How to Cook Zucchini
Zucchini can be steamed for low-carb and keto-friendly side dishes, air fried for crunchy sticks, baked into gratins, casseroles and quiche, and of course, sautéed. Then there are the ever-popular zucchini noodle dishes to try. You can either spiralize your own zoods at home or buy them ready to go at the store. Just make sure you add them at the end of whatever recipe you’re making—otherwise, they can tend to get a bit mushy. Raw zucchini can also be made into salads and soups, layered in lasagna and stuffed, or rolled for bite-size summer nibbles.
Best Zucchini Recipes
From zucchini pasta and bread to baked, stuffed, and fried zucchini, there are so many genius ways to use up that bounty of farm-fresh squash! For the kiddos, there are crispy zucchini fries and coins. There are also yummy cupcakes, muffins and cake that sneak in some extra veggies without them knowing. And for the grownups looking for a few fancified dinner party recipes, try Monterey Jack Turkey Burgers with Zucchini-Tomato Sauté, Hot and Spicy Zucchini Slaw or Poached Shrimp with Zucchini Pesto Rotini Pasta. If you’re looking for low-carb, healthy, lightened-up zucchini recipes we have plenty of those in the form of veggie roll-ups, chilled soups and obviously, oodles of zoodles. Zucchini is also the best in boats! Simply carve out the seeds in the middle to make a little trough, then fill them up with cooked meat, cheese and more veggies for easy, stress-free dinners. There you have it—the most mouthwatering recipes for summer when you have a lot of zucchini on hand. Browse through these easy ideas and don’t forget to pin your favorites!
Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups
Pro-tip for this recipe: Be sure you don’t overcook the zucchini, or it will get too watery. Get the recipe
Mediterranean Zucchini Roasted With Olives, Feta & Tomatoes
Zucchini can be unfairly maligned, but try this pantry dish and you’ll have new green-vegetable converts in your house. Add a bowl of lemony couscous on the side for a lovely light dinner. Get the recipe
Crispy Zucchini Pancakes with Cool Tzatziki Sauce
The delicious combination of cool tzatziki sauce and crispy, warm zucchini pancakes makes this a can’t-miss dish. Get the recipe
Mozzarella-Zucchini Bake
Turn frozen mozzarella sticks into an easy side dish. Get the recipe
Zucchini & Goat Cheese Tart with Walnuts
This simple—yet special—side goes with just about anything you’re serving. Get the recipe
Zucchini Fries
Zucchini plants are a great addition to any garden because they’re easy to grow and produce a big harvest of incredibly versatile squash. This recipe for baked zucchini fries is the perfect, kid-friendly way to use that bumper crop of zucchini this summer. Get the recipe
Chicken & Zucchini Couscous Casserole
Feed your family fast with this satisfying zucchini casserole. Get the recipe
Zucchini Carpaccio
This is the perfect no-cook picnic dish: zucchini carpaccio! The wonderful thing about the zucchini carpaccio is that there is zero cooking required and the most difficult part of the recipe is cutting the zucchini, which takes almost no time. Get the recipe
Roasted Chicken and Tomato-Zucchini Panzanella Salad
Slice and serve these oven-roasted chickens to make Roasted Chicken and Tomato-Zucchini Panzanella Salad for a super simple, yet satisfying, summer meal. Get the recipe
Zucchini Lasagna Casserole
This recipe gets two thumbs-up not only for being gluten-free, but also for allowing you to keep your blood sugar in check. By replacing lasagna noodles with thin layers of sliced zucchini, the carbs stay low, but the flavor is still full and zesty. Get the recipe
Linguine with Zucchini
Zucchini adds a crunch (and pop of color!) to this flavorful linguine. Get the recipe
Black Bean and Grilled Zucchini Tostada with Annatto Sauce and Goat Cheese
Incorporating a hearty puree as a side dish, like this black bean agave puree, allows you to create a satisfying meal for the whole family. And don’t forget to make use of the grill! Thick, grilled veggies have so much texture and flavor that nobody misses the meat. Rub canola oil and chili powder on zucchini, olive oil and rosemary on eggplant, or homemade pesto on Roma tomatoes. Get the recipe
