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70+ Easy Zucchini Recipes That You Absolutely Have to Make This Spring and Summer

It's zucchini season! Zucchini are rich in vitamins, fiber, and water, ideal for spring-summer dishes from May to August. Their mild, sweet flavor complements many meals, from appetizers to desserts. Explore endless culinary possibilities: grill, roast, or bake them. Try our 71 easy, fun zucchini recipes for dishes like fritters, salads, stuffed zucchini, and even chocolate-zucchini desserts. Dive into these recipes to make zucchini the star of any meal, from a simple side to a decadent dessert.

By Cookist
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It's zucchini season! That means it's also time to stock up on fresh ones and use them in many tasty and healthy recipes. Rich in vitamins and nutrients, zucchini also have a high fiber and water content, and they're at their prime starting from May and all through August, making them the perfect spring-summer ingredient! With their delicate and slightly sweet flavor, zucchini are rich in benefits for you and pair well with a lot of dishes – ranging from appetizers, to pasta main courses or even casseroles and desserts!

Peeled, unpeeled (which is better), grilled, sautéed, roasted, fried, steamed, added to bread and dessert doughs…. the possibilities are endless! If you're looking for ideas on what to do with all your fresh zucchini, worry not! We have paired here for you a list of 71 zucchini recipes, easy and fun to make, and that will make you a zucchini lover!

You can use them for some quick and easy dishes like yummy fritters, rosti, or toss them into pasta, salads or tacos. If you're in the mood for baked goods, don't miss stuffed zucchini or a soft bread. Want to keep it simple? Enjoy zucchini as they are, baking them or roasting them. Do you love zucchini more than anything else? Make them the main ingredient of your desserts too, and mix them with chocolate to jazz up the recipe.

So, what are you still waiting for? Come have a look at our delicious zucchini recipes to enjoy at any occasion, try them and serve them anytime, from an appetizer to a tasty main dish, as well as a healthy side dish or an incredible decadent dessert you hadn't thought of.

Appetizers

1. Baked Zucchini Nuggets: the Easy Recipe for a Tasty and Healthy, Vegetarian Appetizer!
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Baked zucchini nuggets are a tasty and crunchy vegetarian variant of classic chicken nuggets, perfect for an appetizer but also for an aperitif, easy and quick to make.
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4. Zucchini Baskets: the fun appetizer recipe for ricotta and zucchini nests
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Zucchini baskets are a fun appetizer perfect for special occasions. Made of grated zucchini, eggs, flour and parmesan, they're baked in muffin molds, filled with ricotta cream and toppings.
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5. Zucchini Bruschetta: the low-carb appetizer recipe you’ll love
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This zucchini bruschetta is a low-carb appetizer recipe. Topped with tomato, cheese and basil leaves, here zucchini form the base of bruschetta instead of bread.
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6. Scarpaccia: the Italian zucchini tart recipe from Tuscany
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Scarpaccia is an Italian zucchini tart from Tuscany which was traditionally served to retired sailors. The name literally means “bad shoe” as it's as thin as a bad shoe.
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7. Zucchini Tots: the healthy recipe for an easy, low-carb vegetarian side dish
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Zucchini tots are a healthy, vegetarian appetizer or side dish perfect summer. Low-carb and tasty, they're crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside.
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8. Chicken Zucchini Fritters: the tasty, low-carb appetizer recipe
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These Chicken Zucchini Fritters are an easy, low-carb appetizer recipe. Made with ground chicken breast and ham, they’re crispy on the outside and juicy, tender on the inside.
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9. Zucchini Fritters: the easy, low-carb appetizer recipe for your summer
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Zucchini fritters are an easy, low-carb appetizer recipe you can make in no time during summer. With a creamy, light center, they're crispy, golden brown on the outside.
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10. Zucchini Flower Patties: the Italian recipe for fried zucchini flowers
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The zucchini flower patties are a greedy, tasty Italian appetizer recipe. Super soft, make a simple dough with chopped zucchini flowers, let it rest for 2 hours and fry them.
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11. Potato Zucchini Fritters: the effortless recipe for tasty vegetable fritters
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Potato zucchini fritters are quick and easy to make. With a handful of pantry staples, potatoes and zucchinis, these fritters have crispy edges and a tender inside.
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12. Zucchini Ham Mozzarella Rolls: the recipe for the delicious savory roll
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The Zucchini Ham Mozzarella Rolls are a delicious and nice appetizer you can serve at a standing dinner, a buffet or an aperitif with friends. They are made with the same dough as the pizza which, once rolled out, is greedily stuffed, cut into slices and then baked in the oven until golden brown.
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13. Zucchini Panzerotti: the original and delicious recipe
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Zucchini panzerotti are very easy and tasty. It is the simple and unleavened reinterpretation of the the traditional fried panzerotto, the typical specialty of Apulian gastronomy, in Italy.
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14. Zucchini Bread: the delicious, simple recipe for a fantastic quick bread
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Zucchini bread is a moist, tasty quick bread recipe to make this summer. Enjoy it toasted with a pat of butter at breakfast, as a dense, moist snack, or even as a dessert.
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15. Greek Zucchini Fritters: the delicious appetizer everyone will love
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Greek zucchini fritters are an incredibly delicious vegan-friendly fried appetizer that you can make in no time. Delightfully crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, Greek zucchini fritters are a simple and healthy dish that boasts plenty of flavor. So, what are you waiting for to taste this recipe from Greece?
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16. Small balls of zucchini and mozzarella cheese: the recipe for a stringy appetizer
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The small balls of zucchini and mozzarella cheese are a simple and super greedy vegetarian snack. The protagonists of this preparation, of course, are zucchini, undisputed queens of the summer season, which, mixed with eggs and stale bread and then stuffed with mozzarella cheese, are molded into a small ball and then fried in boiling oil.
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Main Dishes

