Our Best Zucchini Recipes are delicious, whether you want to eat them fried, stuffed, in a casserole, as an appetizer, side dish, dessert, or main course. These easy zucchini recipes won't disappoint!
Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables. Not only is it delicious steamed or pan-fried, but you can put it into so many other dishes. It's a main ingredient in all kinds of sweet and savory dishes. You can't go wrong.
I actually have an extra large space in my garden that's completely devoted to zucchini because I cook with it so much. I can never have too much zucchini because I make main dishes, side dishes, and desserts with this vegetable, and there's nothing better than farm fresh!
Why should you cook with zucchini?
Zucchini is an incredibly versatile vegetable. You'll find zucchini in all manner of both sweet and savory recipes and in all sorts of textures.
Zucchini bread, for example, uses shredded zucchini, as do recipes like zucchini fritters, zucchini muffins, and of course, zucchini bread.
You'll also find zucchini sliced or cubed in various recipes like fried zucchini, zucchini appetizers, vegetarian lasagna, or zucchini casserole.
It's no stretch to say that you can use zucchini in almost any way you like. In fact, somewhere out there, someone probably already has!
Health Benefits
Zucchini is a super-healthy food. It's been called a superfood, in fact, and for good reason. It's packed with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. In one serving, you'll find:
- Vitamin A - 40% RDI
- Manganese - 16% RDI
- Potassium - 13% RDI
- Magnesium - 10% RDI
- Vitamin K - 9% RDI
- Folate - 8% RDI
- Copper - 8% RDI
- Phosphorus - 7% RDI
- Vitamin B6 - 7% RDI
- Thiamine 5% RDI
Zucchini is also high in antioxidants. These help keep the body healthy and fight cellular degradation and oxidation, keeping the body healthier. Zucchini is particularly high in carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, exceptionally powerful antioxidants.
This unassuming vegetable also helps promote digestion, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and according to some studies, can promote heart health, as well.
How to Pick a Ripe Zucchini
It's actually very easy to pick a ripe zucchini. Unlike many other fruits and vegetables that require squeezing, thumping, smelling, and a dozen other tricks, you just have to remember a couple of things with zucchinis.
A perfect zucchini will be no longer than 6 to 8 inches. They should be firm and free of nicks and cuts. If you pick a zucchini, and it feels a bit bristly with what feels like tiny hairs, then congratulations, you found the absolute freshest zucchini possible.
Why does this vegetable work in so many recipes?
Zucchini works so well in so many different kinds of recipes because it has a very mild flavor. It's so mild, in fact, that zucchini tends to take on the flavor of whatever it's cooked with. This makes it the perfect addition to both sweet and savory dishes.
With zucchini, you can add body, texture, and moisture to a dish without drastically changing its flavor as some other ingredients can.
When made into low-carb noodles, zucchini is the perfect neutral flavor to pair with any pasta sauce. Shredded, it makes the perfect addition to sweet dishes like quickbread, cakes, and other baked goods because it adds moisture and body without a strong flavor.
Of course, its flavor can shine when it's cooked on its own or as part of a simple appetizer with only a few ingredients.
Why You'll Love These Recipes
There's really so much to love about all of these zucchini recipes. From casseroles to appetizers and everything in between, you'll find so many reasons to love them.
- Zucchini is a versatile and affordable vegetable.
- These recipes are all very easy to make.
- The ingredients are simple and easy to find.
- These recipes explode with flavor and texture.
Best Zucchini Recipes for Any Occasion
And here we are - our best zucchini recipes. These range from appetizers and snacks to desserts and casseroles, and there's something for everyone to love on this list.
Whether you're making a side dish for baked chicken, serving up appetizers for game day, or you need a super tasty sweet treat, you're going to find something on this list.
Try All of These Zucchini Recipe Favorites
From flatbread and skillets to appetizers and stuffed boats of deliciousness, there's a recipe on this list that you're going to absolutely love.
Even if you're not zucchini obsessed like I am, I can almost guarantee that you'll love all of these recipes. Give them a try and find out for yourself!
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