Mindy Kaling’s Garden Spinach Ricotta Ravioli
McDonald’s might have cheered up Mindy Lahiri on The Mindy Project, but if there is one food we turn to for comfort, it’s pasta. Like the actress, you do not have to be “really a chef” to whip up the 15-minute dish at home. The ravioli’s ingredients include spinach ricotta ravioli, scallions and zucchini to name a few. Get the recipe
Blueberry-Zucchini Bread
Both blueberries and zucchini are everywhere right now—for a great price too. Take advantage of this delicious summer bounty and make this recipe for Blueberry-Zucchini Bread. Get the recipe
Avocado, Zucchini & Tomato Salsa
Toss chopped avocado, tomato and zucchini together for a new spin on salsa. Get the recipe
Butternut Squash, Zucchini and Tomato Gratin
This recipe for Butternut Squash, Zucchini and Tomato Gratin comes from Carrie Vitt’s cookbook, The Grain-Free Family Table, and it’s basically a home cook’s best friend for everything from basic staples to gourmet dishes, like this easy gratin recipe. Get the recipe
Monterey Jack Turkey Burgers with Zucchini-Tomato Sauté
The Monterey Jack cheese mixed into the ground turkey helps make these patties flavorful and moist. This dish has six main ingredients; staples to have on hand include olive oil, butter, salt, pepper and cooking spray. Get the recipe
Almost Keto Zucchini Lasagna Bolognese
Certified nutritionist and author of cookbook Almost Keto, Aimee Aristotelous says, “Batch cooking is a common term in the nutrition world when it comes to weight loss and wellness.” Here’s one of her favorite pantry-friendly lasagna recipes. Get the recipe
Zucchini with Orzo
This vegetable orzo dish is quick to make and big on taste. Get the recipe
Veggie-rific Noodle-Free Lasagna
Thinly sliced zucchini, portabella mushroom, and eggplant are layered with tomatoes, Italian seasonings, soy crumbles and a blend of three kinds of cheese. You won’t miss the noodles in this lightened-up, vegetarian take on lasagna. Get the recipe
Zucchini Poached Shrimp with a Zucchini Pesto Rotini Pasta
When Chef Rahaf Amer’s dinner guests asked her to create a recipe using rotini, shrimp, and zucchini, she did not disappoint! Get the recipe
Zucchini, Bacon and Gruyère Quiche
All of our favorite quiche ingredients come together in a breakfast or brunch dish worth getting up for. Get the recipe
Chocolate-Zucchini Cake Recipe
At this point in the summer, gardens are booming with zucchini crop. Gifting to neighbors is a great idea. And utilizing it in your own kitchen is an even better idea. Zucchini is wonderful to be eaten in so many ways, including cake! Get the recipe
Zucchini Sauté
Enjoy the flavors of the zucchini in this sautéed and simmered side. Get the recipe
Chicken Alfredo with Zucchini
Classic Chicken Alfredo gets a summertime spin with farm-fresh zucchini. Get the recipe
Best-Ever Zucchini Bread or Muffins
The trick is to buy zucchini when it’s low in price, then shred it and freeze it! Voila—zucchini treats all year long. Baking Mix Cinnamon Banana Muffins Get the recipe
Greek-Style Chicken & Couscous with Zucchini and Olives
Give plain chicken breasts a global twist with the help of colorful veggies and fast-cooking couscous. For extra flavor, serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over top. Get the recipe
Carrot-Parsnip-Zucchini Bread
This is a hearty bread—rich with traditional fall spices—that works perfectly during the summer or on the first chilly days of autumn. Get the recipe
Crispy Zucchini Coins
Delicious zucchini coins are a great recipe the whole family will love. They are simple, easy and ideal for busy weeknight meals for your family. Get the recipe
Bruschetta Zucchini Bites
Now is the perfect time to be using zucchini in tons of recipes. From zucchini carpaccio to zucchini noodles, July and August are when gardens are producing lots of great crops that are begging to be used in all of your recipes. Bruschetta zucchini bites are a great way to use up zucchini and have a fresh and delicious appetizer or lunch. Get the recipe
Chicken and Zucchini Tortas
Add south-of-the-border sizzle to your next barbecue. Get the recipe
