Sautéed Patty Pan Squash

Show off the summer’s cutest veggie in this easy patty pan squash recipe! Seasoned with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs, it’s a delicious, easy side dish.

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If you love a cute, colorful veggie as much as I do, head to the farmers market and buy yourself a box of patty pan squash. These adorable summer squash tend to be small in size, and their shape varies. Some are round, others are tulip-shaped, and still others look like little flying saucers with fun scalloped edges. You’ll find them in a variety of colors – dark green, light green, yellow, or a mix – but they all have a similar texture and taste. Their flavor is close to that of yellow squash, but they have firmer, denser flesh. If you like zucchini, chances are you’ll be a fan of patty pan squash too.

You can cook patty pan squash in all sorts of ways, but this sautéed patty pan squash recipe might be my favorite. It’s super simple, bright, and fresh, and it really shows off the squashes’ unique colors and shapes. Try it the next time you need an easy side dish to round out a summer meal!

Patty Pan Squash Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

Patty pan squash, of course! Use just one variety, or seek out a mix of colors and shapes.
Extra-virgin olive oil – It helps the squash brown and soften as it cooks.
Garlic – It adds delicious bite.
Lemon juice – For brightness.
Fresh parsley and basil – They add fresh, aromatic flavor to this simple summer side dish. Other fresh herbs, such as mint or thyme, would be great here too!
Red pepper flakes – For heat.
And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Patty Pan Squash Serving Suggestions and Variations

This sautéed patty pan squash recipe would be a perfect side dish for almost any summer meal. We often pair it with a pesto pizza or Margherita pizza. It also goes nicely with any of these pasta recipes:

Cherry Tomato Pasta
Easy Pesto Pasta
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Pasta Primavera
Tortellini Salad

We love this recipe as written, but I hope you’ll feel free to make it your own. Add toasted walnuts or pine nuts for crunch, dollops of basil pesto, or shaved Parmesan cheese or vegan Parmesan for a salty, umami kick. Let me know what variations you try!

More Favorite Summer Squash Recipes

If you love this recipe, try one of these summer squash recipes next:

Sautéed Yellow Squash
Zucchini Fritters
Veggie Noodles
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips or Baked Zucchini Chips
Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Pasta Primavera
Pesto Pasta Salad
Or any of these 35 Best Zucchini Recipes!

Patty Pan Squash

rate this recipe:#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg *{fill:#343434}#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg *{fill:url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33)}#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg *{fill:url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50)}#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg *{fill:url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66)}linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-33 stop{stop-color:#343434}linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-50 stop{stop-color:#343434}linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-0-66 stop{stop-color:#343434}5 from 3 votesPrep Time: 5 minutes minsCook Time: 10 minutes minsTotal Time: 15 minutes minsServes 4Print RecipeSeasoned with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs, this sautéed patty pan squash recipe is a delicious summer side dish. Serve it with pasta, pizza, or any protein you like.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces patty pan squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
¼ teaspoon sea salt, plus more for sprinkling
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, grated
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
Fresh basil leaves
Pinch of red pepper flakes, optional

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Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the squash, salt, and several grinds of pepper and sauté for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the squash is tender but still has a firm bite.
Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. Transfer to a serving dish and top with fresh basil and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Sources: Johnny’s Selected Seeds