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There comes a point every year when zucchini overtakes home gardens and overflows supermarket bins. By late summer, zucchini annually reigns as the most plentiful (not to mention, the most inexpensive) summer vegetable available. You can’t escape it, so you might as well embrace it. Thankfully, zucchini is incredibly versatile—in addition to being nutritious—which means there are plenty of ways to use it in a dish everyone will enjoy. So break out your 9×13-inch baking dish and make the most of zucchini season with one of our favorite recipes.
Best Zucchini Appetizer
Tammy Lynn
For a fuss-free and crowd-friendly summer starter, give these easy, cheesy zucchini bites a go. The recipe leans on pantry basics like Bisquick, which means you can likely whip up a batch without a grocery run.
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
You can’t beat the classics, and this simple, cheesy zucchini bake is as classic as they come. Easy to prepare and boasting a beautiful, golden-brown top, it’s proven itself an absolute favorite for potlucks and family gatherings.
Moist Zucchini Cake
Kim
This lightly spiced snack cake is delightful served plain, but can be dressed up for company with a simple cream cheese frosting. For an extra flavor boost, lightly toast (and cool) the walnuts before mixing them into your cake batter.
Stuffed Zucchini
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
In addition to the zucchini, you’ll only need six ingredients to bake up this satisfying summer entree. The recipe calls for pork sausage in the filling, however, you can also use ground beef, turkey, or chicken (or a ground meat substitute) seasoned with your favorite spices and herbs, if you prefer.
Zucchini Brownies
Topped with a decadent fudgy frosting, these brownies are a perfect way to tuck something healthy into an otherwise indulgent chocolate treat. But don’t worry—the kids will never know.
Best Zucchini Casserole
This recipe changes up the standard zucchini casserole formula by incorporating bell pepper for an extra pop of flavor and corn flake cereal for exceptional crunch. That said, if you don’t have corn flakes on hand, you can always substitute panko bread crumbs for the cereal.
Zucchini and Cheese
Loaded with veggies (zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions) and mozzarella cheese, this colorful casserole is a vibrant but cozy ode to summer. While it makes an excellent side dish, you can also serve this bake as a vegetarian main dish; simply pair it with crusty bread and a green salad.
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
If you’re not entirely sold on the idea of combining zucchini and chocolate, let the hundreds of 5-star ratings on this cake speak for themselves. As one Allrecipes user attests, “I was unsure about this one in the beginning but wow. This is an incredible Cake! Probably my best chocolate cake yet! My advice is don’t leave out the cinnamon. It’s not a strong flavor but it definitely enhances the chocolate flavor!”
Zucchini Soufflé
This fluffy and elegant zucchini dish is a perfect choice for a summer brunch. The recipe offers plenty of room for variation based on personal taste, so don’t hesitate to incorporate additional fresh herbs (dill or basil would work wonderfully) or other favorite seasonings.
Zucchini Bars
Zucchini delivers unmatched moisture in these easy, cream cheese-frosted cake bars. For added flavor, consider mixing a teaspoon of vanilla extract or a generous pinch of spice, such as cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom, into the batter.
Zucchini Crisp
When it comes to dessert, zucchini has potential beyond cakes and quick breads—and this crisp recipe is here to prove it. Similar to a berry or apple crisp, you’ll toss cubed zucchini with sugar and spices to create a sweet filling, and then cover it with a buttery oat topping and bake until bubbling. It might sound crazy, but trust us on this one, it’s just crazy enough to work.
Zucchini Pizza Bake
This kid-friendly casserole offers a fun and nutritious spin on the typical “pizza night” menu. To customize the recipe, add your own favorite pizza toppings, like pepperoni or fresh basil leaves, into the cheesy top layer.
Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cake
This recipe serves to remind us all that doubling down on the chocolate is always a good idea. No need for frosting here, as the chocolate chips sprinkled over the cake batter add both decadence and visual appeal.
Roasted Zucchini Casserole
Roasting the zucchini and onion before layering with cooked penne, pasta sauce, and Parmesan cheese infuses this pasta bake with robust caramelized flavor. If you want to make this dish in advance, simply prepare through Step 6 of the recipe, cover and refrigerate, and then proceed to baking the casserole when you’re ready to serve.
Zucchini Stuffing Bake
Offering comforting flavors and requiring minimal prep work, it’s easy to see why this casserole has been a holiday staple for over a decade in recipe contributor Sally G’s family. One Allrecipes community member suggests mixing in leftover chunks of chicken or turkey and serving with cranberry sauce to make the bake a “complete meal.”
Zucchini Spice Cake
With a dense texture similar to carrot cake, this warmly spiced dessert is sure to satisfy every sweet tooth—even those belonging to vegetable-adverse eaters. The recipe creator encourages cooks at home to add their favorite mix-ins to the batter for added texture and flavor. For example, you could stir in a cup of toasted pecans or walnuts, shredded coconut, or even chocolate chips.
Zucchini Creme Bars
For a creative spin on dessert, look no further than these rich Zucchini Creme Bars. Blending the cooked zucchini with evaporated milk makes for a perfectly smooth, luscious filling that’s baked over a buttery-sweet shortbread crust. Some Allrecipes community members found that the bars needed a bit longer in their ovens to firm up, so be sure to keep an eye on them towards the end of the recommended bake time and add a few additional minutes if necessary.