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This Cracker Barrel squash casserole recipe is the ultimate comforting dish. It’s a cheesy, old fashioned squash casserole with buttery Ritz cracker topping.
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What’s the most delicious way to use your summer squash bounty? A good old fashioned squash casserole, of course!
But why not take it up a notch and make this Cracker Barrel squash casserole?
This squash casserole transforms our favorite summer squash into a cheesy and creamy casserole that’s just impossible to resist. But the best part? The golden brown buttery topping made from crushed Ritz crackers!
It’s hearty, comforting, and an effortless way to turn your summer squash bounty into a crowd favorite. You can use yellow or zucchini squash!
What Is Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole?
We all know that old fashioned squash casserole is one of the most wholesome comfort meals. I mean, what’s there not to like?
It’s tender squash cooked with cheese, herbs, spices, sour cream, mayo, and eggs until rich and creamy. Then, it’s topped with buttery, cheesy cracker crumbs for a crispy contrast.
It’s such an iconic Southern classic and arguably the best way to use your summer squash bounty.
So what makes this Cracker Barrel squash casserole recipe special? Well, it’s super easy to make at home!
You don’t need a long list of ingredients, and it’s a versatile recipe you can tweak to your taste buds’ preferences. It’s basically an old-school squash casserole for lazy cooks!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Can Be A Side Or Main: This Cracker Barrel Squash casserole can easily be your side or main dish. Add protein to the casserole and turn it into a hearty dinner, or serve it as a side dish to your holiday feast favorites.
- Delicious Every Time: Enjoy delicious squash casserole every single time despite using simple ingredients. Get creative with different add-ins and come up with a casserole version that’s uniquely yours!
- Classic Comfort Food Made Easy: This is old fashioned squash casserole made simple! You just need to combine cooked squash with the other ingredients, assemble them with the Ritz cracker topping on a casserole dish, and bake.
What Does Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole Taste Like?
This squash casserole tastes like everything a comforting, hearty dish should be. It’s rich, cheesy, buttery, and the contrast between the topping and creamy squash underneath is simply wonderful. 🤤
And don’t worry, it’s not overwhelmingly rich! The other ingredients, like the sour cream, offer a tanginess to balance the whole dish.
Every spoonful will inspire you to take another one because the casserole combines sweetness, creaminess, and crunchiness.
You can even sneak in other spices, seasonings, veggies, or meat to this old fashioned squash casserole with a twist. I’ve listed some yummy ideas below in the Ingredient Additions & Substitutions section. ⬇️
Is Old Fashioned Squash Casserole Healthy?
While squash is a fantastic source of our favorite vitamin for the eyes, Vitamin A, and a whole bunch of nutrients to keep the body strong and healthy, this Cracker Barrel-inspired squash casserole is also made with ingredients that you shouldn’t overconsume for the love of your waistline. 😅
I’m talking about mayonnaise, sour cream, and butter, which are all relatively high in calories.
However, like any other comforting hearty meal, it’s not squash casserole’s fault to be this indulgent. The secret is to enjoy it in responsible portions or serve it with nutritious meals.
Because it’s rich and flavorful, this old fashioned squash casserole can make veggie dishes more palatable. Why not explore healthy dishes with broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, and asparagus to serve with this casserole?
What Are The Benefits Of This Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole Recipe?
What is the benefit of making this Cracker Barrel squash casserole recipe? It’s an easy and guaranteed crowd-pleasing way to use your summer squash!
Unlike other squash recipes, this dish comes together quickly, and the other ingredients you’ll need might even be already in your pantry.
Despite the effortless process, you’ll be rewarded with a hearty dish that features a delectable contrast of textures and flavors.
Use your squash casserole to have something new and exciting on your regular weeknight menu, or serve it to your gatherings and impress your guests with a Southern favorite.
And if you’re looking for more ways to use fresh squash, check out these summer squash recipes.
Ingredients For Old Fashioned Squash Casserole
- Squash – In my opinion, yellow squash is the best choice for cheesy squash casserole because it’s sweet. You can also pick any type of squash with a few seeds.
- Onion – We’ll cook the squash with sweet white onion before baking for the best texture and flavor. 😋
- Cheddar cheese – Feel free to use any of your favorite cheese. You can even combine cheddar cheese with other types of cheese.
- Sour cream – The tangy flavor of sour cream balances the richness of the creamy cheese sauce.
