Summer Squash and Zucchini Recipes

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Cooking with Summer Squash

A bumper crop of squash can challenge the inventiveness of the most dedicated cook. Use these tasty summer veggies in pasta dishes, soup recipes, and more.

Get fresh flavor in about five minutes with this dish. Quick-cooking baby squash (you can substitute sliced regular squash or zucchini) combines with basil and salty feta for a side that can match all sorts of dishes―try it with everything from grilled salmon to pasta.

View Recipe: Sautéed Baby Squash with Basil and Feta

Sauteed Escarole, Corn, and White Bean Salad

Lee Harrelson

Sautéed Escarole, Corn, and White Bean Salad

Though often used as a salad green, escarole benefits greatly from a quick sauté in this light main-dish salad. With white beans for body (and a big nutritional punch), pancetta for meaty flavor, and zucchini and corn for freshness, this dish makes a great choice for a home-cooked dinner on a busy night.

View Recipe: Sautéed Escarole, Corn, and White Bean Salad

Randy Mayor

Summer Squash Soup with Pasta and Parmesan

When in season, yellow squash and zucchini grow in such abundance they're hard to use up, and even in the winter they're tasty, readily available, and inexpensive. Take advantage with this simple, fresh soup. Fresh herbs, lemon juice, and pasta complement the squash, while a generous topping of Parmesan adds distinctive nutty and salty notes.

View Recipe: Summer Squash Soup with Pasta and Parmesan

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Parmesan Zucchini Sticks with Smoky Roasted Romesco Sauce

Crunchy, salty items are a must at any party, and these oven-fried zucchini sticks fit the bill. The Spanish-style sauce is great on anything from chips to sandwiches to grilled seafood. It's also an easy way to sneak healthful food onto your party menu, as Lisa did. "Seriously―make the sauce. It's easy and amazing. My husband ('not a veggie fan' is putting it mildly) ate an entire zucchini because he kept going back for more and dunking in the sauce, which is―surprise!―more veggies.

View Recipe: Parmesan Zucchini Sticks with Smoky Roasted Romesco Sauce

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spiedini of Chicken and Zucchini with Almond Salsa Verde

With a wonderfully complex and flavorful sauce like this, the chicken and zucchini need almost no seasoning―just salt, pepper, and the grill's flame. The salsa's combination of tangy, briny, herbal, and nutty flavors is perfect for chicken, pork, fish, or shrimp, especially if they're grilled. To save soaking the skewers for a half an hour, use metal ones instead of wood.

View Recipe: Spiedini of Chicken and Zucchini with Almond Salsa Verde

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Huevos Rancheros with Zucchini and Green Pepper

Summery vegetables, protein-packed eggs, and melty cheese combine in this breakfast designed to sustain a hardworking rancher all morning. This recipe is hearty enough for dinner, and also makes an excellent brunch entrée, but still has less than 250 calories per serving.

View Recipe: Huevos Rancheros with Zucchini and Green Pepper

Summer Squash Pizza

You can use all zucchini or yellow squash for this grilled pie. Serve one slice as an appetizer or two with a salad for a simple supper.

View Recipe: Summer Squash Pizza

Randy Mayor

Chicken and Summer Vegetable Tostadas

Cumin is a key spice for authentic Mexican flavor, used here to flavor chicken, corn, and zucchini atop crisp broiled tortillas with Monterey Jack cheese. The recipe only takes about 15 minutes, but you can shave even more time by skipping the broiling step and serving as soft tacos instead. Serve with extra salsa and sour cream, and add your favorite variety of beans―black, pinto, or refried―as a side.

View Recipe: Chicken and Summer Vegetable Tostadas

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Yellow Squash Ribbons with Red Onion and Parmesan

This dish looks gorgeous on the plate, but it's super-simple: Shave ribbons of squash with a vegetable peeler and sauté with onion and garlic for four minutes. The same ribbon technique will also work with zucchini or large carrots in this dish. If you have fresh herbs like parsley, oregano, or thyme, sprinkle a bit on top at the end for a fresh zing.

View Recipe: Yellow Squash Ribbons with Red Onion and Parmesan

Zucchini and Basil Lasagna

The oven-ready noodles and bottled sauce make this a quick recipe to put together.

Tip: Summer squash's mild taste and cool flavor make it a perfect for blending with other ingredients. Look for firm squash with little blemishing; refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to three days.

View Recipe: Zucchini and Basil Lasagna

Photo: John Autry

Summer Squash, Bacon, and Mozzarella Quiche

Fill this homemade pie crust with a mixture of summer squash, bacon and creamy mozzarella. It is hard to believe this decadent quiche recipe has less than 300 calories.

View Recipe: Summer Squash, Bacon, and Mozzarella Quiche

Photo: Oxmoor House

Summer Squash Croquettes

A healthier version of a family dinner classic, these pan-fried croquettes will get the kids to eat squash. Make sure to drain the steamed squash well for cohesive patties.

View Recipe: Summer Squash Croquettes

Photo: Oxmoor House

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

This moist and cake-like chocolate chip zucchini bread is the perfect way to make sure you are eating your vegetables but still enjoying a sweet treat.

View Recipe: Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread