16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (2024)

Not to diss zucchini bread (because it's delicious), but there are plenty of other dishes you can make to use up the hydrating summer vegetable. Maybe you'll spiralize it and make a pasta dish, or maybe you'll enjoy a meaty and cheesy zucchini boat recipe. Either way, recipes like our 5-Ingredient Zucchini-Feta Roll-Ups and Kousa Mahshi (Egyptian Stuffed Zucchini) are flavorful meals you can make to clear the garden or refrigerator of excess veg.

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Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (1)

Summer-fresh zucchini brims with a zesty mix of peppers, ground turkey and spices in these ground turkey zucchini boats. Nothing goes to waste here, as the flesh from the zucchini gets chopped and mixed with the filling. To ensure they cook evenly, use zucchini that are similar in size.

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Smashed Zucchini with Pesto & Burrata

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (2)

Tender zucchini rounds get topped with creamy burrata and tangy, bright pesto for an easy side dish that's sure to impress. Crushed red pepper adds a light kick of spice to round out the flavors.

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5-Ingredient Zucchini-Feta Roll-Ups

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (3)

These zucchini-feta roll-ups are a quick and easy appetizer to pull together, and the recipe is easily doubled (or tripled!) for a larger gathering. You can use summer squash in addition to the zucchini for a pop of yellow color. They are plenty flavorful on their own, but they can also be served with marinara sauce or pesto for dipping.

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Zucchini Stir-Fry

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This tender stir-fried zucchini comes together in just a few minutes. The grated ginger adds an earthy spice that complements the soy sauce and Sriracha without overpowering the zucchini's delicate flavor. To elevate the flavor and presentation, sprinkle with togarashi spice and toasted black sesame seeds before serving.

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Roasted Zucchini with Parmesan & Lemon

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (5)

This roasted zucchini is seasoned with baked cheese and an herb and crushed red pepper paste that elevates the mild, sweet flavor of the zucchini. Don't forget to garnish the roasted zucchini with the bits of frico—the crispy cheese pieces that brown on the baking sheet. They give this simple side dish an extra-savory flavor. If you have summer squash on hand, it works well here too.

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Kousa Mahshi (Egyptian Stuffed Zucchini)

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (6)

Got zucchini? Packed with plenty of herbs, these stuffed zucchini are a delicious way to eat summer's bounty. You can use the stuffing mixture for other vegetables, too—think onions, tomatoes or eggplant.

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Parmesan-&-Herb-Crusted Zucchini

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (7)

This Parmesan-and-herb-crusted zucchini features a crispy crust of golden-brown baked cheese in every bite. This easy side dish is perfect paired with chicken, burgers or steak. To make it a stand-alone appetizer, using a toothpick, skewer each slice with a bocconcini (small mozzarella ball) and serve with marinara for dipping.

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Thai Green Curry-Inspired Vegetable Soup

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Green curry paste, fresh herbs and plenty of scallion all pack a bunch of flavor into this vibrant, refreshing soup. The light yet creamy broth is loaded with vegetables, with tofu stirred in at the end to make it filling. A small spoonful of chili crisp adds nice heat and crunch, but if you want to tame the spice, chopped cashews would work well in its place.

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Air-Fryer Zucchini Noodle Hash with Eggs

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (9)

Zucchini noodles are shaped to form nests, creating a perfect pocket for eggs. These nests make for a stunning presentation and are perfect for breakfast or brunch at home. A quick tomato mixture adds a pop of color.

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Smashed Lemon-Garlic Zucchini with Parmesan

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (10)

Zucchini rounds are flattened, then coated with Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, garlic and basil for a savory summer side. The cheese browns nicely, giving them an almost-crispy topping.

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Grilled Zucchini & Halloumi with Herbed Couscous

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (11)

If you don't love the idea of flipping each vegetable on the grill, enlist the help of a grill basket instead. Then you can just give the veggies a quick stir or toss halfway through cooking.

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Calabacitas de Tapachula (Zucchini & Corn in Poblano Sauce)

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (12)

Mexicans prepare the trio of corn, zucchini and poblanos in every possible way, from soups and stews to quick sides like this one from the city of Tapachula in Chiapas. In this recipe, adapted from Treasures of the Mexican Table by Pati Jinich, a mixture of zucchini and corn is enveloped in a creamy poblano sauce. Think of it as a Mexican version of ratatouille, but with more texture and much quicker to make. Be careful not to overcook the zucchini, and keep the corn crunchy.

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Creamy Oven-Roasted Zucchini & Summer Squash

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (13)

This wonderfully creamy and tender oven-roasted zucchini and summer squash draws inspiration from Thomas Keller's viral zucchini recipe. The squash is scored, then roasted whole, allowing garlic to seep into the center while a crispy top forms in the pan. Enjoy it alongside roasted or grilled meat or fish. It's perfect as-is, but also tastes great topped with chopped tomato and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, pesto or romesco sauce.

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Smashed Zucchini with Lime, Cotija & Cilantro

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (14)

This smashed zucchini recipe is a great way to use up a bumper crop of fresh summer zucchini. Smashing the zucchini increases the surface area that absorbs the flavors of cilantro, cotija cheese and lime beautifully. If you can't find cotija cheese, feta cheese is a good substitute.

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Creamy Oven-Roasted Zucchini & Summer Squash

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (15)

This wonderfully creamy and tender oven-roasted zucchini and summer squash draws inspiration from Thomas Keller's viral zucchini recipe. The squash is scored, then roasted whole, allowing garlic to seep into the center while a crispy top forms in the pan. Enjoy it alongside roasted or grilled meat or fish. It's perfect as-is, but also tastes great topped with chopped tomato and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, pesto or romesco sauce.

