Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash Recipe (2 Ingredients)

This Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash recipe is amazingly delicious and ridiculously easy, requiring just two ingredients: sliced yellow squash and freshly grated Parmesan!

On plate ready to serve.

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If you enjoy fresh summer produce and yellow squash recipes like this one, you'll also love Baked Parmesan Summer Veggies, Marinara Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes, and Summer Pasta Salad!

Since the earliest days of the blog, one of my most popular recipes every summer is my Baked Parmesan Zucchini Rounds. On one hand, it makes me laugh, because that recipe is SO easy (only 2 ingredients!) that it almost doesn't qualify as a recipe and I almost never posted it. On the other hand, I completely understand how that recipe goes crazy every summer, because not only is it super simple to make, but it's also completely addictive. It's seriously my favorite way to eat zucchini. In fact, I can polish off whole pan of those babies in no time flat! But unfortunately, my family loves 'em, too, so I'm typically forced to share... 😉

Well, that recipe hadn't been around long before I started receiving comments asking if it could be converted into a yellow squash recipe -- AKA, summer squash. And the truth was, I'd never tried Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash before, because (1.) it was hard for me to believe that the zucchini version of this recipe could be improved upon, and (2.) I typically only cared for yellow squash recipes when cooked in very specific ways (think cheesy, cracker-topped, baked Southern Squash Casserole).

Baked yellow squash recipe aerial view on plate.

But the question intrigued me, and so I decided to give this Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash recipe a go. And Y'ALL...not only was this recipe for yellow squash every bit as tasty as its zucchini cousin, but it was equally addictive, too!

As soon as I finished taking the original photos for this post, my then-7-year-old, my husband, and I stood around the plate and polished off every last one of these suckers (we grabbed them with our fingers and I'm not even sorry). This Baked Yellow Squash recipe was like the best kind of appetizer, and I admit to feeling just a tad smug that the three of us had downed two whole, nutritious yellow squashes in a matter of minutes.

Baked yellow squash on pan close-up.

Ingredients

Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash turns soft and tender in the oven with a chewy, flavorful topping of cheese. And I suppose I've already let the cat out of the bag as to the fact that this yellow squash recipe only requires TWO main ingredients!

Labeled ingredients to make recipe for yellow squash.
  • Yellow squash. If I have a choice of sizes, I prefer using more petite yellow squashes as compared to jumbo yellow squashes. A bigger yellow squash comes with larger, more plentiful seeds, and I think this yellow squash recipe turns out better with less emphasis on the seeds.
  • Grated Parmesan. Freshly grated Parm is highly recommended as it's going to give you the smoothest melt...more on that below.

I also like to season my yellow squash slices before adding the Parmesan. Salt and pepper work just fine, but I typically use garlic salt for extra flavor. Some people prefer to omit the salt/garlic salt because they find the Parmesan salty enough. And others have mentioned sprinkling their squash slices with other seasonings or even dried herbs.

So feel free to experiment and figure out your own preferences!

Baked yellow squash recipe close-up on plate.

How to Make Baked Yellow Squash

(The below photos are intended to be helpful, but please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for FULL DIRECTIONS.)

It's hard to believe that a yellow squash recipe requiring just two simple ingredients could be so yummy. But it is...and it's super easy to make, too!

  1. Simply cut your yellow squash into slices that are no more than ¼-inch thick (remembering that they'll shrink in diameter and thickness as they bake). Arrange them on a baking sheet and season to your liking.
  2. Then use a small spoon to top each piece of squash with a mound of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese.
Sliced on pan with garlic salt and pepper.
One of the best yellow squash recipes sprinkled with Parmesan.
  1. Bake until the yellow squash is soft and the cheese is melted and bubbly. You can even broil them for a minute or two at the end to get that cheese nice and golden brown, which is what I like to do (just watch them carefully so they don't burn!).
Baked yellow squash on sheet pan.

The Best Parmesan for Baked Yellow Squash

I'm inevitably get questions about the Parmesan cheese that can be used for this yellow squash recipe.

And my recommendation is to use freshly-grated Parmesan! You can either grate it yourself or buy it already-grated from the cheese counter area of your grocery store (you want to avoid pre-grated Parm that has anti-caking agents added). I just feel like real grated Parmesan is going to melt more smoothly and result in the best flavor and texture.

That being said, if you want to try using real shredded Parmesan on your Baked Yellow Squash, just be prepared for melting and browning that may look slightly different than what you see in these pics.

