Fried Squash
Fried Squash is a summertime staple in every southern kitchen. This recipe is easy to make with a crispy cornmeal breading that will take you right back to grandma’s kitchen.
We plant a big garden every summer and grow plenty of yellow squash and zucchini. For the perfect summer side dish we love deep fried squash. We also make squash relish and this Jalapeno Popper Zucchini Casserole with our abundance of summer squash.
Ingredients for Fried Squash
- Yellow Squash or Zucchini
- Buttermilk
- Whole Milk
- All Purpose Flour
- Cornmeal – not cornmeal mix
- Seasoning Salt
- Vegetable Oil or Peanut Oil for Frying
How to Make Southern Fried Squash Recipe
- Wash and dry the squash.
- Using a sharp knife or mandoline, trim ends and discard.
- Slice into 1/8 inch slices
- Mix milk and buttermilk together in a bowl.
- Mix flour, cornmeal and seasoning salt together in a shallow dish, like a pie plate.
- Add oil to a large skillet or deep fryer and heat to 350 degrees using a deep fry thermometer. Ideally, you need about an inch of oil to fry yellow summer squash.
- Dip squash in buttermilk mixture.
- Coat both sides with flour and cornmeal mixture. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Fry squash in small batches in hot oil, turning to cook on both sides until golden brown.
- Remove from oil using a slotted spoon or tongs onto paper towels lining a wire rack to drain.
Recipe Notes
- Storage: Store fried squash in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Place squash on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer. Bake at 375° for 5-8 minutes or until heated through.
- Air Fryer Instructions: Follow instructions for coating squash in batter. Before placing breaded squash into the air fryer basket, spray both sides with olive oil. Air fry a few slices at a time at 370° for 3 minutes, turn and continue to cook another 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
- Freezing: Squash can be breaded and placed on a lined baking sheet and froze for 1-2 hours until frozen solid. Remove from the baking sheet and place in a freezer bag with layers of parchment paper in between. Freeze up to 3 months. Fry from frozen. This method is a great way to preserve fresh squash.
If you are feeding a family, it takes a while to fry the squash individually but it is the perfect side dish. When I’m frying up a batch of squash, the boys make quite a few trips through the kitchen to sneak a bite or two as it comes out of the skillet.
It’s just so irresistible and will go with any meal. You will also like this Fried Okra if you have a big garden or if you’ve been lucky enough to visit the farmer’s market lately.
Of course frying isn’t the only way to cook summer squash, but it is my favorite way to make it. We also love this Parmesan Squash, which is a bit better for you and also so delicious! The whole family also loves this Cheesy Squash Casserole for an easy yellow squash recipe.
We love to cook up a mess of squash during the summer months and this fried squash recipe with a crispy cornmeal coating is one of our favorite things to make for a classic southern dish.
If you love this recipe as much as we do, please leave a comment and a five star review. Help us share on Pinterest, Instagram, Flipboard and Facebook!
This Fried Squash Recipe also appears on Food Fanatic where I contribute all things deep fried!
Great southern staple in the Sumer months. We grill ours now and love it.
That sounds like such a great way to get in your vegetables! Yum!
Thanks Miranda!
Cornmeal is LIFE with Southern fried food! LOVE this recipe!
Oh my! Such a great recipe! Delicious!
This is seriously one of my favorite recipes ever!
I could eat this every day! What a great way to use all the squash from the garden!
I always line a baking pan with foil, put some oil in the pan and lay the squash on that. I bake in the oven on 350 for 30 minutes or so. Then, I turn on the broiler for just a few minutes to get the tops crispy. It tastes just like fried squash, but takes lots less time than frying.
Hi Holly,
I will have to try it!
Hey, I
tried these tonight and they were very very good! Love this!
Thanks!
I wish there is a difinitive way to cook with an air fryer.