Zucchini is one of the most versatile foods on the market. You can add it to lunches and dinners throughout the year, but you’ll find there are some surprising recipes as well that use zucchini as its primary ingredient.
Let’s take a look at some fun ways you can incorporate zucchini into your meals this year and answer some of the most common questions about cooking with zucchini.
Is Zucchini Good for You?
Zucchini is rich in minerals and vitamins and offers many health benefits to consumers. It’s said to lower your risk of heart disease and can also assist with your bones and thyroid function.
For anyone who is looking to eat less meat, it makes a great base for many meals and can be prepared in a variety of ways. You’ll find that it’s incredibly filling yet isn’t high in calories or fat.
What Time of Year is Best for Making Zucchini Recipes?
Zucchini can grow throughout the year in climates that aren’t too hot or cold. However, the best time of year in most places to enjoy zucchini is in the summer. You’ll find there’s an abundance of zucchini in stores and at farmer’s markets during this time, so you’ll have no trouble getting your hands on some to try out one of the zucchini recipes shared here today.
What Goes Well In Zucchini Recipes?
Zucchini goes well with almost any other type of produce. We enjoy preparing it with lemon, onion, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, and mushrooms. To add more substance to your dish, you could pair it with feta cheese, ricotta, or goat cheese.
As far as seasoning your zucchini, we recommend cooking it with basil, oregano, garlic, ginger, or pepper. You’ll see from the zucchini recipes we share below that this is a vegetable that can go with almost anything, and you will love experimenting with new tastes when cooking with this squash in the future.
Is Zucchini a Squash?
Zucchini is part of the summer squash family, and courgette is another word to describe the same squash. It’s the French word for zucchini but is commonly used within the British English language.
Therefore, what we refer to in the US as zucchini is exactly the same thing as courgette elsewhere in the world. When you see either of these mentioned in a recipe, you can use the exact same ingredients in its preparation.
50 Zucchini Recipes to Try Today
1. Zucchini Fritters Recipe
Zucchini fritters will make a delicious appetizer for your next dinner party. These crisp little nuggets of zucchini will go down a treat with your whole family.
We recommend always serving them freshly cooked and with a dipping sauce of your choice on the side. It would be a fun way to use up any leftover zucchini you have and would be a great treat on your next game day.
2. Lemon Frosted Zucchini Cake
You might be surprised to learn that zucchini is the ideal base for your next cake baking session. This lemon frosted zucchini cake creates an extremely tender cake that is simple yet delicious. You’ll then top the cake with a tart lemon frosting, which adds even more flavor to this afternoon treat.
3. Baked Veggie Rigatoni with Burrata and Parmesan Bread Crumbs
You can’t go wrong with a delicious baked pasta dish, and this baked veggie rigatoni is packed with a wide variety of ingredients. The dish includes peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini, which are then blended with both ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. For the finishing touch, you’ll add burrata and parmesan bread crumbs for a dish your whole family will be begging for seconds of.
4. Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Another surprising recipe that is packed with zucchini is this double chocolate zucchini bread. If you’ve been wondering how to make zucchini bread, you’ll grate fresh zucchini into the ingredients, which helps to keep the dish nice and moist. This is a great dish to enjoy at any time of the day and would make a delicious breakfast or afternoon snack.
5. Herb Drizzled Grilled Zucchini
Grilled zucchini is one of the best ways to serve this squash, and when you drizzle it with herbs, you’ll find that it is even more flavorful. This herb drizzled grilled zucchini would be a great side dish to serve alongside meat but could also act as a filling vegan or vegetarians main course.
6. Spicy Sesame Zoodles with Tofu
For anyone who is looking to reduce their intake of carbohydrates, try out this delicious spicy sesame zoodles dish. This is one of those zucchini recipes in which the vegetable replaces the noodles that are typically used in this dish, making it lighter and healthier. You’ll add tofu as the protein into the recipe, meaning it’s suitable for both vegans and vegetarians.
7. Zucchini Muffins
Muffins are a great breakfast option for anyone who finds themselves running out of the house without having time to eat in the morning. These zucchini muffins can easily be frozen once cooked, so they are ideal for anyone who enjoys meal prepping. It’s a great way to use up your leftovers and save money while creating a tasty breakfast treat.
8. Lemon Ricotta Zucchini Pancakes
Children and teens love pancakes, but you can try to make them a little healthier by sneaking zucchini into the recipe. They’ll love these lemon ricotta zucchini pancakes, which would be the ideal brunch during the holiday season. The ricotta cheese helps to add a little moisture to the dish, making them perfect for everyone in your family to enjoy.