17. Creamy Zucchini Pasta: the Recipe for an Easy, Creamy and Delicious Main Course for Spring!
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Creamy Zucchini Pasta is a simple, light and incredibly tasty first course, as well as very easy to prepare. In fact, the sauce is made during the cooking time of the pasta, and the result is a creamy and enveloping dish perfect for any family spring lunch or dinner.
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18. Stuffed zucchini with tuna: a delicious dish for a simple and quick dinner!
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Stuffed zucchini is made with a combination of tuna, anchovies, bread, and egg, this recipe is not only easy to make but also incredibly tasty.
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19. Zucchini rolls: an easy recipe for a delicious dinner
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These delectable zucchini roll bites are made by filling zucchini slices with smoked chicken and cheese, covering them with breadcrumbs and parmesan before baking until they turn golden and crispy.
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20. Stuffed zucchini focaccia: a fantastic dish all to try!
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Made with fresh zucchini, homemade bread dough, ham, and cheese, this zucchini focaccia is easy to make and delicious for lunch or dinner!
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21. Zucchini Slice Lorraine: a fresh, delicious, hearty meal 
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Zucchini slice Lorraine is a delicious recipe to serve hot or cold in summer. It's packed with fresh zucchini, eggs, and bacon, then baked to golden brown perfection.
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22. Zucchini Rolls: the delicious vegetarian, low-carb roll-up recipe
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Zucchini rolls are a low-carb, gluten-free recipe perfect to enjoy as main or side dish. Simply stuff roasted zucchini with a mix of ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, and marinara sauce, then bake.
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23. Zucchini Casserole: a tasty comfort dish to make this summer
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Zucchini casserole is a vegetarian summer side dish that's loaded with flavor. It's made from layers of fresh zucchini and cheese topped with a layer of melted, creamy cheese.
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24. Zucchini Frittata: the recipe for a tasty, easy main dish
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Zucchini frittata is a quick and easy main dish, ideal as a light yet tasty dinner. Super easy to make, it only requires eggs, zucchini, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
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25. Zucchini Noodles: the low-carb main recipe made with raw zucchini
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Zucchini noodles (or zoodles) are a low-carb, gluten-free recipe, a healthy main made with raw zucchini. Usually made with a spiralizer, they're long, curly and crunchy.
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26. Zucchini Cordon Bleu: the light main dish with zucchini
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Zucchini Cordon Bleu is a light take on the Italian recipe made with chicken. It’s a zucchini sandwich filled with cheese and ham, then breaded and fried until crispy.
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27. White Zucchini Lasagna: the tasty, low-carb main dish recipe
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White Zucchini Lasagna is an easy, low-carb main dish. Made of zucchini, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, cheese and basil, the cheese melts makes a creamy sauce when baked.
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28. Zucchini Flan: the effortless, savory recipe for your next meal
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This zucchini flan is an easy recipe you can serve as appetizer or main dish at room temperature. Slightly savory and with crispy edges, each bite is soft and jiggly.
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29. Pasta with Zucchini: the vegetarian recipe for a light, tasty main dish
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Pasta with zucchini is a quick, easy vegetarian main dish recipe. Perfect for a summer lunch or dinner, cook the pasta and zucchini in the same pot, for a tasty dish.
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30. Zucchini Rice Casserole: the delicate, stringy main dish recipe
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Zucchini rice casserole is a rich main dish recipe you'll love. Very easy to make, it's crisp on the outside and soft, creamy on the inside thanks to its stringy center.
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31. Spaghetti alla Nerano: the tasty Italian recipe of pasta with fried zucchini
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Spaghetti alla Nerano is an Italian main recipe from Campania. This favorite dish of Stanley Tucci is made of pasta, fried zucchini, parmesan, provolone cheese and basil.
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32. Zucchini Parmesan: the tasty Italian main dish recipe perfect for summer
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Zucchini parmesan is a popular Italian main dish recipe, a light, white version of eggplant parmesan. It's a layered, baked casserole made with zucchini, cheese, and ham.
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33. Cheesy Zucchini Skillet Pie: the perfect savory recipe for summer
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The cheesy zucchini skillet pie is an easy savory pie recipe. A crispy dough shell hides a tasty, stringy filling made of zucchini and cheese, then it's cooked in a non-stick pan.
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34. Zucchini Meatballs: the tasty main dish recipe for zucchini balls in tomato sauce
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Zucchini meatballs are an easy, vegetarian main course. Made with zucchini, stale bread, egg and parmesan cheese, they're cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese.
