I love zucchini (especially in the summertime), so I’m excited to share a roundup of my favorite zucchini recipes from my blog!
Most of these recipes are savory recipes – mainly breakfast and dinner – but there are a couple sweet zucchini recipes included, too! And they’re all delicious, have no fear. 🙂
Nutritional Benefits of Zucchini
Zucchini is packed with Vitamins A, C, and B6 (which plays a big role in regulating blood glucose and preventing diabetes). It also contains potassium, along with many other minerals and antioxidants.
When is zucchini in season?
Zucchini is considered a summer squash, and is in season during the summer in the United States (from May through September). Although, you can often find it year-round!
Tips for Cooking With Zucchini
Here are a few helpful tips for making zucchini:
- To keep zucchini from getting soggy, slice it and sprinkle it with salt (not too much – just a tiny pinch). Let it sit in a colander and drain for half an hour. The salt will help draw out some excess moisture before cooking.
- Leave the zucchini’s skin on if possible. This is where a lot of the nutrition comes from – plus, it adds flavor!
- Zucchini can be sautéed, roasted, or even grilled. It also takes on flavors well, so add a little oil and your favorite flavors/seasonings, like garlic, lemon, parmesan, paprika, etc.! Just be careful not to add TOO much oil since zucchini does absorb oil quickly and you don’t want it to end up super greasy.
Best Healthy Zucchini Recipes
While sautéed zucchini is delicious, there are tons of other ways to enjoy this fabulous summer vegetable!
Here’s some mouth-watering recipe inspiration, from pasta dishes to soups, breakfast casseroles, and beyond, there are plenty of options to choose from. Or, make them all – you do you!
Breakfast Recipes & Desserts
Vegan Zucchini Muffins with Lemon
Bright lemon and zucchini pair so well together, so these lemon zucchini muffins are a must-try! They’re whole-wheat, veggie-packed, and packed with veggies – but you won’t be able to tell because they’re just that good.
This recipe has been on my blog for a decade at this point and it has always been a popular one!
Smoked Salmon Breakfast Casserole
Sautéed veggies (including zucchini, bell pepper, and mushrooms) come together with savory smoked salmon for an easy breakfast casserole that has some staying power thanks to the veggie volume.
This egg bake is great for any occasion, whether it’s a holiday brunch or a casual weekly meal prep. Plus, you can easily switch up the vegetables to match whatever you have on hand!
Sausage Burritos with Eggs & Veggies (Freezable!)
If you like to meal prep your breakfasts for the week ahead, these freeze-able breakfast burritos are perfect! They’re filling and nutrient dense, plus they’re super easy to make.
Just roast potatoes, zucchini, and anything else you have on hand, scramble some eggs, and fold them into tortillas. Then, wrap them up with foil and pop them in the freezer to reheat later!
Anytime I make these I end up being delighted to find them in the freezer later and thanking myself for planning ahead!
Zucchini Bread Almond Milk Ice Cream
Zucchini bread in ice cream form is the perfect summer dessert! It may seem a little different, but I promise it’s super tasty, with chocolate chips, oats, and chopped walnuts.
Plus, it’s dairy free and gluten free, so everyone can enjoy it!
Lunch & Dinner Recipes
Oven Roasted Zucchini and Squash
If you’re looking for a super simple and nutritious side dish for any meal, try this roasted zucchini and summer squash! It only requires a handful of ingredients, and the prep is quick and easy.
Plus, this baked zucchini recipe includes two flavor variations (parmesan garlic and lemon, thyme, and goat cheese) so you can easily switch things up! Who says veggies have to be boring?!
Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
Who doesn’t love a quick and easy, throw-together sheet pan meal?! These sheet pan shrimp fajitas are packed with veggies like zucchini and bell peppers, and are the ideal weeknight meal.
They come together so quickly, and are full of delicious flavor!
Ground Turkey Pasta with Tomato Garlic Sauce
This summery pasta is a favorite of mine, with ground turkey, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini! It’s all tossed in a simple homemade tomato garlic sauce.
You can use any kind of pasta you like, but I love it with whole wheat penne; chickpea pasta is also a great option if you’re gluten free.
Vegetarian Tortellini Soup (Instant Pot + Stovetop)
Say hello to the coziest soup ever! This tortellini soup is absolutely packed with veggies, with a savory tomato broth and melty parmesan cheese (if desired). The pillowy tortellini makes it extra comforting.
This easy soup recipe can be made in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop – whichever you prefer!
Mediterranean Chicken Thighs with Veggies (Sheet Pan)
Here’s another of our favorite dinners with zucchini: sheet pan Mediterranean chicken thighs! This dish is so flavorful and veggie-packed, and the chicken comes out super juicy.
This one is a huge hit with my extended family – we make it all the time for gatherings because everyone likes it and it’s easy to make and hard to mess up.
Fresh lemon juice brightens up the dish even more. Feel free to swap out the veggies for your favorites!
Vegan Minestrone Soup
Minestrone soup is a classic for a reason, and this version is just as tasty, but extra nutritious! It’s absolutely packed with veggies like zucchini, kale, carrots, and bell peppers, plus kidney beans and whole grain pasta.
Fresh basil adds a delicious depth of flavor to the tomato broth, too – I highly recommend not skipping it!
Garlic Sheet Pan Chicken & Veggies
The whole family will love this baked garlic chicken sheet pan meal with broccoli, bell pepper, and zucchini! All you have to do is toss everything on a sheet pan and roast away.
Serve with quinoa or your favorite carb and you’ve got yourself a filling, nutritious meal!
Turkey Barley Soup with Veggies
I’m a big fan of barley – it adds such a nice chew to any meal! This barley chili with ground turkey and vegetables is a must-try. It’s simple to make and super comforting.
Fresh herbs and a dollop of creamy Greek yogurt (and/or a sprinkle of melty shredded cheese) make it even more delicious, too!
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
This is the perfect clean-out-your-vegetable-drawer soup! You can basically toss in any vegetable and/or legume, and it will be delicious. And of course, zucchini is a great one to include. 😉
Plus, this soup is made in an Instant Pot, so it comes together quickly and without a ton of hands on effort besides chopping the veggies. Always a win in my book!
Sriracha Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
These shrimp lettuce wraps are the ultimate easy and refreshing meal – so perfect for summer.
With a sriracha lime dipping sauce that adds a nice touch of sweet heat, plus bell pepper, mushrooms, and spiralized zucchini, it’s everything you’d want in a lettuce wrap.
Baked Pesto Salmon with Veggies
Pesto and salmon pair so well together, especially when roasted with sliced zucchini, summer squash, and tomatoes. It’s a crave-worthy and summery sheet pan meal you’ll want to make again and again! Worth turning the oven on in summer, I promise.
As you can see, zucchini is super versatile and a great veggie to have on hand. I hope you love these zucchini recipes as much as we do!
A relevant post you may like: How to Love Veggies (or at least not hate them…).
More tasty vegetables dishes to try:
