45 Healthy Zucchini Recipes that are easy to make, use simple ingredients and packed with flavor!

Many of these dishes are high in protein and even contain cottage cheese!

Healthy zucchini recipes collage.

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

  • Healthy and delicious are always 2 things I keep at the forefront of my recipes and these healthy zucchini recipes are no exception!
  • High in protein recipes for those who watch their protein intake.
  • Versatile recipes for a versatile vegetable, whether it be a main dish, a side dish or a healthy dessert. It could be vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, or all of the above. It could be grilled, baked or spiralized into zoodles!
  • Kid friendly dishes are in abundance in this collection.
  • Quick and easy – anything that works for a busy family, I have included in here. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

Chicken and Zucchini Recipes

Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini

Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini cooked in one skillet with black beans, corn, fresh herbs, taco seasoning and melted cheese on top. One pan, low carb and 30 minutes dinner. It’s our #1 zucchini recipe!

Tex Mex chicken and zucchini with melted cheese on top and served in a large skillet.

Caprese Chicken and Zucchini

Caprese Chicken and Zucchini cooked in fresh tomato sauce, with melted buffalo mozzarella cheese on top and garnished with fresh basil. Serve on its own for easy low carb dinner or with spaghetti for a family meal.

Caprese chicken and zucchini with melted fresh mozzarella and balsamic drizzle served in a skillet with a metal spoon.

Pesto Chicken and Vegetables Skillet

This Pesto Chicken and Vegetables Skillet is a delicious 30 minute dinner, perfect for meal prep and packed with 34 grams of protein!

Pesto chicken and vegetables skillet on a counter. Pesto and parmesan cheese in bowls.

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

Low carb Chicken Zucchini Casserole with layers of chicken, zucchini noodles and easy enchilada sauce. Lots of fiber, vegetables and protein.

Chicken zucchini casserole in a glass baking dish.

Chicken and Corn

This garlic Chicken Zucchini and Corn recipe is a 20 minute healthy weeknight dinner that was inspired by my Ukrainian roots. Low carb, easy and one pan deliciousness!

Chicken with zucchini, corn and garlic in a cast iron skillet. Linen towel near it.

Zucchini Noodles with Chicken

Zucchini Noodles with chicken, cilantro and lime is a delicious 20 minute dinner idea that’s light, healthy, and gluten-free.

Zucchini noodles with chicken and tomatoes in a skillet.

Chicken Quinoa Skillet

This Chicken Quinoa Skillet combines tender chicken, fresh garden vegetables and nutrient-dense quinoa for a quick 30 minute meal.

Chicken quinoa skillet with tomatoes and broccoli.

High in Protein

Cottage Cheese Zucchini Bread

One bowl Cottage Cheese Zucchini Bread is the perfect summer treat that packs 12 grams of protein into every soft, golden-crusted slice.

Sliced cottage cheese zucchini bread in plastic container.

Zucchini Cheddar Cottage Cheese Scones

These flaky Cottage Cheese Scones filled with sharp cheese and zucchini pack 9 grams of protein and are perfect with your coffee or tea!

Zucchini cheddar cottage cheese scones on a plate.

Healthy Zucchini Pizza Skillet

This 30 minute Zucchini Pizza Skillet with ground turkey and melty cheese is a crustless, to-die-for skillet meal that packs 30 grams of protein!

Healthy zucchini pizza skillet with ground turkey and cheese.

Crustless Cottage Cheese Zucchini Quiche

Cottage Cheese Zucchini Quiche is a crustless, high protein breakfast or side dish that’s creamy, light, and fluffy with 19 grams of protein!

Crustless cottage cheese zucchini quiche. Zucchini and basil on the towel.

Zucchini Dinners

Ground Turkey and Zucchini

This 30 minute healthy Ground Turkey and Zucchini Skillet is delicious low carb one pot dinner recipe that will become your family’s favourite!

Ground turkey zucchini skillet with pesto, parmesan cheese and fresh basil in a skillet.

Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna made low carb with layers of zucchini instead of pasta, flavorful turkey tomato sauce and gooey cheese. Classic comfort food experience at only 318 calories per huge slice.

Zucchini lasagna in a baking dish.

Zucchini Lasagna Rolls

Healthy Zucchini Lasagna Rolls made with 7 simple ingredients including creamy ricotta cheese and garden zucchini. Zucchini roll ups are delicious and fun to make!

Looking down on zucchini lasagna rolls with sauce in a baking dish.

Zucchini Ricotta Pasta with Bacon

Creamy Zucchini Ricotta Pasta is the perfect summer mix of garden veggies, rich cheese, bacon, and fresh herbs. Make this easy one pot meal any night of the week!

Zucchini ricotta pasta with tomatoes, bacon and cheese in a red pot.

Pasta with Zucchini and Tomatoes

Pasta with zucchini, tomatoes, garlic and basil is 20 minute healthy dinner that is a summertime must have. Light and fresh, everyone will love this garden dinner!

Pasta with zucchini and tomatoes garnish with Parmesan cheese in cast iron skillet.

Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats

These hearty low carb Ground Turkey Zucchini Boats are stuffed with a simple Bolognese style filling, topped with cheese, then baked until tender with a bubbling cheesy topping.

Ground turkey zucchini boats garnished with basil in a baking dish.

Crustless Zucchini Quiche

Melt in your mouth Zucchini Quiche without the crust. Tastes so good cold! Simple ingredients like eggs, zucchini and flour make it an easy quiche recipe to whip up any time life gives you zucchini.

Crustless zucchini quiche close up picture of a slice.

Turkey Burgers

Juicy and flavorful Turkey Burger recipe with 5 simple ingredients. And one secret ingredient (hint: it’s also called courgette!) holds turkey burgers together without the breadcrumbs.

Turkey burger patties with zucchini on a plate.

Crustless Zucchini Pie

Easy Crustless Zucchini Pie recipe made with 7 simple ingredients including sweet summer zucchinis. This light and creamy pie is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dinner! 

Crustless zucchini pie in a baking dish with fresh herbs and linen towel on a counter.

Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowls

Served over fiber rich brown rice, your family will gobble up these Beef, Rice and Vegetable Bowls! Featuring lean ground beef, pepper, zucchini, eggplant and an Asian inspired sauce, these sweet and spicy bowls hit the spot.

Korean ground beef rice bowl with a fork .

Simple Side Dishes

Baked Parmesan Zucchini

Baked Parmesan Zucchini are a baked zucchini recipe that is not only healthy but big on flavor, yet still low calorie and outrageously tasty. Slices of zucchini baked until crispy and cheese melted on top with simple spices.

Parmesan zucchini sticks in a stack.

Baked Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini Fritters with crispy outside, soft inside and only 5 ingredients. They are perfect for summer zucchini surplus and will disappear at the table.

A stack of baked zucchini fritters with a dollop of sour cream on top.

Healthy Zucchini Casserole

Cheesy Healthy Zucchini Casserole uses 3 lbs of zucchini and is so easy, quick and low carb. So much flavor from garlic, herbs and Parmesan cheese. So much yum in this baked zucchini recipe that is a healthy summertime favorite.

Healthy zucchini casserole with melted cheese on top in white baking dish.

Zucchini Tomato Bake

Healthy Zucchini Tomato Casserole with garlic and Parmesan in 5 minutes of prep. Serve as low carb side dish or add cooked chicken for a 30 minute dinner.

Zucchini tomato bake in white baking dish with wooden spoon and more zucchini and garlic in the background.

Sauteed Zucchini

I could talk about this Sauteed Zucchini for days! Talking points would include how they take 5 minutes, how simple are the ingredients, how tasty it is and best of all how healthy they are. But don’t trust my words. Try for yourself!

Sauteed zucchini garnished with fresh dill and served in black skillet.

Grilled Zucchini

Grilled Zucchini with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper is our Ukrainian-Russian family recipe. We grill zucchini along with any meat all summer long.

