Sautéed Yellow Squash

This simple sautéed yellow squash recipe allows the crisp, fresh flavors of the squash to shine. The mildly sweet, nutty flavors of the squash are deepened over the heat. This delicious summer side dish will be a hit with the whole family!

It's topped with fresh herbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice for maximum flavor.

This delicious side dish is great whenever you can find summer squash, but the best time of year to enjoy it is the hot summer months when it's bountiful at the grocery store and farmer's market.

Jump to:

• Sautéed Summer Squash Ingredients
• How to Make this Recipe
• Tips for Making this Recipe
• Storage
• Substitutions
• More Summer Squash Recipes to Try
• Sautéed Yellow Squash

This easy side dish is ready in minutes. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy summer squash and I'm sure you'll love it too.

This simple recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Serve it with some Grilled Red Snapper, Crispy Baked Haddock, or Baked Caprese Chicken for a healthy meal.

You can also use this method to make another perfect summer recipe - easy sautéed zucchini!

Sautéed Summer Squash Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this simple side dish.

Squash - You'll need 3 medium yellow squash (also called summer squash). You'll cut these into bite-sized pieces. The peak season for yellow squash is June through August.

Fat - You'll cook the squash in olive oil (you can use extra virgin olive oil, but you don't have to) and a little butter.

Garlic - You'll use a few cloves of fresh garlic to season the squash. You can substitute this for garlic powder if necessary.

Seasonings - You'll season the squash with several herbs and spices, including fresh thyme, basil leaves, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper.

How to Make this Recipe

Prepare the Ingredients - Chop the squash, mince the garlic, chop the herbs, and squeeze the lemon juice. You'll want all your ingredients prepared before you start cooking because this recipe goes quickly.

Heat the Fat - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter.

Cook the Squash - Once the oil is hot and the butter is bubbling, add the yellow squash. Stir the squash to coat them in butter and oil. Sauté for 5 minutes. Stir again and flip the squash over and cook for 4 more minutes. 

Add Seasonings - Add the garlic and thyme to the hot pan. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Finish Before Serving - Remove the squash from the heat and add the chopped basil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir and serve immediately. 

Tips for Making this Recipe

Cooking Tips - Yellow squash cooks quickly and can become a soggy mess when overcooked. Make sure to watch your squash closely while it's cooking. An additional minute or two of cooking can take squash from perfectly tender to overdone. If your squash starts releasing a lot of water, remove it from the heat.

Recommended Tools - I like using a large nonstick skillet for this recipe.

Storage

While the sautéed squash is best served fresh, you can save leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.

The squash will become a little soggy when you reheat it, so consider adding it to something like risotto or pasta that would benefit from the moisture.

Substitutions

• Seasonings - you can swap the basil and thyme for cilantro or parsley.
• Cheese - feel free to add some shredded parmesan cheese or crumbly feta cheese to the finished dish if you want some creaminess.
• Onion - you can add scallions or sweet onions (like vidalia) to this recipe - sauté it before adding the squash to the skillet.

More Summer Squash Recipes to Try

If you love yellow squash and zucchini, try some of our other favorite recipes!

• Summer Squash Tomato Gratin - a fantastic layered gratin perfect for summer.
• Shaved Zucchini Salad Recipe - ribboned zucchini with cheese and pine nuts.
• Stuffed Squash Blossoms Recipe - a gorgeous edible flower recipe.
• Zucchini Spaghetti (Zoodles with Marinara) - a simple zucchini recipe for lunch or dinner that's bursting with flavor.

If you try this simple side dish recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos or leave us a rating.