Time to use up all of that zucchini!
There’s a point every summer, usually right around mid-July, when the zucchini stops being exciting. You’ve made the bread, you’ve grated it into muffins, and there’s still a pile of it on the counter.
I hit that wall every year too. So this is the running list of what actually gets made in our house once the novelty wears off, from quick weeknight dinners to the sides that disappear first.
None of these turn dinner into a project. Most come together in one pan or one bowl, and a few are just zucchini, a little cheese, and 20 minutes.
I’ve grouped them by how you’ll actually use them: dinners, sautéed and baked sides, the crispy air-fryer and fritter crowd, soups and salads, and the breads and sweets that hide a whole lot of zucchini.
Pick a dinner, grab a side, and if you’ve still got zucchini left, there’s always brownies.
Zucchini dinners
When zucchini needs to be the actual meal, start here. These are the ones that fill up the whole table, from stuffed boats to a lasagna nobody realizes is half vegetables.
Mexican Zucchini Boats
These healthy Zucchini Taco Boats are the perfect low-carb recipe when you’re craving Mexican food. Zucchini is stuffed with ground beef or turkey, shredded cheese, and other Southwest flavors and baked into a cheesy keto dinner! Serve this delicious stuffed zucchini with spicy salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.
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Pizza Zucchini Boats with Pepperoni and Sausage
A healthy, low-carb, recipe for pizza zucchini boats full of Italian sausage, Mozzarella, and pepperonis. A quick and easy gluten free dinner recipe.
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Zucchini Lasagna
This keto Zucchini Lasagna recipe is an absolutely delicious, low-carb alternative to the traditional pasta version. Healthy zucchini, ground meat, hearty marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, Mozzarella, and Parmesan is everything you need for this kid-friendly meal. Once you know how to make this dish, it just might become your new favorite dinner!
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Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups are a gorgeous weeknight dinner, packed with traditional Italian flavors and a secret salt trick for no watery mess!
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Cajun Chicken Zucchini Noodles
Cajun Chicken Zucchini Noodles are bursting with authentic Louisiana flavors in this low-carb, keto, and Whole30 zoodles recipe. Bell peppers, onions, and garlic are sautéed in a skillet, tossed with a creamy and dairy-free cashew alfredo sauce, and then served with seared blackened chicken breasts. You can also easily meal prep this healthy dish for those busy weeknights!
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Easy Pasta Primavera
Pasta Primavera with Lemon Garlic Butter is a quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe that is packed full of vegetables. Simply toss pasta, asparagus, tomatoes, squash, onions, bell peppers, and Parmesan cheese in a delicious butter sauce. This dish is the perfect dinner on a hot summer night or as a side at a BBQ!
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Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake (Gluten-Free + Vegetarian)
Weeknights just got easier with this hearty, healthy, and oh-so-comforting Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake recipe! Squash, peppers, mushrooms, and onions are tossed in Italian seasoning and baked in the oven to bring out their delicious flavors. Melty mozzarella, marinara sauce, and a toasted crumb topping make this a dish the whole family will beg for!
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Sautéed, roasted, and baked zucchini sides
These are the sides I lean on when the main is already handled and I just need something on the plate in 20 minutes. Most are one pan and almost no cleanup.
Sautéed Zucchini
This Sautéed Zucchini recipe is so simple with only garlic, butter, and seasonings, and comes together in under 15 minutes.
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Sautéed Zucchini and Yellow Squash
Sautéed Zucchini and Yellow Squash is a quick and easy recipe ready in just 20 minutes! Squash and onions are cooked in a skillet with oil for a low-carb side dish. This simple vegan and Whole30 Summer dish is one of the best zucchini and yellow squash recipes!
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Zucchini & Squash Casserole Recipe
Healthy, simple, and fabulous, this Zucchini and Squash Casserole is the best healthy recipe for summer squash! Yellow squash and zucchini are baked in the oven to perfection with a crispy crust made from Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. This easy casserole is amazing for summer picnics and potlucks, and makes the perfect side dish for any holiday dinner!
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Italian Oven-Roasted Vegetables
Italian Oven-Roasted Vegetables are out of this world easy while still being delicious. Simply season squash, onion, peppers, and mushrooms with herbs and spices and bake in the oven. You can completely customize this recipe to get a healthy side dish on the table fast any night of the week.
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Cheesy Zucchini Rice
This cheesy zucchini rice is a creamy one-pot side with cheddar, fresh basil, and lemon. Ready in 30 minutes and a sneaky-easy way to eat more veggies!
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Zucchini Pie
Though it’s not a dessert, this Zucchini Pie recipe is a unique and tasty way to enjoy healthy squash all year, and you don’t even need Bisquick. Zucchini slices are mixed into a flavorful, cheesy crust and baked in a pie tin or baking dish, the old-fashioned way. This summer, put this savory side dish in your weeknight dinner rotation!
