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson
13/27
Grilled Summer Squash and Red Onion With Feta
Say it with us: No more squishy, bland summer squash!
View Recipe
Alex Lau
14/27
Grilled Halibut and Summer Squash with Pumpkin Seeds
If you can only find skin-on halibut, carry on: After the fish is cooked, wiggle a spatula between the skin and the fillet, and it will slip right off.
View Recipe

Peden & Munk
15/27
Spaghetti With No-Cook Tomato Sauce and Hazelnuts
Zucchini adds richness and body to this summery tomato sauce.
View Recipe
Alex Lau
16/27
Summer Squash Frittata with Herbs
Grating the zucchini helps release more water as it cooks, giving you more of that concentrated summer squash flavor.
View Recipe

17/27
Pounded Flank Steak with Zucchini Salsa
A little meat-mallet action transforms this tough cut of beef into a quick-grilling all-star.
View Recipe
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li
18/27
Simple Khichari
This restorative stew, from Divya’s Kitchen, features a rotating cast of hard and soft vegetables. Sub in zucchini for the cauliflower.
View Recipe

Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Aneta Florczyk
19/27
Charred Peppers With Lemon Ricotta and Cucumbers
If you can’t find Italian frying peppers or just aren’t feeling them, grilled zucchini would also work well here.
View Recipe
Alex Lau
20/27
Haricots Verts with Summer Squash and 8-Minute Eggs
This bean salad is taken to new, luxurious levels with the addition of eggs, anchovies, and your favorite summer squash.
View Recipe

Alex Lau
21/27
Zucchini, Potato, and Fontina Pizzettas
We’ve included Gyngell’s recipe for pizza dough, but if you prefer to use store-bought, we promise not to tell.
View Recipe
Peden + Munk
22/27
Torn Zucchini with Mint and Calabrian Chiles
No, you don’t have to tear the zucchini with your hands, but it makes for a cool presentation—and we all know it’s way more fun than using a knife.
View Recipe

Photo by Alex Lau
23/27
Ultimate Zoodles
This recipe is super-versatile: Use any sturdy root vegetable, such as carrots, turnips, celery root, or beets. If you don’t have a spiralizer, simply cut the zucchini and cucumber into thin matchsticks.
View Recipe
Linda Xiao
24/27
Grilled Summer Squash Baba Ghanoush
There’s a method to making baba ghanoush. And it applies to way more than eggplant.
View Recipe

25/27
Shaved Squash Salad with Sunflower Seeds
“I love the richness of the feta and the crunch of the sunflower seeds against the tender squash.” —Dawn Perry, senior food editor
View Recipe
Christina Holmes
26/27
Summer Squash Slaw with Feta and Toasted Buckwheat
Cooked summer squash can be mushy. Solution: Eat it raw. If you can’t find buckwheat groats, use chopped toasted almonds instead.
View Recipe

27/27
Sichuan Pickles
“Summer squash is the perfect canvas for this spicy, floral pickle.” –Sue Li, recipe developer
View Recipe

Explore Bon AppétitHealthyish Summer Squash Squash Zucchini

Yellow Squash Casserole With Easy Cheesy Cream Sauce

Farmers Market Farro Bowls

Slow-Cooked Summer Squash with Lemon and Thyme

Zucchini-Lentil Fritters With Lemony Yogurt

Tofu and Summer Vegetable Curry

Hoisin-Turkey Meatballs With Glass Noodles

Summer Squash and Basil Pasta

Sweet and Spicy Grilled Summer Squash

Shaved Squash Salad with Tomatoes and Ricotta Salata

Salad Ramen

Marinated Zucchini With Hazelnuts and Ricotta

Hummus With Spiced Summer Squash and Lamb

Grilled Summer Squash and Red Onion With Feta

Grilled Halibut and Summer Squash with Pumpkin Seeds

Spaghetti With No-Cook Tomato Sauce and Hazelnuts

Summer Squash Frittata with Herbs

Pounded Flank Steak with Zucchini Salsa

Simple Khichari

Charred Peppers With Lemon Ricotta and Cucumbers

Haricots Verts with Summer Squash and 8-Minute Eggs

Zucchini, Potato, and Fontina Pizzettas

Torn Zucchini with Mint and Calabrian Chiles

Ultimate Zoodles

Grilled Summer Squash Baba Ghanoush

Shaved Squash Salad with Sunflower Seeds

Summer Squash Slaw with Feta and Toasted Buckwheat

Sichuan Pickles