26 Quick and Tasty Zucchini Recipes

By Ella Quittner
Updated January 17, 2021
Zucchini may be at the back of the alphabet, but it's at the front of our minds when it comes to summer vegetables. Here are 26 ways to cook zucchini (including two zucchini bread recipes!) in dishes that range from sweet to savory to spicy.
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Zucchini bread and more

Credit: Getty Images

Zucchini may be at the back of the alphabet, but it's at the front of our minds when it comes to summer vegetables.

This miracle squash is so easy to grow, you can easily end up with a bumper crop. But don't let it go to waste—it has lots of vitamin A, few calories, and it's simple to cook.

Here are 26 ways to cook zucchini (including two zucchini bread recipes!) in dishes that range from sweet to savory to spicy.

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Zucchini Bread

Just one piece of this moist and perfectly sweet zucchini bread and you will see why this veggie is a summer standout. For only 150 calories per serving, it’s a treat you can indulge in without breaking your diet.

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Crunchy Zucchini Rounds With Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Credit: Ben Fink

Take advantage of zucchini's vibrant green color, and work it into bite-size appetizers like these crunchy rounds. Topped off with sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese, they'll look almost as good as they taste.

Each mouthful of this savory starter promises a ton of flavor for very few calories (86 for three zucchini rounds).

Try this recipe: Crunchy Zucchini Rounds With Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

RELATED: 6 Things You Should Know About Zucchini

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Zucchini Muffins

Credit: Jenna Weber

These light, sweet muffins are perfect for breakfast, a snack, or an after-dinner treat. Developed by Health.com's Healthy Eating blogger, Jenna Weber, they look good, taste good, and are good for you.

Make them at the end of summer to use up all of your extra zucchini. You can even make a double batch and save some in the freezer.

Try this recipe: Zucchini Muffins

RELATED: 4 Ways to Make Zucchini 'Zoats,' the Hot Breakfast Trend of Summer

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Marinated Zucchini and Yellow Squash Salad

This colorful summer salad packs a lot of flavor, considering how few ingredients and how little of your time it requires.

And, you'll get an added kick of vitamin A from the fresh basil.

Use the peeler lengthwise rather than horizontally to create long, beautiful green and yellow ribbons of squash.

Try this recipe: Marinated Zucchini and Yellow Squash Salad

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Zucchini Fries

Want the crunchy, crisp taste of French fries, without the guilt? Try these homemade zucchini fries. Because they are baked instead of fried, they can be a healthy snack.

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Zucchini Bread With Moroccan Spices

Put a twist on classic zucchini bread by taking a turn toward savory. And don't stop there—diced red bell peppers and hot chili flakes will lend this Moroccan-spiced zucchini bread some spice, while roasted pistachios will add a big crunch.

This zesty bread has less than a gram of fat and only 76 calories per serving.

Try this recipe: Zucchini Bread With Moroccan Spices

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Zucchini With Corn and Cilantro

If you're planning on serving salsa or guacamole, you should consider serving this instead. It has much less sodium than salsa and contains a lot less fat than traditional guac. Plus, each serving is only 62 calories.

With a total prep and cooking time of less than 20 minutes, this veggie medley is a keeper!

Try this recipe: Zucchini with Corn and Cilantro

RELATED: 8 Keto Tacos and Recipes

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Zesty Zucchini Spaghetti

This summer spaghetti dish is light, flavorful, and packs a lot of spice! And, you don't have to feel guilty about indulging—the zucchini-filled meal clocks in at only 5 grams of fat per serving.

Use whole-wheat pasta to up your fiber intake.

Try this recipe: Zesty Zucchini Spaghetti

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Tomato-Zucchini Bake

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Pair your zucchini with other summer veggies you probably already have on hand, like tomato and corn, and toss them into the oven.

This light summer entrée will leave you with tons of crunch and color. Plus, baking this dish means you'll get a delicious crisp without the added fat of frying.

Try this recipe: Tomato-Zucchini Bake

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Black Bean and Zucchini Quesadillas

This veggie-packed meal is high in nutrients and low in calories—and it’s tasty to boot. The spinach in these sweet potato and spinach quesadillas contains iron, the sweet potatoes provide immune-boosting beta carotene, and the mozzarella cheese has bone-strengthening calcium. You get an immune boost from the beta carotene in the sweet potatoes, and 20% of your daily iron needs are met with this veggie quesadilla. Plus, this recipe provides more calcium than a glass of milk.