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Sheet-Pan Zucchini Pizza

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16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (16)

Fresh zucchini and lemon slices top this sheet-pan pizza. Whole lemon slices add bright flavor from the skin and rind as well as acidity from the flesh. Feta and fresh mozzarella cheese add a savory note and add balance to the rest of the flavors.

16 Recipes to Use Up Your Garden Zucchini That Aren't Zucchini Bread (2024)

FAQs

What to do with all my garden zucchini? ›

Related Pages
  1. Sausage-Stuffed Zucchini Boats Recipe.
  2. Zucchini Pancakes Recipe.
  3. Zucchini Gratin Recipe.
  4. Baked Zucchini Parmesan Crisps Recipe.
  5. Zucchini Saute Recipe.
  6. Spaghetti with Zucchini Recipe.
  7. Simple Roasted Zucchini Recipe.
  8. How to Freeze Zucchini and Summer Squash.
May 15, 2024

What to do with large amounts of zucchini? ›

What to do with too Much Zucchini
  1. Add it to Your Salads. Sliced or diced, zucchini is a nice addition to any salad. ...
  2. Put it in Spaghetti. ...
  3. Freeze It. ...
  4. Make Butter out of It. ...
  5. Enjoy Zucchini Bites. ...
  6. Try Greta's Zucchini Bread Recipe. ...
  7. Add Zucchini to Turkey Burgers. ...
  8. Zucchini Soup is a Must.
Aug 7, 2021

Should you peel zucchini for zucchini bread? ›

There's no need to peel the zucchini or remove the seeds. You also shouldn't press or squeeze any of the excess moisture out of it. You want all that to go into the bread! Once you shred the zucchini, make the batter.

Should you squeeze water out of zucchini for bread? ›

Squeezing is optional.

But unless your zucchini is excessively juicy, squeezing the squash could be removing some of the moisture you really do want in the bread. It's up to you, though. Squeeze for lighter, drier bread. Leave it as is for denser, moister bread.

Can you freeze a whole zucchini from the garden? ›

We're sometimes asked, "Can you freeze zucchini whole?" You certainly can, but it will be much more challenging to thaw and use later. (Imagine trying to shred a soggy, whole, thawed squash.) So, instead, we recommend tackling the shape in advance so you can quickly use the frozen zucchini when you're ready.

Should I cut the big leaves off my zucchini plant? ›

When pruning zucchini plant leaves, take care not to remove all the leaves. Keep some leaves on the stem, including leaf nodes near the last fruit you want to keep. When cutting leaves to give zucchini more sun, just cut the bigger ones, and make the cuts close to the base of the plant, leaving all others.

Can zucchini squash get too big to eat? ›

But here's the thing: These monster zucchini are totally impressive to look at, but they're not really all that delicious. This isn't, of course, to say that you can't eat these massive zucchini that grow in your garden or that you find at the farmers market. You absolutely can. Go ahead and stew, roast, or bake them.

What is a giant zucchini called? ›

When zucchini becomes overgrown, it is called a marrow. These large squashes are excellent in a variety of recipes-especially muffins, bread, and cakes due to the structure of the fruit. You can also use the huge zucchini as a stuffed squash.

Is it better to freeze or canning zucchini? ›

Slices or cubes of cooked summer squash will get quite soft and pack tightly into the jars. The amount of squash filled into a jar will affect the heating pattern in that jar. Michigan State University Extension recommends that to preserve zucchini (and all summer squash) you should freeze it.

How many zucchinis does it take to make 2 cups grated? ›

You need 2 cups of grated zucchini for the recipe, so you will need about 3 small zucchini, 2 medium zucchini, or 1 large zucchini.

Can dogs eat zucchini? ›

Is Zucchini Good for Dogs? Zucchini is completely safe for dogs to eat in moderation. It's low in calories and high in fiber, making it a healthy and nutritious addition to both you and your dog's diets. This summer squash contains numerous vitamins, including A, C, and K.

Why does my zucchini bread fall apart when I cut it? ›

The most common reason for zucchini breadand other quick breads (and cakes) to collapse as they cool is the ingredients are too vigorously or quickly mixed, which incorporates lots of less stable air bubbles into the batter.

Why do you soak zucchini in salt water? ›

Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices.

Do you grate or shred zucchini for bread? ›

Luckily, zucchini is extremely versatile and can be baked, grilled or sauteed, but I recommend grating it. Your grated zucchini melts into whatever it's cooked with, so it's great for sneaking into pasta or creamy risotto. It's also ideal for making baked goods like zucchini bread and other zucchini dessert recipes.

Why is my zucchini bread mushy in the middle? ›

The main issue here is that the bread just isn't cooked through. Zucchini bread batter is thick, and loaf pans are narrow and tall, so there is a lot of batter in a relatively small pan. The center will be the last to cook through, so pay special attention to this area when checking your bread for doneness.

How do you preserve zucchini from the garden? ›

Preserving zucchini
  1. Choose young squash with tender skin.
  2. Wash and cut in half-inch slices.
  3. Water blanch for three minutes. Cool promptly, drain and package, leaving half-inch headspace.
  4. Seal, label and freeze.
Jul 5, 2018

Should I separate my zucchini plants? ›

Whether you choose to buy seedlings or plant zucchini seeds directly in your garden, you should group two to three plants close together for best pollination. Plus, hilling allows you to dig compost in to the soil.

What to do with zucchini plants at end of season? ›

How to Dispose of Your Zucchini Plants at the End of the Season. You'll be pulling up a great deal of foliage at the end of the gardening season. The best thing you can do is toss the remains in the compost bin, provided they show no signs of fungal damage.

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