Head to the farmersโ market, grocery store, or your own garden and gather all the zucchini! Iโm sharing my most-loved zucchini recipes, and youโll find several for every meal and occasion here. Enjoy summerโs favorite vegetable in an easy frittata for breakfast, on zucchini & herbed ricotta flatbread for lunch or dinner, and zucchini oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
Dare I say that zucchini is the most underrated ingredient to grace our kitchens? ๐
Sweet & Savory Zucchini Recipe Ideas
Have a surplus of zucchini on your hands and wondering how to use it all?
This totally unassuming green squash is one powerhouse (and versatile!) ingredient to incorporate in recipesโboth sweet and savory. Since itโs mostly water, it adds unparalleled moisture in baked goods, just like carrots in carrot cake. Tasters NEVER realize itโs hiding inside, eitherโin fact, you canโt even detect it in this chocolate zucchini bread or peanut butter chocolate chip zucchini bread.
My chocolate zucchini cake is a consistent reader favorite, especially during the summer months when zucchini is in season. The cake uses a whopping 3 cups of zucchini, and I guarantee itโs the most indulgent way to eat your vegetables!
And I know you wonโt turn down a batch of zucchini muffins or zucchini bread. Both freeze wonderfully for an easy breakfast or snack option, too.
When it comes to savory recipes, there are virtually endless ways to utilize zucchini. Spiralize it to make zucchini noodles for chicken meatballs or bruschetta chicken. Slice and bake it in my cheesy zucchini casserole, or shred it for these stovetop zucchini fritters. And donโt forget about my savory zucchini biscuits! A box grater actually comes in handy for many zucchini recipes.
Itโs really easy. Shred the zucchini and then squeeze out as much moisture as you can with paper towels or a clean kitchen linen. Spoon in a zipped-top bag and then flatten out, which makes thawing quicker. Freeze up to 3-4 months. Thaw, then blot dry if itโs super liquid-y. Use in any recipe that calls for shredded zucchini.
Zucchini is also fantastic roasted in the oven with a little garlic and lemon. I LOVE preparing it this way, and I share the recipe details below. Top with some freshly grated parmesan cheeseโฆ so good!
Here are 20 favorite zucchini recipes to try the next time youโre looking for a way to use this MVVโฆ
Most Valuable Veggie, of course.
20 of My Best Zucchini Recipes
Favorite Zucchini Bread
This flavorful and moist zucchini bread recipe has been a family favorite for years and itโs incredibly easy to prepareโno mixer required.
Zucchini Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
This cake and frosting combo is pure perfection, with each cinnamon-kissed bite of zucchini cake nestled under a blanket of brown butter cream cheese frosting.
Simply Zucchini Muffins
Youโll love these easy zucchini muffins because they pack a lot of wholesome flavor and only require about 30 minutes from start to finish.
Easy Zucchini Casserole Recipe
Bursting with oregano, thyme, basil, and garlic, this simple vegetable side dish bakes in 30 minutes and doesnโt require any pre-cooking.
Cream Cheese Zucchini Muffins
These soft cream cheese zucchini muffins are deliciously spiced with cinnamon and stuffed with a cheesecake-style filling.
Zucchini Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Zucchini oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are extra soft with chewy centers and crisp edges and phenomenal flavor in every bite.
Zucchini Crumb Cake
This zucchini crumb cake is cinnamon-spiced, packed with zucchini for unbeatable moisture, and finished with a buttery brown sugar crumb topping and velvety vanilla icing.
Garden Vegetable Frittata Recipe
This frittata recipe will be your new go-to for a healthy egg-based dish you can serve and enjoy any time of dayโmy favorite version is loaded with zucchini, sweet potato, and bell peppers.
Bruschetta Chicken with Zucchini Noodles
This 1-pan bruschetta chicken with zucchini noodles is healthy, delicious, and so easy to makeโitโs sure to earn a spot in your summertime weeknight dinner rotation.
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Chocolate zucchini cake is unapologetically rich, decadent, and moist, thanks to shredded zucchini in the batter.
Zucchini & Herbed Ricotta Flatbread
My favorite topping combination for a summertime flatbread is sliced zucchini, herbed ricotta, roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil.
Greek Yogurt Zucchini Bread
Easy and wholesome Greek yogurt zucchini bread comes together without any refined sugar, and with plenty of yogurt for extra moisture.
Zucchini Fritters (GF)
Flavored with garlic and fresh herbs, these savory little fritters cook quickly on the stove and are welcome at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
This is my super chocolatey, extra indulgent take on classic zucchini bread!
