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28 Bright And Summery Zucchini Recipes, From Muffins To Pesto Pasta

A versatile vegetable you can enjoy fresh, roasted or grilled in everything from salad to tacos and brunch-worthy griddle cakes.
28 Bright And Summery Zucchini Recipes, From Muffins To Pesto Pasta

(Recipes and food styling by Eshun Mott; produced by Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Christie Vuong; prop styling by Madeleine Johari)

Of all the summer fruits and vegetables, zucchini has to be one of the most versatile. From griddle cakes to spiralized noodles, muffins, loaves, salads and more, it stars in some of our all-time favourite recipes. Find a zucchini recipe to try tonight in the gallery below:

Cherry Tomato, Zucchini And Halloumi Skewers With Pesto Drizzle

Halloumi cheese is a great addition to a vegetable kebab, but needs a little extra attention on the barbecue. Make sure your grill is really hot, clean and lightly oiled before you begin and turn the skewers frequently to keep the cheese from sticking. Get our cherry tomato, zucchini and halloumi skewers with pesto drizzle recipe.

Chocolate-Zucchini Muffins

Make the most of that zucchini haul with these decadent (and easy!) double-chocolate treats. One of our editors makes these every summer—for a while, they were the only zucchini recipe her kids would eat. Get our chocolate-zucchini muffins recipe.

A six-slot muffin tin with four chocolate-zucchini muffins in wrappers in the tin, and one to the side, and two empty slots, on a green and white striped linen tablecloth(Photo: Erik Putz)

Ottolenghi's Super-Soft Zucchini With Harissa And Lemon

"Zucchini, strictly speaking, aren’t controversial, but they do tend to get a pretty lukewarm reaction from many, including, regrettably, two of our test-kitchen colleagues. The reason for this is probably zucchini’s high water content, which tends to make them, well, watery. There are plenty of ways to combat this—frying and grilling are two examples—but we actually use it to our advantage here, cooking the zucchini slowly in their own juices, making them fantastically soft and enhancing their flavour by a long soak with fried garlic. (And in the process, we also managed to win over our two zucchini-iffy colleagues, we’re happy to announce.)" —Excerpted from 'Flavor,' by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage. Get Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage's super-soft zucchini with harissa and lemon recipe.

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Ottolenghi's super soft zucchini with harissa and lemon on speckled white plate

Togarashi Shrimp, Spiralized Zucchini And Soba Bowls

Loaded with soba noodles, this easy dinner bowl is a healthy way to cap off the day. Get this togarashi shrimp and spiralized zucchini bowl recipe.

Shrimp, herbs, noodles and zucchini noodles in orange bowl.Photo, Erik Putz.

Ultimate Zucchini Muffins

The savoury seasonal fruit helps balance out the sweetness in the bread batter. Get this ultimate zucchini muffins recipe.

Ultimate zucchini muffinsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Pickled Zucchini

Preserved fresh zucchini is a zesty topper you can use on salads and sandwiches. Get this pickled zucchini recipe.

Pickled zucchini in a jarPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Caprese Grilled Portobellos with Zucchini Salad

Make this delicious and filling meal tonight, then save some grilled veggies to make our Mushroom, Zucchini & Tomato Pasta Salad tomorrow (it's the next link!). Get our caprese grilled portobellos with zucchini salad recipe.

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Caprese Grilled Portobellos with Zucchini Salad; the salad is topped with grilled zucchini and arugula and a balsamic glaze; the Portobello with melted mozzarella and sliced cherry tomatoes and fresh basil(Photo: Carmen Cheung)

Mushroom, Zucchini & Tomato Pasta Salad

Leftover grilled portobello mushrooms and zucchinis from last night's Caprese Grilled Portobellos with Zucchini Salad (link above!) pair with store-bought pesto and yogurt for a fresh, herbaceous pasta salad recipe.

Mushroom, Zucchini & Tomato Pasta Salad with store-bought pesto, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, yogurt, mayonnaise, grilled zucchini and Portobello mushrooms on a white platter on a wood table(Photo: Carmen Cheung)

Salmon Fillets With Zucchini Orzo

Lightly seasoned with Dijon, honey, dill and white wine vinegar, this salmon, served on an orzo-zucchini salad, packs a flavourful punch. Get this salmon fillets with zucchini orzo recipe.

Salmon fillet on bed of orzo salad served on grey platesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Zucchini Loaf

This ultimate zucchini loaf is, well, ultimate on its own, but stir in a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg or ground cloves for a hint of warm spice to elevate it to the next level. Get this zucchini loaf recipe.

Ultimate zucchini loafPhoto, Erik Putz.

Zucchini And Carrot Fritters

Ditch the potatoes for these little fried delights. These fritters are a great way to start your mornings off on a veggie-packed note. Get this zucchini and carrot fritters recipe.

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carrot and zucchini fritters recipePhoto, Sian Richards.

Pappardelle And Zucchini Pasta Recipe

Pumpkin seed pesto and spiralized zucchini noodles dress up this simple summer pasta. Get this pappardelle and zucchini pasta recipe.

Zucchini pasta recipePhoto, Erik Putz.

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

Panko-parmesan crusted zucchini rounds make a perfect appetizer, especially when paired with a creamy dip. Get this zucchini parmesan crisps recipe.

Zucchini parmesan crispsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Pesto And Zucchini Noodles Pasta

The texture of zucchini makes it a perfect substitute for pasta. Plus, a quick fresh pesto means you can be healthy without sacrificing flavour. Get this pesto and zucchini noodles pasta recipe.

