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All hail zucchini, summer’s most prolific produce! This Grilled Zucchini is the latest, greatest means to use its bounty—and land yourself a stellar fast, healthy, and versatile side dish in the process.

simple grilled zucchini on a plate

Why You’ll Love this Grilled Zucchini Recipe

grilled zucchini with Parmesan on a plate

How to Grill Zucchini

All grilled zucchini is not created equal.

If you’ve been a victim of soggy, mushy zucchini, you know what I’m talking about.

To grill zucchini without it getting soggy, you need to do two things:

  1. Cut the Zucchini in Spears. Quartering the zucchini lengthwise into batons keeps it from falling through the grates and makes it easy to achieve the ideal crisp-tender texture. (See box below for more details.)
  2. Grill over medium high heat (about 400 to 450 degrees F). This is hot enough to crisp the outside, but not SO hot that the zucchini burns before the inside can become tender.

How to Cut Zucchini for Grilling

There are two popular ways to cut up zucchini for grilling: into long planks or into batons.

In my opinion, the best way to cut zucchini for grilling is batons. Batons hold their texture and are easy to turn so that they do not slip into the grates.

To cut up zucchini for grilling:

  • Wash the zucchini and trim off the ends (no need to peel).
  • Cut it in half lengthwise.
  • Place the cut sides down flat on the cutting board and cut it lengthwise in half again to create four zucchini “sticks” or batons.
  • Season as desired and throw on the grill!
crispy grilled zucchini with Parmesan

The Ingredients

  • Zucchini. The star of the show! Zucchini is high in vitamin A and vitamin C and potassium. You can follow this same recipe to make grilled yellow summer squash, or try a mix.
  • Olive Oil. Coating the outside of vegetables you prepare for grilling ensures they caramelize but do not burn. You could even use avocado oil here.
  • Kosher Salt + Pepper. Seasoning is key to great-tasting grilled veggies. Season vegetables both before you grill them and after, to taste.
  • Italian Seasoning. While optional—simple grilled zucchini tastes great with just salt and pepper—I love to add a little Italian seasoning for some flair. Feel free to swap in another dried herb (such as oregano, thyme, or basil) or seasoning blend you prefer.
  • Parmesan. This nutty, umami addition is optional, but once you try Parmesan grilled zucchini, it’s hard to go back! A garnish of cheese also tends to make grilled vegetables more appealing to kids and picky eaters. You could use feta cheese here too.
  • Lemon Juice. The hit of acid that brightens up cooked vegetables and makes them taste far more complicated than they really are (it’s why I love adding lemon to my Grilled Asparagus).

Substitution Tip!

If you use a seasoning blend that contains salt to season your vegetables, be sure to reduce or even eliminate the amount of kosher salt you add. Once they are grilled, taste and adjust as needed.

The Directions

  1. Preheat the grill (or for pan grilled zucchini, heat a cast iron grill pan on your stove).
A vegetable being sliced into spears
  1. Cut the zucchini for grilling.
Vegetables spears on a baking sheet with seasonings added
  1. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle the seasoning.
Cut vegetables on a grill with seasonings
  1. Place the zucchini on the grill in a single layer. Grill zucchini for about 9 minutes, turning it partway through. Enjoy!

Should I Grill Zucchini in Foil?

As long as you cut the zucchini into batons, you do not need to make grilled zucchini in foil.

  • It is easy to turn the zucchini without the zucchini spears falling through the grill grates.
  • Unlike Grilled Salmon in Foil, you do not need to insulate the zucchini to keep it from drying out.
  • Zucchini has a high water content, so unlike harder, starchy vegetables like Grilled Potatoes, you do not need to use a foil packet to trap moisture and create steam in order to tenderize it.