Roasted Vegetable Whole Wheat Pizza
My whole wheat pizza dough is the perfect base for a summery roasted vegetable pizza featuring your bounty of zucchini.
Peanut Chicken Zucchini Noodles
This flavorful peanut chicken zucchini noodles dish is a healthier dinner that has lean protein, plenty of vegetables, and a delectable savory peanut sauce.
Thick & Hearty Minestrone Soup
Zucchini joins many other colorful vegetables in this thick and hearty minestrone soup recipe.
Crustless Veggie Quiche
This is a lightened-up, healthy crustless quiche recipe that packs a heavy flavor punch with tons of zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper, and cheese in each and every bite.
Zucchini & Sweet Potato Fritters
These savory stovetop cakes combine zucchini, sweet potato, onion, garlic, and plenty of fresh herbs to bring you a flavorful vegetarian meal or side dish.
Chicken Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
Packed with flavor, baked, and then brushed with a lemony garlic herb butter, these pair perfectly with zucchini noodles. (Thereโs plenty of sauce to use up!)
Roasted Lemon Garlic Zucchini
If you find yourself with about 1 and 1/2 pounds of zucchini lying around (not hard to doโฆ about 3โ4 medium zucchini!), try roasting it with lemon, garlic, and oregano, and finish it with some fresh parmesan. We gobble it up this way because itโs extremely flavorful and pairs with a variety of main dishes. Itโs also pretty tender, without being mushy as long as you cut the zucchini thick enough.
Above all, I love it because itโs extremely quick and easy; and sometimes (ok, most of the time) I donโt want to spend more than 10 minutes prepping a side dish!
Favorite Zucchini Recipes: Roasted Lemon Garlic Zucchini
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: serves 6
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Combine fresh lemon and garlic, dried oregano, and parmesan cheese to make ultra-flavorful roasted zucchini. Itโs deliciously tender without tasting mushy, and pairs with a variety of main dishes like creamy lemon thyme chicken, crab cakes, and slow cooker turkey meatballs.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds (about 680g) zucchini (about 3โ4 medium)
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning blend)
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup (30g) freshly grated or shredded parmesan cheese
- optional for garnish: sprinkle of lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and/or fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ยฐF (218ยฐC). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Slice zucchini into 1/2-inch-thick slices and then halve each slice.
- In a large bowl, combine zucchini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle half of the parmesan evenly on top. Return pan to the oven for 3โ5 more minutes, until the zucchini is fork-tender without being too soft and mushy.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Feel free to serve with optional lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and/or fresh parsley garnishes on top.
- Cover leftovers tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat as desired.
Notes
- I do not recommend freezing this roasted zucchini because it becomes quite soggy when thawing.
- Herbs: You can substitute Italian seasoning blend for the oregano, or use the same amount of dried thyme, rosemary, or basil. You can also substitute 2 teaspoons of fresh oregano, thyme, rosemary, or basil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 254 mg
- Fat: 3.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.3 g
- Protein: 4.4 g
- Cholesterol: 2.4 mg
Reader Comments and Reviews
I love all the Zucchini breads/cakes you are giving sharing with us. I love all your tips to bake/ cook with success. You are adorable & very kind
teacher/mentor. I love you Maestra Sally!
Thanks for all the recipes. I harvested 13 zucchini from my garden yesterday!
Can i make zucchini pasta without the machine. Can i use a grater or something?
Hi Luci! A vegetable spiralizer is really best for making zucchini noodle โzoodlesโ. You can try shredding, cutting thin strips, or using a peeler to make thin strips, but results will vary!
I saw all your recipes that included zucchini pasta but could not find the recipe for the pasta? Is it possible for you to send me the recipe?
Hi Linda! We usually use spiraled zucchini, cooked in a little oil and seasoning. You can find instructions with our bruschetta chicken recipe!
The lemon and garlic zucchini is superb! Maybe I should double the recipe next time because somehow we ate almost all of it at once! Great recipe. I love the zucchini muffins too!
Do you have recommendations on how to freeze shredded zucchini for making bread, muffins, cake this fall winter? I could fit some zucchini in my freezer, but not all the baked goods.
Hi Brenda, I should definitely add my โmethodโ to this post. Itโs really easy, I usually shred the zucchini and then squeeze out as much moisture as I can with paper towels or a clean kitchen linen. Spoon in a zipped-top bag and then flatten out, which makes thawing quicker. Freeze up to 3-4 months. Thaw, blot dry if itโs super liquid-y, then use in a recipe.