The best zucchini recipes to spotlight just how versatile and delicious a vegetable zucchini can be in your dinners & more! In fact, this underrated veggie can be used in sweet and savory recipes! Zucchini can be a healthy alternative to pasta, sautéed, baked, and even used in desserts!
Best Sweet & Savory Zucchini Recipes
I love how zucchini can soak up flavorful sauces or be hidden inside a dessert. It has amazing versatility and tastes just as delicious in baked goods as it does in stir-fry recipes!
I’ve put together this list of my absolute favorite zucchini recipes for you to try out. These recipes cover a wide variety of flavors, so find one that sounds perfect for you and your family!
Jump to:
- Best Sweet & Savory Zucchini Recipes
- 1. Air Fryer Zucchini
- 2. Zucchini Squash Casserole
- 3. Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
- 4. Hibachi Zucchini
- 5. Sautéed Zucchini and Yellow Squash
- 6. Baked Parmesan Zucchini Rounds
- 7. Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries
- 8. Albondigas Soup
- 9. Creamy Turkey Pasta Primavera
- 10. Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
- 11. Caldo de Pollo Mexicano
- 12. Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
- 13. Zucchini Mushroom Quiche
- 14. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- 15. Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef
- 16. Zucchini Fritters
- 💭 Tips For Cooking Or Baking With Zucchini
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Best Zucchini Recipes: +16 Sweet & Savory Dishes To Make With Fresh Zucchini!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
1. Air Fryer Zucchini
This air fryer zucchini is a great veggie side dish that can balance out any hearty main course. This recipe lets the natural flavor of the zucchini shine with a little bit of extra flavor from the Parmesan cheese!
This incredibly easy dish can be cooked in the air fryer while you get the rest of your meal prepared. It is an effortless, nutritious dish that can complement just about any meal!
2. Zucchini Squash Casserole
There is something about warm, cheesy casseroles that just scream comfort! This creamy casserole is a great way to get your kids to eat more vegetables!
This side dish would be delicious next to a great chicken dish like my instant pot chicken thighs! The Panko breadcrumbs add a great texture to this smooth and tender dish.
3. Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins
These incredibly easy pumpkin zucchini muffins are the best way to start your day! They are fluffy, moist, and full of flavor!
If you’re a pumpkin-spice fanatic like I am, you will want to eat these muffins all year long! Go ahead and make a big batch all at once so you can freeze the extras and thaw them out when you want them!
4. Hibachi Zucchini
My hibachi zucchini and onions are a tasty way to add a Japanese twist to your ordinary vegetable side dish. The zucchini soaks up all the teriyaki and soy sauce flavors, making it completely mouthwatering!
The zucchini pieces are tender and delicious! You can even add your favorite stir-ins to make a dish your family and friends love!
5. Sautéed Zucchini and Yellow Squash
This recipe's zucchini and yellow squash are topped with garlic and Parmesan cheese to make a dish that even picky eaters will love! Sautéing the zucchini and yellow squash makes them extra flavorful and tender!
This is a great last-minute meal idea! You will have this fantastic side dish on the table and ready to eat in only 10 minutes!
6. Baked Parmesan Zucchini Rounds
These irresistible zucchini rounds can be as crispy as you like! I love to grab some ranch and eat them like chips.
This dish is also incredibly easy to make! Just slice your zucchini, add your Parmesan and seasoning, and let the oven do the rest!
7. Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries
You won’t even miss the potatoes after tasting these crispy zucchini fries! The crispy outside and Parmesan cheese make these completely irresistible!
This is a great, healthier alternative to a deep-fried snack. Just grab your favorite dipping sauce, and you’re ready to eat!
8. Albondigas Soup
This hearty Mexican meatball soup is incredibly tasty! It has a rich tomato and beef broth as well as lots of veggies, including, you guessed it, zucchini!
This is a great soup to serve to the family at dinner time, but it's also perfect for cold evenings or any time you are feeling under the weather. It's warm and comforting, just like soup should be!
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9. Creamy Turkey Pasta Primavera
Turkey pasta primavera is an excellent way to use up any leftover turkey you have hanging around (especially after Thanksgiving). This creamy pasta dish also features several different vegetables, including zucchini.
