It’s that time of year. When all of you superstar gardeners have zucchini coming out of your ears and need some easy, healthy zucchini recipes to use it up! If you have too much zucchini and don’t know what to do with it all, these are the best zucchini recipes you’ll find all in one place!
I envy you. My dream is to have a beautiful vegetable garden. It’s one of those dreams where you want the result, but aren’t so sure you’re up for the time, attention, and hard work required to make it happen. I think the best I can muster at this stage of my life might be a container garden. Can you grow summer squash in a container garden?
Don’t worry if you’re like me and get your zucchini from the grocery store, farmers market, or maybe you get giant zucchinis from a neighbor’s garden. It doesn’t have to come from your own garden! Whatever your situation is, I have you covered.
And the good news is that I have 7 pages of zucchini recipes on Happy Healthy Mama and I’m always adding more. Whether you want breakfast, dinner, or baked goods with zucchini, you’ll find some of the best healthy zucchini recipes here! I’ve added a number of recipes from around the Internet, too, so we have a very diverse and complete list of recipes fro you to choose from.
Healthy Zucchini Recipes
Everyone has their own definition of “healthy,” but whatever yours is, I’m sure you’ll find something here that fits your definition. Zucchini is such a versatile ingredient. How many vegetables can you easily use in savory or sweet applications? How many vegetables can turn into noodles and become a stand-in for pasta? Zucchini is pretty cool!
On top of how versatile it is, zucchini also is full of nutrients. It’s a low-calorie food that has a lot of nutritional value. Here’s what you find in zucchini:
- Copper–a key mineral that’s central to building strong tissue, maintaining blood volume, and producing energy in your cells.
- Manganese–this mineral helps control blood sugar. It also plays a role in collagen production, making it important for everyday skin health.
- Vitamin C–an important antioxidant that protects against free radicals. It’s an important nutrient for our immune system and brain health.
- Phosphorus–this mineral plays an important role in basic cell function as well as bone health.
- Magnesium–don’t overlook the importance of this mineral in your health. It is important for bone health, it enables energy production (your fatigue may be because of low levels of it!), and it helps control inflammation. Super important!
- Fiber–so many people aren’t getting enough fiber. Read here for a more detailed description on why a high-fiber diet is important, but know at the very minimum, know it’s going to help keep your digestive system on track!
You’re convinced on the merits of summer squash, right? Let me help you find your new favorite zucchini recipes. Sautéed zucchini with just salt and pepper and a little butter or olive oil and maybe some parmesan cheese is pretty spectacular, but if you want to get creative, I have the ideas you need. Let’s start with savory!
Soup and Salad Recipes with Zucchini
These soups and salads can make the perfect meal year round. Zucchini is a natural fit in so many soups and I have a few salad recipes with zucchini as well! Soups and salads make amazing healthy zucchini recipes.
Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper Soup with Zucchini and Corn
This one makes the best of all the delicious summer produce in one soup! If you make one soup this summer, let it be this one. I promise you won’t regret it. This is DELICIOUS!
Vegetable Lentil Soup
This vegan soup is chock full of vegetables, including zucchini. The lentils add protein and iron! You’ll love how easy and satisfying this soup is.
Minestrone Soup Recipe
This Minestrone Soup is so flexible, you could easily add in extra zucchini if you have a lot you want to use. Make it a Minestrone Zucchini Soup! Why not? This is one of my all-time faves.
Homemade Alphabet Vegetable Soup
If you have little ones, you have to get some alphabet-shaped pasta (affiliate link) for this soup! It’s so much fun and a great way to get your kids or grandkids loving on some veggies!
Zucchini Soup
If you want zucchini to be the STAR of your soup, give this recipe from Delish a try! It’s a vibrant green color and also utilizes summer basil!
Zucchini Soup
If you love the idea of zucchini being the star of your soup, but don’t want to purée it, this one from Small Town Woman is a good choice. It also has potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and fresh thyme.
Cream of Zucchini Soup
I know it’s hard to believe any soup with “cream of” in the title can be healthy, but this one from Skinnytaste is light! It’s a 25 minute soup, too, so a great one to try when you don’t have a lot of time!
Chicken Zoodle Soup
Take out the noodles and add zucchini noodles to your favorite classic! This recipe from Damn Delicious is a must try.
Thai Chicken Zoodle Soup
Spice up those flavors a bit and try a Thai version! This unique recipe is from Wholesomelicious.
