65 Delicious Zucchini Recipes

Updated August 13, 2020
Credit: Greg DuPree

When zucchini season rolls around, you can easily find yourself with more than you know what to do with. The good news is, zucchini is one of the most versatile summer vegetables on the block. We're spiralizing it into zoodles, slicing it into zucchini chips, grating it into zucchini breads and cakes, and even layering it into quiche and lasagna. This infinitely adaptable veggie is the star of summer, so here are 65 of our best zucchini recipes to make the most of it. 

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Baked Rigatoni with Zucchini and Mozzarella

Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Baked Rigatoni with Zucchini and Mozzarella Recipe

If you’re in the mood for a cheesy lasagna but want something a little less labor-intensive, try this Baked Rigatoni. Fresh mozzarella, which is sold in water, has a short shelf life and should be used within a few days of purchase for the best flavor. If you can’t find ciliegini, you can tear a standard-size ball of fresh mozzarella into small pieces. Give this baked pasta an impressive look by using a springform pan.

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Zucchini-Ricotta Pizza

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Claire Spollen

Zucchini-Ricotta Pizza Recipe

Keep it easy: Roll the dough out on parchment paper, and place the paper right on the hot pizza stone.

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Tuscan Pignoli-Orange Zucchini Bread

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Deb Wise; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Tuscan Pignoli-Orange Zucchini Bread Recipe

Got a boatload of zucchini? A loaf of so-simple quick bread is a delightful, kid-friendly way to put it to use. With bright citrusy notes, toasty pine nuts, and a delightful texture delivered by the blend of semolina and almond flours, this Italian-inspired uptake on your typical zucchini bread is sure to impress.

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Zucchini Lasagna

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Zucchini Lasagna Recipe

Three cheeses and thin, woven strips of zucchini make this one-pan classic a crowd-pleaser, whether you’re cooking Sunday supper or planning for the family reunion. Use a mandoline slicer, not a vegetable peeler, to cut the thinnest zucchini strips. Once you’ve sliced the squash, the lasagna is a snap to put together—just layer the ingredients and bake.

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Zucchini Pickles

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Zucchini Pickles Recipe

Put your bounty of summer squash to good use with these perfectly tangy-sweet zucchini pickles. They’re an excellent addition to any summer cookout spread.

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Spicy Zucchini Salad

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Spicy Zucchini Salad Recipe

Fiber- and protein-packed chickpeas bulk up this late-summer salad.

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Charred Zucchini Salad

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Thom Driver

Charred Zucchini Salad Recipe

Erik Anderson uses lardo for part of the fat in the dressing. It's seasoned and cured pork fat somewhat similar to bacon. Find it at specialty markets or at almagourmet.com. Or substitute an equal amount of rendered bacon fat (16 ounces chopped bacon will yield the 3.5 ounces needed for this recipe). Anderson also uses sweet and sour teardrop chiles, which are a cross between a jalapeño and a cherry pepper. If you can't find them, substitute mild pickled peppadews. This salad is easily doubled. To do so, use 2 large skillets to simultaneously cook zucchini batches so the dish is done in the same amount of time.

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Grilled Hanger Steak with Zucchini Salsa

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Grilled Hanger Steak with Zucchini Salsa Recipe

We love this low-cost cut for its big, beefy flavor, but feel free to substitute flank or skirt steak in a pinch. Slice medium-rare steak against the grain for melt-in-your-mouth bites. Tuck leftovers into a whole-wheat tortilla for a tasty lunch.

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Zucchini-Squash Pickle Relish

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Ivy Odom; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Zucchini-Squash Pickle Relish Recipe

Put all that zucchini to good use in this deliciously tangy-sweet pickled relish. It’s a delicious accouterment for any number of meat and veggie dishes, but we especially love it spooned right over a grilled hotdog.

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Carrot and Zucchini Spaghetti

Carrot and Zucchini Spaghetti Recipe

There's no need to cut out all pasta when dining on zoodles. This recipe combines spiralized zucchini and carrots with spaghetti for a perfect pasta dinner.

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Sesame-Cashew Zucchini Bread

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Deb Wise; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Sesame-Cashew Zucchini Bread Recipe

A loaf of so-simple quick bread is a delightful, kid-friendly way to put it to use. Incredibly rich in toasty flavor, this nutty twist on classic zucchini bread was a fast favorite in the test kitchen. If you don’t have cashew butter on hand, feel free to use peanut butter or almond butter for the creamy glaze instead—either would be equally delicious.

