Have a delightful side dish of sauteed zucchini and squash ready and on your dinner table in under 20 minutes.  This easy and healthy zucchini squash recipe is gluten-free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, whole 30, and Paleo!

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Whipping Up Sauteed Zucchini and Squash

A little over a year ago I had ACL surgery after falling off of a bouldering wall and completely tearing the ligament.  (Wah, Wah!)

By the fourth day of being constrained to the couch, I went on a little adventure to our local grocery store with my grandmother and mother-in-loves.  My one and only time to get to use the motorized grocery cart for a legitimate reason.  (And it stopped working halfway through the store!)

It was the beginning of summer and the zucchini and squash were beautiful!  My mother-in-love grabbed a few and said she was going to saute them up.

“Sauteed zucchini and squash?” I thought.  Up until this moment I had only ever enjoyed them in casseroles, like this Healthy Summer Squash Casserole recipe.

How to Make Sauteed Zucchini and Squash

I couldn’t resist the urge to get my hands back on a knife and my body back into that kitchen.

Crutches and all, I hobbled into the kitchen to man the chopping board while my mother-in-love worked her magic on the sauteed zucchini and squash.

A little oil, a bit of butter, some garlic, and onions.

Zucchini, squash, salt and pepper.

That’s it!

Not-so-Boring Zucchini Squash Recipe

To be honest, I was expecting the sauteed zucchini and squash to taste a bit, well, boring.  After all, there weren’t too many flavors that went into the dish.

Boy, was I completely wrong!

The zucchini and squash absorbed the flavors from the fats and garlic, and then became, almost, sweet?!

If you leave the zucchini and squash in the skillet a little longer at the end and crank up the heat, they get this beautiful brown caramelization that makes them drool worthy delicious.

Is Zucchini a Squash?

This question comes up quite a bit so I wanted to make sure to clarify when referring to the ingredients in this recipe.

Yes.  Zucchini is a variety of squash.  But no, not all squash are zucchini.

If you live outside of the United States, you might also refer to these “squash” as corguettes.

In this recipe, feel free to use either all zucchini, all yellow summer squash, or a mixture of both.

How to Cut your Zucchini and Squash

For this sauteed zucchini and squash I like to cut my squash in half lengthwise, and then again in half lengthwise, giving you 4 long quarters of the squash.

Then, simply cut the squash into 1/2 – 3/4-inch bite-sized pieces.

If you have a mandoline slicer you can also use this to make the chopping process a bit faster.

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Sauteed Zucchini and Squash in 20 Minutes!

Have a delightful side dish of sauteed zucchini and squash ready and on your dinner table in under 20 minutes.  This easy and healthy zucchini squash recipe is gluten-free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian, whole 30, and Paleo!

Course Dinner, Side Dish

Keyword sauteed zucchini and squash, zucchini and squash

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 142 kcal

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
• 3/4 cup sweet onion finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 2 cups summer squash* cut into ½-inch cubes
• 2 cups zucchini* cut into ½-inch cubes
• 3/4 tsp. salt to taste
• ¼ tsp. pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large skillet over medium heat add olive oil and onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

2. Add crushed garlic and sauce for 1 minute.
3. Stir in squash, zucchini, salt and pepper. Cover skillet with a lid and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Uncover and stir. Continue cooking for 5-7 minutes or until squash are cooked to your liking. If you would like to lightly brown your squash, let sit for 1-2 minutes before stirring.
5. Serve zucchini and squash with additional salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*You can also cut zucchini and squash by using a mandoline slicer.

Nutrition Facts

Sauteed Zucchini and Squash in 20 Minutes!

Amount Per Serving

Calories 142 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 11g 17%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Sodium 370mg 15%

Potassium 548mg 16%

Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 6g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 7.8%

Vitamin C 43.8%

Calcium 3.9%

Iron 4.7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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