Dare I say that zucchini is the most underrated ingredient to grace our kitchens? 😉
Sweet & Savory Zucchini Recipe Ideas
Have a surplus of zucchini on your hands and wondering how to use it all? This totally unassuming green squash is one powerhouse (and versatile!) ingredient to incorporate in recipes—both sweet and savory. Since it’s mostly water, it adds unparalleled moisture in baked goods, just like carrots in carrot cake. Tasters NEVER realize it’s hiding inside, either—in fact, you can’t even detect it in this chocolate zucchini bread or peanut butter chocolate chip zucchini bread. My chocolate zucchini cake is a consistent reader favorite, especially during the summer months when zucchini is in season. The cake uses a whopping 3 cups of zucchini, and I guarantee it’s the most indulgent way to eat your vegetables! And I know you won’t turn down a batch of zucchini muffins or zucchini bread. Both freeze wonderfully for an easy breakfast or snack option, too. When it comes to savory recipes, there are virtually endless ways to utilize zucchini. Spiralize it to make zucchini noodles for chicken meatballs or bruschetta chicken. Slice and bake it in my cheesy zucchini casserole, or shred it for these stovetop zucchini fritters. And don’t forget about my savory zucchini biscuits! A box grater actually comes in handy for many zucchini recipes. Zucchini is also fantastic roasted in the oven with a little garlic and lemon. I LOVE preparing it this way, and I share the recipe details below. Top with some freshly grated parmesan cheese… so good! Here are 20+ favorite zucchini recipes to try the next time you’re looking for a way to use this MVV… Most Valuable Veggie, of course.
20+ of My Best Zucchini Recipes
Roasted Lemon Garlic Zucchini
If you find yourself with about 1 and 1/2 pounds of zucchini lying around (not hard to do… about 3–4 medium zucchini!), try roasting it with lemon, garlic, and oregano, and finish it with some fresh parmesan. We gobble it up this way because it’s extremely flavorful and pairs with a variety of main dishes. It’s also pretty tender, without being mushy as long as you cut the zucchini thick enough. Above all, I love it because it’s extremely quick and easy; and sometimes (ok, most of the time) I don’t want to spend more than 10 minutes prepping a side dish! Combine fresh lemon and garlic, dried oregano, and parmesan cheese to make ultra-flavorful roasted zucchini. It’s deliciously tender without tasting mushy, and pairs with a variety of main dishes like creamy lemon thyme chicken, crab cakes, and slow cooker turkey meatballs.