Zucchini noodlesPhoto, Erik Putz.

Grilled Zucchini-Pear Salad

Pear, arugula, goat cheese and grilled zucchini are topped with a honey vinaigrette for a delicious combination of flavours that will dress up any meal. Get this zucchini-pear salad recipe.

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Grilled Zucchini and Bosc Pear Salad on a white serving platter topped with goat cheese and arugula next to a pitcher of honey and lemon juice to drizzle over it for a post on the best grilled zucchini pear salad recipe(Photo: Erik Putz)

Tomato-Zucchini Vegetable Tarts

Quick, easy and super delicious, puff pastry appetizers are the best way to start a party — whether it’s a family barbecue or a Friday night with friends. Get this tomato-zucchini vegetable tarts recipe.

Zucchini and tomato vegetable tarts on a sheet of parchment paper for a post on the best recipe for zucchini and tomato vegetable tartlets next t a bowl of cherry tomatoes and a larger yellow tomato and fresh zucchini(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Grilled Halloumi, Zucchini And Chickpea Salad

One of our simplest summer salads: All you have to do is grill halloumi and zucchini, then toss together with chickpeas, herbs and a light vinaigrette. Get this grilled halloumi, zucchini and chickpea salad recipe.

Grilled halloumi and zucchini salad with chickpeas, fresh mint, parsley and lemon on a white plate(Photo: Erik Putz)

Sicilian Zucchini Boats

A savoury snack, lunch or appetizer, these boats are filled with herbs, tomatoes, feta and panko to give it a golden crisp under the broiler. Get this Sicilian zucchini boats recipe.

Sicilian zucchini boatsPhoto, Erik Putz.

Zucchini And Artichoke Summer Lasagna

Too hot to cook? Let your slow cooker whip up this summertime favourite (your kitchen will stay cool and so will you). Get this slow-cooker zucchini and artichoke summer lasagna recipe.

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Slow cooker summer lasagna with artichokes, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, ricotta and mozzarella on a white and blue plate next to a napkin for a post on the best slow cooker summer lasagna for hot weather

Panzanella Salad

Throw some vegetables on the grill and whip up this Italian-style rustic salad. Here we’ve used eggplant, peppers, zucchini and tomatoes. Get this panzanella salad recipe.

A panzanella salad on a white plate on a picnic table, the salad is made with grilled eggplant, zucchini and peppers and fresh tomatoes, basil and croutons for a post on the best summer panzanella salad recipe(Photo: Erik Putz)

Chickpea Naan Pizza With Zucchini

Take pizza night on a global tasting tour, starting with this hearty vegetarian recipe. Get the recipe for our chickpea naan pizza with vegetables.

A chickpea naan pizza topped with fresh cilantro, lime raita and chickpeas as well s eggplant, tomato and zucchini next to a bowl of raita(Photo: Erik Putz)

Minted Zucchini Salad

Sliced, barbecued and seasoned with mint, this salad is the perfect complement to our honey-ginger chicken. Get this minted zucchini salad recipe.

Grilled zucchini with mint for a delicious barbecue side salad recipe: minted zucchini salad(Photo: Roberto Caruso)

Halibut And Zucchini Soft Tacos

Perfect for a barbecue, your guests will love these light and delicious tacos that pack a lot of flavour. For a vegetarian version, substitute fish with tofu. Get this halibut and zuccini soft tacos recipe.

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Perfect for a barbecue, your guests will love these light and delicious tacos that pack a lot of flavour. For a vegetarian version, substitute fish for tofu.

Pork And Zucchini Meatballs In Lettuce Cups

Skip spaghetti night this week for a new family-favourite. Spicy mayo adds zip, carrots bring the crunch, and building your own? It's a whole lot of fun. Get this pork and zucchini meatballs in lettuce cups recipe.

Pork And Zucchini Meatballs In Lettuce Cups topped with spicy mayo(Photo: Erik Putz)

Golden Zucchini-Feta Cakes

Golden, crispy cakes that are a delicious side for dinner, lunch or a savoury mid-day brunch. Get this golden zucchini-feta cakes recipe.

Golden zucchini feta cakes with dill and green onions on metal spatula for a post on the best zucchini recipes(Photo: John Cullen)

Fresh Pepper And Zucchini Pasta

Fresh zucchini and crispy bell peppers makes this colourful dish a healthy and satisfying meal. Top with freshly shaved parmesan and serve. Get this fresh pepper and zucchini pasta recipe.

Fresh Pepper And Zucchini Pasta—tomato, linguini, zucchini, pepper and grated parmesan topped with fresh oregano on a white braising pan for a post on delicious, fast Fresh Pepper And Zucchini Pasta recipe

Sharp-Cheddar Zucchini Bread

A little bit sweet, a little bit salty and a whole lot tasty. Even better, it can be prepared in 15 minutes and is out of the oven in less than an hour. Get our sharp-cheddar zucchini bread recipe.

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28 Bright And Summery Zucchini Recipes, From Muffins To Pesto Pasta

Have leftover zucchini? Here’s how to use it:

Make vegetable “pasta”: Peel ribbons of raw zucchini with a vegetable peeler. Sauté with oil and garlic until just tender. Top with pasta sauce of your choice and sprinkle with grated parmesan.

ZucchiniPhoto, Erik Putz.

How to make zucchini-feta cakes

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