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35. Zucchini Pizza Crust: the fantastic low-carb pizza crust recipe you’ll love
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Zucchini pizza crust is an easy, low-carb recipe made of zucchini instead of classic pizza dough. With a crispy outside, it's tender, not water on the inside and you can top it as you want.
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36. Zucchini Calzone: the super easy, tasty recipe you’ll love
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Zucchini calzone is an easy main dish recipe you can also eat while on-the-go. Super soft and fluffy, it’s stuffed with ham and delicious, stretchy provola cheese.
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37. Zucchini Speck Pie: the recipe with a stringy and tasty filling
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The zucchini speck pie is a tasty and easy recipe to make everyone will love. A golden casket of puff pastry – to be prepared at home or bought ready-made – is stuffed with raw, finely grated zucchini, speck and sliced ​​cheese, for a creamy and super stringy final result.
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38. Zucchini Potato Pie in a Pan: the recipe for a tasty and stringy dish
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The zucchini potato pie in the pan is a flavorful and super easy recipe to make. It can be enjoyed hot or lukewarm and it is perfect to serve as an appetizer, or main course during a hot summer day. The vegetables are mixed raw, without needing to be previously blanched, and does not require cooking in the oven, you just need a pan.
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39. Savory Zucchini Pie: the recipe for a greedy and stringy savory pie
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The savory zucchini pie is a simple and tasty pie recipe that will solve any last-minute dinner with guests. It's a puff pastry shell stuffed with sautéed zucchini, zucchini flowers and scamorza cheese, then baked in the oven until golden brown. The final result will be a fragrant savory pie with a tasty and stringy filling.
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40. Zucchini Potato Loaf: the recipe for the easy and tasty loaf
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The zucchini potato loaf is a tasty and easy-to-make recipe that will be loved by young and old alike. The dough, mainly based on vegetables, is enriched with cheese and ham cubes for an even richer and more complete result.
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41. Zucchini Crepes: the effortless, healthy recipe you’ll love
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Zucchini are classed as summer vegetables, and if you have an abundance of zucchinis in your garden around this time of year, then you’ll love this new low-carb way to use them.
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42. Beef Stuffed Zucchini: the tasty zucchini recipe for your summer
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This is an easy summer recipe to make if you have an overabundance of zucchinis from the garden. Beef Stuffed Zucchini is quite the tradition in Italy, where it is often enjoyed, with each family having their own twist on the recipe.
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43. Crepe Roll Stuffed with Zucchini: the recipe for a delicious and stringy dish
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The crepe roll stuffed with zucchini is a tasty and inviting main course, perfect to amaze and delight guests for a festive lunch or a special occasion. Although the preparation may appear a bit elaborate, actually it is very simple.
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44. Zucchini pancakes pie: the original and delicious appetizer recipe
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The zucchini pancakes pie is a delicious and truly original appetizer. It is a sort of savory pancakes, with a dough enriched with grated zucchini, which are stacked while still hot and alternated with slices of cheese. The final result will be a very soft, melting and irresistibly stringy savory pie.
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45. Turkey tidbits with zucchini, raisins and pine nuts: a light and tasty recipe
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The turkey tidbits with zucchini, raisins and pine nuts are a light and nutritious second course but equally satisfying and full of taste. The turkey meat, delicate, lean and particularly digestible, is cut into bite-sized pieces and then sautéed with zucchini, left slightly crunchy to enjoy all the fragrance, toasted pine nuts and dried raisins.
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46. Beef carpaccio with zucchini and mint: the recipe for a refined and light summer dish
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Beef carpaccio with zucchini and mint is a typically fresh and tasty summer preparation. The beef, thinly sliced ​​as in carpaccio, and flavored with an emulsion based on lemon juice, oil and fresh mint, is very soft and incredibly fragrant.
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47. Crunchy zucchini fritters: the recipe for an easy and tasty dish
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The crunchy zucchini fritters are a really tasty and delicious dish; zucchini, cut into thin slices and then breaded with breadcrumbs, conceal within them a soft and stringy filling based on speck and caciotta cheese, which enhances the delicate flavor of this vegetable symbol of the summer season.
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48. Zucchini fried with bread, a nice and tasty recipe
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Zucchini fried with bread are a creative and super delicious recipe perfect for a summer appetizer. In this recipe, the sandwich bread wrap a tasty filling made with zucchini and scamorza cheese and, once fried in boiling oil, they turn into small sandwiches to be enjoyed hot and stringy.
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Side Dishes

