Yellow squash casserole is a popular Southern side dish for family gatherings, Sunday dinners, and potlucks. The casserole is made with fork tender yellow squash baked in a creamy, cheese sauce that is topped with a crunchy, buttery ritz crackers topping. Try it with your next meal!
"It reminded me of a dish that my Grandma used to make for Sunday lunch when I was a kid. I wasn't much of a fan back then as I was a typical kid who avoided vegetables! But now I love vegetables, I think it is being married to a farmer!!! We used a mixture of cheddar and pepper jack and it was so good!"
★★★★★- Claire
Jump to:
🔍 Quick Look: Yellow Squash Casserole
⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
⏲️ Cook Time: 35 minutes
👥 Servings: 10
📊 Calories: 333 per serving
🥒 Main Ingredients: Yellow squash, onion, sour cream, eggs, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, Ritz crackers
⭐ Difficulty: Easy
❤️ You Will Love: Creamy, cheesy squash with a buttery, crunchy Ritz cracker topping.
I love making this Southern squash casserole when we have company because it turns simple yellow squash into a side dish that everyone actually gets excited about. The creamy, cheesy filling is delicious on its own, but the Ritz cracker topping makes it hard to resist.
It also makes a great pot-luck side dish. My family and friends love it. I hope you do too! Enjoy. Xoxo ~Katie.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
You will need the following ingredients to make this Southern yellow squash casserole recipe.
- butter- You can use salted or unsalted butter.
- yellow squash- Use fresh yellow squash. Do not use canned or frozen squash because they contain more moisture and can make the casserole watery. This is a yellow squash casserole recipe, but zucchini would be a delicious addition.
- sweet Vidalia onion-You can substitute with any sweet onion, white onion, or yellow onion.
- salt and pepper-You can substitute with your favorite seasoned salt or Cajun seasoning.
- ground thyme-You can substitute with fresh thyme.
- eggs- Works as the binder.
- sour cream- Adds creaminess and a slight tang to the filling.
- mayonnaise- Adds richness and helps create the creamy texture of the filling.
- sharp cheddar cheese-You can substitute with Monterey jack, pepper jack, or use half cheddar cheese and half Swiss cheese.
- Ritz crackers-You can substitute with any buttery round crackers, saltines, or club crackers.
*Full recipe with ingredient measurements is located at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Yellow Squash Casserole Variations
This is a traditional Southern squash casserole recipe. However, if you want to change things up a little, these ingredient variations would also be delicious.
- Use 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and 1 cup Swiss cheese.
- Add crumbled bacon.
- Add diced pimento or red bell pepper for a pop of color and flavor.
- Cook the squash in bacon grease instead of butter.
- For a little heat, add a ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
How to make Southern Yellow Squash Casserole
Follow these simple steps to make yellow squash casserole.
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and yellow squash. Add thyme, then salt and pepper to taste. Cook until squash is fork tender but still holds its shape, approximately 10 minutes. But do not overcook.
- Add squash and onions to a colander and allow them drain the extra liquid for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat eggs. Mix in sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Mix in cheddar cheese then gently fold in cooked squash and onions.
- Add yellow squash mixture to a greased 9x13 baking dish.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix melted butter and ritz cracker crumbs. Sprinkle crushed cracker topping evenly over the squash casserole.
- Bake casserole dish uncovered in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and the topping is a golden brown. Allow it to rest 5 or more minutes before serving.
Watch how to Make
Cooking Tips
- It is important to drain the extra liquid from the yellow squash after cooking before mixing it in with the cream mixture. This will prevent your casserole from becoming watery and runny.
- Be careful not to overcook the squash before adding it to the casserole dish. The squash will continue to cook while baking in the creamy cheese sauce. If you overcook it, the squash will become mushy in the casserole.
Can you make squash casserole ahead of time?
Yes. You can make squash casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Prepare the casserole as directed, but leave off the Ritz cracker topping. Cover and refrigerate. When you are ready to bake, add the buttery Ritz cracker topping and bake as directed. Because the casserole will be cold, you may need to add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time.
Please leave me a comment below if you make this squash casserole, tell me what you thought about it. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.
Also post your picture of your squash on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!
📖 Recipe
Southern Yellow Squash Casserole with Ritz Cracker Topping
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 pounds yellow squash sliced ¼ inch thick
- 1 medium onion diced (about 1 ½ cups)
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground thyme
- 2 eggs
- 8 ounces sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups cheddar cheese grated
Topping
- 1½ sleeves Ritz Crackers crushed (45 crackers)
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and yellow squash. Add thyme, then salt and pepper to taste. Cook until squash is fork tender but still holds its shape, approximately 10 minutes. But do not overcook.2 tablespoons butter, 3 pounds yellow squash, 1 medium onion, salt and pepper to taste, ½ teaspoon ground thyme
- Add squash and onions to a colander and allow them drain the extra liquid for 5 minutes. Do not skip this step! Discard the extra liquid.
- Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Mix in sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Mix in cheddar cheese then gently fold in cooked squash and onions.salt and pepper to taste, 2 eggs, 8 ounces sour cream, ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 cups cheddar cheese
- Add yellow squash mixture to a greased 9x13 baking dish.
Topping
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, mix melted butter and ritz cracker crumbs. Sprinkle cracker topping evenly over the squash casserole.1½ sleeves Ritz Crackers, 6 tablespoons butter
- Bake uncovered in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and the topping is a golden brown. Allow it to rest 5 or more minutes before serving.
Claire says
This looked just like a casserole that my Mumma used to make so I gave it ago. (I don't remember her using mayo in hers) but I trusted your recipe and made it exactly as you suggest and it was delicious!!! Not quite the same as Mumma's but so close!
Delicious
Jen says
I love a good squash casserole, but I'd never tried one with a Ritz cracker topping. I had some sitting in my pantry, so I gave this recipe a shot and I'm so glad I did. It was so good! This will be my new staple recipe for squash casserole.
Claire says
This was really easy to make and tasted good.
It reminded me of a dish that my Grandma used to make for Sunday lunch when I was a kid. I wasn't much of a fan back then as I was a typical kid who avoided vegetables! But now I love vegetables, I think it is being married to a farmer!!!
We used a mixture of cheddar and pepper jack and it was so good!
Giangi Townsend says
This casserole is so delicious. I can't wait to prepare this for our next gatherings.