This Easy Sautéed Zucchini with Parmesan celebrates summer’s most ubiquitous squash in all its green glory. My gut reaction to zucchini is to gussy it up. While this impulse leads me on many delicious paths, the other week I realized that of the 30 and counting zucchini recipes on this site, I don’t have a single one that lets zucchini be the true star. Today is the day!

Easy sautéed zucchini and onions in a skillet with Parmesan

Whether you are a) seeking fresh ideas for easy, better-for-you side dishes, b) are in desperate need of an efficient way to use up your zucchini supply, or secret answer c) all of the above, this easy sautéed zucchini with Parmesan delivers.

It’s simple, tasty, and even better re-crisped lightly on the stove the next day, so you can make a big batch tonight and enjoy the leftovers as the week goes on.

One of the best sautéed zucchini recipes in a skillet with Parmesan and onions

A Simple Zucchini Recipe

I knew I liked zucchini as a component of other dishes ranging from Cheesy Potato Fritters with Zucchini, Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles, and Zucchini Boats, to a cache of baked treats (Healthy Zucchini Muffins with Chocolate Chips, Vegan Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Cookies with Chocolate Chips, Zucchini Brownies…).

Aside from making Grilled Zucchini or Air Fryer Zucchini every now and then, however, prior to making this recipe I didn’t put much thought into ways to enjoy zucchini on its own.

As I discovered, zucchini doesn’t need much to be marvelous.

This recipe contains only a few easy ingredients.

Don’t be tempted to fuss with it further.

Set the baking aside for a night and let’s let zucchini be zucchini!

Zucchini, Parmesan, and butter on a countertop

How to Make the Best Easy Sauteed Zucchini

Here’s what we have:

  • Zucchini. You have a lot of it. I have a lot of it. You can also turn this into sautéed zucchini and yellow squash by using a mix of the two.
  • Onion. Not mandatory, but I do love the additional note of savoriness it provides. Bonus: if you reheat the leftovers in a skillet the way I suggest in the recipe notes, the sliced onion becomes extra crispy. I burned my fingers picking it right out of the pan to munch!
  • Butter. A few tablespoons are all you need to make this sautéed zucchini taste like a treat.
  • Parmesan. The creamy, nutty, salty somethin’ somethin’ that sends this sautéed zucchini into second-helpings territory. I also love it on my Roasted Zucchini.
A skillet with sliced vegetables, butter, and cheese

What is a Good Herb for Zucchini?

Really, you have the pick of the garden. Since I don’t have a garden myself, I used a pinch of dried thyme, which is both tasty and convenient, but if you prefer you can use fresh thyme.

Fresh basil and/or a handful of fresh chives would be fabulous too.

How Do You Fry Zucchini?

One of the many beautiful things about this sautéed zucchini recipe is that deep frying is not needed for a rich and satisfying result.

  • Add a little bit of olive oil to the pan for its higher burning temperature which helps the outsides of the zucchini brown, then add butter to boost the sauté and provide mega flavor and the right amount of indulgence.
  • Give the zucchini slices a light pan fry, stopping as soon as the outsides begin to turn golden. You’ll be left with a nice, lightly crisp exterior, without the interior becoming soggy.
  • Be patient as you sauté. These lip-smackin’ slices are worth the wait.

How Do You Cook Zucchini Ribbons?

I stuck to zucchini slices for this recipe for the sake of speed (I wasn’t feeling patient enough to cut ribbons), but you can slice the zucchini into thin ribbons with a vegetable peeler or use a spiralizer like this one to make sautéed zucchini noodles if you like.

For sautéed zucchini ribbons or noodles:

  • Follow the recipe as directed through Step 1.
  • In Step 2, add the ribbons or noodles to the pan, then lightly sauté, using tongs to toss them with the butter and seasoning for a few short minutes, just until the zucchini is warmed through.
Easy sautéed zucchini and onions in a skillet with Parmesan

May the forks fly and your zucchini shine!

Easy Sautéed Zucchini with Parmesan

4.93 from 80 votes
Easy sauteed zucchini with Parmesan is healthy, simple and a great way to cook zucchini! One of the best zucchini recipes for quick sides.

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 4 medium zucchini or yellow summer squash, or a mix (about 2 pounds), ends trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil, onion and 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook gently until the onions begin to brown, about 10 to 11 minutes. Add the zucchini, salt, pepper, thyme, and remaining Less Sodium Butter with Canola Oil.
  • Increase heat to medium. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is just cooked through and beginning to brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan. Enjoy immediately

Video

Notes

  • TO STORE: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Reheat in a nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat, spreading the slices in a single layer and crisping them up on both sides.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6), about 3/4 cupCalories: 94kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 7mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g

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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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202 Comments

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  1. Outstanding! I saw the recipe and picture via Bing Recipes that come my way about once a month.
    O.K. gave it a cautious try with one zuke in a mini fry pan with lots of parmesan. Easy-peasy it was delicious. Much tastier than the usual steamed or boiled routine and worth the extra time.5 stars

  2. My wife and I both loved it! I’ve been looking for a good alternative to frying or grilling zucchini and this was perfect.5 stars

  3. I really enjoyed this dish, I have a garden and shared my crop with a neighbor. She had not eaten zucchini before. I cooked this dish to introduce her and her family to zucchini and both husband and wife loved it.5 stars

  4. Excellent recipe – I was looking for a quick and easy recipe to cook the zucchini that a neighbor had given me from her garden. Highly recommend!5 stars

  5. I tried this recipe with zucchini out of my garden. It was delicious!!! I sautéed the onions then took it out the skillet and put it aside until the rest of my dinner was almost done. This is the best way to cook zucchini.5 stars

  6. I used olive oil butter and pepper no salt (I am on no salt high blood pressure) I wanted a nice tasty way to cook zucchini with no fuss… this is great I will do this recipe again thank you very much4 stars

    1. Had a couple of Zucchinis left and sauteed them per your recipe. Served with Baked chicken and a Baked potato 🥔 with sour cream & chives. So Yum!5 stars

  7. Absolutely delicious, but, when trying to reduce recipe to four why are the measurements in metric? Wouldn’t it be better to use fractions? Or is this a Canadian recipe?5 stars

    1. Hi Patti! It’s actually not reduce to measurements in metrics and not a Canadian recipe. It’s reduce into decimals instead of fractions. Unfortunately I don’t control this on my end, this is done through the plugin. To make it easier, you know every ingredient will be cut in half plus add a little extra if doing 4 servings. Hope this helps!

  8. I have never really ate zucchini. This was very good and I didn’t have all the ingredients, and it still turned out pretty good. Now, it was mushy but I do believe this is my fault because I may have overcooked it. But it seems like the zucchini has a very thin line of over cooking. Thank you so much for this simple but effective recipe.4 stars

  9. My husband said you’ve really got this down! I didn’t tell him that I found this m easy to follow delish recipe! Thanks much!5 stars

  10. I made this tonight for dinner and it turned out great it had a really great taste omgosh it was so great!!5 stars

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