Grilled Zucchini Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2024)

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This grilled zucchini recipe is the perfect way to use up all that zucchini from your summer garden and still want to eat more!

There’s just something about barbecued food. And summer squashes are never a bad choice!

Grilled Zucchini Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (1)

It seems like no matter what I put on the grill, I’m pretty much always guaranteed a tasty outcome. Even veggies! In fact, the grill is fast becoming my absolute favorite way to prepare almost any vegetable.

I love the smokey flavor that the grill imparts, and in this case, the zucchini can be cooked to any level of “doneness” and end up being rock-star-delicious! I prefer to cook mine a little less so that the zucchini maintains a slight bit of crunch. But you can also cook them long enough to turn them into something just shy of a tasty mush. It really is up to you!

Health Benefits Of Zucchini

Zucchini is marvelous stuff. Particularly off the grill! But delicious flavors aside, here are some more reasons to enjoy plenty of zucchini this season!

Is It Okay To Eat Raw Zucchini?

Absolutely!! Raw zucchini is highly nutritious and mild in flavor, so you can really develop other flavors in a recipe that includes this delicious vegetable.

  • Low in calories
  • High in vitamin A
  • High in antioxidants
  • It’s possible that zucchini aids in digestion
  • It’s low in carbs

What Is The Best Way To Cut Zucchini For Grilling?

The best way is to cut them lengthwise. You can cut them as thick or thin as you want, but thicker pieces tend to hold up better on the grill. For most average-sized zucchini you get in the store, this will mean cutting the zucchini in half lengthwise and then cutting each half, in half again. So basically, cutting it into quarters.

Can I Cook This On A Stovetop?

You can! But you will need a grill pan that will put grill marks on your zucchini if that matters to you.

Simply cook it in a grill pan on the stovetop until the zucchini squash is tender, not mushy.

Should You Salt Zucchini Before Grilling It?

Yes and no. It’s not a requirement for it to turn out well, but it does tend to help your zucchini stay firmer and get crisper by pulling out a bit of the moisture.

How Do You Keep Zucchini From Getting Soggy When Roasting?

Aside from the above suggestion of making sure it’s salted, you shouldn’t have too much trouble with this if you are cooking it on a grill. The open grates will help the water evaporate quickly, so as long as you don’t cook it for too long, it shouldn’t get too soggy. That being said, if you are roasting these in the oven, you’ll want to use a wire rack that you set on top of a baking pan to allow the hot air to get all the way around the zucchini. Air flow is your best defense against soggy zucchini!

Recipe Variations

If you want to play with the flavors a bit, here are some suggestions:

  • Basil
  • Oregano
  • Include a bit of fresh lemon zest with the spices.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs
  • Drizzle the grilled zucchini spears with a balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar.
  • Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over the top
  • Sprinkle on some grated parmesan cheese at serving.

Recipe Tip For Grilled Zucchini

For crispier/crunchier zucchini, cook on higher heat for a shorter time. For a softer zucchini, cook on lower heat for a longer time.

About The Ingredients

Zucchini– cut into quarters or eighths, depending on the thickness of your zucchini.

Garlic powder – Or garlic granules. But not garlic salt.

Onion powder – Or onion granules.

Salt – I used pink Himalayan salt, but you can use whatever salt you normally cook with.

Ground black pepper

Oil – Keep smoke points in mind. Avocado oil and coconut oil both have higher smoke points which is better for grilling. Avoid olive oil.

How To Make Grilled Zucchini

Place all ingredients into a plastic bag, and gently shake until the zucchini is coated in the oil and spices

Place on grill and cook. (Much of the oil will be left behind in the bag. That’s okay. I just toss it out with the bag.)

When the zucchini is cooked to your liking, remove it from the grill and allow it to cool. These retain A LOT of heat. So cooling time is essential.

Recipe Supplies

Grilled Zucchini Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2)
Grilled Zucchini Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (3)
Grilled Zucchini Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (4)

Raw Zucchini Recipes

  • Raw zucchini couscous recipe
  • Mexican Zpaghetti
  • Taco chicken zucchini pasta

More Grilled Vegetable Recipes

  • Grilled Baby Carrots

Grilled Zucchini Recipe Card

Grilled Zucchini Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (6)

Grilled Zucchini Recipe

A delicious way to use up all that zucchini and still want more!

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Course: Side Dish, Vegetables

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 105kcal

Equipment

  • Grill

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. zucchini (cut into quarters)
  • 2 tbsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tbsp. onion powder
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup oil

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients into a plastic bag, and gently shake until the zucchini is coated in the oil and spices

  • Place on grill and cook. (Much of the oil will be left behind in the bag. That's okay. I just toss it out with the bag.)

