Boiled Squash and Onions
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Learn how easy it is to make my boiled squash recipe, the perfect side dish to accompany so many main meals. The yellow squash is sauteed in bacon grease with garlic and onions.
Sometimes it really is the simple things in life that can make you happy. So on that note, I’m going to show you how to cook squash today. The simple way. This side dish might be simple and easy to make, but that doesn’t mean it also isn’t tasty.
Now, don’t blink or you might miss the short list of ingredients. The yellow squash is boiled with onion, bacon grease, and garlic (the last two ingredients being totally optional too). Then we add salt and pepper to taste before serving. That’s all you need. I bet you already have 90% of those ingredients on hand already.
It truly only takes 10 minutes to boil squash until it’s perfectly tender and translucent. So if you’re looking for a quick side dish, y’all need to step this way!
Keep scrolling for some serving suggestions as well as more ways to make this old-school squash and onions recipe for you. For example, you can add different seasonings or cook the squash in the microwave instead of on the stovetop. You can also make as much or as little as you like. I’d suggest 1 squash and 1/4 onion per person. So this particular boiled squash recipe would make the perfect side dish for two.
Recipe Ingredients
- Yellow squash
- Sweet onion, like Vidalia onion.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Bacon grease
- Garlic
Helpful Kitchen Tools
How to Make Boiled Squash and Onions
Chop your onion…
And slice your squash.
Place them both in a large skillet.
I’m showing you how to do this on the stovetop but I have instructions on how to do it in the microwave at the bottom as well.
Add about a cup of water (just enough to cover the bottom of the skillet).
Now at this point, you can add about a tablespoon of bacon grease if you want to add a bit more flavor.
I’m just leaving mine as water though because I dearly love the flavor of the squash on its own and the onion is compliment enough for me today.
Sometimes I do add bacon grease though, so it’s totally up to you.
Place on medium-high heat just until the water in the bottom of the pan is gently boiling, then reduce heat to medium.
Put the lid on that and let it cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until the squash and onions are translucent.
Translucent is fancy talk for “til they ain’t so white like they were when ya cut ’em”.
There, all done!
Now we just gotta get them out with a slotted spoon to drain the water, place them on a plate, and salt and pepper them.
Salt and pepper according to taste and you’re ready to go.
Enjoy this old-fashioned squash and onions recipe!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop on low heat until they’re warm again. I don’t recommend freezing the cooked squash as you’ll find it changes the texture.
Recipe Variations
Here are some easy ways to make this recipe work for you:
- Omit the bacon grease and garlic if you want to.
- Simply use olive oil or unsalted butter instead of bacon fat.
- Substitute the yellow summer squash for butternut squash or zucchini.
- Add a tablespoon of fresh herbs or one teaspoon of dried herbs. See my recommendations below!
- Use garlic powder instead of minced garlic.
- Add a teaspoon of seasoned salt, like Old Bay Seasoning or Lawry’s.
- Add a teaspoon of white sugar or brown sugar for a touch of sweetness.
- Boil the squash in chicken broth instead of plain water.
- Caramelize the onions in the skillet before boiling the squash.
- Saute the squash and onion with one chopped tomato.
Recipe FAQs
What spices go well with squash?
Here are some dried herbs, fresh herbs, and spices that go well with squash: oregano, basil, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, Italian seasoning, and parsley.
How long does it take to boil squash?
It only takes about 10 minutes to boil squash on the stovetop.
Do you boil squash with the skin on?
Yes, you can boil the squash peeled or unpeeled. The choice is yours. I’m on team unpeeled though!
How do you not overcook squash?
Once the squash is translucent and fork-tender, remove it from the heat to prevent it from overcooking.
How else can you make squash and onions?
You can also microwave the squash and onions. To do so, place them in a microwave-safe bowl. Add water, as well as garlic and bacon grease if using. Cover and microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent. Drain water and salt and pepper to taste.
What do you serve with boiled squash and onions?
