A sucker for a good deal, I never fail to overbuy on zucchini in the summer when the farmers at our local market are all but giving it away, and my green thumb friends are desperately looking to share their wealth. Since one cannot live on Healthy Zucchini Muffins and Zucchini Cookies alone (SIGH), I’ve taken to using zucchini to make all manner of side dishes. When we’re staying inside for dinner, oven and stovetop recipes like Roasted Zucchini, Sauteed Zucchini, or Zucchini Fries fit the bill. Or we’ll add flare with extra crispy Air Fryer Zucchini. In these precious days of summer, however, I’ve been trying to get outside and grill as much as possible. Like Grilled Eggplant, Grilled zucchini is mild and versatile. Cook it alongside Grilled Pork Tenderloin or Grilled Chicken Kabobs, or make it a hearty vegetarian evening with a Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger. If it’s summertime and you are cooking, chances are grilled zucchini is a spot-on match!
How to Grill Zucchini
Grilled is one of the healthiest ways to eat zucchini, because the grill imparts big-time flavor without the need for extra fat. However, all grilled zucchini is not created equal. If you’ve been a victim of soggy, mushy zucchini, you know what I’m talking about. To grill zucchini without it getting soggy, you need to do two things:
The Ingredients
Zucchini. The star of the show! Zucchini is high in vitamin A and vitamin C and potassium.
Olive Oil. Coating the outside of vegetables you prepare for grilling ensures they caramelize but do not burn. Zucchini needs very little, just 1 tablespoon for 4 medium zucchini. You could even use avocado oil here!Kosher Salt + Pepper. Seasoning is key to great-tasting grilled veggies. Season vegetables both before you grill them and after, to taste.Italian Seasoning. While optional—simple grilled zucchini tastes great with just salt and pepper—I love to add a little Italian seasoning for some flair. Feel free to swap in another dried herb (such as oregano, thyme or basil) or seasoning blend you prefer.
Parmesan. This nutty, umami addition is optional, but once you try Grilled Zucchini with Parmesan, it’s hard to go back! A garnish of cheese also tends to make grilled vegetables more appealing to kids and picky eaters. Could used feta cheese here!Lemon Juice. The hit of acid that brightens up cooked vegetables and makes them taste far more complicated than they really are (it’s why I love adding lemon to my Grilled Asparagus).
The Directions
Storage Tips
To Store. Refrigerate grilled zucchini in an airtight container for up to 3 days.To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.To Freeze. I do not recommend freezing grilled zucchini, as they will be quite mushy once thawed. However, you can freeze uncut zucchini if needed. Freeze them in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
Tongs. I appreciated the locking feature for staying organized in a drawer.Measuring Spoons. Similarly, I love the magnetic feature in these because it helps them stay bundled together in my kitchen drawer
Save this easy zucchini recipe for the next time you need a fast, healthy side dish, or for when you feel overwhelmed with your zucchini haul. I prefer to cut the zucchini into batons. Batons hold their texture and are easy to turn so that they do not slip into the grates. To cut up zucchini for grilling:
Wash the zucchini and trim off the ends (no need to peel).Cut it in half lengthwise.Place the cut sides down flat on the cutting board and cut it lengthwise in half again to create four zucchini “sticks” or batons.Season as desired and throw on the grill!
It is easy to turn the zucchini without the zucchini spears falling through the grill grates.Unlike Grilled Salmon in Foil, you do not need to insulate the zucchini to keep it from drying out.Zucchini has a high water content, so unlike harder, starchy vegetables like Grilled Potatoes, you do not need to use a foil packet to trap moisture and create steam in order to tenderize it.
In fact, skipping the foil is more likely to result in crispy grilled zucchini, because it gives the water a chance to cook out.
Grilled Cod
22 mins
Grilled Shrimp Seasoning
10 mins
Shrimp Burger
45 mins Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe. For us most summer nights, it’s a mix of both. Hence, we eat a lot of grilled zucchini around here. I’m not tired of it yet, and I don’t think you will grow weary either!
Grilled Brussels Sprouts
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Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
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Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
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