Welcome to our collection of 27 zucchini recipes that show the versatility of this green summer squash in savory and sweet meals (breakfast as well as dinner ideas).

You might also like our eggplant recipes, chickpea recipes, and lentil recipes.

Recipes with zucchini.

Zucchini is a wonderful veggie; light, fresh, and super versatile.

Louise and I love cooking with zucchini; raw, cooked, baked, and even blended. It fits into many meals and adds a nice texture and taste.

In this roundup, you’ll find 27 easy zucchini recipes. There are quick lunches, easy salad recipes, quick pasta ideas, cozy grain bowls, and even sweet treats like muffins and cakes.

Zucchini helps make baked goods soft and moist, and it fits right into everyday meals without any fuss (breakfast and dessert included) 😛.

Each recipe is made to be simple and approachable, whether you’re cooking on a busy weeknight or relaxing on the weekend. No fancy tools needed.

Savory zucchini recipes

1. Roasted Zucchini

roasted zucchini with breadcrumbs

The first recipe on our list is Italian roasted zucchini; a quick side dish and vegetarian appetizer idea.

2. Fried zucchini

Fried zucchini on a platter with a lemon wedge

Perfectly crispy, juicy, and salty, fried zucchini is best served on a platter with marinara saucechipotle dip, or tzatziki sauce.

3. Stuffed zucchini

Stuffed zucchini with ricotta.

Try this stuffed zucchini filling of creamy ricotta, savory sundried tomatoes, and crispy breadcrumbs.

4. Air fryer zucchini

Air fryer zucchini on a plate

Super easy and with reduced oil, this air fryer zucchini recipe is an excellent side dish for pasta, salads, and protein-rich meals.

5. Zucchini boats

zucchini boats.

These healthy zucchini boats have a nutritious mix of cooked lentils, Italian herbs, and canned tomatoes.

6. Zucchini soup

Zucchini soup recipe.

If you love zucchini, you will love this velvety, creamy zucchini soup, especially if topped with croutons or white beans.

7. Zucchini pasta

Zucchini pasta recipe.

Vegan or vegetarian, this light zucchini pasta is excellent for cookouts and potlucks.

8. Sautèed zucchini

sauteed zucchini on a plate

Use this sauteed zucchini in pasta or risotto, frittata, or on pizza. You’ll learn to cook zucchini in a pan in about 10 minutes.

9. Grilled zucchini

grilled zucchini on white plate

Grilled zucchini is a great way to enjoy this healthy vegetable on a warm summer evening.

10. Zucchini salad

zucchini salad served on hummus

To make this vibrant salad, marinate raw zucchini in lemon juice, fresh herbs, and extra virgin olive oil.

11. Easy zucchini fritters

Zucchini fritters with flaky sea salt

These wholesome zucchini fritters are nutritious and boast an aromatic taste that the whole family will love.

12. Zucchini pesto

zucchini pesto.

Zucchini pesto is a delicious, light, and creamy sauce you can make in 5 minutes with simple ingredients.

13. Zucchini risotto

zucchini risotto on a white plate

This zucchini risotto is fresh, light, and an excellent dinner idea for spring and summer.

14. Focaccia sandwich

Focaccia sandwich with a hand

This no-knead focaccia with grilled zucchini is one of the best ways to bring zucchini to your lunchbox meal.

15. Zucchini pie

zucchini pie recipe on a plate

This vegan zucchini pie with a delicious crust hugs an eggy, cheesy zucchini filling. Make the pie crust yourself, or buy it ready-made for a quick pie recipe.

16. Baked parmesan zucchini

Baked parmesan zucchini

Baked parmesan zucchini is a quick and easy appetizer or side dish made with olive oil, dried herbs, salt, black pepper, and grated parmesan.

17. Vegetable couscous

couscous with vegetables served in a large bowl

Couscous with sauteed vegetables is a healthy and tasty way of enjoying a Mediterranean diet recipe.

18. Vegan frittata

vegan frittata with zucchini

It made this egg-free frittata with a soft, delicious crust that hugs a vegan cheesy zucchini filling.

19. Tofu soup

tofu soup recipe with white spoon

Zucchini is a healthy addition to soups and adds a refreshing spin to this 20-minute tofu recipe.

20. Fregola pasta

Creamy fregola in a bowl with a hand

Here, we’ll show you how to cook it in one pot in 30 minutes with mixed vegetables, broth, herbs, and cheese for an easy, creamy, and protein-rich meal.

21. Mediterranean farro salad

mediterranean farro salad

If you have leftover zucchini and veggies in your fridge, try making this vegetablepacked farro salad,

22. Barley salad

Barley salad on a platter with a side of hummus

The following zucchini recipe is a simple, quick, healthy lunch idea: Mediterranean barley salad.

23. Pasta primavera

Creamy pasta primavera.

