20 Easy Zucchini Recipes for Healthy Snacks, Sides, and Treats
Zucchini, the versatile summer squash, is a superstar in the kitchen, perfect for transforming into all sorts of delicious dishes. Whether you’re on the hunt for a healthy snack, a savory side, or a sweet treat, zucchini has got you covered. This round-up of easy zucchini recipes will inspire you to get creative with this nutrient-packed vegetable. From crispy zucchini chips to decadent zucchini cake, there’s something here for everyone.
Looking for a crunchy, guilt-free snack? Zucchini chips are perfect for satisfying those midday munchies. If you prefer something savory, zucchini fritters are a fantastic way to use up an abundance of zucchini and are perfect for a delicious appetizer or side dish.
For those who love fries, zucchini fries are a must-try. These baked goodies are a healthier twist on the classic French fry, offering a perfect balance of taste and health. And let’s not forget the sweet side of zucchini—think moist zucchini bread and rich zucchini cake, which are sure to impress.
This round-up features over 20 easy zucchini recipes, ensuring you’ll find plenty of new favorites to add to your meal rotation. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out, these recipes make it easy to enjoy the delicious versatility of zucchini. Dive in and discover how this humble veggie can elevate your cooking game.
Reasons to Peel Zucchini:
- Texture Preference: If you prefer a smoother texture in dishes like soups, purees, or certain baked goods, peeling the zucchini can help achieve that.
- Appearance: For a uniform appearance in light-colored dishes or when you want a specific visual presentation, peeling might be desirable.
Reasons Not to Peel Zucchini:
- Nutrient Retention: The skin of zucchini contains valuable nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Keeping the skin on maximizes the health benefits.
- Texture and Flavor: The skin adds a slight texture and a mild flavor that many people enjoy in salads, stir-fries, and grilled dishes.
- Convenience: Not peeling saves time and reduces food waste.
Conclusion:
Whether or not to peel zucchini is up to you and depends on your specific recipe and texture preferences. In most cases, leaving the skin on is beneficial for both nutrition and convenience. If you do decide to peel, a vegetable peeler works best.
Can You Eat Raw Zucchini
Yes, you can eat raw zucchini! It’s a versatile and nutritious vegetable that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Here are some reasons and ideas for eating raw zucchini:
Benefits of Eating Raw Zucchini:
- Nutrient-Rich: Raw zucchini retains all of its vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can be reduced through cooking.
- Hydrating: Zucchini has a high water content, making it a hydrating snack.
- Low-Calorie: It’s a low-calorie vegetable, great for weight management.
Can You Store Zucchini On The Counter
Zucchini can be stored on the counter at room temperature for a day. Otherwise, you will find it best to keep Zucchini in your produce drawer in the refrigerator.
What is The Best Size of Zucchini
7-9 inches is the perfect size for zucchini. You will find zucchini can grow to be ginormous. The larger the zucchini the more fibrous and off the flavor becomes.
Best Zucchini Recipes
Is your garden overflowing with zucchini? If you have a nice amount of zucchini on your hands look no further. Here are the best zucchini recipes you want to try today!
OVEN RECIPES
Zucchini pie is a savory zucchini recipe that baked in the oven. This zucchini pie recipe takes minutes to prep before you toss it into bake.
Stuffed zucchini boats are the perfect way to use up fresh zucchini from the garden. I created a traditional zucchini where I stuffed with seasoned ground beef, tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese.
Use up your summer zucchini with this Cheesy Zucchini Bake. Shredded zucchini that is filled with cheese, in a creamy base. Bake up and slice and serve this savory zucchini recipe. If you are looking for an easy zucchini recipe to serve up at dinner, try this recipe.
Low carb, naturally gluten-free, and meatless Baked Caprese Zucchini Roll Ups that make dinner a delicious yet easy task.
These Zucchini Lasagna Rolls are a fun twist on traditional lasagna! A low carb and healthier alternative with all the delicious flavors of the original.
Chocolate Zucchini cake is moist, delicious, and loaded with chocolate. It is the perfect way to get the kids to eat their vegetables as well as use up all the zucchini from the garden. This is the one dessert you will always say yes to with the kids.
Best chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe! This easy one-bowl recipe can be made by hand and makes two loaves of moist, perfectly spiced chocolate chip zucchini bread.
AIR FRYER RECIPES
Air Fryer Keto Loaded Hassleback Zucchini are one incredible and savory way to use up zucchini from your garden. Bacon and cheese collide in this zucchini air fryer recipe.
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips are a crispy coated zucchini slice that is air fried to a crispy panko crusted side dish or appetizer. These zucchini chips are a great way to use up fresh produce from the farmer’s market or your garden.
INSTANT POT RECIPES
Instant Pot Zucchini Pie Bites are a quick and easy zucchini pie bites, that are fluffy, and full of savory flavor. This is a recipe I created from my viral Zucchini pie recipe. You have the similar flavor but in mini muffin bite form.
This flavourful Instant Pot buttery lemon chicken pasta is well worth making. It’s a dish including pasta with zucchini and squash as well as chicken. The taste is both light and hearty and there are many ways to tweak the recipe, adding your own personal touches.
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!