Calabacitas Recipe
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Jun 12, 2025 
Sizzling Calabacitas Con Queso: This bold and zesty veggie-heavy Mexican recipe makes a marvelous side dish, or vegetarian main dish!
Why We Love This Calabacitas Recipe
Calabacitas Con Queso (squash with cheese) is also often referred to as Calabacitas Con Elote (squash with corn) at some Mexican establishments.
It’s a quick-cooked vegetable dish filled with bright yellow summer squash, zucchini, sweet bell peppers, bold poblano peppers, corn, distinct spices, and topped with cilantro. All of the colors mixed into Calabacitas pair well with the colorful Hispanic culture.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Our Calabacitas Con Queso is packed full of sautéed squash and is a great option for a family dinner. Your kids will love piling up the cheese on top of their colorful vegetable plate… And it’s healthy!
- Calabacitas are rich in vitamins, particularly potassium, magnesium, vitamins A and C, folate, and fiber.
- The vitamins within the vegetables in Calabacitas are known to lower blood pressure and help prevent cancer and heart disease.
- It is one of the healthiest dishes in Mexico that is still eaten today!
Ingredients You Need
Calabacitas is the perfect option for dinner parties, cookouts, and even meal prepping! Here’s what you will need to make it…
- Butter – or oil will work
- Sweet Onion – peeled and chopped
- Garlic – minced
- Corn on the Cob – corn cut off the cob
- Zucchini – cut into cubes
- Yellow Squash – cut into cubes
- Poblano Pepper – seeded and chopped
- Red and Orange Bell Pepper – seeded and chopped well
- Fresh Cilantro – freshly chopped
- Lime – juiced
- Ground Cumin
- Dried Oregano
- Optional Toppings: Pico de Gallo, Lime wedges, Queso fresco, Avocado, Diced tomatoes
How to Make Calabacitas Con Queso
- Sauté the Onions. Set an extra-large cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the butter ,onion, garlic, and poblano pepper. Cook to soften.
- Season. Add the ground cumin and oregano to the skillet. Stir and push the onions to the sides of the skillet.
- Sauté the Squash in Batches. Add about a third of the chopped squash and bell peppers. Brown for 1 minute. Repeat two more times until all the squash and peppers are incorporated.
- Get Corny. Stir in corn, cilantro, and lime juice. Stir to warm the corn, then turn off the heat. The veggies should be just barely cooked and still firm.
- Add Toppings! Serve Calabacitas warm, accompanied by a generous sprinkling of crumbled queso fresco, a dollop of pico de gallo, avocado slices, and extra lime wedges.
Find the full Calabacitas Recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Serving Suggestions
You can simply serve calabacitas as is, with some fresh corn tortillas or some tortilla chips. To make it a heartier meal, consider some of these options:
- With Grilled Meats: Serve Calabacitas con queso alongside grilled chicken, steak, or pork chops. The creamy, cheesy vegetables complement the smoky flavors of grilled meats perfectly.
- With Tacos: Pair this dish with your favorite tacos, such as carne asada, carnitas, or fish tacos. It adds a delightful vegetable component to the meal. Top them off with extra cheddar cheese for more cheesy goodness!
- With Mexican Rice: Serve with a side of Mexican rice and refried beans for a complete and satisfying meal.
- With Breakfast: You can also serve this calabacitas recipe alongside scrambled or fried eggs for a hearty breakfast. You can also mix Calabacitas con sueso into a frittata or omelet.
Calabacitas Con Queso Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter, or oil
- 1 small sweet onion, peeled and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-3 corn cobs, corn cut off the cob
- 1-2 zucchini, cut into ½ inch cubes
- 1-2 yellow squash, cut into ½ inch cubes
- 1 large poblano pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- ½ lime, juiced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper
Toppings:
- 1 cup Pico de Gallo
- 1 whole Lime, cut into wedges
- 1 cup Queso fresco
- 1 whole Avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Set an extra-large cast iron cast over medium-high heat. Add the butter, onion, garlic, and poblano pepper. Saute and soften for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground cumin and oregano to the skillet. Stir and push the onions to the sides of the skillet.
- Add about a third of the chopped squash and bell peppers. Brown for 1 minute. Then push them to the sides of the pan and add another third of the veggies. Cook for 1 more minute. Then push the veggies to the sides and add the remaining squash and peppers. (This method allows each batch of squash and peppers to get a bit of color.)
- Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper. Brown another minute, then stir in the corn, cilantro, and juice of ½ a lime.
- Stir to warm the corn, then turn off the heat. The veggies should be just barely cooked and still firm.
- Serve warm with a generous sprinkling of crumbled queso fresco, a dollop of pico de gallo, avocado slices, and extra lime wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
The Spanish word “Calabacitas” is translated to “little squash” in English. However, when referring to the traditional Mexican dish, Calabacitas means sauteed squash, mixed with other vegetables and spices.
Calabacitas was cultivated nearly 10,000 years ago by the Native Americans near Oaxaca, Mexico.
The “little squash” that we know and use today (like yellow squash and zucchini) are not the same as the squash the Native Americans farmed and first used in this type of dish.
Squash plants in the past were fibrous and bitter. Over the years the plant was transformed into a delicious vegetable that many people nowadays enjoy in a plethora of different dishes.
Be sure not to overcook your vegetables! It’s better for the vegetables to be slightly undercooked and firm than overcooked and soggy. Work fast and don’t let them sit over the heat too long.
Calabacitas will last about 3-4 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container. It is a great dish to pair with protein!
Of course! You can substitute zucchini for any young squash variety. You can also use different types of chiles/peppers.
Yes, you can! Just simply skip the corn.
Yes, it’s simple! Substitute olive oil for the butter, and omit the cheese.
Yes, use oil instead of butter. Skip the cheese garnish. Then take out the corn.
This dish is awesome! I have made it several times and it is always delicious. As a side dish, it goes well with everything.
Loved this so much! It will be making a regular appearance on our dinner table!
Fantastic and easy to make.
I love how flavorful this is! My family loved it!
This is one of my go to dishes when I am craving some Mexican food!
First time making calabacitas ever. This recipe was easy. I made a few dietary modifications and it was great.
I seriously loved it!! My family can’t wait for me to make it again!
We wanted to change things up for taco night and this did the trick! So tasty and delicious!
Such a delicious recipe! Thank you!!
This. This is a must make. For Sure.
This is so fresh and delicious! What an incredible recipe!