And if you decide to use the contents of that ubiquitous green shaker can...well, don't hold me responsible if it doesn't melt at all. 😉

Baked yellow squash recipe on plate.

So who's ready to love yellow squash more than you've ever loved it before?

(Or at least like it in the event that you hated it before...) 😉

This Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash recipe is one of my all-time favorite summer sides!

You've never seen your family scarf down a veggie so fast... 🙂

Baked Yellow Squash recipe layered.

More Summer Side Dishes

Baked yellow squash recipe, aerial close-up view on plate.

Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash Recipe (2 Ingredients)

This Parmesan Baked Yellow Squash recipe is amazingly delicious and ridiculously easy, requiring just two ingredients: sliced yellow squash and freshly grated Parmesan!
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 68kcal
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Video

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place an oven rack in the center position of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (OR foil lightly misted with nonstick cooking spray).
  • Wash and dry the yellow squash, and then cut each one into ¼-inch thick slices. Arrange the squash rounds on the prepared pan, with little to no space between them. Lightly sprinkle the squash with garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use a small spoon to spread a thin layer of Parmesan cheese on each slice of squash.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the Parmesan melts and turns a light golden brown. (Watch these closely the first time you make them and pull them out of the oven early if the Parmesan is golden before 15 minutes. Alternatively, you may broil them for a minute or two at the end of the cooking time to speed up the browning.) Serve immediately.

Notes

  • This yellow squash recipe does not get crispy or crunchy. The squash gets soft and tender and the melted Parm turns almost chewy. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture. This recipe is not amenable to being made ahead of time.
  • You may season this yellow squash recipe to your liking before mounding on the grated Parmesan. I like to use garlic salt and pepper for extra flavor, but regular salt and pepper will work just fine. Some people have commented that they find Parmesan salty enough and prefer to omit the sprinkle of salt altogether. Others have used alternate seasonings or even dried herbs. This baked yellow squash is customizable to your preferences!
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is going to melt the smoothest. Freshly shredded Parmesan will work as well but may not melt as smoothly. Parmesan with anti-caking agents added (such as from a can) may turn lumpy when melted or may not melt at all.

Nutrition

Calories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 221mg | Potassium: 280mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 304IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 125mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Made this recipe? I'd love to see on IG!Mention @FiveHeartHome or tag #FiveHeartHome!

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4.90 from 268 votes (107 ratings without comment)

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273 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made these today. I grated a little butter on them and they were delicious. My husband really loved them also which is a plus for me. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.

  2. 5 stars
    Delicious! Creamy and soft, I was happily surprised. Making it for the 2nd time in 3 days, I liked it that much! Only change I made was using regular salt and garlic powder (I don't use garlic salt). The only thing I can think of to warn about is that unless a person loves Parmesan cheese, they may not like this because the taste of the Parmesan is strong. Definitely use freshly grated Parm!

    1. Hi Penny! You could try using one of those cheeses, but the final outcome will be quite different since grated Parm has a finer texture when melting and turns golden and almost chewy. If you opt to use cheddar or Mexican blend, expect different results, and I wouldn't sprinkle it too thick or the squash underneath will disappear. 🙂

    1. Yes, the recipe calls for medium-sized squash because big seeds from a very large squash can definitely be unappetizing. 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    First time making this! Really like it , the only thing, I would like is that it is crispy , it was not. Delicious though , great taste 😊

    1. Glad you enjoyed these, Sophie! Yes, the cheese is more chewy than crispy and the squash turns soft and creamy. 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    Yummy! I'll make this again! the only thing I'll do different is peal the squash before I slice it. Thanks for the recipe!

  5. 5 stars
    Great little recipe. The Parmesan gave the squash a kick of flavor that it needed. So good!

    1. Hi Debra! I recommend freshly grated Parmesan for this recipe because I'm afraid Kraft parm won't melt smoothly due to its additives to prevent caking.

  6. 5 stars
    I love this recipe! Fantastic! I can and have eaten a whole pan by myself! In fact...
    I'm about to do that right now! Yummy!

  7. 2 stars
    I didn't really like the sharp taste of the parmesan on the squash. It was ok. Definitely not terrible and extremely easy.

    1. Hi Raye! I don't think I would try freezing, as this recipe is best enjoyed fresh out of the oven. I imagine the squash would get pretty soggy after freezing and thawing...

  8. 5 stars
    Thank you for this easy recipe! I do this same procedure with really small Yukon Gold potatoes and they're wonderful! My yellow squash slices are in the oven now! I cannot wait to taste them! I already know they're going to taste great! Thank you again for an easy, quick recipe!