9. Olive Oil and Lemon Zucchini Cookies
Make one of the best snacks a little healthier by adding zucchini into these olive oil and lemon zucchini cookies. They have a soft texture thanks to the addition of the zucchini, and they are perfect for serving during the spring and summer months.
10. Zucchini And Quinoa Vegetarian Enchiladas
Lighten up your next Mexican night with these zucchini and quinoa vegetarian enchiladas. They are perfect for a quick midweek dinner, and your whole family will absolutely adore them. The dish is rich in fiber and plant-based protein, so they’ll keep your family feeling full for longer.
11. Italian Minestrone Soup
With the winter fast approaching, we highly recommend you give this easy Italian minestrone soup recipe a try. It’s one of the best ideas on this list of zucchini recipes, and it’s packed with vegetables and flavor. You can serve it for lunch or dinner during the cold winter, and it would be great with a chunk of fresh, crusty bread.
12. Greek Gyro Skillet
This quick and easy recipe is made in just one pot, which saves time and energy washing up after cooking. While this Greek gyro skillet uses lamb in the mixture, you can replace this with another protein source if you find the flavor too strong.
13. Grilled Veggie Quesadilla
If you are looking for a new summer dinner involving zucchinis, we love this grilled veggie quesadilla recipe. It’s made with plenty of simple vegetables, which are tossed in olive oil and topped with goat cheese and homemade pesto.
14. Southwest Chicken Skillet
Just because you are cooking with meat, it doesn’t mean you can’t add plenty of zucchini to this dish. This southwest chicken skillet is full of different flavors and will make a great weekday dinner in the cold winter months.
15. Pork Kabobs With Balsamic BBQ Sauce
Mix up your BBQ dishes this summer with these pork kabobs with balsamic BBQ sauce. Not only are these some of the easiest grilled zucchini recipes on the list, but they are also super nutritious. They have an Italian flair and include pork loin, fresh vegetables, and sausage.
16. Greek Zucchini & Potato Casserole
Casserole is one of the best dishes to serve your family during the winter months. This Greek zucchini and potato casserole dish combines hearty zucchini and potato and will please your whole family. While some of these zucchini recipes are time-consuming, the best thing about this dish is that it requires just 15 minutes to prepare, so you won’t spend all night in the kitchen.
17. Mahi Mahi With Poblano Red Onion Sauté And Zucchini Risotto
As we mentioned, zucchini can be used as a replacement for your classic carbohydrate-rich dishes. This Mahi Mahi is served with zucchini risotto and would make the ideal dinner for your upcoming dinner party with family and friends.
18. Grilled Veggie Cobb Salad
You can’t go wrong with a Cobb salad at any time of the year. This grilled veggie Cobb salad uses zucchini and other grilled veggies, which are combined with eggs and a quick and easy herb vinaigrette.
19. Zucchini Corn Soup
Here we have another delicious warming soup with this zucchini corn soup. It’s a plant-based dish that’s made with corn and zucchini and is lightly spiced but still rich in flavor.
20. Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
When you are short of time, the air fryer is one of the best tools for quick meals and snacks. These air fryer zucchini fritters are crunchy on the outside but are still perfectly tender inside. They’ll take less than ten minutes to cook, so you’ll return to this dish over and over again.
21. Eggplant Zucchini Lasagna
For anyone who is following a low-carb diet, you’ll love this eggplant zucchini lasagna. It will give you a double dose of vegetables in one dish while still enjoying that delicious homemade lasagne taste.
22. Zucchini Slice
When you are looking for new savory zucchini recipes, try out this classic Australian zucchini slice. It’s great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and is ideal for those days where you are looking to enjoy something quite plain and simple.
23. Zucchini Slice with Bacon and Carrot
Although we love the dish we shared above, this recipe takes the zucchini slice one step further. When you try this zucchini slice with bacon and carrot, you’ll find that you have a new go-to quick dinner or breakfast, which will impress anyone who tries it.
24. Sauteed Everything Bagel Zucchini with Parmesan
If you are sick and tired of working from home, you’ll love this sauteed everything bagel zucchini with parmesan for a quick lunch. It will be the perfect pick me up during a long day at work and will keep you going until the end of the working day.
25. Lemony Baked Zucchini Curly Fries with Parmesan & Herbs
The next time you are serving burgers to your family, create these healthier lemony baked zucchini curly fries for your side dish. Thanks to the addition of parmesan and herbs, you’ll find that this is one of those delicious zucchini recipes that has plenty of flavor and the perfect amount of crunch.