Top your pasta with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, and everyone might enjoy the holiday turkey even more the second time around!
10. Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
This super easy Panda Express copycat features tender wok-fried chicken and a mixture of stir-fried vegetables. If you are a fan of Panda Express, you will love this dish!
The ginger garlic sauce ties it together for a simple Asian-inspired recipe the whole family will enjoy.
11. Caldo de Pollo Mexicano
Move over chicken noodle, caldo de pollo Mexicano is here, and it is incredibly delicious! This Mexican chicken soup is warm and savory with shredded chicken and lots of veggies.
There are 2 whole zucchinis sliced up in this soup! So, if you have a couple on hand you need to get rid of, I couldn't think of a better way!
12. Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
If you want your zucchini front and center, this no-fuss Panda Express mushroom chicken dupe is the way to do it. There are equal amounts of tender chunks of wok-fried chicken, mushrooms, and zucchini all covered in an incredible garlic soy sauce.
This recipe is low-carb and can quickly be thrown together on busy weeknights!
13. Zucchini Mushroom Quiche
Zucchini mushroom quiche is my go-to recipe for hosting brunch, but it's just as tasty at lunch or dinner! I keep one ready and frozen in the freezer so I can pop it in the oven when we have guests!
14. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
I've had a lot of success getting kids to eat their veggies with these golden and crispy air fryer zucchini fries! They're perfect for dipping and hardly taste like veggies at all (plus, they're super quick)!
15. Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef
When I'm looking for a low-carb dinner, these zucchini boats have always been a hit at my house. They're filled with chopped veggies, seasoned beef, marinara, cheese, and breadcrumbs (which can be swapped for pork rinds for keto).
16. Zucchini Fritters
These crispy and delicious zucchini fritters will be your new favorite side for burgers, sandwiches, and more! I like to serve them with various dipping sauces like ranch dressing, Cajun dipping sauce, or even a simple sour cream.
💭 Tips For Cooking Or Baking With Zucchini
Whether you are cooking or baking with zucchini, here are a few helpful tips that I find apply to most recipes:
- Choose Fresh Zucchini: Look for firm, unblemished zucchini with deep green skin. (Smaller zucchinis are usually more tender and have fewer seeds).
- Wash and Dry: Rinse the zucchini under cold water and pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
- Slice or Dice: You can leave the skin on for most recipes. Cut off the ends and then slice or dice the zucchini as needed for your recipe.
- Remove Excess Moisture: Zucchini has a high water content, which can affect the texture of your dishes (particularly when baking). To reduce moisture, you can do one of two things. Either grate the zucchini and squeeze it in a clean towel, or salt it and let it sit to draw out the moisture before squeezing the excess liquid. *This will also help prevent sogginess in recipes like fritters!
*I hope you've discovered fun new ways to cook or bake with zucchini! Tell me about your favorite zucchini recipes in the comments below!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
Best Zucchini Recipes: +16 Sweet & Savory Dishes To Make With Fresh Zucchini!
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth (or use bouillon, which is my preferred method)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 medium zucchini (sliced in half lengthwise, then cut into half moon slices between ¼ - ½ inch thick)
- 1 large carrot (peeled and cut into ½ inch slices)
- ½ lb string beans (washed and trimmed - about 1 ½ cups)
- ¼ medium cabbage (washed and trimmed of outer leaves - cut into roughly 2 inch chunks - about 2 cups)
- each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- soy sauce (optional, to taste)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Steamed Vegetables Method
- Bring a large pot (that fits your steamer basket) with the steamer basket in place and the chicken broth or water with bouillon to a low boil over medium high heat.
- Add prepared vegetables, cover and reduce heat. Steam the vegetables for 5 minutes.
- Remove the steamer basket and serve immediately. Season to taste and garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.
Wok Fried Vegetables Method
- Heat a large stock pot with water and bring to a low boil over medium high heat. Add prepared vegetables and boil for 1 minute.
- Use a strainer and transfer the boiled vegetables to a wok with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil that has been heated over high heat (you can add some minced garlic and ginger, if desired). Wok briefly, season with soy sauce, salt and pepper.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with optional sesame seeds, if desired.
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