22 Easy and Healthy Zucchini Main Dish Recipes

These zucchini dinners are as delicious as they are nutritious.

A tray of fresh of the stove zucchini patties. Garnished with sliced green onions and a side of sour cream
Photo: Meredith Food Studios

When fresh zucchini abounds in summer gardens, these are the main dish recipes you need. They're easy to make, delicious, and offer loads of variety. So, when your garden gives (and gives and gives!) zucchini, transform your surfeit of squash into these healthy, top-rated main dish recipes.

01 of 22

Pasta with Scallops, Zucchini, and Tomatoes

Pasta with Scallops, Zucchini, and Tomatoes
Pasta with Scallops, Zucchini, and Tomatoes | Photo by Deb C.

Sautéed garlic, diced zucchini, and red pepper flakes are simmered with chopped tomatoes, bay scallops, and fresh basil. This simple and fresh pasta is ready in about 30 minutes!

02 of 22

Chicken Zoodle Pho

Chicken Zoodle Pho
Buckwheat Queen

"Chicken zoodle pho made super simple in the slow cooker and topped with spiralized zucchini noodles for a healthy version of a restaurant favorite. Make takeout easy at home with a comforting bowl of this gluten-free and low-calorie soup!" —Megan Olson

03 of 22

Zucchini Patties

Zucchini Patties
Angela F.

"These cheesy zucchini patties are an excellent way to use up that abundance of zucchini from the garden. Serve with a bit of tomato sauce or sour cream dabbed on top," says Sherlie A. Magaret.

04 of 22

Individual Grilled Veggie Pizzas

Individual Grilled Veggie Pizzas
Allrecipes Magazine

"Delicious! No matter what combination of veggies you use this is going to be good. This is a great base to get creative and use what you may have on hand or fresh from your garden. I used portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, red and green peppers, and red onion," Jillian says.

05 of 22

Turkey Veggie Meatloaf Cups

Turkey Veggie Meatloaf Cups
Jennifer Baker

It's meatloaf in muffin cups! Lean ground turkey is mixed with chopped zucchini, couscous, coarsely chopped red bell peppers, and onions, along with Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and a little barbecue sauce. Save some meatloaf muffins for next-day lunches, too.

06 of 22

Farmer's Market Vegetarian Quesadillas

quesadillas stuffed with vegetables
Alberta Rose

"Making the most of simple, fresh ingredients found at your local farmer's market, these quesadillas make great appetizers or a quick and healthy meal. Serve while hot with your favorite salsa, sour cream, and guacamole," Jennifer Baker says.

07 of 22

Chicken Zoodle Soup

Chicken Zoodle Soup
France C

Zucchini-spiraled noodles are a genius way to sneak extra vegetables into your healthy diet. The soup's rich, herbed broth is delicious and hearty, loaded up with chicken breast meat, carrots, onion, celery, and garlic.

08 of 22

Nat's Shrimp and Veggie Stuffed Zucchini

Nat's Shrimp and Veggie Stuffed Zucchini
CookinBug

Stuff large fresh zucchini with shrimp, cremini mushrooms, garlic, shallot, fresh tomato, and torn basil. Top each zucchini boat with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

09 of 22

Zucchini Noodles Pad Thai

Zucchini Noodles Pad Thai
aeddy

"I used only shrimp and had to leave out the tamarind sauce because I couldn't find it at my store. But this is my favorite way now to eat zoodles!" —Wendalyn

10 of 22

Marrakesh Vegetable Curry

bowl of Marrakesh Vegetable Curry
christina

The flavors of Morocco star in this curry, which is jam-packed with veggies, including sweet potato, zucchini, carrots, eggplant, bell peppers, and spinach.

11 of 22

No-Noodle Zucchini Lasagna

No-Noodle Zucchini Lasagna
Rock_lobster

"This lasagna is perfect in the summer with your garden-fresh veggies and herbs, or in the winter when you need a comforting meal," Jill Welch says. "You won't even miss the noodles in this one!

12 of 22

Chicken with Quinoa and Veggies

Chicken with Quinoa and Veggies
Gabriela

Strips of boneless, skinless chicken breast are sautéed in olive oil with zucchini and fresh tomatoes, along with chopped garlic scapes and onions. You'll finish with feta cheese and fresh basil — a splash of lime juice will brighten all the flavors.

13 of 22

Terrific Turkey Chili

Terrific Turkey Chili
Nicolette

"Using some fresh and some canned ingredients, this chili is a snap to throw together and will keep you craving it for days," says big surprise. It features chunky zucchini, fresh green onions, sour cream, and shredded Cheddar cheese. "If you like beans in your chili, garbanzos right out of the can are great in this."

14 of 22

Baked Chicken And Zucchini

single serving of baked chicken and zucchini with the casserole dish in the background
Meredith Food Studios

Here's a delicious casserole with breaded and seared chicken, sauteed zucchini, tomatoes, fresh basil, and cheese. It's ready in less than an hour. "Delicious all-in-one pan meal," says Sherri. "We all loved it."

15 of 22

Chicken Kabobs Mexicana

Chicken Kabobs Mexicana on a white plate with a red table cloth
CookinBug

Cubes of lean chicken breast are marinated in olive oil, fresh lime juice, cumin, and cilantro. Thread the chicken onto skewers with sliced zucchini, onion wedges, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers. Enjoy on a bed of salad greens or tucked into warm tortillas topped with fresh salsa.

16 of 22

Tunisian Kaftaji

Tunisian Kaftaji
candice82

This delicious combination of zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggs gets its flavor from hot chile peppers and harissa. Serve it with warm bread.

17 of 22

Grilled Zucchini Pizza with Goat Cheese

zucchini sliced in half with red sauce and cheese
Jamie Justice Yost

"I recently stopped eating meat and wheat and this was the perfect substitute for a good pizza! Can make with any sort of topping. It was so quick and simple. Will sure to be a favorite around here!" —trainwife

18 of 22

Shrimp Florentine with Zoodles

Shrimp Florentine with Zoodles
Adrianne Zeiss

Easy, fresh, and flavorful. Sautéed zoodles, onions, and garlic are combined with cooked shrimp, baby spinach, lemon juice, and red pepper. You'll love how quickly everything comes together.

19 of 22

Vegetarian Bibimbap

Vegetarian Bibimbap
Holiday Baker

It's comfort food, Korean-style. You'll sauté zucchini and carrot matchsticks in hot sesame oil; then add bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms. Spoon the colorful veggies over cooked rice, then top with a fried egg and a drizzle of sweet-and-spicy red chili sauce.

20 of 22

One-Pan Keto Chicken Breast with Vegetable Ragout

One-Pan Keto Chicken Breast with Vegetable Ragout
thedailygourmet

"This quick-to-fix entree seems so decadent and guilty, no one would suspect it could be keto approved! Serve on top of mashed cauliflower." —thedailygourmet

21 of 22

Zucchilattas

zucchini wrapped in tortillas topped with salsa and cheese
*Sherri*

Zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and tomatoes are cooked until tender, wrapped in warm tortillas, topped with cheese, and baked until bubbly. "This is a great way to use some of the fresh garden vegetables," says Barbie.

22 of 22

Chicken Zucchini Enchiladas

Chicken Zucchini Enchiladas
bd.weld

"This was so easy and so yummy. Not to mention, guilt free! Slicing the zucchini with the veggie peeler was so much simpler than I ever would have thought! I recommend doing it while they're whole. The assembly, even simpler! The zucchini are so much more durable than your standard corn tortilla." —OneLove1123

Was this page helpful?