Grilled Zucchini

By Becky Hardin

Published Jun 7, 2023

This simple Grilled Zucchini Recipe is the best side dish for BBQs, cookouts, and all your summer favorites. Strips of summer squash are marinated in a savory, herb-y mixture, then grilled to perfection in minutes. Get your veggies in with this flavorful, healthy, and easy-to-make recipe!

overhead view of grilled zucchini on a white oval plate. - 5

What’s in this Grilled Zucchini Recipe?

Kick your meek and mild zucchini up a notch with some tasty herbs and spices with this easy grilled vegetable recipe !

Zucchini: You’ll want to get large zucchini so that you can get lots of thick slices out of it. This recipe also works well with yellow squash and other summer squashes.
Olive Oil: This common cooking oil helps the zucchini cook without burning or sticking.
Fresh Herbs: I used basil, thyme, and parsley, but any combination of fresh herbs will work.
Garlic: Adds a pungent, earthy flavor.
Spices: Onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper enhance the natural flavor of the zucchini.

Pro Tip: Oil the zucchini, not the grill, to prevent sticking!

Seasoned Zucchini on the Grill

The easiest way to change up the flavor of this grilled zucchini is to switch out the fresh herbs in the marinade for your favorites. Sage, rosemary, cilantro, oregano, dill are all great options. You can also swap the onion powder for your favorite seasoning blend , like Creole seasoning , blackened seasoning , Italian seasoning , or herbs de Provence .

long strips of marinated zucchini in a white bowl. - 6

I like to cut my zucchini lengthwise into thick strips, but you can also quarter it lengthwise into sticks, or slice it crosswise into thick discs.

There’s no need to peel zucchini before cooking it. In fact, the skin contains a lot of nutrients!

There’s no need to salt zucchini before grilling, as it cooks so quickly, we don’t need to worry too much about excess moisture. Instead, add salt to the marinade to infuse it with flavor.

To keep zucchini from getting soggy, be sure to preheat the grill and don’t overcrowd the zucchini. We want plenty of room for air to circulate and evaporate that excess water.

grilled zucchini piled onto on a white oval serving plate. - 7

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover grilled zucchini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on a medium grill, wrapped in foil; or in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes, until warmed through.

How to Freeze

Freeze grilled zucchini in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Keep in mind that frozen zucchini will become quite mushy once thawed.

Serving Suggestions

If you need a healthy side dish this summer, throw your zucchini on the grill along with any of your favorite grilled chicken recipes ! Pair it with grilled ribeye , grilled pork chops , grilled ribs , marinated grilled chicken , pesto shrimp , grilled hamburgers , or grilled salmon . Add a side of grilled ranch potatoes or grilled potato wedges for a complete meal!

This summer veggie would also make a great appetizer served with dips (like aioli ) or drizzled with balsamic glaze .

close up view of char-grilled zucchini strips on a white oval plate. - 8

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ ⅔ cup olive oil
▢ ½ cup chopped fresh herbs – basil, thyme, and/or parsley
▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
▢ ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
▢ 3 zucchini sliced into ½-inch strips
▢ Freshly grated Parmesan cheese optional, for topping

Instructions

Whisk together the olive oil, herbs, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. ⅔ cup olive oil, ½ cup chopped fresh herbs, 3 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Reserve ⅓ cup of marinade.
Place the zucchini in a casserole dish, and pour the remaining marinade over the zucchini. 3 zucchini
Let the zucchini marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Heat the grill to medium heat (350-375°F).
Grill the zucchini for 3-4 minutes per side.
Serve with a drizzle of the remaining marinade and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Equipment

Grill or Indoor Grill Pan

Becky’s Tips

Keep the grill closed for the most even cook.
Only flip the zucchini once during cooking.
Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Zucchini Recipes We Love

Zucchini Au Gratin
Crispy Zucchini Fries
Roasted Zucchini
Zucchini Ravioli
Mexican Zucchini Boats
Crispy Baked Zucchini

Grilled Zucchini Recipe

Equipment

Grill or Indoor Grill Pan

Ingredients

⅔ cup olive oil
½ cup chopped fresh herbs - basil, thyme, and/or parsley
3 cloves garlic minced
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 zucchini sliced into ½-inch strips
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese optional, for topping

Instructions

Whisk together the olive oil, herbs, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. ⅔ cup olive oil, ½ cup chopped fresh herbs, 3 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Reserve ⅓ cup of marinade.
Place the zucchini in a casserole dish, and pour the remaining marinade over the zucchini. 3 zucchini
Let the zucchini marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Heat the grill to medium heat (350-375°F).
Grill the zucchini for 3-4 minutes per side.
Serve with a drizzle of the remaining marinade and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Notes

Keep the grill closed for the most even cook.
Only flip the zucchini once during cooking.
Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!