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Chicken Parmesan over Zucchini Noodles

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Chicken Parmesan over Zucchini Noodles Recipe

A julienne peeler creates lovely "zoodles," but may we suggest a spiralizer? It works like a pencil sharpener, turning veggies into noodles (look for them at kitchen stores and amazon.com).

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Zucchini Pie

Credit: Photography: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Zucchini Pie Recipe

In this riff on spaghetti pie, zucchini "noodles" stand in for pasta.

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Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Tomato Salad

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Claire Spollen

Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Tomato Salad Recipe

The microwave quickly steams the zucchini so that you only need to run the stuffed boats under the broiler for a minute or two at the end.

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Squash and Green Chile Casserole

Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Squash and Green Chile Casserole Recipe

Filled with fresh zucchini and squash, this casserole doesn't require the oven.

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Muffuletta Zucchini and Carrot Noodle Salad

Credit: Sara Tane

Muffuletta Zucchini and Carrot Noodle Salad Recipe

A veg-forward take on a muffuletta pasta salad, this ultra-flavorful side dish is just as refreshing as it is filling. Hearty cubes of meat and cheese against the brininess of olives create a balanced, sandwich-inspired satisfaction. It can be served immediately, or left in the fridge for a couple hours or up to a couple of days to let the flavors meld further.

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Herb-Grilled Summer Squash

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

Herb-Grilled Summer Squash Recipe

Grilled vegetables are as essential a part of the outdoor, open-flame cooking experience as any cut of meat. And few vegetables say summer quite like zucchini and yellow summer squash. Dressed in olive oil and an abundance of fresh herbs, this versatile grilled vegetable recipe is perfect for just about any occasion.

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Cornbread-Stuffed Zucchini

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cornbread-Stuffed Zucchini Recipe

Choose squash that are uniform in shape so they will cook evenly. The best kind for this recipe are long, straight, and not too skinny.

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Zoodles with Shrimp and Green Goddess Dressing

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling Karen Ranken; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Zoodles with Shrimp and Green Goddess Dressing Recipe

Using a blend of spiralized summer squash and zucchini “noodles,” this light and bright summer entree is as refreshing as they come. We absolutely love the fresh flavors this simple green goddess dressing packs into the dish; any leftover dressing would be great for dipping veggies into for an easy snack. Taking advantage of already steamed shrimp from the seafood counter of your favorite grocery store keeps this vibrant dish entirely no-cook and incredibly speedy. And to save a few extra minutes, you can grab containers of pre-spiralized vegetables from the produce section. In order to prevent sogginess, wait until it’s time to eat before assembling the components of your zoodle bowl.

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Creamy Sausage and Zoodle Bake  

Credit: Daniel Agee; Prop Styling Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton

Creamy Sausage and Zoodle Bake   Recipe

It may be rich, it may be cheesy, but this vibrant twist on a traditional pasta casserole is also packed with veggies. Beyond swapping out pasta for zucchini noodles—which, no worries, do hold up well in this creamy bake—the casserole boasts roasted butternut squash, savory mushrooms, and caramelized onions. The veggie blend in this dish is a great balance to spicy Italian sausage and the luscious béchamel sauce, which we infuse with robust fall flavor by first steeping garlic and herbs in the milk later used for to make the sauce. Although this recipe isn’t an ideal choice for a last-minute throw-together meal, it is an excellent make-ahead option. Every component of the dish can be prepped ahead of time for a quick and easy assembly, making this veggie-centric casserole a delicious and impressive go-to for entertaining.

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Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Breadcrumbs

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Breadcrumbs Recipe

If you haven't made your own breadcrumbs yet, now is the time to give it a try. It's easy, makes use of any leftover bread, and tastes better than anything you can buy. Here, we have four different zucchini topping variations (from the top left, working clockwise): Grilled Zucchini with Lemon-Garlic Breadcrumbs, Grilled Zucchini with Herbed Butter, Grilled Zucchini with Chopped Tomato-Basil Salsa, and Sweet and Sour Zucchini.

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Carrot-Zucchini Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting

Credit: Dylan + Jeni; Styling: Scott Horne

Carrot-Zucchini Cake with Coconut-Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Zucchini makes a brilliant addition to carrot cake, adding a verdant note to the sweet carrot.