Summer Minestrone
If you have a garden full of summer produce, this Summer Minestrone Soup from Good Housekeeping is a great recipe to try!
Summer Smoked-Salmon Chowder
This recipe from Martha Stewart features zucchini, fresh summer corn, and baby potatoes.
Instant Pot Turkey Vegetable Lasagna Soup
Studded with zucchini chunks, this soup from Meaningful Eats will crush your lasagna cravings!
Shaved Vegetable Salad with a Tangy Dill Dressing
This one goes perfectly with any of the soups you make! Just a great, light salad to round out your meal. It’s so quick and easy to make this one, as well.
Summer Squash Noodle Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
This is another light and healthy salad with a fresh, homemade dressing. The fresh basil and parsley provide terrific flavor and are just perfect if you also have fresh herbs growing in your garden.
Charred Zucchini Salad
I’m a BIG fan of warm salads, and this one from MyRecipes sounds fabulous.
Three Herb Tomato Zucchini Salad
Combined with herbs and cherry tomatoes, I’m obsessed with this salad from Cotter Crunch. It’s vegan, Paleo, and Whole 30 friendly.
Marinated Zucchini Salad
This recipe from the New York Times sounds so flavorful! Thinly sliced zucchini is marinated in lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic and then tossed with fresh herbs. It doesn’t get much easier!
Cucumber Zucchini Salad
Want to use a lot of summer produce in one salad? Try this one from The Lemon Bowl! It uses zucchini, cucumber, and fresh summer tomatoes.
Lemon Orzo Salad
Orzo makes this salad from Good Housekeeping a little heartier than most salads!
Zucchini Salad with Lemon and Feta
This salad from Joy Filled Eats calls for 5 simple ingredients and takes 10 minutes to make. A perfect salad to round off your summer meal!
Zucchini Caesar Salad
This recipe from Epicurious is a fun twist on a traditional Caesar Salad! It calls for zucchini ribbons instead of romaine lettuce.
Main Dish Recipes with Zucchini
There are so many ways to make zucchini the star of your meal! Here are some great ideas for you.
Orzo Pasta with Summer Vegetables
I use whole wheat orzo with this one and you can use either summer squash or zucchini or a mix of both! It also boasts spinach, tomatoes, and garlic, and is spiked with parmesan cheese. These simple ingredients make a delicious meal.
Grilled Zucchini Quesadillas
This makes an outstanding main course for your weeknight dinner menu! Even picky vegetable averse eaters will eat up their zucchini when you serve it this way. So quick and easy!
Zucchini Cakes
I could definitely eat these every day and be a happy girl. One of my very favorite ways to use zucchini is to add some eggs and flour and make it into a zucchini cake! YUM!
Grilled Vegetables with Pasta
I love grilling up my summer vegetables and tossing it with whole grain pasta. It makes for a hearty dinner that’s super easy to make and packed with veggies!
Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Zucchinis make a great vehicle for stuffing and this makes a vegan, gluten-free, taco-themed dinner. You. can’t. go. wrong. Taco Tuesday just got a big upgrade!
Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats
If you’re not in the mood for taco flavors, try this Italian version from Valerie’s Kitchen.
Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats
Yet another version of lovely zucchini boats from What Molly Made. This is a low-carb, dairy-free recipe.
Zucchini Quinoa Lasagna
Have you ever made zucchini lasagna? You’ve got to try this! Quinoa takes the place of meat, making this a vegetarian lasagna recipe that is unique and full of flavor!
Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
Make a healthier, lower carb version of shrimp scampi by using zoodles instead of noodles. It’s a winner!
Zucchini Noodles with Chunky Tomato Sauce and Bean Balls
Don’t worry if you’re plant based–there’s a place for zoodles in your life, too! This will change your whole outlook on spaghetti night!
Vegetable Lasagna
Even if you only eat meat lasagna, you will fall in love with this vegetarian lasagna. I’m telling you; it’s incredible! It has onions, red peppers, and zucchini–all the good stuff!
The Best Veggie Sandwich
Combine this veggie sandwich with a soup and you’ve got a comforting meal! Roasted red peppers and zucchini are topped with my favorite Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto for a dreamy sammy!
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
I use zucchini in my shepherd’s pie filling! It’s not traditional, but it’s really delicious! And what a great way to have a main course that’s chock full of veggies. You can easily make this one vegan, as well.