Chicken Zucchini Kebabs
Get veggies and protein on one skewer with these zucchini, bell pepper and chicken kebabs. Get the recipe
Chicken Penne with Grilled Zucchini
Eggplant and zucchini are grilled and tossed with shredded chicken, tomatoes and whole wheat penne pasta. Kids will have fun tearing up basil leaves and crumbling tangy feta cheese with their hands. Get the recipe
Zucchini Bread
Two cups of grated zucchini are baked into this moist bread. Nuts are optional add-ins. Get the recipe
Cold Zucchini Soup
This chilled soup is the perfect dish to help counter summer heat. Get the recipe
Sweet and Sour Zucchini
This delicious dish is easy to make, is packed with vegetables, and is a great side at a small party. Just toss it all together, throw it in the fridge and forget about it until tomorrow. Get the recipe
Hot and Spicy Zucchini Slaw
This light, easy slaw, from Chef Todd Richards’ cookbook Soul, is a zippy way to use big, end-of-season zucchini. Look for sambal oelek, a spicy Indonesian chile sauce, in the Asian foods aisle at the supermarket. Get the recipe
Veggie Wraps with Zucchini
These quick vegetable wraps can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 8 hours. Get the recipe
Zucchini-Carrot Cupcakes
These easy after-school treats will make the grade with kids. Get the recipe
Zucchini Primavera
Primavera is French for spring, and this recipe features baby spring vegetables. You can, however, make this any time of year using the adult versions of these veggies. Cut them small, and be careful not to overcook them. Get the recipe
Vegetable Tian
Blogger Beth Moncel shares an inexpensive way to cook up a delicious, yet healthy vegetable side dish: Squash Tian. Get the recipe
Shaved Zucchini Salad
Beat salad boredom and put a fresh spin on the lunchtime favorite by slicing veggies super thin. This pretty Shaved Zucchini Salad with protein-rich chickpeas, fresh basil and a simple dressing is sure to become a staple in your go-to salad repertoire. Get the recipe
Baked Chicken Parmesan with Zucchini Noodles
Lighten up the classic with this version from Kelly Smith, blogger at thenourishinghome.com. The meal meets lower-carb diet goals without skimping on flavor. Smith uses baked chicken and swaps pasta for spiralized vegetables (found in the produce section of most grocery stores). Get the recipe
Cheesy Italian Zucchini Soup
This bright green soup is a creamy (but cream-less!) way to welcome spring, from PARADE Chef Jon Ashton. It comes together in less than 30 minutes and is perfect for a light dinner, served with crusty bread. Get the recipe
Whole30 Ginger Shrimp and Zucchini Noodle Stir-Fry
Keeping a couple of 1-pound bags of peeled and deveined shrimp in your freezer means that with just a couple of fresh ingredients, dinner is a cinch to get on the table. Get the recipe
Curtis Stone’s Grilled Chicken with Arugula and Zucchini Salad
“This is something that we cook more day to day because it’s a really healthy dish.” — Curtis Stone Get the recipe
Super Quick Spaghetti with Zucchini and Roasted Peppers
A fresh summer pasta made with in-season zucchini and roasted red peppers. If you’re short on time, feel free to use a jar of roasted red peppers instead. Get the recipe
Romesco Garlic Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles
This dish is just as delicious served cold, substituting pesto for the romesco sauce, and cold cucumber noodles instead of steamed zoodles. Get the recipe
Best-Ever Zucchini Fritters
These fritters are delicious plain or dipped in tomato sauce as a bonus appetizer! You can eat these as a snack or side dish. Either way, you just found a keeper. Get the recipe
Zucchini Tuna Boats
Lunches can get pretty boring if all you ever eat are leftovers, sandwiches or takeout. Tuna can be overlooked for many reasons, not least of which is the memory of being forced to eat your mom’s tuna fish sandwiches every day as a youngster. These awesome zucchini boats not only reinvent tuna for lunch but also appeal to a wide crowd. Get the recipe
Zucchini and Snow Pea Salad
The best part about this refreshing salad? It can be made two hours ahead and chilled. Get the recipe
