Not sure how to use summer squash? These easy zucchini recipes can help. Also included are delicious ideas for dinners, desserts, and more.
It’s zucchini season! Introducing the zucchini recipe!
Every summer, mid-July, I feel like I’ve cooked every zucchini recipe out there. I made zucchini bread and zucchini fritters, grilled zucchini and baked zucchini chips. This week, I looked at the summer squash harvest at the market and thought, “What’s next?” If you’re in a similar situation right now, good news. Zucchini is he one of the all-purpose vegetables. It tastes great over pasta, tacos, salads, and even chocolate cake. It can be grilled, baked, sautéed, or eaten raw. While it may feel like you’ve cooked zucchini in every way known to mankind, there’s always more zucchini recipes to try.
Below are 30 easy zucchini recipes that I refer to every summer. It includes hearty main courses, fresh salads, sumptuous desserts and everything in between. We hope this will inspire you to try new ways to cook zucchini. If you have a favorite zucchini recipe, let us know in the comments.
Zucchini Basic Recipe
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to use zucchini in bulk, try the recipe below. Each recipe provides an easy (and delicious!) way to prepare zucchini so that you can serve it as a side dish or add it to a main dish such as pasta or frittata.
roasted zucchini
Juicy, tender, and beautifully caramelized, these roasted zucchini are so delicious you’ll want to eat them right out of the sheet pan.
grilled zucchini
It’s flavorful and healthy, and it’s ready in 10 minutes. I rarely have leftovers, but when I do, I love adding them to sandwiches and omelettes the next day.
zucchini noodles
Learn how to make 5 fun shapes of zucchini noodles! They’re delicious when added to salads (find some of my favorites below!). I also like to use a 50/50 mix of zucchini noodles and regular noodles in summer pasta recipes.
zucchini breakfast recipe
Vegetables for breakfast? Yes please! These easy zucchini recipes will help you incorporate extra nutrients into your morning meal.
zucchini bread
This zucchini bread recipe is the best I have tried. It’s moist, soft, and warmly spiced. I love mixing walnuts into the dough for crunch, but a scoop of chocolate chips is also great.
zucchini muffins
Almond flour and julienned zucchini make these cute little muffins insanely moist. Tip: Stash it in the freezer for take-out breakfast.
zucchini smoothie
This zucchini smoothie tastes like a chocolate milkshake, but ugh! Made with wholesome ingredients like almond butter, dates and zucchini.
Easy Zucchini Appetizers and Snacks
These delicious zucchini recipes will be the center of attention at your summer gatherings. But don’t save it just for fun. These snack pumpkin dishes are so fun and flavorful that you should keep making them all season long.
zucchini fritters
Zucchini fritters loaded with leeks, garlic and dill are light and delicious. Add a creamy sauce such as tartar sauce or tzatziki to enhance the crispy texture.
baked zucchini chips
These crispy, cheesy chips are a great snack on their own, but can be eaten with a little marinara or romesco sauce for a dip. Don’t want to turn on the oven? Try the Non-Fryer Zucchini Chips instead.
Grilled Remy Remy Tartine
These bite-sized appetizers are an elegant addition to any summer meal. Drizzle crostini with hummus or soft goat cheese and top with a jumble of grilled vegetables tossed with sherry vinegar and fresh herbs. If you like the taste of ratatouille from Provence, you will love it.
summer pumpkin salad recipe
Raw zucchini recipes are pretty underrated if you ask me. When sliced, julienned, or cut into ribbons, raw squash has a soft, crunchy texture and soaks up flavor like a sponge. I love having it in bright summer salads like this.
zucchini salad
This gorgeous zucchini salad recipe is simple and beautiful food By Amanda Fredrickson. An easy and upscale summer side dish made with a few basic ingredients. Pine nuts add crunchiness, basil and chives add a refreshing flavor, and a simple lemon vinaigrette makes it refreshing and bright.
pesto pasta salad
If you have a ton of zucchini on hand, chances are you have plenty of basil as well. Stir in plenty of pesto, toss with curly pasta and add thinly sliced summer squash. What a lovely summer lunch!
vegan pasta salad
This salad does not *strictly* fall into the category of zucchini recipes. Oops! Instead of zucchini, it contains spiral-shaped yellow squash in addition to pasta. If you prefer, you can substitute zucchini noodles or mix zucchini with yellow squash for a more colorful twist.
broccoli pasta salad
This picnic-perfect dish replaces some of the regular noodles with zucchini noodles. The pasta makes you feel full when you eat it, but it’s actually mostly vegetables!