Here are some main dish recipes that pair perfectly with this side dish:
- Southern Fried Catfish
- Southern Fried Chicken
- Crockpot Pot Roast
- Chicken Fried Steak Recipe With Gravy
- Pan-Seared Pork Chops With Velvet Cream Sauce
- Easy Baby Back Ribs in Oven
- Slow-Roasted Beef Brisket in the Oven
You may also enjoy these sensational squash recipes:
Simple Zucchini and Squash Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 yellow squash, sliced
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp bacon grease (optional)
- 1 tsp minced garlic cloves (optional)
- 1 cup water
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place sliced squash and chopped onion in a skillet. If you are using bacon grease and minced garlic, add them now as well.2 yellow squash, sliced, 1/2 sweet onion, chopped, 1 tbsp bacon grease (optional), 1 tsp minced garlic cloves (optional)
- Add a cup of water, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan, and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.1 cup water
- Reduce heat to medium and cover, simmering for about 10 minutes or until the squash and onions are translucent.
- Strain the vegetables out of the pan using a slotted spoon and salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.salt and pepper to taste
Happiness is where you find it, seldom where you seek it.
Christy! Onion and squash together are so delicious, the onion gives the squash such a sweet flavor! Sometimes I sautee my onions with some tomatoes and jalapenos and then when the onions are soft and translucent I add the squash, some water and salt. Makes such flavorful squash! Even my husband who doesnt like squash eats it.
Christy, where was your bacon grease? Stewed squash needs bacon grease to put them over the top.
OK, here’s one better.
Brown some cubed potatoes in a small amount of oil, add the onions next and then the squash.
I usually add a little butter, salt and pepper and brown to taste. You will think you have died and gone to heaven.. A complete meal in itself
This sounds good with potato and the squash. Bet that does taste good. I often do a stir fry in which I add carrots onions, chicken pieces, celery and then I add things that don’t take as long to cook like peppers, green and red, squash, zucchini, baby corn that is canned, bean sprouts near the last, sweet pea pods, and sometimes get a bag of veggies to have the mix. the squash makes it all taste so sweet and good. Could add a bit of cabbage earlier on as well.
I cook stir fry like my mother would have had she ever fixed stir fry, just by what I had and what looked good and what I thought of and by sight and feel.
Love your Jewell T bowl!
I cook mine in the oven. cut up squash , some onion and water. Plus I add a couple of spoons of sugar. Bake at 350 degree oven
My mother taught me how to make squash when I was younger and I thought
someone else might like to try it. You cut your squash and onions up same size so it will cook evenly. You stick this in a pot , you cover squash and onions with water. Enough to boil. Add salt and pepper. Wait 10 minutes before done and add a can of evaporated milk and a little bit of butter. It’s done! It’s almost like a soup.
My Mother made squash as Dianne’s did. She would brown it, most of the time. She would make it like this when I would tell her I couldn’t wait that long to eat it! I make it for my 5 & 6 yrs olds. Everytime we go to the grocery store, my 5 yr old son says “we need some more of that yellow vegable” I’ll let him pick it out, and he is just so tickled! I love your site. You cook like my Mother did, and how I cook now for my kids. I tell them stories about my Mom, and why she would cook something a certain way. It keeps the memories alive for me. Thank you Christy for all you put on here.
How neat. I didn’t pay much attention when my mom cooked. The kitchen was small and she didn’t want us underfoot most of the time. She had a Chocolate Gravy Recipe we got by measuring everything before she put it in as she never used directions. She did it by feel and look. I don’t recall her making squash, but we do. I like to add zucchini slices in my squash, too, as both are really a squash, one yellow neck and the other zudcchini. We love the onions and add a bit more. We have eaten them soft like this but browned sounds interesting. might try that with a little next time, though I think I’d rather fry it in a bit of spray oil. I sometimes wrap it in parchment and put a piece of tilapia on top and cook the veggies with the tilapia and add a bit of lemon pepper.