Summer is the perfect time to make the most of fresh zucchini, and these easy dinners come together in 30-minutes or less. Whether you’re tossing zucchini into a hearty pasta, pairing it with chicken or seafood, or building a colorful skillet meal, these recipes make weeknight cooking simple without sacrificing flavor. Recipes like our Creamy Garlic Chicken & Zucchini Skillet and Zucchini Scampi are quick, satisfying dinners you’ll want to add to your regular rotation.
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Creamy Garlic Chicken & Zucchini Skillet
This creamy chicken skillet comes together in just 25 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner packed with savory garlic flavor. Tender zucchini and juicy chicken cutlets are coated in a silky pan sauce made with shallot, broth and half-and-half. Serve it with whole grains or crusty bread to soak up every bit of the sauce.
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Honey-Mustard Chicken with Zucchini
Sweet, tangy honey-mustard dressing does double duty in this easy sheet-pan dinner, coating the chicken before broiling and serving as a simple finishing sauce. Tender chicken thighs roast alongside zucchini and bell pepper for a complete meal with minimal cleanup.
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Creamy Zucchini Spaghetti
This creamy spaghetti with zucchini is a comforting pasta dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights and when you have a bumper crop of zucchini on hand. Spaghetti is coated in a silky, garlic-infused cream sauce that clings to every bite, while fresh zucchini slices add a touch of sweetness and a pop of color. This dish comes together quickly and pairs well with a simple green salad or crusty bread.
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Zucchini Scampi
This veggie-packed twist on scampi makes zucchini and summer squash the star of the plate instead of shrimp. We love the mix of squash, but you can use one or the other if you prefer. White wine provides needed acidity and balances well with the aromatic garlic and rich butter to create a luxurious sauce. Charring the lemon is a simple step, but adds complex tart and smoky flavors to this easy side.
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Ginger-Soy Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp
These ginger-soy zucchini noodles with shrimp are a light, flavorful no-cook dish that’s perfect for warmer days. Thinly sliced zucchini offers a crisp and refreshing base, while the sauce (made with ginger, soy and lime juice) adds bold and bright flavors. Precooked shrimp make this meal fast and convenient—just toss everything together and serve! It’s a fresh, protein-packed bowl that comes together in minutes.
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Lemon Zucchini Pasta
This lemon zucchini pasta only takes 25 minutes to make, making it ideal for busy summer evenings. Fresh zucchini blends perfectly with the lemony sauce. If you have summer squash on hand, you can use that instead. You can also experiment with topping the pasta with different fresh herbs like basil or parsley to add variety.
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Spiralized Zucchini & Summer Squash Casserole
If you don’t have a spiralizer to make the zucchini noodles (aka zoodles) for this healthy casserole, use a vegetable peeler to make long thin strips of the squash and zucchini, stopping when you reach the seedy center. Just a few minutes under the broiler gives these ricotta-and-basil-filled nests a light golden top.
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Grilled Zucchini & Halloumi Pitas
This grilled halloumi pita is summer-ready with tender-crisp zucchini, fresh tomatoes and smoky halloumi cheese. You can prepare this sandwich inside using a grill pan, or outside using a gas grill. You can grill halloumi cheese just like you would any other protein (it doesn’t melt); letting it cook undisturbed makes it release from the grill pan easily.
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Penne with Zucchini & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
The unbelievable truth about Italian cooking is that your life can be forever altered with just 20 minutes and a few simple ingredients. This dish, which I’ve adapted from the traditional spaghetti alla Nerano, is a perfect case in point! First created by Chef Maria Grazia, who served her signature zucchini pasta in the idyllic village of Nerano on the Amalfi Coast, this version stays close to the original, with zucchini, a rather flavorless vegetable on its own, caramelized until the flavor intensifies to what can only be described as transformative. Excerpted from Everyday Delicious copyright © 2024 by Rocco DiSpirito. Used by permission of Rodale Books an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Cheddar and Zucchini Frittata
This frittata, made with cheddar cheese and zucchini, is quick and easy to prepare. With just 115 calories per serving, this is a guilt-free meal.
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Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
Enjoy classic shrimp scampi lightened up with zucchini noodles in place of pasta. The tomatoes add some sweetness and color, while the cheese contributes nuttiness and richness.
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Peanut Zucchini Noodle Salad with Chicken
You’ll end up with more peanut sauce than you need in this zucchini noodle recipe, and that’s a good thing! It makes a great dip or stir-fry sauce.
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