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    Home » Pasta

    Zucchini Pasta

    Published: Mar 10, 2023 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    You can make it with grated zucchini, fresh herbs, lemon zest, parmesan cheese, and a dollop of creamy greek or non-dairy yogurt.

    Zucchini Pasta in a bowl with fork
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • More Zucchini Recipes
    • More Easy Pasta
    • Recipe

    Check out our best pasta recipe collection!

    Our zucchini pasta is pasta with zucchini, not zucchini noodles or zoodles. This pasta dish is easy; you can make it in one pot with little effort.

    This recipe is a great way to eat more vegetables without realizing it.

    We first sauté the zucchini for 5 minutes with olive oil, onion, garlic, and herbs to make them flavorful.

    Then we add the pasta and vegetable broth. The grated zucchini melt into a creamy sauce that hugs the pasta, making it super creamy and delicious.

    We finish the dish with grated parmesan cheese and a dollop of greek yogurt for extra creaminess (substitute dairy-free cheese and yogurt to make it without dairy).

    The dish comes together in about 20 minutes; it's nutritious, creamy, and fulfilling, yet light, fresh, and zesty.

    Zucchini Pasta with pine nuts and basil

    Ingredients

    Zucchini pasta ingredients

    Zucchini

    We make this recipe with green zucchini, but any other type would work.

    For example, try globe zucchini, yellow crookneck, yellow squash, yellow zucchini, and grey zucchini.

    Pasta

    Use a short pasta type such as rotini, fusilli, penne, rigatoni, or other.

    Choose Italian pasta with 100% semolina (durum wheat) and water.

    We have not tried this recipe with gluten-free pasta, but it should work fine.

    Olive oil

    We use extra virgin olive oil to fry the onion and garlic and make a tasty flavor base for the zucchini.

    Onion and Garlic

    We use a medium size yellow or white onion and fresh garlic.

    Fresh herbs

    We recommend using fresh oregano and basil. They are an excellent flavor match with zucchini.

    You can also use lemon thyme, thyme, and mint.

    Vegetable broth

    We use vegetable broth instead of water to cook this zucchini pasta recipe and add more flavor.

    You can use reduced-sodium vegetable broth if you prefer.

    Salt and pepper

    Add some salt to make this dish taste great. We generally use sea salt or kosher salt.

    Freshly ground black pepper adds a pleasant aroma. If you like this dish spicier, add red pepper flakes.

    Lemon zest

    Add grated lemon zest right before serving the pasta. You can also add some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

    Parmesan & Yogurt

    Finish this recipe by adding a handful of grated parmigiano reggiano or pecorino romano and a couple of dollops of greek yogurt for added umami and creaminess.

    For vegans, you can substitute non-dairy cheese and unsweetened non-dairy yogurt and add a couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast.

    Pine nuts

    Pine nuts are optional. We toast them on a pan for a few minutes and add them to garnish the dish.

    They add a pleasant toasted nutty flavor that goes wonderfully with the zucchini and basil.

    Zucchini Pasta with fresh basil leaves

    Instructions

    Grate the zucchini with the large holes of a box grater.

    grated zucchini

    Warm up the 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.

    Next, add the shredded zucchini, season them with salt and pepper, and cook on high heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Skillet with grated zucchini

    Add the 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.

    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. Cooking time varies between pasta shapes. Therefore, the longer the cooking time, the more liquid is required.

    pasta, zucchini and vegetable broth

    When the pasta is creamy and al dente, turn the heat off, taste, and adjust for salt.

    Next, add grated parmesan cheese (or dairy-free cheese), greek yogurt (or non-dairy yogurt), and a handful of chopped fresh basil.

    yogurt, parmesan cheese and zucchini pasta

    Stir gently until cheese and yogurt melt into the zucchini pasta.

    Zucchini Pasta ready to serve

    Serve immediately with grated lemon zest and optionally toasted pine nuts.

    Zucchini Pasta with a fork

    Variations

    Zucchini Pesto Pasta

    Love zucchini and pasta together? Then you've got to try our zucchini pesto. To make this variation, boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water as instructed on the package.

    Drain the pasta, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, and add the pasta to a large bowl.

    Add a few tablespoons of zucchini pesto and toss the pasta until thoroughly combined. If necessary, add a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water.

    Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and serve immediately.

    vegan zucchini pesto with pasta
    Farfalle with zucchini pesto.

    Sautéed Zucchini Pasta

    To make this delicious zucchini pasta dish, you must sauté some zucchini first. Here's a quick recipe on how to sauté zucchini.

    Blend half of your sautéed zucchini with 2 to 3 tablespoons of pasta cooking water until you get a smooth zucchini pasta sauce.

    Transfer the zucchini sauce back into the pan with the remaining sautéed zucchini.

    zucchini cream and pan fried zucchini

    Add in the pasta cooked al dente (we recommend spaghetti for this recipe), a ladleful of pasta cooking water, and finish cooking on medium heat, stirring often, for about 1 minute.

    Serve with some extra virgin olive oil on top and fresh basil leaves.

    pasta with sautéed zucchini
    Spaghetti with sautéed zucchini and zucchini sauce.

    Serving Suggestions

    Pasta with zucchini is a fulfilling, nutritious main course you can serve alone or with a light salad on the side.

