Grilled Zucchini with Garlic and Herbs

Name: Grilled Zucchini
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound small zucchini (ends trimmed off, then cut into quarters lengthwise); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves (chopped); lemon wedges for serving (optional)

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This grilled zucchini is bathed in a flavorful garlic and herb marinade, then cooked to perfection on the grill. An easy side dish that’s quick to make and always gets rave reviews!

I adore grilled vegetables, especially asparagus, potato foil packets, and this amazingly delicious zucchini. Once you’ve tried zucchini on the grill, you won’t want to cook it any other way.

A plate of grilled zucchini garnished with lemon and herbs.

When the warmer months roll around, I find myself eating zucchini and other summer squash on a regular basis. Zucchini is inexpensive, widely available and healthy too! My favorite way to eat zucchini is in this grilled zucchini recipe. It’s so simple with ingredients you probably already have on hand, yet it tastes so delicious!

Grilled zucchini ingredients

Bowls of ingredients including zucchini, olive oil, lemon juice, herbs and spices.

This dish contains zucchini which is flavored with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Fresh parsley is used as a garnish.

How do you make grilled zucchini?

The first step in this recipe is to prepare your marinade, which is a blend of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried herbs, garlic and seasonings. You’ll want to let your zucchini soak up the marinade for at least 20 minutes, but it’s better if you have the time to let it sit for at least 2 hours. After the zucchini has marinated, it goes onto the grill – I use my charcoal grill, or if it’s not grilling weather, I opt for for my indoor grill pan on the stove. Grill the zucchini until it is tender, then add parsley and serve.

Step by step shots showing how to grill zucchini.

Tips for the perfect dish

I like to use small zucchini that I’ve cut into quarters. Cooking with larger pieces of zucchini helps to prevent it from getting mushy on the grill. If you prefer to slice your zucchini you can, just make sure the slices are at least 1/2 inch thick.
I use dried Italian seasoning in my marinade, which is widely available in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can use equal parts of dried parsley, oregano and basil.
Fresh lemon juice is best here, do not use the kind in a bottle.
I like to garnish my grilled zucchini with fresh herbs such as chopped parsley. If you don’t have parsley on hand, other great options are fresh dill, basil or chives.

Ways to Use Grilled Zucchini

You can eat grilled zucchini as-is as a side dish, but I often make extra grilled zucchini to use in other recipes during the week.

Pasta: This zucchini recipe is the perfect addition to fettuccine alfredo.
Salad: Coarsely chop your zucchini and add it to a green salad.
Sandwiches: Layer grilled zucchini with roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella and pesto for an amazing sandwich.
Pizza: Chop your zucchini and add it on top of a frozen cheese pizza.

Grilled zucchini served with mashed potatoes and chicken.

Recipe FAQs

Is zucchini healthy?

Zucchini is full of vitamins and minerals including folate, riboflavin, Vitamin C and manganese. Zucchini is low in calories and high in fiber. Zucchini is full of antioxidants and anti inflammatory compounds, so it’s a great way to enjoy your veggies and stay healthy at the same time.

What is the best way to slice zucchini for grilling?

There are a few different slicing methods that work well for grilled zucchini. The first is to quarter your zucchini like I’ve done in this recipe. You can also cut your zucchini lengthwise into long planks. The final option is to cut your zucchini into slices at a sharp diagonal. This will create slices that are large enough to avoid falling through the grill grates.

How do you grill zucchini without it getting soggy?

The best way to prevent soggy zucchini is to make sure you don’t overcook it! The more cooked the zucchini is, the softer it will get.

Once you try this grilled zucchini, you’ll find yourself eating it all summer long!

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5 from 17 votes