Added zucchini recipe
If you’re eating old-fashioned roasted or grilled zucchini on repeat, it’s time to change up your side dish rotation. Try these easy zucchini recipes instead.
grilled vegetables
Add a touch of color to your summer table with our vibrant grilled vegetables. I love to serve it with flavorful sauces. The tzatziki, pesto and chimichurri are all excellent.
crunchy zucchini casserole
This simple casserole is topped with crunchy bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese, with a saucy pesto and marinara filling in the middle. Well, you want a few seconds.
Main dish zucchini recipe
We’ve shared a lot of zucchini recipes above for side dishes and appetizers, but sometimes this summer vegetable deserves the centerpiece of a plate. Here are some ways to make it a delicious meal.
Zucchini stuffed boat
Don’t waste it, don’t want it! Rather than toss scooped squash in this zucchini boat recipe, mix it into a tangy filling with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, tomatoes, lemon, and thyme. A small amount of pesto is on the whole.
Ratatouille
This rustic French stew makes an appearance in late summer bowls. For extra staying power, top with a poached egg and serve with crispy bread.
herb garden zucchini pizza
If you love zucchini, you’ll go crazy for this raw roasted summer squash pizza. Sprinkled with pesto, thyme, fresh basil and red pepper flakes, it makes for an unforgettable pizza night.
Vegetarian tacos with avocado sauce
30 minute veggie tacos, almost done! Plenty of summer vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, and peppers are grilled. Then stuff the tortilla with black beans, avocado and a tangy tomatillo he sauce.
Pasta recipe with zucchini
Whether roasted, grilled or sautéed, zucchini are the perfect companion to pasta. Thin slices of zucchini soften and wrap around the noodles, while larger slices retain a juicy bite. All of these recipes are staples in my kitchen throughout the summer and early fall.
pasta primavera
Perfect for your weeknight dinner rotation, this colorful pasta is simple, flavorful, and loaded with fresh vegetables.
best vegetarian lasagna
Lots of summer vegetables make this hearty lasagna fresh and flavorful. In addition to zucchini, it also has fennel, carrots, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, leeks and kale.
Zucchini lasagna with ricotta cheese
Based on the classic lasagna, this extremely veggie riff replaces half the regular noodles with thin plates of zucchini. Then blend more zucchini into the creamy vegan ‘ricotta’ filling. Serve with garlic bread for a fresh yet comforting meal.
roasted vegetable pasta
This flexible pasta is my favorite dinner after a trip to the farmers market. The photo above shows a version featuring cherry tomatoes, squash, onions, and carrots, but you can also combine summer vegetables with this dish.
cream pasta pomodoro
You can have this creamy, vegan pasta every night! A velvety tomato sauce coats chewy noodles and simple sautéed vegetables like spinach, cherry tomatoes, and zucchini.
Summer pumpkin soup recipe
Plenty of vegetables disappear into a large pot of soup. Zucchini is no exception!
vegetable soup
This soup is the perfect recipe to clear out your fridge. It’s loaded with all kinds of veggies: tomatoes, sweet potatoes, kale, carrots, and, of course, zucchini.
basil zucchini soup
A blend of raw zucchini, rather than nuts or dairy, gives this cool, refreshing soup a luscious, creamy texture. A perfect snack for hot days.
Easy Zucchini Dessert Recipe
You can barely see the zucchini in these easy baked goods, but that’s what gives everything its deliciously moist texture.
chocolate zucchini bread
This easy recipe makes two loaves of super moist, super chocolate flavored bread. Give one to a friend or stash it in the freezer to buy as a future treat. Future you will thank you!
zucchini brownie
Two cups of julienned zucchini melt into this melty brownie. Any chocolate lover will agree that vegetables have never tasted better.
chocolate zucchini cake
You can top this vegan chocolate cake with your favorite frosting, but I love the luscious matcha frosting pictured here. What could be more fun than adding green frosting to a zucchini cake?!
Zucchini Recipe: Roasted Zucchini
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This zucchini oven baked recipe is one of my favorite summer zucchini recipes.
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Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Place zucchini in a large bowl and toss with olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and a few peppercorns. Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet and roast for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown around edges.
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Remove from oven, transfer to a plate, and squeeze lemon over. Sprinkle with cheese or herbs if desired.