    Pair it with any of these fresh sides for added greens:

    • Cucumber tomato salad (heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, basil, red onion, olive oil, etc.)
    • Panzanella salad (bread, fresh basil, red onion, vine tomatoes, lettuce, vinegar, etc.)
    • Chickpea salad (canned chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, avocado, corn, cucumber, etc.)
    • Fennel orange salad (orange wedges, black olives, pine nuts, pomegranate seeds, etc.)
    • Bruschetta with fresh tomato (bread, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, garlic, fresh basil, etc.)
    • Crostini with veggie toppings (bread, olive oil, tapenade, basil pesto, grilled vegetables, etc.)
    • chickpea salad
      Chickpea Salad
    • Cucumber tomato salad
      Cucumber Tomato Salad
    • Fennel salad in a bowl
      Fennel and Orange Salad
    • Panzanella
      Panzanella

    Or get more veggies on the table by pairing the pasta with these vegetable sides.

    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.

    More Zucchini Recipes

    Zucchini is great for a variety of savory and sweet recipes:

    • Zucchini boats (lentils, onion, garlic, walnuts, crushed tomatoes, soy sauce, etc.)
    • Raw zucchini salad (shaved zucchini, cherry tomatoes, lemon, mint, basil, pine nuts, etc.)
    • Roasted zucchini (breadcrumbs, dried thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, olive oil, etc.)
    • Sautéed zucchini (red onion, olive oil, garlic, dried oregano, lemon, parsley, etc.)
    • Easy zucchini muffins (almond milk, sugar, cinnamon, walnuts, chocolate chips, etc.)
    • Vegan zucchini bread (vanilla extract, flour, walnuts, chocolate chips, plant milk, sugar, etc.)
    • zucchini salad
      Zucchini Salad
    • zucchini boats
      Zucchini Boats
    • vegan zucchini bread slices
      Vegan Zucchini Bread
    • Roasted zucchini with lemon
      Roasted Zucchini

    Or check out any of these zucchini recipes and get inspiration for using those surplus zucchini.

    More Easy Pasta

    Get more weeknight-friendly dinner ideas with these easy and quick pasta recipes:

    • Broccoli pasta (broccoli, red pepper flakes, orecchiette pasta, garlic, etc.)
    • Artichoke pasta (jarred artichokes, green olives, pine nuts, mint, lemon, etc.)
    • Asparagus pasta (bowtie pasta, lemon, garlic, asparagus, basil, parmesan or vegan cheese, etc.)
    • Red pepper pasta (jarred bell pepper, almonds, tomatoes, parsley, garlic, etc.)
    • Hummus pasta (hummus, sauteed mushroom, rigatoni pasta, parsley, garlic, etc.)
    • Asparagus pasta in a white bowl with asparagus tips
      Asparagus Pasta
    • Artichoke pasta in a white bowl
      Artichoke Pasta
    • broccoli pasta with fork
      Broccoli Pasta
    • roasted red pepper pasta
      Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

    For many more pasta ideas, check out our pasta category page.

    Recipe

    Zucchini pasta with pine nuts and fork

    Zucchini Pasta

    Author: Nico
    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.
    You can make it with grated zucchini, fresh herbs, lemon zest, parmesan cheese, and a dollop of creamy greek or non-dairy yogurt.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 3 votes
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 528 kcal

    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.
      6 cups (27 oz) zucchini
      grated zucchini
    • 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.
      ½ cup parmesan cheese, ½ cup greek yogurt, ¼ packed cup basil leaves
      yogurt, parmesan cheese and zucchini pasta
    • Stir gently until cheese and yogurt melt into the zucchini pasta.
      Zucchini Pasta ready to serve
    • Serve immediately with grated lemon zest and optionally toasted pine nuts.
      1 medium lemon, 2 tablespoons pinenuts
      Zucchini Pasta with a fork

    Notes

    Nutritional information is an estimate for 1 large serving of zucchini pasta out of 4 servings.
    VARIATIONS
    Check out the "variation" chapter above for more zucchini pasta ideas.
    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.
     

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Zucchini Pasta
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 528 Calories from Fat 144
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 16g25%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
    Monounsaturated Fat 7g
    Cholesterol 12mg4%
    Potassium 683mg20%
    Carbohydrates 77g26%
    Dietary Fiber 6g25%
    Sugar 8g9%
    Protein 21g42%
    Vitamin A 398IU8%
    Vitamin B6 0.4mg20%
    Vitamin C 39mg47%
    Vitamin E 2mg13%
    Vitamin K 20µg19%
    Calcium 208mg21%
    Folate 56µg14%
    Iron 3mg17%
    Manganese 2mg100%
    Magnesium 94mg24%
    Zinc 3mg20%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this zucchini pasta, you might also enjoy the following:

    • 20 Easy Zucchini Recipes
    • Tasty vegetarian meal ideas
      30 Tasty Vegetarian Recipes
    • Vegan Pasta Recipes such as pomodoro and vegan carbonara
      40 Vegan Pasta Recipes
    « 65 Vegan Italian Recipes
    Vegan Carrot Cake »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joe Silva

      December 11, 2022 at 12:38 am

      5 stars
      Made this. It was excellent. My wife loved it too! The lemon zest on top was brilliant. Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply
      • Louise

        December 11, 2022 at 5:50 am

        Hi Joe, thanks so much for coming back to leave a comment. We're delighted that you and your wife liked the pasta. Have a great rest of your weekend. Kindest, Louise

        Reply

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