49. Sautéed Zucchini: the Best and Easiest Recipe for the Side Dish
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Sautéed zucchini are a typical vegetables side dish. Cut into round slices and quickly sautéed in a pan with a base of oil, garlic and chopped parsley, they will be crunchy and fragrant, the perfect side dish for all of your main courses.
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50. Zucchini rosti: the simple and quick dish!
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Did you know that zucchini can be transformed into mouthwatering rösti? This easy recipe will have you frying up crispy zucchini rösti in no time! Perfect for a delightful brunch or a flavorful side dish.
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53. Zucchini Salad: the healthy, fresh recipe made with raw zucchini
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Raw Zucchini Salad is an easy, healthy side dish for summer. Slightly crunch, the zucchini absorb flavor from other ingredients as they're marinated in a tasty dressing.
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54. Baked Zucchini Fries: the tasty side dish recipe for parmesan zucchini fries
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Baked zucchini fries are an easy appetizer recipe you can also serve as a side. Crusted with parmesan, they're crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside.
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55. Fried Zucchini: the quick, easy side dish recipe for super crispy fried zucchini
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Fried zucchini are a quick, easy recipe you can serve as side dish or appetizer in summer. Zucchini are sliced, coated with flour, fried until crispy and golden brown.
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56. Zucchini Pickles: the simple, fast zucchini recipe
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Pickling vegetables is a great way of having veggies available all year round, and not just when they’re in season. These zucchini pickles are an easy and quick summery recipe to use up extra zucchini and enjoy all year long—especially useful if you grow zucchini in your garden and have an abundance of them!
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57. Chorizo Zucchini Boats: the easy and tasty zucchini recipe
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If you’re looking for a delicious low-carb, keto-friendly recipe that’s both easy and perfect for summer, then look no further. These Chorizo Stuffed Zucchini Boats are just what you need this season. The zucchini and cherry tomatoes add texture and freshness, while the chorizo adds just the right amount of spice.
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58. Grilled Zucchini: the easy recipe for a healthy side dish
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Light, healthy, and oh-so-perfect for summer, grilled zucchini is the easy-to-make side dish that needs to be on your radar. It takes less than 15 minutes to make, which makes it ideal if you're in a rush but don't want to sacrifice having a few healthy vegetables on the dinner table. So, what are you waiting for?
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59. Roasted Zucchini: a delicious, easy to prepare healthy dish
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For a simple healthy side dish that goes brilliantly with almost any savory meal, try roasted zucchini. This nutritious, flavorful vegetable is stellar during the summer when zucchini is in season and at its more flavorful. The combination of the smoky roasted flavors with the nuttiness of Parmesan makes a winning combination you can enjoy all season long.
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60. Zucchini cutlets: the recipe for a delicious and very simple dish
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Zucchini cutlets are a simple and very tasty appetizer or side dish. Very easy to make, just cut the zucchini into oblique slices, pass them in a delicious and rich breading and you can bake them in the oven (or alternatively fry them in hot oil), to obtain a crunchy and irresistibly fragrant preparation.
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61. Zucchini flower fritters: the recipe for a simple and irresistible summer appetizer
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Zucchini flowers fritters are a little delicacy that is often present on summer tables. The recipe can change, from the version with brewer's yeast, water and flour, to the yeast-free version, up to the richer variant, with a batter made from eggs and milk, exactly the recipe that we propose here.
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62. Crispy Zucchini Bites
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Circles of succulent zucchini are covered in crispy golden breadcrumbs, and stay crunchy even when they are cold. Make the garlic aioli dip to go with them as a perfect pairing. In fact, the dip is the perfect partner for lots of foods, like fries and chicken strips.
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Desserts