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Zucchini and Rosemary Frittata With Parmesan

Credit: Getty Images

Meet the perfect zucchini dish for summer company—it's easy to make, full of flavor, and meat free.

Perfect for brunch or lunch, this cheese-covered combo is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. And with its no-hassle recipe, you can spend time with your friends instead of in the kitchen.

Try this recipe: Zucchini and Rosemary Frittata with Parmesan

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Zucchini Oven Chips

Want that full-fat flavor with none of the guilt? These breaded zucchini chips taste like they're fried, but they're baked and amazingly crispy, which makes them a healthy substitute for French fries or potato chips. Watch this Cooking Light video to learn how to make this surprisingly healthy snack. Get the recipe:Zucchini Oven Chips

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Shrimp and Zucchini Barley Risotto

Swapping the rice for barley lends this dish a fiber-rich spin.

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Farfalle With Zucchini and White Beans

Here's a recipe that will boost the nutrition factor in your family's weekly pasta dinner. The zucchini will add texture and color, while keeping the calories low. And the beans sneak in extra protein, iron, and dietary fiber, to keep you fuller longer. Final bonus? You won't be slaving over the stovetop long. In this recipe, just sauté white beans together with zucchini and toss with cooked pasta. Done! Serve it hot or chill it and pack it up for a picnic. Watch the video to learn the recipe.

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Garden Lasagna

Zucchini, spinach, and artichokes make this veggie lasagna a hearty vitamin-packed option.

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Asparagus and Zucchini Pizza

Mix up your summer cookout routine and try making grilled pizza with this recipe from Cooking Light. Gather your favorite pizza dough, pizza sauce, a bunch of fresh vegetables and herbs and watch the video to see a step-by-step demonstration. Then fire up the grill and enjoy.

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Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups With Herbs and Cheese

Here’s a grilled veggie side dish that’s so fun to prepare, the whole family will get involved. Simply grill the zucchini slices and have the kids stack fresh ingredients in the center and roll them up. Easy! Watch the video to learn how.

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Sautéed Zucchini With Lemon-Thyme Chicken

It's hard to believe that this delicious dish takes less than 20 minutes to create—and that you'll get a chicken cutlet and serving of zucchini and couscous sauté for only 233 calories.

To add some extra fiber, use whole-wheat couscous.

Try this recipe: Sautéed Zucchini with Lemon-Thyme Chicken

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Grilled Zucchini With Parmesan Pesto

Credit: John Kernick

Fresh homemade pesto will complement your zucchini in these green-on-green roll-ups.

And adding toasted pine nuts won't just give you crunch and flavor—they're full of fatty acids that are good for your heart and burn belly fat.

Try this recipe: Grilled Zucchini with Parmesan Pesto

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Parchment-Baked Halibut With Pesto, Zucchini, and Carrots

Similar in taste to cod, halibut is packed with nutritious omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to protect against cognitive decline.

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Campanelle With Summer Vegetables

Got one medium zucchini? This recipe will eat it up. Add asparagus, broccoli florets, and green peas and you have a delightful summer dish that's quick and easy to make.

Try this recipe: Campanelle with Summer Vegetables

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Veggie Tostadas

If you love Mexican food, these tostadas will give you that great flavor in a dish that's healthy—and tasty—for just about anyone, including people with diabetes. If you have two small zucchini, it's the perfect recipe to use them up.

Try this recipe: Simple Veggie Tostadas

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Teriyaki Salmon With Zucchini

Few foods pack a bigger nutritional punch than salmon—it's rich in protein, heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D. Watch the video to learn how to make this easy, Mediterranean-inspired dish that pairs deliciously with whole-wheat couscous. Get the recipe: Mediterranean Salmon

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Veggie Stack With Basil

This colorful creation can be whatever you want it to be, from the perfect vegetarian entrée for company to a fun way to get children to eat veggies. Or, you can skip the cheese and serve this stack as a vegan dish.

Plus, one of these veggie towers and a serving of couscous will fill you up for only 309 calories.

Try this recipe: Veggie Stack with Basil

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Mediterranean Seafood Grill With Skordalia

Staying in town all summer, and feeling stir-crazy? Let your palate travel with this seafood dish inspired by the flavors of the Mediterranean.

Each serving is packed with 31 grams of protein, so it'll keep you full.

Try this recipe: Mediterranean Seafood Grill with Skordalia

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Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche

Use up your summer veggies, and get your fill of calcium, vitamin C, and fiber too. Each serving contains 23 grams of protein for only 230 calories.

This cheesy, easy-to-make dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Try this recipe: Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche

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By Ella Quittner