Yellow squash and tomatoes are summer favorites, and Val’s Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan is delicious and easy to make! This recipe from my sister Val is a keeper that you’ll probably make over and over. 

PIN the yellow squash and tomatoes recipe to try it later!


Over the weekend my sister Val came for a wedding shower for my beautiful niece Emma and gave me a big bag of zucchini, yellow squash, and cucumbers from her garden. So it seemed like a perfect opportunity to take new photos for this recipe for Val’s Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan.

This combination of yellow squash stir-fried with onion and garlic, barely warmed tomatoes, and Parmesan is delicious for a low-carb and gluten-free way to use summer squash, and this literally takes minutes to make. (My sister Val is a genius at these easy recipes using garden produce and Broiled Zucchini with Mozzarella and Pepperoni is another easy recipe she makes with her garden squash.)

If you still have yellow squash in the garden or you’re getting it at the Farmers Market, I hope you’ll put this recipe on your *Must Try* list! You’ll make it over and over once you try it.

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  • olive oil, divided
  • yellow onion
  • garlic cloves, finely minced or Minced Garlic (affiliate link) from a jar
  • yellow summer squash
  • cherry tomato halves
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • finely grated Parmesan cheese

What is Yellow Squash?

Yellow squash refers to yellow summer squash, which is a vegetable that’s in the same family as zucchini. There are quite a few varieties of yellow squash, and some are curved and some are straight, but all have the pleasant mild flavor that’s good in so many dishes.

What could you use in this recipe besides yellow squash and tomatoes?

You could definitely use regular green zucchini (or a combination of green zucchini and yellow squash) in this recipe. I think some chopped fresh basil or even chopped parsley added at the end of the cooking time would also be delicious in this.

How to make this yellow squash and tomatoes recipe lower in carbs:

If you’d like to make this recipe a bit lower in carbs, use a bit less tomato and more summer squash.

Want more ideas for zucchini or summer squash?

Use the recipe index page for Summer Squash for lots of carb-conscious recipes for summer squash or zucchini. You can also find Slow Cooker Zucchini Recipes and Instant Pot Zucchini Recipes at my Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker site.

Val's Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan process shots collage

How to make Val’s Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. Cut up half a large onion and mince fresh garlic, or use minced garlic from a jar if you prefer.
  2. Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
  3. Cut the yellow squash in half or quarters, and then into slices.
  4. Heat the olive oil in wok or large non-stick pan over medium-high heat and saute the onion for 2-3 minutes, then add the garlic and cook about another minute.
  5. Add the squash pieces and cook until the squash is cooked through and starting to brown, but still slightly crisp.
  6. Add the cherry tomato halves and cook only about 1 minute, just until they are barely warmed.
  7. Season the dish with salt and fresh ground black pepper, add the Parmesan cheese, remove from heat and serve immediately!

Val's Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan on serving plate with Parmesan cheese

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

This yellow squash and tomatoes dish would be delicious with Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Capers or Grilled Lamb Chops with Garlic, Rosemary, and Thyme for a low-carb meal. If you’re not up for grilling I’d love it with Air Fryer Lamb Chops, Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers, or  Artichoke Chicken Bake.

More Recipes for Summer Squash:

Val's Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan finished dish on serving plate
Yield: 4 servings

Val's Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes

My sister Val's Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan is so delicious and incredibly easy to make!

Ingredients

  • 1 T olive oil, divided (or slightly more, depending on your pan)
  • 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely minced (or to taste)
  • 2 medium yellow summer squash
  • 1 cup cherry tomato halves
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (more or less to taste)

Instructions

  1. Diced onion, mince garlic, and cut cherry tomatoes in half.
  2. Cut both ends off squash, then cut lengthwise into halves (or fourths if the squash is larger.)
  3. Slice the squash into 3/4 – 1 inch slices.
  4. Have the oil and Parmesan cheese ready.
  5. Heat 2 tsp. oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat and saute the onion pieces 2-3 minutes, until they are starting to soften but aren’t browned.
  6. Add the garlic and saute 1 minute more.
  7. Then add the squash pieces and 1 more tsp. oil (if needed) and cook squash, turning often, for 6-8 minutes or until the squash is cooked through and starting to brown but is still slightly crisp.
  8. Stir in the cherry tomato halves and cook 1 minute, just until the tomatoes are warmed.
  9. Season the dish with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
  10. Sprinkle Parmesan over, and serve immediately.

Notes

Recipe created by Kalyn's sister Val.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 132Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 375mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

Val's Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan shown on serving plate with Parmesan in back.

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This yellow squash and tomatoes recipe would be a great choice for low-carb eating plans, although you might want to use less tomatoes (and maybe more cheese) for low-carb or Keto diets. It would also be approved for all phases of the original South Beach Diet, although Parmesan cheese is a limited food if you’re following South Beach. 

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Side Dishes to find more recipes like this. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2012 when my sister Val brought me yellow squash. It was last updated in with more information in 2023.

Val's Easy Yellow Squash with Tomatoes and Parmesan

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