Packed with flavor and nutrients, summer squash is a delicious and versatile addition to any meal. Try these summer squash recipes to add a unique twist to your veggies.
Zucchini and summer squash are an absolute staple of summertime farmers’ markets and produce stands. The plants are incredibly productive, and we have no shortage of squash in our house during the summer months! However, summer squash can definitely get boring if you’re running out of interesting ways to fix it.
Lucky for you, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite summer squash recipes to help you spruce up your meals. Zucchini, pattypans, crooknecks—no matter what summer squash you have lingering in the fridge, these recipes will help you get through your stash. And they’re so tasty that even summer squash haters may become fans!
How do you cook squash and zucchini without it getting mushy?
A light touch is the key to keeping summer squash and zucchini delicious. Don’t over-steam, boil, or stir-fry your squash vegetables—they simply fall apart and get mushy when cooked too vigorously. You want to cook your squash until it is crisp-tender.
Can summer squash be eaten uncooked?
Most folks can handle uncooked summer squash just fine (think: raw zucchini noodles or shaved zucchini salad), but if you have digestive issues after eating raw summer squash, consider cooking them first to see if it helps alleviate the problems.
Do you peel summer squash?
We recommend that you keep the peel on your yellow squash and zucchini. Not only does it hold a lot of the color and vitamins, but it also keeps your squash from falling apart when you cook it.
Should you salt zucchini before cooking?
You can use salt on zucchini to help remove some of the moisture. This is helpful when you want a “drier” final result for your summer squash—like is the case for our vegetable chips or zucchini noodles. It’s not necessary to salt it prior to cooking for most recipes, though.
Can I freeze summer squash?
Let’s face it—no matter how much you shred, sauté, and bake your zucchini and summer squash, you could still have some left over. Those plants can be productive, baby! If you’re running out of ideas, or just want to preserve some of your harvest for the cold winter months, try freezing some of your squash!
Luckily, freezing summer squash is a breeze—there’s no blanching required. We’ll teach you how to freeze zucchini slices, shreds, and noodles, so you can make your favorite summer squash recipes year-round.
What can I do with a lot of summer squash and zucchini?
You’ve come to the right place, because we’ve gathered all our favorite recipes in one spot. Let’s dig in to our best summer squash recipes!
10+ Delicious Summer Squash Recipes
Packed with flavor and nutrients, summer squash is a delicious and versatile addition to any meal. Try these summer squash recipes to add a unique twist to your veggies.
Grilled Zucchini with Parmesan
If you’re looking for a simple zucchini side dish, this grilled zucchini is the way to go. Serve it hot off the grill, or make it in advance and have it at room temperature.
Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Beef-stuffed zucchini boats make for a quick, healthy, and delicious weeknight meal.
Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread Recipe
Whole wheat zucchini bread is a quick and very easy recipe. It is perfect for snacking on when you want something delicious with a dose of veggies.
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe
Zucchini makes a great side dish that goes well with almost any meal. Learn how to make sauteed zucchini in no time!
Zucchini Chicken Burgers
Chicken burgers can turn out dry if you aren’t careful, but zucchini adds the perfect amount of moisture to the lean meat, making these the most perfectly juicy chicken burgers. We love these topped with a lemon-feta mayo, but any of your favorite burger toppings will do!
Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread
This gluten-free zucchini bread is a moist and delicious bread that just happens to also be dairy-free. You won't want to miss this tasty loaf!
Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
There is so much to love about these kabobs—the tender chicken, the sweet pineapple and squash contrasted with the savory peppers and onions, the spicy-sweet marinade. You can’t go wrong!
Turmeric Chicken Zoodle Soup
Nobody likes sick days. But if you’re going to be down for the count, nourish your body with this anti-inflammatory turmeric chicken zoodle soup.
Crispy Baked Vegetable Chips
Yes, you can make summer squash crispy! You’ll love these oven-baked chips for a salty, crunchy snack.
Grain Bowls
Grain bowls are perfect for those “I have a bunch of random ingredients in my fridge that need to be used up” situations. And in the heat of summer, leftover grilled or roasted summer squash makes a great grain bowl addition!
Grilled Veggie Sandwich with Pesto-Feta Mayo
As soon as our summer veggies and herbs start coming off in the garden, you’ll find me at the grill making these sandwiches. We’ve been making them for ages, and they have remained a standby favorite, year after year. Don’t skimp on the pesto-feta mayo—it’s what really brings the whole thing together!
Grilled Veggie and Pesto Flatbread
If you haven’t made pizza on the grill yet, you are seriously missing out. We change out our toppings based on the season, and in the summer, we are all about the roasted summer squash, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes.
Chicken Zoodle Instant Soup in Jar
This is such a fun meal prep—just add boiling water at lunch time, and you’ve got some fresh chicken zoodle soup!
Summer Roasted Vegetable Pasta
This roasted vegetable pasta is packed with corn, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, and fresh herbs. Not only is it delicious, but it is incredibly versatile—serve it as a main dish, bring it to a potluck, or serve it as a side dish.
One Pot Summertime Primavera
This one pot recipe is super adaptable to whatever produce you have coming in from your garden, farmers’ market, or CSA. And in the summer, that inevitably ends up making this a squash recipe. Some cream, lemon juice, parsley, and Parmesan cheese make a perfectly bright and light creamy sauce that brings the pasta and whatever veggies you choose together beautifully.
