Quick and Simple Squash and Zucchini Sauté

Delicious keto sautéed squash and zucchini, quick to prepare, are the ideal side dish for any meal.

For your convenience, we've included a "skip to recipe" button in the top left corner and a "table of contents" link just below the fold.

Zucchini and Summer Squash in a Pan-Fried Seasoning

Many gardeners find themselves stumped when faced with an abundance of zucchini each summer.

One of my favorite quick and easy keto side dishes is this sauteed zucchini and summer squash recipe. It's full of flavor, can be ready in under 15 minutes, and goes with practically any meal.

It's versatile enough to be used in a wide variety of dishes, from salads to tacos to burritos to pastas to sandwiches to soups, and you can make it vegan if you like (I prefer butter, but olive oil is an easy swap that we make frequently).

Since they only take a few minutes to prepare, you'll want to make this side dish every night. I also encourage you to visit Sweet C's, where you can find an easy recipe for grilled zucchini and yellow squash, one of my all-time favorite dishes.

In the summer, serve this with ribs, brisket, or even pork tenderloin for a delicious meal.

Squash sauté is one of my go-to side dishes to complement fruit and chicken salads, rice pilaf, and pan-fried broccolini.

Read my web story about how I made this easy meal!

Method for Cooking Zucchini and Summer Squash in a Saute Pan

All you need is:

• Butter, salted, 3 tablespoons (or oil, olive or avocado for vegans).
• Quarter of an onion, white or yellow, diced
• Diced garlic from 4 garlic cloves
• 1/2 a summer squash, cut into half moons
• 1 medium-sized zucchini, halved and cut into half-moons
• 1 teaspoon of Celtic Sea Salt
• 1 pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• Herbs of Italy, 1 Teaspoon

Zucchini moons are used in this dish.

You can brown your zucchini and summer squash more evenly if you cut them into half moons.

The dish benefits greatly from the addition of browning, which triggers the maillard reaction and produces a rich flavor from caramelized sugars in vegetables, especially zucchini.

Cucumbers and squashes should be washed and dried thoroughly before being put away.

Remove the upper and lower halves.

The lengthwise halves of zucchini and squash should be cut out.

Place the flat sides down on the cutting board, and cut them into thin half moons, each no more than a half an inch thick.

Answers to Your Most Common Questions About Perfectly Sautéed Zucchini and Squash

Get the right kind of zucchini. Keep in mind that smaller, softer zucchini and summer squash will yield a more flavorful sauteed side dish. Zucchini and summer squash absorb more water and swell as they mature, diminishing some of their flavor in the process. The skin of zucchini and squash that have been allowed to grow too large can become tough and chewy, and there are more, flavorless seeds.

Advice on Storing and Reheating The following are instructions for storing and reheating this delicious pan-fried zucchini and squash recipe for later:

• Save any leftovers When storing leftovers, make sure to use a container or plastic bag that is airtight and squeeze out as much air as you can. Use within four days; refrigerate immediately. Extra sautéed zucchini does not freeze well and can become mushy when reheated, so I try to use it up as soon as possible.
• Warm up leftover zucchini. The leftovers can be heated through by tossing them in a hot pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Superb when tossed with noodle or rice dishes, home fries, or hash browns.

To Accompany Sautéed Summer Squash and Zucchini

Try some of my other favorite ways to prepare summer squash and zucchini if you enjoy this simple sauteed dish. Picky eaters can't resist the popularity of zucchini staples like chips and pizzas.

Because of its lightness and healthiness, zucchini is a favorite vegetable of ours to serve alongside heavy main courses like hot and fast smoked brisket, grilled flanken ribs, ribeye roast, pork tenderloin, and spaghetti pie.

Cooking squash and zucchini has never been simpler than with this foolproof recipe.

Please rate this recipe five stars and help me promote it on social media by posting about it on Facebook and Pinterest if you enjoyed it as much as we did.

Get in touch with the "sweet C's" Don't miss a single update by not following me on social media.

Social media sites like (but not limited to):

If you're short on time but still want a home-cooked meal, sign up for my 30-minute dinner plans and they'll be sent straight to your inbox.
Read on to discover where you can shop my favored items on Amazon.com.