Grilled zucchini halves in blue dish.

Zucchini Potato Bake

This healthy Zucchini Potato Bake is inspired by my Ukrainian upbringing. It is chock full of vegetables, contains no whipping cream and just the right amount of cheese and lots of flavour!

Zucchini potato bake in a baking dish with metal spoon.

Mediterranean Zucchini Boats

Mediterranean Zucchini Boats recipe are crunchy oven roasted zucchini with feta cheese, fresh parsley and no breading.

Mediterranean zucchini boats garnished with parsley on parchment paper lined tray.

Balsamic Grilled Vegetables

A summertime grilling favorite! The best Balsamic Grilled Vegetables includes grilled zucchini, bell pepper and red onion and then tossed with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette and fresh parsley for a side dish that will disappear in a flash.

Grilled zucchini, bell peppers and red onions with balsamic vinaigrette in a baking dish.

Dessert Recipes

Healthy Zucchini Bread

Healthy Zucchini Bread with applesauce, whole wheat flour, cinnamon that is low sugar and low fat. Super delicious, easy and moist recipe.

Healthy zucchini bread in a loaf pan on a metal rack surrounded by summer squash and zucchini.

Healthy Banana Zucchini Muffins

Healthy Banana Zucchini Muffins made healthy with whole wheat flour, maple syrup and chocolate bar chunks. Moist and tasty with very little oil.

Banana zucchini muffins with chunks of chocolate on a counter.

Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins

Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins are moist, light and a delicious way to use your fresh summer zucchini! Naturally sweetened and naturally gluten free, these muffins are perfect for breakfast or snack.

Almond flour zucchini muffins with three muffins stacked.

Healthy Lemon Zucchini Bread

Healthy Lemon Zucchini Bread that is super moist, lemon-y, sweet and so soft. It will blow your mind! Great for dessert and healthy enough for breakfast or  snack. You may also love this healthy lemon poppy seed bread.

Slices of healthy lemon zucchini bread with sliced lemon on top and served on a platter.

Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread with simple wholesome ingredients in one bowl. Easy, moist and double chocolate quick bread with sneaky veggies.

Healthy chocolate zucchini bread with mini chocolate chips in a loaf pan on a cooling rack.

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are moist, fudgy, loaded with zucchini and double chocolate flavor. They make a delicious quick breakfast or snack!

Chocolate zucchini muffins on a countertop with more chocolate chips and a glass of milk.

Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread

Healthy Zucchini Banana Bread is easy quick bread perfect for summer baking. Moistened and sweetened with fruit and veggies, it is a hybrid of two favorite breads with virtually no oil.

Healthy zucchini banana bread in a blue loaf pan on a countertop.

Almond Flour Zucchini Bread

A cake like bread that is gluten free and perfectly moist! This Almond Flour Zucchini Bread will be a hit with your family who will ask for it on repeat.

Sliced almond flour zucchini bread on a platter. More zucchini on a counter.

Healthy Zucchini Muffins

Healthy Zucchini Muffins with applesauce. Use whole wheat or spelt or even gluten free all purpose. Moist and fluffy and a hit not only during the summer but year round.

Healthy zucchini muffins with a bowl of shredded zucchini and one muffin unwrapped.

Healthy Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini Brownies are easy, fudgy and healthy. Kids will eat them up and not even realize they are eating a vegetable. Taste even better next day.

Healthy zucchini brownies on a platter with two glasses of milk in the background.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins are light, fluffy, and moist. Shredded zucchini and chocolate chips are packed into a delicious muffin the entire family will love!

Chocolate chip muffins on a countertop at one muffin showing texture inside. A glass of milk.

Lemon Zucchini Bread

Lemon Zucchini Bread is a forever favorite. Made with gluten-free flour, specks of zucchini, a burst of lemon, and finished with a zesty glaze, you can’t go wrong with this flavor combo!

Lemon zucchini bread with glaze on a board.