63. Zucchini Cookies: the fantastic recipe for chewy, tender nutritious cookies
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Zucchini cookie is an easy, summery recipe made with fresh zucchini, oatmeal and chocolate chips. Chewy soft and with crisp edges, you won't taste the zucchini.
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64. Lemon Zucchini Bread: a sweet, tangy quick bread recipe perfect for summer
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Lemon zucchini bread is a zesty quick bread to make this summer. Sweet yet tart, it's tender, moist and topped with a sweet lemon glaze, making it perfect for any time of day.
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65. Chocolate Zucchini Bread: a sensational sweet recipe for a summery quick bread
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Chocolate zucchini bread is a summery quick bread recipe perfect for breakfast or as a dessert. Sweet, rich and chocolatey, it's moist and has a tender crumb.
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66. Banana Zucchini Bread: a tasty recipe for a healthy, homemade loaf of bread
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For a healthy, homemade loaf that's quick and easy to make, you'll love this banana zucchini bread recipe. This incredible-tasting bread is a mashup of banana bread and zucchini bread recipes, and features a variety of nutritious ingredients.
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67. Chocolate Zucchini Cake: The Best Way to Enjoy A Bumper Crop of Zucchini
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Chocolate Zucchini Cake is incredibly moist and fudgy but surprisingly quick and easy to make with extra zucchini. It’s dense, chocolaty, and speckled with moist zucchini for flavor and texture. Make this cake with yogurt for extra moisture, as well as flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, cinnamon, and grated zucchini.
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