26. Lemon Butter Risotto with Zucchini
We love serving risotto during dinner parties with family and friends. This lemon butter risotto with zucchini can be served with your favorite fish dishes, such as seared scallops or shrimp.
27. Easy Cheesy Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
These easy cheesy taco stuffed zucchini boats are an ideal healthy dish for your next taco night. You’ll easily sneak in extra vegetables to your family’s dinner, and you can add all of your favorite toppings as you would with your usual taco recipes.
28. Asian Sesame Zucchini Noodles
This Asian sesame zucchini noodles recipe is a great example of using zucchini instead of typical noodles. You’ll find this to be a light and healthy dish to enjoy for dinner or lunch, and it would be great to serve with a light fish or chicken dish.
29. Garlic Parmesan Sauteed Zucchini
Zucchini is the ideal side dish to serve with any of your favorite meat or vegetarian dishes. This garlic parmesan sauteed zucchini is packed with flavor and will go great with your favorite dinner when you don’t have much time to spare.
30. Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna Spirals
While lasagna is a dish that’s typically associated with meat, this vegetarian zucchini lasagna spirals recipe shows that veggie-based dishes can be just as delicious. It’s packed with spinach, marinara sauce, and ricotta and is gluten-free, grain-free, and low-carb.
31. Crustless Zucchini Quiche
Quiche is one of those classic dishes which you can serve for lunch whenever you have guests over to your home. This crustless zucchini quiche will literally melt in your mouth and is ideal for anyone who likes to meal prep for the week ahead.
32. Pad Thai Zucchini Noodles
Zucchini is a versatile squash that can be used in any type of cuisine. You’ll replace standard noodles in this pad Thai zucchini noodles recipe, which will impress anyone in your family which you serve it to.
33. Mediterranean Zucchini Noodles
This Mediterranean zucchini noodles dish uses a made-from-scratch peanut sauce. It’s packed with flavor yet is light and healthy to eat. The recipe makes a low-carb dish, so it’s ideal for anyone looking to cut back on noodles and pasta.
34. Zucchini Latkes
This Hannukah, you can replace your typical potatoes with zucchini in these zucchini latkes. The recipe makes about 24 latkes, so this is one of those zucchini recipes that would be ideal for serving to your whole family when you gather together.
35. Fish and Zucchini Tacos
On your next taco Tuesday, try out this quick and easy fish and zucchini tacos recipe. It’s a healthier option than a fried fish taco and can be served with salsa or guacamole to complete the dish.
36. Zucchini Spaghetti with Pesto Sauce
As well as noodles, spaghetti can be replaced with zucchini. This zucchini spaghetti with pesto sauce has a rich sauce that perfectly complements the zucchini and makes a light yet filling dinner for any night of the week.
37. Zucchini Lasagna
This zucchini lasagna is another great dish that your whole family will enjoy. We were impressed to learn that it has just 318 calories per large slice, so you’ll enjoy classic comfort food without the guilt.
38. Sweet and Silty Zucchini Bread Cookies
Your leftover zucchini will go to good use when combined with the other ingredients that make these sweet and salty zucchini bread cookies. You’ll add broken pretzels and chopped peanuts, which will add more of a savory taste to these healthier cookies.
39. Lemony Zucchini, Fresh Garlic, and Parmesan Pizza
You might be surprised to learn that zucchini would be great on top of a pizza. We love the fresh taste of this zucchini and parmesan pizza, which combines lemon, garlic, and parmesan for a lighter pizza than the usual options on the menu.
40. Crispy Baked Zucchini Chips
When your party guests first arrive, it’s always nice to have some fresh snacks ready for them to enjoy. These crispy baked zucchini chips are a little more guilt-free than your traditional chips, and you can make them within just a short time in your kitchen.
41. Veggie Tomato Zucchini Soup
Mix up your usual tomato soup lunch with this veggie tomato zucchini soup. It’s ideal for the cold winter months that are approaching and would be delicious with fresh homemade bread. We particularly appreciate that this dish is vegan-friendly, so it’s ideal for everyone in your family.
42. Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
If you are looking for a lighter dish than your usual tacos, we recommend trying out these healthy chicken lettuce wraps. They are packed with healthy ingredients, such as zucchini, cashews, and a light teriyaki sauce. You can either serve them alone or over cauliflower rice for a complete meal.
43. Corn and Herb-Stuffed Zucchini
Zucchini is the ideal size and shape to be the base of these corn and herb-stuffed zucchini. You’ll need just twenty minutes to prepare this dish, so you’ll have a summer appetizer ready to serve in no time at all.
