18 Summer Squash Recipes To Make Use of Your Garden’s Bounty

As the name implies, summer squash refers to multiple varieties of squash that are plentiful in the summer months. Unlike winter squash, they’re recognized by their soft, tender skin that’s easy to cook, eat and enjoy. As a result, summer squash is super versatile. It can easily be roasted, grilled, fried or shredded and baked into a loaf of bread or batch of muffins. The most commonly recognizable summer squash is zucchini, followed closely by yellow squash and the less famous — but totally adorable — patty pan squash.

The simple ingredient is perfect in summer side dishes, light pasta dinners or veggie-packed baked goods, and it’s easy to prep and cook with minimal effort. Read on for some of our favorite ways to use summer squash.

Want the flavors of ratatouille but don’t have time to let it simmer on the stove? Try this summer salad. We've taken the classic vegetables of ratatouille and grilled them up for a hearty salad you’ll want to make all summer long. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s a quick and easy take on the classic dish.

Summer squash is simple and versatile, so it can easily be dressed up or down depending on what it’s cooked with. This recipe gives the humble vegetable a decadent upgrade thanks to the addition of bacon and cheesy mozzarella and parmesan. It’s smoky, savory and perfectly crisped.

Don’t let yellow squash go overlooked. Instead, let it shine as the star of the show in this easy dish. Thanks to the addition of cheese and a buttery cracker topping, this summer casserole is perfect for a barbecue or potluck.

Every summer, farmer's markets and produce aisles are full of summer squash, and Pattypan is one of our favorite varieties. Unlike its more common cousin zucchini, is one of those unique ingredients that is only available in summer. For special produce like this, we prefer to use as few ingredients as possible to showcase its natural flavor.

If you’re looking for a simple summer side dish, it doesn’t get much easier than this. Summer squash has a really mild flavor, so it easily soaks up the vinegar-based marinade in this recipe. It’s light, bright and requires less than 10 ingredients.

A true taste of summer, this recipe combines two of the season’s best vegetables: tomatoes and squash. Fennel adds a bit of bite, while lemon juice helps brighten it up with vibrant acidity. Top with a generous pinch of parmesan cheese and serve.

This healthy and filling dish could easily be enjoyed for breakfast or dinner. Grated zucchini, eggs and shredded cheese combine to create a one-pan meal that’s hearty and fresh. Top with chopped scallions for flavor, color and extra crunch.

Stuffed peppers are great, but stuffed peppers, zucchini and tomatoes are even better. Fill the vegetables with more vegetables and hearty bulgur, then top with grated Parmesan for the last 10 minutes of baking. This dish puts the bounty of summer on full display.

If you’re wondering what to do with the bounty of summer vegetables your garden produced, this gratin is a fantastic option. The layers of flaky vegetables become tender on the inside and perfectly crisped across the top. It’s a totally impressive dish that’s surprisingly easy to whip up.

Quick, grilled vegetables are a perfect summer side dish. In this recipe summer squash is simply grilled, tossed with lemon and herbs, and finished with a light shaving of ricotta salata cheese for a creamy, salty kick. It’s bright and zesty with just a hint of smoky flavor from the grill.

This soup makes the most of summer vegetables, so it’s a great recipe to make if you want to freeze some of your garden’s bounty for the winter ahead. Green beans, zucchini, squash, tomato, peppers and basil combine to make a simple minestrone that’s hearty and filling. Jarred tomato sauce is our secret to keeping it quick and easy.

Looking for an easy summer side dish to bring to a barbecue? This summer squash casserole is it! It boasts cheese in the veggie filling and the crunchy breadcrumb topping — what's not to love?

This simple recipe couldn’t be easier. Simply top thinly sliced zucchini and squash with halved cherry tomatoes and an easy marinade. Equal parts white wine vinegar and olive oil, along with fresh herbs, will completely transform the veggies in only a half-hour.

Chili might not be the first dish you think of making with summer produce, but it should be! This recipe is a perfect way to use up your harvest at the end of summer to prepare for fall. Ground beef helps round out the soup making it extra hearty and filling.

Summer squash is so versatile, when it’s prepped correctly you can even enjoy it raw. In this recipe we slice shallots, squash and mushrooms thinly on a mandoline, then toss the vegetables with herbs and a light vinaigrette. Fifteen minutes are all you need to have this light and bright salad ready and on the table.

Ready in just 25 minutes, this light pasta dinner makes good use of tender summer squash. Plus, it’s an easy way to sneak extra veggies into a kid-friendly dinner. Parmesan cheese makes it a dish that the whole family will devour.