- Mayonnaise – Combining mayo and sour cream creates the creamiest squash casserole!
- Egg – This will help bind everything together.
- Ritz crackers – My favorite part of this old fashioned squash casserole, and I think it will be yours too! The crisp cracker topping baked until golden brown is the perfect partner to the squash underneath.
- Unsalted butter – Our squash casserole topping is simply butter and crackers!
- Salt – Season your Cracker Barrel squash casserole to taste.
- Black pepper – You can also add more kick to this dish by using hotter peppers!
Tools Needed To Prepare Old Fashioned Squash Casserole
- Knife for slicing the ingredients
- Skillet for cooking the squash and onion
- Colander for draining the squash and onion
- Mixing bowl for combining the ingredients
- Casserole dish for baking the squash casserole
Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Squash Casserole
Ritz crackers
I highly recommend using Ritz crackers for this Cracker Barrel-inspired squash casserole. But if you don’t have them on hand, just pick other salty, crunchy crackers. Saltine crackers would be amazing!
Cheddar cheese
Don’t like cheddar? This yellow squash casserole is also tasty with a cream cheese sauce! Simply combine it with sour cream and your favorite seasonings.
Ground beef
This Southern dish is already wholesome and filling. But if you’re a meat lover like me, you can also add cooked ground beef to the squash mixture! 🤤
How To Make Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole
Ingredients:
- 4 1/2 lbs squash, cut into cubes
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
- 10.5 oz sour cream
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 egg, beaten
- 30 Ritz crackers, crushed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Tools you need:
Instructions:
STEP 1: Gather the ingredients for cracker barrel squash casserole. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
STEP 2: Cook squash with the onion until tender. You can boil or saute them. Then, drain the excess liquid, as the squash casserole can get watery.
STEP 3: For the filling, combine cheddar cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and egg. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
STEP 4: Pour the cheddar cheese mixture over the squash and onion. Mix, then transfer them to a casserole dish.
STEP 5: Bake your old fashioned squash casserole until bubbly or around 20 minutes.
STEP 6: Meanwhile, combine melted butter and crushed crackers. Sprinkle the cracker mixture over the squash casserole before baking it for 15 more minutes or until the top is golden brown.
What To Serve With Squash Casserole
This old fashioned squash casserole can be your main or side dish! Serve it with a few slices of garlic bread, and enjoy the savory flavor with the rich casserole.
A fresh and crunchy salad of mixed greens can also balance the richness of the dish.
For gatherings, plate your squash casserole with some roasted carrots for a pop of color.
If you want something easy, mashed potatoes would also be perfect to serve with squash casserole.
Speaking of easy, this cheesy, creamy, and buttery Cracker Barrel squash casserole is more enjoyable with crunchy dishes. Try something new and check our accordion potatoes and pasta chips!
Tips About Making This Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole Recipe
- No yellow squash available? You can also use zucchini for this squash casserole recipe!
- Cook the squash until tender before baking. You can also keep your squash casserole from becoming a watery mess by letting the squash slices soak in salt for half an hour to draw their moisture out.
- Serve your freshly baked squash casserole after 10 minutes. Letting it rest before slicing will give you the perfect creamy texture. 😋
How To Store Squash Casserole
Preserve the delicious flavor and texture of your squash casserole leftovers with these tips on storage and reheating:
- Fridge: Cover your dish with aluminum foil and store the squash casserole in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend extending the storage period, as the topping might become soggy.
- Freezer: Freezing it in a freezer-safe container is an excellent way to store your squash casserole for longer. However, do it before baking the casserole, and don’t put the cracker topping yet.
- Reheating: Thaw your frozen, unbaked squash casserole before baking. As for refrigerated leftovers, just reheat them in the oven preheated to 350°F for 10 minutes with the foil still on top to prevent burning.
Can I Freeze Squash Casserole?
Yes, you can freeze squash casserole to extend its shelf life! I prefer freezing it unbaked for the best texture.
Simply wrap the casserole dish and enjoy it within 2 months. Once you’re ready to use it, thaw the frozen squash casserole overnight, then sprinkle the biscuit mixture on top before baking.
Speaking of freezing squash, do you have too much zucchini from summer’s harvest? Make it last for months without turning mushy by reading how to freeze zucchini!
Can I Make Squash Casserole Ahead Of Time?
You can make squash casserole in advance to save on prep time!
Just assemble the squash casserole and refrigerate it for baking the next day. Oh, and don’t forget to add a few minutes to the baking time.
