Meat Stuffed Patty Pan Squash Recipe

Garden fresh stuffed patty pan squash with a french meat filling.

This is a low carb gluten free recipe for small and large patty pan squash!

Watch and learn how to prepare this dish at home with my video and process shots further below.

I came up with this recipe whith the help of my uncle who grows squash in his garden.

The recipe is loosely based on the french meat stuffed tomatoes recipe.

If you like stuffed vegetables, then check out this veg zucchini boats and my colorful rice stuffed vegan peppers.

What is patty pan squash?

A patty pan squash is a summer squash variety which comes in various varieties.

This squash resembles a UFO in shape and comes in white, yellow or green.

The squash is also known as button squash, sunburst squash and various places around the world call it by a local name.

We know it as Patisson mainly, because this vegetable was introduced to us by my uncle in France, who successfully grew a whole lot.

The Squash comes in 2 major sizes:

1. small baby squash – about 1-2 inch/ 3-6 centimeter wide
2. large patty pan squash – about 4-6 inch/10-15 centimeter wide

Small baby patty pan squash are more common in stores.

Large patty pan squash are most commonly homegrown or farmer’s market material.

The growing season for this humble summer squash variety is from May to late summer/beginning fall.

This squash plant grows like other squash varieties in well-drained nutritious rich mud.

How long will patty pan squash keep?

I have kept my oversized large white patty pan squash for over 5 weeks in a cool and dry place without that they turned bad.

They were literally the same for weeks and didn’t get any harder.

These squash are like butternut squash, they keep well for a long time.

I’m less experienced with yellow patty pan squash or the green variety.

Do you peel patty pan squash?

The squash is best when harvested young when the outer skin is still tender.

If your garden-fresh patty pan squash peel is soft, you can choose to leave it on and eat the peel.

A large flying saucer squash can have a soft skin too.

I recommend you peel the squash if you bought it in-store and if it was treated with pesticides.

You can also peel your skin if you intend to cook the squash in any other way then stuffed.

However, leave the skin on in this meat stuffed squash recipe because it’s great for the presentation of the dish.

You can always take off the cooked vegetable flesh from the skin in your plate.

How to cut pattypan squash?

Baby Patty pan squash are easily cut because they are small in size.

Large patty pan can be a bit more daunting but it shouldn’t be that way because it’s just a large squash.

The seed case is rather soft like a sponge and can be cut out easily.

The squash seeds can be roasted separately like butternut squash or pumpkin seeds.

To make stuffed patty pan, cut your squash top off and hollow your squash.

You can cut the squash in slices too or in cubes.

Just make sure the squash pieces are all of the same sizes so that they can cook evenly.

How to make stuffed patty pan squash?

To make meat stuffed pattypan squash, you can choose to use large or baby squash or white, yellow or green squash.

If you use small squash, use about 4-6 pieces (depending on the size).

View the full recipe with detailed ingredients, instructions, and how to video at the bottom of the post.

Step 1

Prepare your squash by cutting off the top to create a “hat”.

Hollow your squash.

Separate the seeds from the squash flesh and keep the seeds for another recipe or to plant.

Cut your leftover squash flesh small, which you took out from the center and keep aside.

Place your hollowed-out squash with the cut off the top on a baking tray.

Sprinkle with olive oil, season with black pepper and salt.

Place into oven and to roast until cooked almost soft.

Step 2

In a bowl combine the stuffing ingredients including the ground meat, onion, garlic, salt, black pepper, olive oil, thyme, oregano, and the cut squash pieces.

Step 3

Place roasted squash into a baking dish and stuff with the ground meat mixture.

Close with the top lid-like hat.

Prepare a sauce in the baking dish around the summer squash, by adding in whole peeled canned tomatoes, water, onion, bay leaves, salt and black pepper.

Roast your meat stuffed squash on medium-high heat in the oven, until the meat and the squash are cooked through.

Serve hot by cutting the squash into portion-sized pieces.

How to cook patty pan squash?

Patty Pan Squash can be cooked in various other ways like any other squash.

Small and large squash can be…

• cut your squash into cubes and sautee or turn them into roasted patty pan squash
• cut into slices and grill
• boil your squash to use in soups and puree
• steam, oven roast or boil your squash as a whole (without stuffing it)

More Patty Pan Recipes to try

• Pickled Patty Pan squash – A great way to preserve your pattypan vegetables through pickling without canning.
• Red Lentil Spaghetti with grilled patty pan squash – An easy dinner that will leave you feeling healthy and nourished with a dose of hidden protein!
• Coconut Curry patty pan squash soup – It’s an exciting, new way to use that summer squash, and is dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, too!

Dear Reader, did you try the Recipe?

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