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Summer Garden Chili Bowls

Credit: Daniel Agee; Food Styling: Karen Rankin; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Summer Garden Chili Bowls Recipe

While the summer heat often makes us go for lighter foods, that doesn’t mean we don’t still want chili—so we made a lighter, brighter version. Equally perfect for a casual summer supper at home as it is for fueling a cookout or tailgate, these chili bowls are loaded up with vibrant veggies. To keep this tasty entree quick and simple, we use canned chili as a base, then dress it up with grilled corn and zucchini, black beans, fresh avocado slices, cilantro, queso fresco, and a handful of corn chips for good measure. Serve with lime wedges and you have a summer hit on your hands. While this recipes is especially convenient for when you want a tasty bowl chili, but don’t necessarily want to eat off of a huge batch of it for days, the recipe is easily multiplied to accommodate larger crowds.

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Fried Mozzarella-Stuffed Zucchini

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Fried Mozzarella-Stuffed Zucchini Recipe

This mozzarella stick-meets-zucchini fries hybrid is an awesome way to change up your appetizer game; not to mention, it’s a great recipe for getting picky eaters to munch on some vegetables. And if you’re finding yourself a little worn out on summer’s abundance of zucchini, stuffing the veggie with cheese and then deep-frying gives it an incredibly tasty transformation.

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Chicken Kofte with Zucchini

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Chicken Kofte with Zucchini Recipe

A hit under the broiler leaves zucchini perfectly tender.

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Zucchini and Red Pepper Frittata

Credit: Stephen Devries; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Zucchini and Red Pepper Frittata Recipe

This recipe also uses another ingredient many gardeners have in abundance: zucchini.

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Zucchini Burgers

Credit: Eva Kolenko; Styling: Karen Shinto

Zucchini Burgers Recipe

We've given the veggie burger a serious upgrade, with browned mushrooms, nuts, and spices in the shredded zucchini patties, and raw zucchini ribbons on top for freshness.

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Zucchini Stuffed with Lady Peas

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Zucchini Stuffed with Lady Peas Recipe

Stuff zucchini shells with Lady Peas, onion, mushrooms, and tomato and top with bread crumbs and cheese for a colorful appetizer.

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Zucchini Pesto with Crudites

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Zucchini Pesto with Crudites Recipe

The cooked zucchini is delicious on its own (try it as a spread) and even better blended with almonds, fresh herbs, and cheese. Garnish with a little extra cheese, if desired.

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Zucchini-Ribbon Pizza with Chicken

Credit: Photography: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Zucchini-Ribbon Pizza with Chicken Recipe

If we could make a crisp, fresh salad a mandatory pizza topper, we would. Use a vegetable peeler to ribbon zucchini. Ground coriander adds lemony flavor.

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Tortellini Salad with Zucchini and Peas

Tortellini Salad with Zucchini and Peas Recipe

'Tis the season for zucchini. Make the most of it in this light and summery salad where it's just barely wilted.

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Zucchini and Spinach Chilaquiles

Credit: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower

Zucchini and Spinach Chilaquiles Recipe

This verde version of a Mexican brunch classic is the perfect introduction to summer. If you have time, try switching out canned tomatillos for fresh: Remove the papery husks from 8 ounces fresh tomatillos, toss with 1 tablespoon oil on a baking sheet, and broil 6 minutes or until lightly charred. Cool before processing. Queso fresco has the texture of strained ricotta—it won’t quite melt under the broiler, but its mild flavor will be a welcome contrast to the heat in the tomatillo mixture. Add scrambled eggs to each serving for a little extra protein.

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Zucchini Rice Gratin

Credit: Linda Pugliese

Zucchini Rice Gratin Recipe

Inspired by Julia Child's classic recipe for Tian de Courgettes au Riz (zucchini gratin), my version is comforting yet fresh and clean--it's not overloaded with heavy cream or cheese.

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Zucchini Fried Rice

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Adam Dolge

Zucchini Fried Rice Recipe

This single skillet dinner is a weeknight-friendly meal the whole family can get behind, not to mention—it’s a genius way to put a bulk of summer zucchini to good use. The grated zucchini helps to lighten and brighten this take-out favorite, and stealthily bulks up the nutritional value of pickier eaters’ plates. Plus, this budget-friendly dish is actually best made using day-old rice, so it’s a great meal to plan on for utilizing leftovers later in the week.