In fact, skipping the foil is more likely to result in crispy grilled zucchini, because it gives the water a chance to cook out.

seasoned grilled zucchini without foil on a plate

Recipe Variations

  • Grilled Zucchini with Lemon. Simply sprinkle lemon zest and/or squeeze fresh lemon juice on the zucchini after grilling for a robust citrus flavor.
  • Balsamic Griled Zucchini. Instead of lemon, drizzle your zucchini with reduced balsamic vinegar or a balsamic glaze.
  • Spice It Up. Add some red pepper flakes to your seasoning for spicy grilled zucchini.
  • Grilled Garlic Zucchini. Add garlic powder to your seasonings for an upgrade of flavor. You can also toss the zucchini with minced garlic prior to grilling.
  • Mixed Grilled Vegetables. As long as the grill is on, make the most of it and add other summer vegetables. Grilled zucchini and Grilled Eggplant, Grilled Cauliflower Steaks, and/or peppers are a few favorites. It’s just a matter of keeping an eye on them all during grilling. They use the same grill temperature and cook in almost the same amount of time, so they’re perfect to grill together.

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Refrigerate grilled zucchini in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
  • To Freeze. I do not recommend freezing grilled zucchini, as they will be quite mushy once thawed. However, the cooked zucchini can be frozen if you really want to try it.
crispy grilled zucchini

What to Serve with Grilled Zucchini

Here are just a few ideas of what goes well with grilled zucchini:

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Keep Zucchini From Getting Soggy?

To keep zucchini from getting soggy, cut the zucchini into batons, which better hold their shape, cook at a high temperature (about 400 to 450 degrees F), and do not overcook the zucchini. As soon as it pierces with a fork, it’s done. (For fans of crispy zucchini, don’t miss my Air Fryer Zucchini recipe.)

Should You Salt Zucchini Before Grilling?

Since the zucchini cooks fast at a high temperature, there is no need to salt it to draw out the water prior to grilling, the way you might need to for a baked recipe like Zucchini Lasagna, where the zucchini could make the final dish watery. Simply salt it as a part of the seasoning process, just before grilling.

How Do I Grill Zucchini in the Oven?

You can grill zucchini in the oven by using a grill pan. Prepare the zucchini as directed, then lay them on an oven-safe grill pan. Grill them in a 400 degrees F oven for about 10 to 13 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Grilled Zucchini

4.68 From 28 reviews . Help us out! Review HERE.Help out & review HERE

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Servings: 4 people
This simple grilled zucchini will be a regular on your summer menu! Perfectly crisp-tender (not soggy!), it's a fast side dish that goes with anything!

Ingredients
  


Instructions
 

  • Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to high heat (400 to 450°F). Trim off the ends of each zucchini and cut it lengthwise into quarters so that you have four batons per zucchini. Place on a rimmed baking sheet or on a large baking pan.
  • Drizzle the zucchini with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning (if using), salt, and pepper.
  • Place the zucchini on the grill so that one of the cut sides is touching the grates. Grill for 4 minutes, until clear grill marks appear.
  • Flip the zucchini over onto the back (peel) side. Grill for 5 additional minutes. At this point, you can flip it to the remaining ungrilled cut side for 1 to 2 minutes if you’d like grill marks on all surfaces (we usually just serve it as is!). Transfer back to the baking sheet or to a serving platter.
  • Squeeze the lemon over the top and sprinkle with Parmesan. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate grilled zucchini in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
  • TO FREEZE: I do not recommend freezing grilled zucchini, as they will be quite mushy once thawed. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 77kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 2mgPotassium: 524mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 423IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 69mgIron: 1mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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  1. As a health coach, I’m always on the look out for simple, delicious ways for my clients to incorporate veggies! This recipe is AMAZING!5 stars

  2. I have already tried at my home, its really tastes nice.
    Thanks for your contribution. Please visit anchored text how many calories in grilled chicken salad5 stars

    1. Glad you enjoyed it! The nutritional information is located at the bottom of the recipe card on each post. Hope this helps!

  3. Love love love this awesome recipe
    It tastes so good and was not soggy
    Had a barbecue with some friends and I was in charge of the zucchini recipe and it did not disappoint5 stars

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