I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite Recipes to Use Up Zucchini
Reviewed by Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia
There are a lot of reasons to love summer: the warmer weather, vacations, farmers' markets and more. But for me, my garden is one of the things I love most about the summertime. Anyone who has tried growing zucchini before probably knows just how prolific the plant can become. Whether you have a garden bounty to get through or you just picked up some at the farmers' market or grocery, these recipes are here to help.
Thanks to fun and tasty sides like our Marinated & Grilled Zucchini Planks or Caprese Zucchini Casserole, you can add zucchini to any meal. Or try out a delicious main like my go-to Zucchini Frittata or our Sheet-Pan Zucchini Pizza. And easy dishes like our 5-Ingredient Spaghetti with Zucchini & Parmesan are quick and delicious ways to use up a lot of this nutritious veg. For breakfast or dessert, there are sweet dishes like our classic Zucchini Bread and flavorful spinoffs like lemon-blueberry and chocolate. Summer is a wonderful time to up your fruit and vegetable intake, and these zucchini recipes will quickly become staples in your house (like they have in mine). For more beginner- and budget-friendly recipes, check out Thrifty.
Zucchini Frittata
A frittata, as a flat omelet is known in Italy, can be filled with a variety of vegetables and cheeses and makes a great impromptu brunch dish or supper. In this version, fresh mint and basil brighten the mild taste of zucchini. If you prefer, use feta or ricotta salata in place of the goat cheese.
Marinated & Grilled Zucchini Planks
These zucchini planks absorb the zesty marinade, then hit the grill for a smoky finish. Fresh herbs and briny feta cheese balance the flavor. This versatile side dish pairs well with grilled chicken, steak or fish.
Smashed Zucchini with Lime, Cotija & Cilantro
This smashed zucchini recipe is a great way to use up a bumper crop of fresh summer zucchini. Smashing the zucchini increases the surface area that absorbs the flavors of cilantro, cotija cheese and lime beautifully. If you can't find cotija cheese, feta cheese is a good substitute.
Sheet-Pan Zucchini Pizza
Fresh zucchini and lemon slices top this sheet-pan pizza. Whole lemon slices add bright flavor from the skin and rind as well as acidity from the flesh. Feta and fresh mozzarella cheese add a savory note and add balance to the rest of the flavors.
Blueberry-Lemon Zucchini Bread
This easy and healthy zucchini bread recipe is elevated to company-worthy brunch fare with the addition of fresh blueberries to the batter and a simple lemon glaze and toasted almonds on top. A combination of whole-wheat flour and oats in the batter make it more nutritious—and more interesting—than standard zucchini bread, too!
Caprese Zucchini Casserole
A summertime favorite—zucchini casserole—gets an Italian spin in this delicious and healthy side dish with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. You can use zucchini or summer squash in this caprese-style casserole, or a combination of the two. A sprinkling of fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar just before serving brightens up the flavors. Serve with grilled or roasted chicken and some quinoa, rice or couscous to soak up the juices from the casserole for a satisfying and easy dinner.
Zucchini & Corn Enchiladas
Skip rolling and just layer these quick and easy enchiladas. This recipe uses a quick blender sauce, but if you're short on time, pick up a can of your favorite red enchilada sauce in the international aisle of your grocery store—you'll need about 3 cups.
How to Make the Viral Creamy Oven-Roasted Zucchini & Summer Squash
This wonderfully creamy and tender oven-roasted zucchini and summer squash draws inspiration from Thomas Keller's viral zucchini recipe. The squash is scored, then roasted whole, allowing garlic to seep into the center while a crispy top forms in the pan. Enjoy it alongside roasted or grilled meat or fish. It's perfect as-is, but also tastes great topped with chopped tomato and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, pesto or romesco sauce.
Flourless Blender Zucchini Muffins
The batter for these healthy gluten-free zucchini muffins comes together in a flash in your blender. And these tasty treats are baked in a mini muffin tin, so they're the perfect snack or quick breakfast. The chocolate chips are an optional but excellent addition.
This Recipe for Parmesan-&-Herb-Crusted Zucchini Will Change Your Summer
This Parmesan-and-herb-crusted zucchini features a crispy crust of golden-brown baked cheese in every bite. This easy side dish is perfect paired with chicken, burgers or steak. To make it a stand-alone appetizer, using a toothpick, skewer each slice with a bocconcini (small mozzarella ball) and serve with marinara for dipping.
Quiche Lorraine with Zucchini Crust
Shredded zucchini acts as the crust in this recipe for healthier, low-carb quiche Lorraine—quiche with Jarlsberg cheese, bacon and scallions—a brunch classic.
Spiralized Zucchini & Summer Squash Casserole
If you don't have a spiralizer to make this healthy zucchini noodle casserole (aka zoodles), use a vegetable peeler to make long thin strips of the squash and zucchini, stopping when you reach the seedy center. Just a few minutes under the broiler gives these ricotta-and-basil-filled nests a light golden top.
5-Ingredient Spaghetti with Zucchini & Parmesan
This 5-ingredient dinner, not counting staples like salt, pepper and oil, is quick and easy to prepare. Enjoy it as is or jazz it up with crushed red pepper and chopped herbs. For a heartier dinner, add a can of white beans (rinsed) or some cooked chicken.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
This simple chocolate zucchini bread recipe is rich and chocolaty with pools of molten chocolate chips on top. The subtle sweetness makes it perfect for breakfast or snack served with vanilla Greek-style yogurt and raspberries.
Zucchini Lasagna Rolls with Smoked Mozzarella
This healthy riff on lasagna rolls uses strips of zucchini instead of lasagna noodles for a vegetable-packed dinner that's fun for the whole family. This is a great recipe for kids to help make—let them get their hands dirty rolling the zucchini ribbons with the cheesy filling. Use a vegetable peeler or mandoline to quickly slice the zucchini into uniform thin strips—this will ensure easy rolling and even cooking.
Zucchini Bread
Zucchini and cranberries star in this tender loaf that is sure to become your go-to bake. The liquid from the zucchini helps keep the loaf moist. The best part of this zucchini bread recipe? It only requires one bowl, so cleanup will be effortless.