More Healthy Recipes to Try

I hope you enjoy these healthy zucchini recipes as much as I do! Let me know which ones you try by rating them in the comment section below.

Tex Mex chicken and zucchini recipe with melted cheese and cilantro in blue skillet.
5 from 10 votes

45 Healthy Zucchini Recipes: Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini

One of our most popular healthy zucchini recipes! Chicken, zucchini, black beans and corn seasoned with fresh herbs under blanket of gooey cheese and cooked in one skillet.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb boneless & skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ chunks
  • 2 large zucchini, diced
  • 3 bell peppers, medium, chopped
  • 1 onion, medium, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, large, minced
  • 1 cup corn, fresh or frozen
  • 14 oz can low sodium black beans, drained & rinsed
  • 14 oz low sodium diced tomatoes, not drained
  • 1 tbsp oil, avocado or coconut
  • 1 tbsp cumin, divided
  • 1 tsp taco seasoning, store bought or homemade taco seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup Tex Mex or Colby Jack cheese, shredded
  • 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Instructions 

  • Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet on medium heat and swirl oil to heat. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper and saute for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Push vegetables to one side of the skillet. Add chicken and sprinkle with 1 tsp cumin, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add corn, black beans, tomatoes, zucchini, taco seasoning and remaining cumin. Stir well, cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes on low-medium heat.
  • Sprinkle with shredded cheese, cover and cook until cheese has melted. Garnish with green onion and cilantro. Serve hot on its own; or with Instant Pot quinoa or Instant Pot brown rice.
🎉 Last step! If you made this recipe, please leave a review and let us know what you think!

Notes

  • Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Do not freeze.
  • To Reheat: Simmer on low heat in covered skillet for 5 minutes. No additional water or oil is needed to reheat if you use a non-stick skillet.
  • Do not over cook the zucchini. Zucchini is comprised of 95% water. The longer you cook zucchini, the more water it releases. Follow the recipe and cooking times and do NOT cook until the zucchini appears soft and cooked (or your dinner will be mushy).

Nutrition

Calories: 342kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 68mg, Sodium: 712mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 9g

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

Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!
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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 14 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

Comments

  1. So many zucchini recipes! I can’t wait to try them! I think I saved at least 25 out of the 30 recipes! Thank you!

  2. 5 stars
    The Zucchini Quiche, Greek Chicken Kabobs, and the Mediterranean Zucchini were all delicious. So can’t wait to try the rest of these. Going to grab more zucchini to try some more of these fabulous recipes. Thanks so much for sharing. ?

  3. Thank You and I promise not to post your recipes, only images with a link back to recipe page on your blog.
    Ernest

  4. 5 stars
    I commend you on your creativity in these recipes, the combinations are inspiring to try some, I would like to post this in my blog my people would love it, with your permission of course, I would post a short article along with your image, and link it back to your blog for recipe, it can bring you traffic, and fine content for me.Please let me know in posted email, you have a great informative blog, Thanks Chef Ernie

    1. Thank you very much, Ernest! You are free to use an image with a link to my recipe without sharing the actual recipe.

  5. 5 stars
    I swear zucchini and cauliflower are the most versatile vegetables ever! These recipes look delicious!

  6. 5 stars
    WOW….I can’t wait to try some of these recipes! I recently discovered I LOVE zucchini, but the hubby hates it…kinda makes cooking a bit harder, but I think with some of these recipes, hubby shouldn’t complain too much! Thanks!!! Tammy

    1. Sounds like my kids. Usually lots of cheese on top works. My kids eats zucchini only raw (which I know is shocking), sliced in rounds, great for dipping, or in zucchini muffins or bread – no brainer LOL. Everything else gets a lot of moaning and eye rolling, but because I’m Ukrainian I keep “torturing” them haha. I love zucchini and sometimes they just have to eat it because I am not cooking 2 meals.

      1. 5 stars
        I tried the zucchini sticks and Loved them! So easy and tasty. I want to try the zucchini and tube fritters next.

        Thank you!

5 from 10 votes

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