How to Cook Zucchini – 33 Easy Recipes for Zucchini

Learn how to cook zucchini, lots of delicious and easy dishes, savory or sweet. Explore a delightful collection of our top 31 zucchini recipes.

Zucchini Recipe Ideas

Cooking zucchini in interesting and delicious ways can become a challenge when you have a glut of zucchini. How about an easy zucchini recipe collection to give you some new ideas?

From easy appetizers to satisfying main courses and delectable desserts, these recipes are sure to inspire and impress. Discover the versatility of zucchini and embark on a flavorful journey in your kitchen today.

What is zucchini?

Zucchini or courgette is a type of summer squash belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family that also includes cucumbers, pumpkins, and melons.

It is typically harvested while still immature when the skin is tender, and the seeds are small and undeveloped.

What does zucchini look like?

• Shape: It is a cylindrical-shaped vegetable with smooth, shiny skin.
• Color: It can vary but is most commonly green, ranging from light to dark shades. You can also grow or buy yellow or even white zucchini.
• Size: It can also vary, but it is usually around 6 to 8 inches/ 15-20 cm long and 2 inches/ 5 cm in diameter. Overgrown zucchini can get huge.
• Texture: Soft, delicate, pale-colored, fleshy interior with tiny, edible seeds. The plant has a crisp texture when raw. As it cooks, it softens and becomes tender.

What does zucchini taste like?

• It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of sweetness and is often described as somewhat nutty or earthy.
• The flavor of zucchini pairs well with other ingredients and seasonings, making it a versatile vegetable in multiple dishes.
• It can absorb flavors from sauces, spices, and herbs, allowing it to complement and enhance the overall taste of a dish.

What to do with lots of zucchini?

Zucchini, with its versatile nature, offers many culinary possibilities. This summer squash can be enjoyed in various ways, such as sautéing, grilling, roasting, or even spiralizing into noodles.

Sautéed slices with garlic and seasonings create a simple and flavorful side dish, while grilling or roasting brings out its natural sweetness.

Whether you incorporate it into stir-fries, curries, salads, fritters, or baked goods, its mild and adaptable taste provides a delightful addition to a wide array of dishes.

The plants are known for their abundant yield, often providing more than a regular-sized family can easily consume without someone starting to complain about it.

Recipes using over 1 lb/ 500 g zucchini

Easy Pan-Fried Zucchini

The batter is made without flour, and these slices are so good you will keep making them all summer (1lb/ 500 g or more, the recipe can be easily scaled).

Zucchini with Pesto

With the arrival of another summer comes an abundance of vegetables, and what better way to utilize those extra veggies than with this delightful recipe? (1 lb/ 500 g)

Sauteed Zucchini

Try this impressive sautéed zucchini with onions recipe! It's so easy and wonderful that I couldn't help raving about it for days. I even cooked it three times in a single week (1 lb/ 500 g).

Vegetarian Stuffed Zucchini

These vegetarian stuffed zucchini are a flavorful, satisfying, and incredibly delicious meal. Plus, they're healthy too! Enjoy meatless zucchini boats filled with millet and three kinds of cheese (3 zucchini).

Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole

This no-noodle lasagna is simply irresistible, and you won't even notice the absence of pasta (1.3 lb/ 600 g).

Zucchini Risotto

Enjoy the simplicity of this dish, which can shine both as a satisfying main meal or as a delightful side dish (1.5 lbs/ 650 g).

Zucchini Feta Pancakes

An unusual recipe, but these pancakes are our favorite vegetable pancakes and one of our favorite ways of eating zucchini (1 lb/ 500 g).

Air Fryer Zucchini

These crispy air fryer zucchini are a true delight! They exceeded my expectations, and I couldn't resist making them again the very next day. This recipe is too good not to share! (1 lb/ 500 g).

Ground Beef, Zucchini and Potato Skillet

This zucchini beef skillet is a spontaneous Sunday creation, born out of a fridge and freezer exploration when no plans were in sight (1 lb/ 500 g).

Recipes using 1 or 2 zucchini

Vegetable Lasagna in White Sauce

For over a decade, I've been preparing this beloved family favorite: an effortless vegetable lasagna in white sauce (1 medium).

Zucchini Chickpea Curry

A good curry is one of my favorite ways of enjoying vegetables in vegan dishes (1 medium).