Easy Zucchini Lasagna Roll Ups
Give your traditional lasagna roll ups a low carb makeover with this recipe from the Evolving Table.
Giant Zucchini Parmesan
You know when you have those giant zucchinis that come from the garden? The really, really big ones? Those are the ones this recipe from Skinny Taste is designed for!
Pesto Zucchini Orzo
This is a 30-minute dinner recipe from Good Housekeeping that utilizes both zucchini and summer squash.
Zucchini Ribbon Pasta
The Food Network brings us a vegetable-packed pasta dish that features thinly-sliced zucchini and summer squash. Use whole-grain pasta for the healthiest version.
Shrimp, Zucchini, and Corn Enchiladas
This recipe from Good Housekeeping utilizes fresh produce and with a few store-bought shortcuts it makes a quick and easy dinner! Shrimp lovers have to try this one.
Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini
I adore Tex Mex flavors, so I know I’d love this easy dinner idea from iFoodReal. Along with the zucchini and chicken in its name, it includes black beans, corn, fresh herbs, taco seasoning and melted cheese on top.
Vegetarian Moussaka
If layers of fresh vegetables sounds delicious to you, you’ve got to try this Vegetarian Moussaka from The Mediterranean Dish. It features layers of roasted eggplant, potatoes, and zucchini with a chunky tomato-lentil sauce, and is topped with creamy bechamel sauce. YUM.
Chicken Zucchini Casserole
The zucchini in this one-pot dinner comes in the form of “noodle sheets.” This recipe from iFoodReal uses 2 pounds of zucchini, so it’s a good one to use when you have a ton of zucchini on hand.
Zucchini Tart
Find a whole grain pie crust and this Zucchini Tart recipe from the Food Network is a healthy dinner idea!
Italian-Style Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables
Who doesn’t love a good sheet-pan dinner? Use your zucchini along with red bell pepper, baby broccoli (or broccoli florets), and red onion. A must-try recipe from The Mediterranean Dish.
Crustless Summer Zucchini Pie
This recipe from Skinny Taste is a summer favorite recipe that could be dinner all by itself!
Side Dish Zucchini Recipes
My compilation of healthy zucchini recipes wouldn’t be complete without rounding up the best side dishes. Zucchini is the perfect ingredient for a simple side. It can be the star of the show or a supporting ingredient in a recipe. Try them all–these side dishes are the perfect way to use your summer zucchini!
Zucchini Gratin Recipe
This is a lightened up Zucchini Gratin that’s super simple and flavorful! Everyone loves this recipe–it’s a must try!
Perfect Rice Pilaf
Have you ever made rice pilaf? Oh, you need to! It’s such a terrific way to sneak in some extra vegetables at dinner time, zucchini included. This is my go-to recipe when I’m not sure what to add to my dinner menu because it goes with so many different main courses.
Zucchini, Summer Squash, and Tomato Bake
Every single layer of this vegetable bake is bursting with flavor. Feta cheese, fresh thyme, and zucchini slices, summer squash slices, and tomato slices come together for a delicious and easy side dish recipe.
Layered Vegetable Crockpot Casserole
This one could easily be a side dish or a vegetarian main dish. If you don’t use your slow cooker much in the summer months, you should start! It makes dinner time a breeze and doesn’t heat up your kitchen! This one is an incredible mix of vegetables and cheesy goodness. Kid friendly!
Baked Parmesan Zucchini Coins
Can you really go wrong with cheese and breadcrumbs that create a nice, crispy coating? These are baked, not fried, and super tasty!
Roasted Zucchini with Parmesan
This recipe from The Modern Proper is right up my alley! Roasted vegetables of any kind make the best side dishes!
Easy Sauteéd Zucchini with Parmesan
This recipe is from Well Plated by Erin and if you’d rather sauté your zucchini than roast it, it’s a great one to try!
Zucchini Pizza Bites
This is one of those healthy zucchini recipes you just have to try. Zucchini in pizza form? Yes please! This one is from The Food Network and would make a great side dish or snack!
Zucchini Tator Tots
If your kids like traditional tator tots with potatoes, try this healthier version with zucchini! This fun recipe is from Delish.
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
No breading necessary for this recipe! I can’t wait to try this recipe from The Food Network and if you have an air fryer, you should, too!
Grilled Zucchini
I make zucchini on the grill often, but don’t have a recipe dedicated to it here on the blog. Try this one from Delish!