Zucchini dessert recipes

24. Zucchini muffins

Zucchini muffins with a moist and tender crumb.

You’ll love zucchini muffins because they are soft, moist, and tasty. This recipe is easy to make in 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

25. Chocolate chip zucchini bread

Chocolate chip zucchini bread.

This recipe balances healthy and tasty with grated zucchini, walnuts, and chocolate chips.

26. Zucchini banana bread

Banana zucchini bread with chocolate chips

Do you have extra zucchini lying around your kitchen and have run out of ways of cooking them? This banana zucchini bread is a healthy vegan breakfast and brunch idea!

What goes well with Zucchini

Zucchini (sauteed, grilled, air-fried, baked) is a healthy side dish that pairs perfectly with most sauces and main dishes:

BBQ sauce with vegetables and a sausage

More tasty vegetable recipes

If you’re looking to increase your veggie intake, take a peek at these flavor-packed vegetable recipes:

If you tried these zucchini recipes or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!

Zucchini recipes.

27 Easy Zucchini Recipes

5 from 4 votes
Get green and fresh dinner inspiration from these easy and healthy zucchini recipes.
Zucchini pasta, as in pasta with zucchini, is a creamy and easy one-pot recipe to have as a tasty weeknight dinner for the whole family.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main
Cuisine: American Italian

Equipment

  • Box grater

Ingredients 

Main Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 6 cups (27 oz) zucchini grated with the large holes of a box grater
  • 1 teaspoon oregano or thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 ounces pasta rotini, fusilli, farfalle, penne, or other
  • 3 cups vegetable broth start with 2 cups or 500 g and add more if necessary
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated, or dairy-free cheese
  • ½ cup greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt
  • ¼ packed cup basil leaves

Garnish with

  • 1 medium lemon the grated zest
  • 2 tablespoons pinenuts

Instructions 

  • Grate the zucchini with the large holes of a box grater.
    Warm up olive oil in a large skillet, then add finely chopped onion and fry it for 3 minutes.
    Add grated garlic and fry for one more minute.
    Add the shredded zucchini, season them with salt and pepper, and cook on high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 yellow onion, 4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
    Skillet with grated zucchini
  • Add pasta, vegetable broth, and oregano, and cook on medium-low heat for about 10 to 12 minutes or until the pasta is creamy and al dente.
    1 teaspoon oregano, 12 ounces pasta, 3 cups vegetable broth
    pasta and grated zucchini in a skillet
  • Stir occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the dish.
    If the pot dries, add more liquid until the pasta is ready.
    pasta, zucchini and vegetable broth
  • Turn the heat off, taste, and adjust for salt.
    Add grated parmesan cheese (or dairy-free cheese), greek yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt), and a handful of chopped fresh basil.
    Stir gently until cheese and yogurt melt into the zucchini pasta.
    ½ cup parmesan cheese, ½ cup greek yogurt, ¼ packed cup basil leaves
    yogurt, parmesan cheese and zucchini pasta
  • Serve immediately with grated lemon zest and optionally toasted pine nuts.
    1 medium lemon, 2 tablespoons pinenuts
    Zucchini Pasta with a fork

Video

20-minute Zucchini Pasta

Notes

Nutritional information is an estimate for 1 large serving of zucchini pasta out of 4 servings.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Green zucchini: sub globe zucchini, yellow crookneck, yellow squash, grey zucchini, or other.
Pasta: you can use any pasta shape.
Extra virgin olive oil: sub another vegetable oil.
Oregano: sub dried oregano, fresh or dried thyme, or Italian seasoning.
Vegetable broth: sub water and more salt.
Parmesan: sub pecorino romano or a non-dairy cheese.
Greek yogurt: sub non-dairy yogurt, butter, or non-dairy butter.
Pine nuts: sub pistachios, chopped almonds, or walnuts.
MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
Make ahead: this one’s not a good recipe to make ahead as the pasta loses its oomph soon after it’s cooked.
Refrigerator: let the pasta cool down completely at room temperature, then transfer it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for two days.
Reheat: warm leftovers in the microwave. Do not reheat multiple times, as the pasta will overcook.
Freezer: this recipe is not suitable for freezing.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcal, Carbohydrates: 58g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 12mg, Potassium: 683mg, Dietary Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 398IU, Vitamin B6: 0.4mg, Vitamin C: 39mg, Vitamin E: 2mg, Vitamin K: 20µg, Calcium: 208mg, Folate: 56µg, Iron: 3mg, Manganese: 2mg, Magnesium: 94mg, Zinc: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or mention @theplantbasedschool on Instagram. We love hearing from you ⭐️ 💚.

Nico and Louise in front of the Consolazione church in Todi

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

We’re here to share delicious, easy, and healthy plant-based recipes (vegetarian & vegan) 🌿✨.

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5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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