Goat Cheese Spaghetti

Goat cheese pasta with zucchini in a luscious, creamy sauce enriched with heavy cream and lemon. This dish is truly extraordinary (2 medium).

Vegetable Stir-Fry with Soy Granules

Enjoy a simple and flavorful vegetarian stir-fry featuring soya granules or chunks and an abundance of fresh vegetables (2 medium).

Israeli Couscous with Chicken and Zucchini

This is a delicious and healthy dish that can be prepared in no time, ready to be enjoyed in under 30 minutes (1 medium).

Vegetable Meatball Soup

This easy, quick, and healthy recipe delivers a delicious bowl of soup that happens to be one of my all-time favorites (1 medium).

Creamy Vegetable Pasta

When time is limited during the middle of the week, and you crave a healthy and comforting meal, vegetable pasta is the ideal choice (1 medium).

Chickpea Meatballs

Tender chickpea meatballs blended with zucchini, carrots, and cheese. Served alongside marinara sauce and pasta, this vegetarian meatball recipe holds a special place as our all-time favorite (1 medium).

Vegan Soy Granule Sauce for Pasta

A vegan soya spaghetti dish featuring hearty soya granules and an abundance of vegetables (1 medium).

Pork Chops with Zucchini Rice Recipe

Marinated pork chops served alongside vegetable rice with zucchini for a complete and satisfying meal (1 small).

Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Discover a simple vegan stuffed peppers recipe that doesn't include rice but lots of vegetables simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce (1 small).

Vegan Rice with Tomatoes, Zucchini and Carrots

Try this easy vegan rice recipe featuring tomatoes, zucchini, and carrots. It's a healthy, quick, and budget-friendly option that delivers incredible flavors (1 small).

Zucchini Slice

Savor the incredible deliciousness of zucchini slice or crustless zucchini pie, an ideal option for brunch, lunch, or a light dinner (10 oz/ 300 g).

Recipes with zucchini leftovers

Beef Meatballs with Zucchini

Prepare yourself for the juiciest and most scrumptious beef meatball recipe! I assure you, there's no exaggeration here—it's an absolute delight! (7 oz/ 200 g)

Romanian Vegetable Rice

This dish is the vegetarian or vegan rendition of the renowned chicken pilaf, a beloved and widely favored Romanian dish (3.5 oz/ 100 g).

Turkey Roulades

Savor the delight of small, tender turkey roulades accompanied by a remarkable sauce; all prepared effortlessly in a cast iron skillet (100 g).

Vegetable Strudel

A delightful strudel made with a simple yufka dough and leftover turkey served alongside a straightforward tomato sauce (7 oz/ 200 g).

Turmeric Pasta

Brighten up any day of the week with this vibrant vegan noodle dish. Turmeric pasta is combined with yellow split lentils, yellow peppers, zucchini, and mango (½ zucchini).

What to do with giant zucchini?

And what to do with those overgrown zucchini that are getting larger and larger every day?

Consider using them for alternative purposes. Grate and incorporate them into baked goods like bread or muffins, stuff and bake them with flavorful fillings, or cook them down for soups or sauces.

Use them for any of our sweet recipes, for the sweet-sour zucchini pickles, beef meatballs, zucchini slice, chickpea meatballs, and so on.

Sweet recipes

Cinnamon Zucchini Bread

Forget all the zucchini cakes you have made before; this cinnamon zucchini bread is the one you have been actually looking for!!! (9 oz/ 250 g).

Zucchini Brownies

Delectable zucchini chocolate brownies, generously packed with cashew nuts and chocolate chips. These delightful treats are the ultimate choice for summer (5.3 oz/ 150 g).

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Delight in the luscious combination of zucchini and dark chocolate (7 oz/ 200 g).

Zucchini Bundt Cake

Homemade zucchini bundt cake made with fresh zucchini and topped with a simple lemon glaze (10.5 oz/ 300 g).

Zucchini Chocolate Bundt Cake

This moist and luscious dessert is a perfect blend of rich chocolate and wholesome zucchini, creating a heavenly treat for any occasion. 

Preserves

Zucchini Pickles

Canning zucchini, peppers, and onions has never been simpler! Enjoy the deliciousness of these sweet-and-sour pickles, perfect for serving on bread or as a delightful side dish (2.2 lbs/ 1 kg).

I hope you found these easy zucchini recipes enjoyable to browse. Hopefully, among them, you discovered a few that sparked your interest and that you're eager to try during the summer season!

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