Potato, Zucchini, and Tomato Gratin
The perfect summer combination comes from Martha Stewart.
Garlic Butter Sautéed Zucchini
This recipe from Inspired Taste is very simple, but sometimes the most simple ingredients garner the best flavor.
Cheesy Zucchini Breadsticks
This recipe from Eating Well sounds like the perfect way to get your kids to eat more zucchini! These homemade breadsticks sound super simple to make, too.
Baking with Zucchini
This is where things get really fun. Zucchini in bread, muffins, pancakes, and more is a delicious way to add nutrients to your baking. (Okay, pancakes isn’t baking. But it fits best in this category!)
Some of my favorite healthy treats have zucchini in them. Zucchini add so much moisture to your baked goods–along with fiber and all those other nutrients I listed up above. The best part? It doesn’t add any weird flavors. It’s really neutral so you don’t taste it when you bake with it! YES!! Try one of these healthy zucchini recipes for sure!
Low Carb Keto Zucchini Bread
My husband, Tim, goes through phases where he limits his carbs, but he has a massive sweet tooth. I help him out by creating sweets that fit into his low-carb lifestyle! This healthy zucchini bread is made with a mix of almond and coconut flour and has a nice texture.
Easy Zucchini Bread
If you don’t want or need a keto version, try this Easy Zucchini Bread from James Beard. You can substitute 1 cup of rye or whole wheat flour instead of using all white flour to make this a healthier bread option.
Lemon Zucchini Bread
I’m a sucker for anything with lemon, so adding the fresh flavor to zucchini bread sounds like a great idea to me. I love this recipe idea from Eating Well.
Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
No one will believe these are healthier muffins! They are so tasty and the dark color even conceals any “green” color little ones might be wary of. You’re going to love this easy recipe!
Double Chocolate Banana Zucchini Bread
The first time I made this my kids called it chocolate cake. Enough said. This is absolutely delicious.
Zucchini Oatmeal Snack Bars with Chocolate Chips
If you crave sweet snacks, this recipe is perfect for you! This is definitely an easy to way to use the abundance of zucchini you have and feel great about having a vegetable be a part of your afternoon snack. Vegetables + chocolate chips = winner.
Wholesome Vegan Zucchini Muffins
These yummy muffins get rave reviews! They are naturally sweetened, made with whole wheat flour, and shredded zucchini that adds great moisture. Oh! And they are wonderfully spiced with cinnamon and ginger, too.
Veggie Pancakes
You can make these sweet by topping with maple syrup, or you can even take them a savory route by adding salsa! We often have pancakes for dinner with this recipe!
Morning Glory Muffins
I’ve made these Morning Glory Muffins with shredded carrots, shredded zucchini, and a mixture of both! They are whole grain and absolutely delicious.
Almond Butter Bars
These Almond Butter Bars from Hummusapien are made without flour and have 1 heaping cup of grated zucchini. Chocolate chips are listed as option, but I’d never leave them out!
Healthy Zucchini Cake
This Healthy Zucchini Cake recipe from Erin Lives Whole is gluten free and studded with chocolate chips. Yes, please!
Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake
If Chocolate Cake is more your speed, I suggest trying this Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake from Two Healthy Kitchens. It sounds delicious!
Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins
iFoodReal made her Zucchini Muffins gluten-free by using almond flour. These ones are also naturally sweetened!
Fudgy Chocolate Zucchini Cookies
Why stop at muffins or bread? These Fudgy Chocolate Zucchini COOKIES from The Natural Nurturer are a must try!
Savory Zucchini Muffins
If you have more of a savory tooth than a sweet tooth, you should try these Savory Zucchini Muffins from From My Bowl. They are both gluten-free and vegan.
Savory Zucchini Bread
This savory recipe from The Almond Eater is made with shredded cheddar cheese and fresh chives. It sounds absolutely delicious!
I have even more ideas that I’d like to add to this list of the best healthy zucchini recipes. I’m thinking Zucchini Meatballs would be perfect and what about Zucchini Banana Bread? Zucchini Coffee Cake? As I keep creating new zucchini recipes, I’ll add them to this list. If YOU have a favorite, please link it up in the comments!
If you try any of these healthy zucchini recipes, please let me know on social media or comment here.
For more healthy living inspiration, make sure to follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
I love all kinds of zucchini, they just look so delicious. I will try it.
Nice recipe. It looks like quite a healthy dish to eat.