44. Pasta with Sautéed Peppers, Zucchini, and Smoked Mozzarella
You can’t go wrong with this pasta with sautéed peppers, zucchini, and smoked mozzarella, which takes just thirty minutes in total to cook and prepare. You’ll find this to be a simple and healthy choice off this list of zucchini recipes and an ideal summer pasta dish, as it’s a little bit lighter than some of the meat pasta dishes which you might usually serve.
45. Cream of Zucchini Soup
Zucchini plays the leading role in this cream of zucchini soup. You only need five ingredients to make this dish, so you’ll be surprised by how quick and easy it is to make after a busy day at work.
46. Mushroom and Zucchini Make-Ahead Quiche
When you have guests coming around for lunch, you no doubt want to prepare ahead of time. This mushroom and zucchini make-ahead quiche can be served either warm or at room temperature, so you can make it the night before if you are short of time.
47. Baked Zucchini Fries With Pesto Yogurt Dipping Sauce Recipe
If you’ve overdosed on French fries recently, switch things up with these baked zucchini fries. They’re served with a pesto yogurt dipping sauce, which you’ll find to be a fresh dip to serve this side dish with.
48. Chicken Zucchini Casserole
This low-carb dish uses zucchini noodles to make a healthier version of a chicken zucchini casserole. You’ll combine layers of cooked chicken with a healthy sauce to create a dish that’s packed with vegetables, protein, and fiber.
49. Marinated Squash Tart
When you are planning a brunch for your family this summer, try out this beautiful marinated squash tart. It is one of those zucchini recipes that will be the perfect centerpiece for your dinner table and will impress anyone you invite to your home.
50. Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini
With just one pan and thirty minutes, you’ll have this Tex Mex chicken and zucchini dinner ready to serve. It combines tomatoes, corn, black beans, and melted cheese for a dinner that’s low-carb yet packed with flavor.
Zucchini Recipes FAQs
Is Zucchini Easy to Digest?
Zucchini is considered to be one of the easiest to digest vegetables. It’s very similar to cucumber in this manner, so it is suitable for anyone who struggles to digest certain foods.
What Are Some of the Best Ways To Cook the Vegetable in Zucchini Recipes?
Zucchini can be prepared in so many different ways, which is why we love cooking with it so much. Grilled zucchini is one of the best options, thanks to its natural moisture and the sturdy texture of this vegetable. On top of that, you can try pan-fried zucchini, pureed zucchini, roasted zucchini, or raw zucchini. Learning how to make fried zucchini is another great option, and it’s a way of preparing zucchini that you’ll return to over and over again.
Can Dogs Eat Zucchini?
Plain zucchini is okay for your dog to eat either raw or cooked. However, avoid adding seasoning or oil to the dish before serving it to them.
How Many Calories are in Zucchini?
Zucchini has just 17 calories per 100 grams, making it a very low calories solution for anyone watching their calorie intake. As far as how many carbs are in zucchini, it has just 3 grams per 100 grams.
Should You Peel Zucchini Before Eating It?
Although it might be tempting to peel zucchini before eating it, there’s absolutely no need to for most recipes. Of course, check out the instructions of the zucchini recipes you are following to see what is suggested for the dish you are cooking.
Can You Freeze Zucchini?
Yes, you can freeze zucchini. If you’ve been wondering how to freeze zucchini, you can either wash and slice it up and boil or cook it or grate it and freeze it raw. This will save you time in the future when cooking with zucchini while also ensuring your fresh produce doesn’t go to waste.
Why Does the Vegetable Sometimes Taste Bitter in Zucchini Recipes?
A bitter taste from zucchini is a very common issue. The reason for this is that it’s sometimes grown and at a too hot or cool temperature or may not have received enough water. A lack of nutrients or pest infestation may also be to blame, which may leave your zucchini tasting bitter.
Can You Eat Zucchini Raw?
Zucchini is generally safe to eat raw, but you may find it tastes more bitter when served this way. This is due to high levels of cucurbitacin, but this is less likely to be an issue in store-bought zucchini.
What Can Zucchini Replace In My Regular Diet?
For anyone who is switching over to a vegan or vegetarian diet, you’ll find that zucchini can replace many of your previous dishes. Many people use zucchini instead of pasta, and it’s a great option for a low-carb dinner. You could also replace potatoes with zucchini, as it can be prepared in many ways similar to potatoes.
As you can see, zucchini is one of the most versatile ingredients for your lunches and dinners. We highly recommend adding zucchini into your meals more often, as it’s an incredibly nutritious food. By experimenting with the zucchini recipe ideas we shared above, you’ll find some new ways to use this vegetable and impress your whole family at the same time.
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