  • When the zucchini is cooked to your liking, remove from the grill and allow to cool. These retain A LOT of heat. So cooling time is essential.

  • NOTE:For crispier/crunchier zucchini, cook on higher heat for a shorter time. For a softer zucchini, cook on lower heat for a longer time.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data below is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 74mg | Potassium: 376mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 225IU | Vitamin C: 21.2mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 0.8mg


Recipe from the Gracious Pantry® website, originally published on 7/26/11.

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Grilled Zucchini Recipe | The Gracious Pantry (2024)

FAQs

Why is my grilled zucchini soggy? ›

Zucchini is made of over 90% water. When cooked, it gets soft and slowly releases that water into whatever dish you're cooking. If zucchini is overcooked, it will have a mushy, soft texture. In certain recipes, the author may recommend that zucchini be patted dry or salted and drained before cooking.

How do you keep roasted zucchini from getting soggy? ›

ELEVATE THE ZUCCHINI by placing it on a baking rack, then setting that baking rack on top of your regular baking sheet. This allows air to circulate on all sides of the zucchini and helps water evaporate so the zucchini is beautifully caramelized, not soggy.

Does zucchini get softer the longer you cook it? ›

You can embrace zucchini's plump nature by cooking it for longer and letting it turn soft and silky.

How do you keep zucchini crisp when cooking? ›

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven. Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

Should I salt zucchini before roasting? ›

Season it before and after baking.

Tossing the zucchini with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper before baking gives it an amazing foundation of flavor. But adding a few extra seasonings after it roasts really takes it over the top.

How does salt get rid of moisture in zucchini? ›

By sprinkling the cut vegetable with salt and letting it stand in a colander over the sink, water will drip out, leaving behind a firmer vegetable. The zucchini can then be more easily sauteed or roasted to bring out its natural sugars and, hence, flavor.

Do you salt zucchini before or after cooking? ›

Zucchini is 94 percent water, which is why it gets mushy when cooked for too long. The first step in this recipe involves salting the flesh of the zucchini and allowing it to stand for 15 minutes. The salt draws the moisture from the flesh which helps ensure that the vegetable stays firm during roasting.

When grilling vegetables like zucchini What should you do before you cook them to help them from drying out and retain their flavor? ›

Oil the Vegetables Lightly

Vegetables dry out when they hit the heat without a little oil. Before putting the veggies on the grill, toss them with a light coating of oil. Don't use too much-it not only adds unnecessary calories, but dripping oil causes flare-ups and greasy flavors.

How long to cook zucchini on a Weber grill? ›

First, take a zucchini and slice it into lengthwise sections, no more than a ¼ in thickness. Next, rub both sides of the zucchini slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper and your choice of fresh herbs. Lastly, grill the zucchini over direct medium heat (350 F) approximately 2 minutes a side, turning once.

Why did my zucchini turn to mush? ›

On the other hand, they may simply be waterlogging if your garden is poorly drained. Another possibility is squash bugs have damaged them and rot has set in as a result. In the meantime, keep removing the infected fruit as soon as you see signs of the problem.

Why is my zucchini rubbery? ›

How to Tell If Zucchini Has Gone Bad. Bad zucchini will feel rubbery or slimy to the touch. It may also have an off-putting smell and dark or fuzzy moldy spots. The interior of bad zucchini may be off-white to brownish with stringy, mushy flesh and large, hard seeds.

Why is my zucchini turning to mush? ›

Blossom End Rot

It's occurs due to the plants inability to get calcium. This can be caused by a few things: Watering inconsistency (the most likely cause especially if you've had a lot of rain) Soil PH is either too high or too low (do a PH test to check)

How do you keep zucchini from getting soft? ›

If you're planning on using the zucchini soon, go ahead and store it in your fridge. To store zucchini in the fridge, keep the squash whole, dry and unwashed. Store them in a plastic or paper bag with one end open to encourage air circulation, and pop them in the refrigerator crisper drawer.

Why is my zucchini squishy? ›

Mold - Maybe the most obvious sign that fresh produce has gone bad. If you see mold on your zucchini, it's time to toss it out. Soft spots - When inspecting whole zucchini, if you find any soft spots that easily indent or feel squishy, this is a sign that it has begun to rot inside.

How do you firm up zucchini? ›

Arrange the zucchini pieces into a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (It will stick to the pan if you don't line it first!) Freeze the zucchini for about 1 hour, until it's firm to the touch, then transfer it to an airtight container to preserve the flavor as you store it.

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