15 Ways to Use Zucchini (Sweet & Savory!)
When you have an abundance of fresh zucchini from the garden or farmers market, sometimes you have to get creative with how use it all! So here are 15 fabulous sweet and savory recipes to use up that summer zucchini.
Zucchini is such a versatile vegetable in the kitchen. You can use it in all kinds of savory dishes and meals, and putting it into baked goods adds a lot of moisture without adding any fat, and its mild flavor means you can’t even taste that it’s in there. Win-win!
Some of my favorite ways to use up zucchini are my zucchini chocolate chip cookies, sausage-stuffed zucchini boats and turkey zucchini meatballs, but keep reading for lots more delicious zucchini inspiration!
Tips for baking & cooking with zucchini
- How much does 1 zucchini yield? A good rule of thumb is that 1 medium zucchini = 1 1/2 cup shredded zucchini or chopped zucchini.
- Size matters. Smaller zucchini tend to be firmer, less watery, and have fewer seeds, making them ideal for cooking. Larger zucchini (that got a little out of control in the garden) are great for shredding and using in baking recipes.
- Squeeze out extra liquid from shredded zucchini if needed. Most recipes will include instructions if this step is necessary, and it’s a good thing to always consider. Too much moisture from the zucchini can affect texture and rise.
- Draw out extra liquid from zucchini rounds and spears if desired. Generously salt your zucchini and let it rest in a colander for 15 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels. The salt will draw out moisture from the zucchini, which helps prevent sogginess. This is great for roasting and grilling, and I do it for my crispy fried zucchini chips.
- Don’t overcook. Roasting or sautéing zucchini for too long results in an unappetizing mushy vegetable. It’s perfect when it’s tender but still has a soft bite to it.
Sweet & savory zucchini recipes
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies
With chopped walnuts and a hint of cinnamon, these cookies are a delicious late-summer twist on the classic! They’re soft and chewy and full of delicious flavor.
Crispy Fried Zucchini
These easy pan-fried zucchini chips are crispy, delicious. Enjoy as an appetizer, side dish or snack in the summertime, or any time of the year.
Southwest Chicken Skillet with Zucchini, Peppers & Corn
This southwest chicken skillet with zucchini, bell peppers, and corn is a delicious and light summer meal!
Zucchini Corn Pizza
Satisfy your pizza cravings with this simple and tasty homemade pizza recipe featuring fresh sweet corn and zucchini. It’s the perfect pizza for summer, and one of my favorites!
Turkey Zucchini Meatballs
Turkey zucchini meatballs are an easy, delicious and healthy meal for any night of the week!
Banana Zucchini Walnut Bread
Two favorite quick bread recipes combine into this moist and flavorful banana zucchini walnut bread!
Grilled Parmesan Zucchini
This grilled zucchini with lemon and parmesan cheese is the perfect easy seasonal summer side dish. Only 10 minutes and a handful of ingredients required!
Zucchini Caramel Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
A light and subtly spiced zucchini layer cake with a caramel filling, frosted with cream cheese buttercream and topped with more caramel.
Grilled Parmesan Zucchini
These sausage stuffed zucchini boats are cheesy and delicious, and have my whole family’s stamp of approval. Plus they’re simple to make and require only 6 ingredients, perfect for any night of the week!
Grilled Veggie Platter
This platter of zucchini, summer squash, red onion, and bell peppers caramelized on the grill and served with kalamata olives, goat cheese, and basil dressing is exactly what your next summer party needs!
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
This rich and moist chocolate quick bread filled with chocolate chunks and shredded zucchini is perfect for summer baking!
Rustic Tomato Zucchini Pie with Cornmeal Crust
This free-form tomato and zucchini pie has a savory cornmeal crust and a filling of ricotta and parmesan cheeses. It’s a perfect late-summer dish!
Grilled Veggie Tacos
Simple grilled veggie tacos are fresh, healthy, and actually super tasty. Plus, they’re so easy and ready to eat in 10 minutes or less!
Spiced Zucchini Pear Cake
A simple cake with BIG flavor— spiced zucchini pear bundt cake with brown butter glaze. Perfect for fall!
Chicken Veggie Foil Dinners
These delicious “foil dinners” filled with chicken, peppers and zucchini are a complete meal wrapped up in foil and cooked over a fire, on the grill, or in the oven.
This is such a helpful collection of zucchini ideas! I love how zucchini can work in both sweet and savory recipes, from cookies and baked goods to hearty meals. The tips about choosing the right size zucchini and removing excess moisture are especially useful because they can make a big difference in the final result. I’m always looking for creative ways to use seasonal vegetables, and these recipes are a great source of inspiration for making the most of a fresh zucchini harvest.
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These zucchini ideas are so inspiring! I especially love how you’ve included both savory and sweet recipes—it really shows how versatile zucchini can be in the kitchen. I’ve tried zucchini bread before, but zucchini chocolate chip cookies sound amazing Can’t wait to give some of these a try!
It contributes a lot of moisture without adding fat, and its mild flavor makes it impossible to detect its presence in baked goods. It may be used in a variety of savory dishes and meals. bitlife