Looking for a dessert to accompany your squash casserole? Why not use squash as well?
Make these butternut squash blondies instead of the usual pumpkin pie.
How Do You Keep Squash Casserole From Getting Watery?
Squash casserole is notorious for getting watery because of squash’s moisture content. So, for this Cracker Barrel squash casserole recipe, I recommend cooking and draining it first before baking.
Another way to draw the excess water from the summer favorite is by using salt.
You can either salt the squash slices and let them sit for 30 minutes or toss them with salt and then microwave them before draining and pressing them dry.
If you made a lot of cracker topping, you can also layer the cracker crumbs on the bottom and middle of the casserole to help absorb excess moisture.
Speaking of avoiding watery squash in recipes, don’t fear using zucchini! If you love zucchini bread, here’s our old fashioned zucchini bread recipe complete with tips to keep your loaf from getting soggy.
What Goes Good With Squash Casserole?
Old fashioned squash casserole is good with just about everything. You can serve it with your favorite crusty bread, perfect for soaking the cheesy sauce.
This Cracker Barrel squash casserole is also yummy with roasted potatoes or pasta salad to satisfy your hunger after a tiring day. 😋
And if you’ll be serving this dish for guests, fried chicken is a delicious pairing to this comfort food.
But forget about buying bread from a bakery or ordering a chicken takeout. Try our recipes for baguettes and Instant Pot chicken bites, which both prove that homemade food can be as good as what we usually buy from shops and restaurants.
FAQ About Squash Casserole
How long to bake squash casserole?
Bake squash casserole for 20 minutes or until bubbly. But for the perfectly crispy golden brown topping, add the cracker crumb after the 20-minute cooking time, then bake the dish for 15 minutes more.
What meat goes well with squash casserole?
You can’t go wrong with beef and chicken for squash casserole. Serve your casserole with beef shank stew or grilled chicken breast for a menu guaranteed to be requested whenever you’re in the kitchen.
What vegetables go well with squash?
Salads and roasted veggies are perfect with this rich, cheesy, and creamy old fashioned squash casserole. Try roasted cauliflower with garlic and parmesan or crispy balsamic brussel sprouts to counteract the richness of the dish.
What makes squash taste good?
Squash is a versatile favorite among various dishes because it tastes sweet. Some varieties are even nutty and custardy, making squash perfect both for desserts and savory dishes!
What can you make with squash?
The sky is the limit to what you can make with squash. Some delicious recipes are stuffed zucchini boats, yellow squash soup, butternut squash salad, summer squash bread, pies, and tarts. I’m sure there’s a whole lot more, but these dishes will surely make any squash lover happy.
Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole
This Cracker Barrel squash casserole recipe is the ultimate comforting dish. It's a cheesy, old fashioned squash casserole with buttery Ritz cracker topping.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients for cracker barrel squash casserole. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook squash with the onion until tender. You can boil or saute them. Then, drain the excess liquid, as the squash casserole can get watery.
- For the filling, combine cheddar cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and egg. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the cheddar cheese mixture over the squash and onion. Mix, then transfer them to a casserole dish.
- Bake your old fashioned squash casserole until bubbly or around 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine melted butter and crushed crackers. Sprinkle the cracker mixture over the squash casserole before baking it for 15 more minutes or until the top is golden brown.
Notes
- Feel free to use any squash for this cracker barrel squash casserole recipe. We used yellow squash since it's sweet, but you can also use zucchini.
- Compared to other old fashioned squash casserole recipes, we decided to cook our squash before baking it to get the best texture. You can also salt raw squash and let the slices rest for 30 minutes on paper towels to draw the moisture out and avoid a watery mess.
- Your squash casserole is ready once the top is bubbling or golden brown. I also recommend letting the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving to get the most delicious creamy texture.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 468Total Fat: 49gSaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 153mgSodium: 70mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 4g
* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.
Conclusion
Got Ritz? Crush the crackers and use them as a crunchy topping on this easy Cracker Barrel squash casserole recipe!
The delicious combination of sweet squash in a creamy, cheesy sauce, topped with crispy, buttery Ritz topping, is guaranteed to make this dish an easy family favorite.
You can even experiment with different ingredients to tailor this comfort food to your taste bud’s content!
It’s the perfect side dish (or main!) for your next holiday feast.
And if you love savory and creamy recipes like this squash casserole, don’t waste any more time and try these next: