Zucchini recipes don’t get better than this! If you’ve got an abundance of summer squash, turn them into crispy fritters, veggie noodles, the best ever lasagna, and several more easy and tasty recipes. 

Zucchini fritters piled on a plate with yogurt sauce.
Photo: Gayle McLeod

Why You’ll Love These Zucchini Recipes

Many of you know that my love for zucchini runs deep. It can mimic the texture of pasta, be pureed into a silky soup, be turned into healthy fries, and the list goes on (and on). It’s an incredibly versatile veggie and the one I personally look forward to cooking with the most in the summertime. So, needless to say, I’ve created a bunch of recipes. Here’s why you’ll love them:

  • They span from savory to sweet. Think zucchini noodle bolognese for dinner and chocolate zucchini bread for dessert.
  • They sneak in extra veggies. Frozen zucchini can be added to smoothies, and grated zucchini can be added to muffins. 
  • Everything is easy to make. These recipes are simple, healthy, and perfect for summer nights when you’d rather be outside than in the kitchen.

My Best Zucchini Recipes

Let’s start with my all-time favorite zucchini recipes! From crispy zucchini fritters to the best zucchini lasagna, these are the essential recipes to keep in steady rotation during zucchini season.

Zucchini lasagna with basil leaves

Zucchini Lasagna: This recipe is a huge community favorite! Layers of thinly sliced zucchini replace noodles for a lighter, low-carb twist on classic lasagna. But don’t worry, it’s still rich, cheesy, and so satisfying.

Zucchini fritters on a plate.

Zucchini Fritters: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these savory fritters are a great option for a light and healthy summer dinner. Plus, the lemon garlic aioli makes them even more delicious.

Baked zucchini fries in a platter.

Baked Zucchini Fries: These baked zucchini fries are cheesy, crunchy, and a great gluten-free alternative to traditional fries. I love to make these for a fun snack or appetizer for a dinner party.

Zucchini soup in two white bowls on a table next to spoons.

Zucchini Soup: The best summer soup recipe! It’s silky smooth, creamy (without cream!), and loaded with garden-fresh flavors. 

Ratatouille in a pan.

Ratatouille: A colorful, rustic French dish that highlights zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, and herbs most beautifully! You can enjoy servings of this with a poached egg on top for brekkie or as a stunning vegetable side dish.

Zucchini Bread Recipes

When you’ve got an abundance of zucchini, you have to make zucchini bread. These recipes turn out super moist, naturally sweet, and are full of flavor with every bite. 

Slices of gluten-free zucchini bread.

Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread: This is the kind of loaf you’ll want to keep on your counter all summer long. It’s perfectly moist, gently spiced, and sneaks in a little veggie boost to your morning routine. Side note: It’s not overly sweet, which allows for both savory/sweet toppings!

Zucchini muffins spread out on a table

Healthy Zucchini Muffins: Think of these as miniature versions of my zucchini bread! They’re soft, lightly sweetened, and perfect for on-the-go breakfasts or school lunchboxes.

Chocolate zucchini bread in baking pan.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread: There’s no doubt this is the highlight of August desserts. Slices of this loaf are rich, chocolatey, and secretly packed with veggies.

Easy Zucchini Recipes

Short on time but still want something nourishing and delicious? These easy zucchini recipes make the most of fresh summer squash with minimal effort.

Taco stuffed zucchini boats on a sheet pan.

Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats: Looking for a healthier spin on taco Tuesday? Seasoned ground beef is tucked into tender zucchini halves and baked to perfection, then topped with diced tomatoes, green onion, cilantro, avocado, and a dollop of sour cream.

Pizza stuffed zucchini on a baking tray.

Pizza Stuffed Zucchini Boats: Craving pizza? These zucchini boats deliver all the saucy, cheesy goodness with a veggie-forward twist. I highly recommend pairing them with my homemade marinara sauce—it makes the flavors even fresher.

Sauteed zucchini in a pan.

Parmesan Truffle Sautéed Zucchini: When I need a side dish that impresses, this is my go-to. Zucchini slices are elevated with a drizzle of truffle oil and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan. SO GOOD!

A plate of zucchini noodles topped with bolognese sauce, fresh parmesan and basil.

Zucchini Noodle Bolognese: Since I’m gluten-free, zucchini noodles are my favorite pasta alternative, and they’re a great way to sneak in extra veggies. If you’re new to cooking with zucchini noodles, this bolognese is the perfect place to start. It’s packed with hearty, beefy flavor but with a lighter, veggie twist.

Zucchini noodle caprese salad recipe

Zucchini Noodle Caprese: Fresh and summery, this quick dish combines zucchini noodles with juicy tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil for a refreshing take on the classic Caprese salad.

A white bowl with zucchini chips and a few extra chips laying on the table.

Zucchini Chips: Thinly sliced and baked until crisp, these are the ultimate healthy snack when you’re craving something salty and crunchy.

Plate of egg muffins with zucchini and prosciutto.

Zucchini and Prosciutto Egg Muffins: These protein-packed breakfast bites combine savory zucchini with salty prosciutto. A winner for breakfast meal prep!

How to Prep, Store, and Use Zucchini

  • Spiralize into zucchini noodles: I love using my spiralizer to turn zucchini into noodles for all kinds of gluten-free, pasta-like dishes. The best part? They’ll keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge! Just line a storage container with a paper towel, place the zoodles on top, and store them in the fridge.
  • Freeze zucchini sliced or diced: Frozen zucchini works great in soups, smoothies, and casseroles. To freeze it properly, blanch the pieces in boiling water, transfer them to an ice water bath, pat them dry, then spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 to 2 hours.
  • Freeze grated zucchini: Grated zucchini is perfect for recipes like fritters or zucchini bread. To save time later, pre-grate and freeze it! Just steam-blanch the grated zucchini, drain well, and store it in a freezer-safe bag or container.

If you try any of these zucchini recipes, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.

Zucchini recipes including zucchini soup and stuffed zucchini boats

Zucchini Recipes: Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Author: Lisa Bryan
5 from 4 votes
Read 10 Comments
Serves 4 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and I’ll send it to you + weekly food inspiration!

Description

Zucchini recipes don’t get better than this! Turn this summer vegetable into crispy fritters, the best lasagna, and these delicious taco stuffed zucchini boats. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen!

Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 4 large zucchini
  • 1 pound ground beef

Taco Seasoning

Toppings

  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 roma tomatoes, diced
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 avocado, thinly sliced
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro
  • 1 lime, juiced

Instructions 

  • Cook the beef. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Heat a large skillet on medium heat, add the ground beef, and use your spatula to break up the beef. Add the spices, stir to combine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until browned. 
  • Prep the zucchini. While the ground beef is cooking, slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the insides. Place the zucchini boats on a baking tray and fill them with the ground beef.
  • Bake the zucchini boats for 15 to 20 minutes in the oven, or until the tops are browned. 
  • Add toppings. Remove from the oven and top with a drizzle of cashew sour cream, a sprinkle of green onions and tomatoes, a few slices of avocado and some fresh cilantro. Serve immediately. 

Nutrition

Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 456mg | Potassium: 1685mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2117IU | Vitamin C: 75mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 5mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Roundup originally posted July 2021, but updated to include new recipes and information for your benefit!

About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

5 from 4 votes

Leave a comment

Thank you for taking the time to write a review—I always love reading your comments.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Did you make this? Rate the recipe!




All comments are moderated before appearing on the site, as per the community guidelines. Thank you for your patience! Please note that anonymous star reviews without comments are not allowed on Downshiftology, to ensure the integrity of recipe reviews.

10 Comments

  1. I’ve made your zucchini lasagna many times and it never stops being a great favorite. Thank you so much for the recipe.5 stars

  2. Many thanks for these great receipies.
    Will certainly do some of them starting with the zuccini soup

    Regards5 stars

  3. Thank you Lisa! I don’t know which recipe I prefer. All are easy to make and they all look suculent to me.
    I can’t wait for your cookbook. When is it to come out?

    Lilli5 stars

    1. It will be coming out late next year! Stay tuned on social where I’ll be posting updates here and there :)

  4. I really enjoyed your video and the 5 recipes you shared. I have some zucchini in the frig and was wondering what I would do with them. So now I have some wonderful options, thanks to you.
    P.S. I was going to give a thumbs up but couldn’t find it to click on??5 stars

    1. Wonderful, I’m so happy you enjoyed the video and zucchini recipes, Joan! The thumbs up is on the YouTube side, if you’re watching it in the app. But I appreciate the 5 stars here on the blog as well! :)