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Crispy zucchini: air fryer, fries, and fritters
If the only way your kids will touch a vegetable is when it’s crispy, this is your section. The air fryer does most of the work, and the fritters are the one everyone reaches for first.
Air Fryer Zucchini
This quick and easy Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe is the perfect, low-carb side dish. No breading is needed, simply toss zucchini with oil and herbs and pop in the air fryer for crispy, roasted, and healthy veggies. Dinner just got a lot tastier with this simple vegetarian side.
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Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
A few simple tricks make these Air Fryer Zucchini Chips the best! Cutting zucchini squash into slices gives you the perfect ratio of a crispy coating to tender zucchini. Plus, the combination of Italian seasoned bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese gives them so much flavor! Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or ranch dressing dip for a healthy adult and kid-approved recipe!
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Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
These Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with parmesan cheese are faster and crispier than baked, with a special 3-step breading for the perfect crunch!
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Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries
These Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries are the perfect kid-friendly recipe when you’re looking for a healthy alternative to traditional fries. Simply dip zucchini sticks into flour, egg wash, and a Parmesan cheese and Italian breadcrumb mixture, then bake them in the oven for a crispy side. This quick and easy snack will be making a regular appearance in your kitchen all summer long!
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Parmesan Crusted Zucchini
Crispy, cheesy, and ready in 30 minutes, this Parmesan Crusted Zucchini is the ultimate summer side and perfect with a 3-ingredient garlic aioli!
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Crispy Zucchini Fritters
Crispy Zucchini Fritters are a healthy and delightful appetizer or side! Combine grated zucchini with Parmesan cheese and garlic, lightly pan-fry them, and then bake them in the oven. This quick and easy gluten-free and vegetarian dish is delicious with your favorite creamy sauce.
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Zucchini soups and salads
For the nights you want something lighter, or you’re trying to use up a big pile at once. A pot of soup or a cold noodle salad can make a surprising amount of zucchini disappear.
Creamy Zucchini Soup
If you’re looking for a creamy Zucchini Soup Recipe, then you are in the right place. Zucchini, onion, vegetable broth, Italian seasoning, and just a bit of yogurt are blended together for a healthy, vegetarian meal with a delightfully smooth texture. This simple, low-carb dish is ready in under 30 minutes, too!
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Instant Pot Chicken Vegetable Soup
Make the best Chicken Vegetable Soup recipe in a fraction of the time thanks to your Instant Pot! Carrots, potatoes, zucchini, and squash combine with shredded chicken and tons of fresh herbs for a soup that’s not only delicious, but also incredibly nutritious and comforting! You’ll want to cozy up with a big ole’ bowl of this soup year round.
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Thai Zucchini Noodle Salad with Cabbage
Fresh, crisp, and uberly nutritious, a Thai Zucchini Noodle Salad makes the perfect healthy lunch or potluck recipe for the warmer Spring and Summer months! This cold zucchini noodle salad is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan.
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Zucchini breads, muffins, and sweet treats
This is where the biggest zucchini piles go to hide. Nobody biting into a chocolate brownie is going to guess there are two cups of shredded zucchini in there.
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Moist, decadent, and surprisingly healthy, this Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe is out of this world! Grated zucchini, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips are mixed with a few ingredients to make the best loaf. Serve this easy-to-make-vegan chocolatey bread for breakfast, a snack, or dessert!
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Healthy Lemon Zucchini Bread
Sneak your veggies in at breakfast with this Healthy Lemon Zucchini Bread that is super moist, full of fresh lemon zest, and LOADED with grated zucchini squash. Learn how to make the best quick bread recipe that can easily be made with gluten-free flour, vegan ingredients, and makes a great summer dessert or snack cake.
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Zucchini Banana Bread
Irresistibly moist and tender, this Zucchini Banana Bread is the best of both worlds. Shredded zucchini and mashed banana is mixed into a spicy, nutty quick bread and baked to golden perfection. Serve up this healthy and easy loaf for breakfast or enjoy it as a snack whenever the craving strikes.
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Healthy Lemon Zucchini Muffins
It’s time to use up all of those delicious summer squash growing in your garden by whipping up a batch of these Healthy Zucchini Muffins! Not only are these zucchini muffins bursting with fresh lemon flavor, but they are also gluten-free, grain-free, Paleo, refined sugar-free, and can easily be made vegan!
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Zucchini Brownies
Zucchini Brownies not only taste AMAZING, but they sneak in an extra serving of vegetables! Shredded zucchini is stirred into a flour, sugar, and cocoa mixture, then baked in the oven. This ooey, gooey, rich, delicious dessert is the best way to have your brownie and eat it too.
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If you only make three things off this list, my move is the sautéed zucchini for a fast side, the lasagna for a dinner that feeds everyone, and the chocolate zucchini bread for the pile that’s still hanging around. That’s a whole day of zucchini, handled.
