Church ladies practically block the door to make sure my mama brought this to the spring picnic. It disappears before the service is even over.

This southern 5-ingredient yellow squash casserole is the kind of dish that makes church ladies practically block the door to be sure it showed up for the spring picnic. It’s creamy, cheesy, and topped with a buttery, golden cracker crust that disappears before the service is even over. This is a classic Southern-style potluck casserole, simplified for busy weeknights and Sunday gatherings, using just a handful of pantry-friendly ingredients and fresh yellow squash.

Serve this yellow squash casserole warm, straight from the oven, with simple picnic or Sunday dinner staples: baked or fried chicken, ham, meatloaf, or grilled pork chops. It’s also great alongside green beans, a crisp garden salad, or sliced tomatoes with a little salt and pepper. For a full potluck spread, pair it with deviled eggs, rolls, and something cold and fruity like a berry salad or lemonade. Leftovers (if you’re lucky enough to have any) reheat well and make an easy side for a quick weeknight meal.

Servings: 8

6 cups sliced yellow squash (about 5–6 medium squash)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass casserole dish with nonstick spray or a little butter so the casserole doesn’t stick.

Prep the squash: Rinse the yellow squash and trim off the ends. Slice into thin rounds, about 1/4-inch thick, so they soften quickly and bake up tender instead of crunchy.

Cook the squash and onion: Add the sliced squash and chopped onion to a large skillet or pot with 2–3 tablespoons of water and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 8–10 minutes, until the squash is very tender and starting to break down. If there’s a lot of liquid in the pan, remove the lid and cook for 1–2 more minutes to let some of the moisture evaporate. Drain off any excess liquid so the casserole isn’t watery.

Make the creamy filling: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1 cup of the crushed buttery crackers, salt, and black pepper until well combined.

Combine everything: Add the drained squash and onion mixture to the bowl with the creamy mixture. Gently fold everything together until the squash is evenly coated but not completely smashed—you still want some pieces of squash for texture.

Assemble the casserole: Spread the squash mixture evenly into the prepared 9x13-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.

Make the buttery cracker topping: In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup crushed buttery crackers with the melted butter. Stir until all the crumbs are evenly coated and look like damp sand.

Top the casserole: Sprinkle the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the cheese layer, covering as much of the surface as possible for that crisp, golden crust.

Bake: Place the casserole on the center rack of the preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the cracker topping is crispy and deep golden brown.

Rest and serve: Let the casserole rest for about 5–10 minutes before serving so it can set slightly and scoop more neatly. Serve warm at your spring picnic, potluck, or family dinner—don’t be surprised if the pan is scraped clean before anyone goes back for dessert.

You can easily tweak this casserole to fit your family and what you have on hand. For a slightly lighter version, use reduced-fat cream of chicken soup and part-skim cheddar cheese; just know the texture and richness will be a bit different. To keep it vegetarian, swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom or cream of celery. If you like a little kick, add 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the creamy mixture. For extra flavor and color, stir in 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or a tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives. If you don’t have buttery round crackers, you can use crushed saltines or panko breadcrumbs mixed with the melted butter; the topping will be slightly less rich but still crisp. To prep ahead, you can cook the squash and onion, mix the filling, and spread it in the dish up to a day in advance; cover tightly and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add the cheese and cracker topping just before it goes into the oven so it stays crunchy—add 5–10 extra minutes to the bake time if the casserole is going in cold. For food safety, refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of baking and store them in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days; reheat in a 325°F oven until warmed through or microwave individual portions until steaming hot. Always ensure the casserole is heated to at least 165°F before serving leftovers.