Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole Recipe

When summer season rolls around, it’s time to use your yellow summer squash bounty. And what better dish to make than a cheesy, creamy, buttery Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole?

This Southern classic combines fresh squash, onions, and a creamy sauce on a crunchy cracker-cheddar cheese topping.

Whether you serve it as a flavorful side with other Cracker Barrel staples like country fried steak or as a veggie-centric main dish, everyone will be begging for more.

Today you won’t be making a regular vegetable casserole. This Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole recipe sets itself apart from all the others.

How to Make Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole

The Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole is all about the delicious topping, which you’ll be craving for days. It is so delicious.

Besides, when the gardens are in full bloom, and you see a lot of squash and zucchini, you must put them to good use. And this casserole uses a lot of squash. You’ll need at least 8 to 10 medium-sized squash.

You’ll also need to precook it for a tender texture, which will be topped off with the creamy combination of mayo and sour cream. But there are also other flavors around.

And here’s what will help you achieve a perfectly textured Squash Casserole.

Ingredients:

(8 servings)

• 4 ½ pounds of yellow squash
• 1 cup sweet onion
• 5 ounces sour cream
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 30 Ritz crackers
• ½ cup melted butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

The key to a good Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole is the fresh ingredients. And since squash is the main ingredient here, try to look for a smaller yellow squash. They have fewer seeds and taste sweeter.

Besides, we recommend cooking the squash beforehand, so it tenderizes. You can either sauté, steam, or even microwave it until tender.

While the classic yellow squash casserole calls for onion, we like to use sweet onion since it takes your casserole to the next level.

Other than that, there is nothing too complex about this Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole recipe. It is super easy to pop in the oven and enjoy the goodness of the tender squash.

Should we start?

Step 1:

Preheat an oven to 350 𐩑F. Then, cut the squash into bite-sized pieces. Go for 3/16 inches since it gives structure to your casserole and reduces the time for sautéing.

Step 2:

Boil squash and onion in a large skillet with water until tender. Drain and place them in a bowl. Removing the excess liquid from the squash is essential so your casserole doesn’t turn out too watery.

Step 3:

Make the creamy filling. Mix the sour cream, cheddar cheese, eggs, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Then, add the mixture to the drained onions and squash.

Stir and place the squash mixture into the 8×10 inch casserole dish.

Note: alternatively, you can add crushed crackers to this mixture at this point to bind the ingredients together and add an extra layer of flavor.

Step 4:

Bake your squash casserole for about 20 minutes until bubbly. Then, combine the crushed cracker crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle the mixture over the top of the casserole.

Step 5:

Return the cheesy squash casserole to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes until the crackers are brown. Enjoy!

Ingredient Substitution

Since it’s the key ingredient of the Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole, you should always keep the squash. Other than that, there are various ingredients you can replace in this recipe.

Cream cheese

If you have some leftover cream cheese, it is an excellent replacement for sour cream. However, it is thicker, so you’ll need to loosen it up before using it in this Southern squash casserole recipe.

Use 6 ounces of cream cheese with a tablespoon of milk or water for every cup of sour cream called for in the recipe. But let it cool to room temperature before using.

Red onions

Red onions are known for their sweet and mild flavor, being the perfect replacement for sweet onions.

They will add robust, sharp flavors and unique purplish-red color to your casserole. However, please don’t use it in a 1:1 ratio. Reduce the amount of red onion in this recipe.

What to Serve with Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole

Squash is plentiful and cheap to cook, which makes it the perfect side dish, especially if it’s the iconic Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole. Even so, for the best experience, keep on reading our suggestions to pair it with.

Mashed potatoes

We’ll never get tired of recommending mashed potatoes with gravy as a classic comfort food and an outstanding side dish. It pairs perfectly with the crunchy and creamy squash casserole.

Today is the day if you haven’t tried making mashed potatoes while making your casserole. Plus, both dishes are super easy to make. Just boil the potatoes and mash them with some butter or cream.

Onion soup

Onion soup is one of the oldest soups du jour in history. But it tastes fresh and is a popular meal starter. No wonder it is often served before meals—a hot bowl of onion soup warms you up while leaving space for the rest of the meal.

Moreover, onion soup has a rich flavor that complements the squash casserole’s tender and savory texture. And we’re not even mentioning the health benefits of these two staples!

How to Reheat Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole

Once you present this Squash Casserole to your guests, no one will be able to have enough of it. However, you may have some leftovers you’d like to enjoy later. So, you must know how to reheat it properly to preserve the texture and taste.

Reheat Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole in an Oven

Reheating Squash Casserole in an oven is a pretty simple process. Just place the casserole baking dish into a preheated oven at 350 °F. Reheat for about 10-15 minutes until hot.

Pro tip: cover the casserole with aluminum foil, so the top doesn’t burn.

Reheat Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole in a Microwave

While the microwave is not ideal for reheating food unless you’re in a hurry, it does work well for this casserole. Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole is pretty juicy so that it won’t dry out.

How to Store Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole

Once the Cheese Squash Casserole has been cooked, you can store it in the casserole dish without needing any containers. But there are some things to keep in mind.

Store Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole in the Fridge

To store Squash Casserole in the fridge, just cover it with aluminum foil or Saran wrap. It will last in the fridge for about 3–4 days. But note that if the crackers become soggy, it’s time to throw them away.

Store Cracker Barrel Squash Casserole in the Freezer

Freezing this Squash Casserole works only if you’re storing it unbaked. Also, don’t put the crackers on top of it. Mix up all of the ingredients and freeze them in a freezer-safe dish.

Then, once you’re ready to enjoy your casserole, let it defrost and follow along with the rest of the steps in the recipe.