Bored of the same old courgette recipes? Grow your own and have a zucchini glut? Here you’ll find all the courgette recipes you’ll ever need. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or just wanting some ideas, you will find something delicious here for sure. Courgette glut? Bring it on.
Courgettes / Zucchini
Courgettes (Cucurbita pepo), as they are known here in the UK, are a summer squash and they come in all shapes and sizes. They even have a few different colours too. From almost white to almost black with yellow and varying shades of green in between.
In the US, Canada and Australia, courgettes are called zucchini. The name is taken from the Italian, zucchino which means “tiny squash”. This makes perfect sense as summer squash are harvested before they come to maturity. If you leave a courgette for any length of time, it turns into something with hard seeds that’s closely related to a marrow.
The word courgette, on the other hand, is French. But it has exactly the same meaning as zucchini.
I absolutely adore courgettes. They have a mild and slightly sweet flavour, so they can accompany just about anything without taking over. But most of all I love them for their ease of preparation. All you need to do is give them a quick rinse, take off the ends and chop, slice or grate. No deseeding, or awkward manipulation skills.
And on top of that you can eat them either raw or cooked. Courgettes / zucchini are just brilliant.
They’re a stalwart of the vegetable patch too. If you can get them past their teeny stage without a slug attack, you’re set to enjoy a bumper crop. And if you really have too many to use, give some to friends, family or neighbours. Some of them will be delighted.
Health Benefits of Courgettes
Courgettes contain a lot of water. However, they are surprisingly good for you. Anything watery is going to help with hydration, but more importantly they’re a good source of potassium, vitamins A and C, antioxidants and both soluble and insoluble fibre.ref: Healthline
All The Courgette Recipes You Will Ever Need
Recipes with courgettes / zucchini are the star of the show. I have plenty of recipes where I add courgettes as one of the ingredients, such as this Thai green curry or jewelled Persian rice. But they’re rarely the main feature.
Here you’ll find classic recipes such as ratatouille as well as complete innovations such as chocolate zucchini overnight oats. In fact there’s a whole heap of recipes from soup to cake and everything in between.
Recipes are vegetarian unless they state they’re vegan. If it’s not specified already, I’ve added vegan to the titles for those that are free of animal products. Or at least I have where I’m able. I’m unable to edit my own recipes, which is a bit of a pain.
If you have rather too many courgettes sitting in your fridge, main meals are one of the best ways to use them up. Don’t think of them as a side dish only. You can combine them with other ingredients, but make them the star of the show and free up some fridge space at the same time.
You’ll find both vegetarian and vegan courgette recipes for one pot meals, pasta, casseroles, quiches, as well as stuffed zucchini.
One Pot Courgette Recipes
Anything you can cook in one pot usually has my vote. I’m all for less washing up. Having said that, the freekeh recipe at the bottom is actually cooked on three pots, but it is all done on the stove top.
Courgette Strata
A baked omelette with attitude or a type of savoury bread pudding? You decide. This courgette strata is a take on an Italian classic and it makes for a quick, easy and satisfying meal. Great for a substantial brunch, lunch or evening repast. Hey, you can even call it zucchini strata if you like.
Courgettes with baked beans and salsa verde is an easy recipe for lazy summer days. It makes the most of ready cooked beans in tomato sauce, but adds additional levels of flavour and nutrition. Whether you use a tin of baked beans or leftovers from homemade ones, this recipe is quick-to-make and delicious to eat.
Beans, Courgettes And Sweetcorn With Roasted Hazelnuts
Creamy beans, fresh courgettes (zucchini), juicy sweetcorn and crunchy roasted nuts combine to make a main dish that's full of flavour and texture. It's packed with protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. And the recipe also includes fifteen of your thirty weekly plant foods, making it the perfect recipe to improve or maintain a healthy gut.
Have you ever wondered what to make with zucchini? How about this Italian Zucchini Frittata with ricotta? Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.
A flavoursome Turkish Cypriot dish of fried vegetables and tomato sauce. Best eaten with olive bread to soak up the juices, but also good with rice or pasta.
An easy one pot vegan meal that's both filling, delicious and nutritious. Just marinade tempeh in a rich umami spicy sauce, then fry. This dish is perfect for using up courgettes and any leftover potatoes.
Quick, easy and healthy, this courgette and mushroom stir fry recipe with cashew nuts makes a brilliant easy midweek meal. Just serve with noodles or rice!
Freekeh With Chilli Chickpeas and Herbed Vegetables
This recipe for freekeh served with chilli chickpeas and herbed vegetables makes a really tasty dinner and is surprisingly quick to prepare. Like many great recipes it's more than the sum of its parts. Three already delicious components come together to make a taste sensation.
These Almond Pesto Zucchini Noodles are a great low carb/ keto substitute for pasta with pesto. Loaded with flavour as well is protein and healthy fats.
Courgette pasta, flavoured with lemon and pasta. A simple pasta dish full of the tastes of Summer and a great use for the courgettes growing in your garden.
Vegan lasagna is layered with sauce, tofu ricotta, zucchini, basil & spinach. Just the right size for one. Ready in 30 minutes thanks to the air fryer!
Delicious, gluten-free, low-carb, and nutrient-packed, Zucchini Noodles – also known as Zoodles – are a healthy snack or light meal. Learn How to Cook Zucchini Noodles, including tips and tricks to prevent soggy noodles and this easy to follow Garlic Parmesan Zoodle Recipe.
This courgette and blue cheese quiche features a nutty wholemeal crust filled with creamy custard, fragrant thyme and tender sautéed courgettes. Tangy blue cheese adds richness and depth. Pair it with new potatoes and steamed greens for a comforting main or serve with a crisp salad for a lighter lunch.
Low carb keto zucchini tart pizza starts with a gluten-free almond flour fathead crust, then a garlic herbed creamy filling, topped with zucchini and a drizzle of olive oil.
Ready in under 30 minutes this Zucchini Puff Pastry Tart with Pesto Ricotta is the perfect summer appetizer. Discover the best recipe for an easy and delicious zucchini puff pastry tart.
Caramelised onions, leeks and wet garlic give a lovely sweet taste to this delicious courgette tart. The chilli paste gives a gently smokey flavour, the chocolate adds depth and the cheese adds a salty creaminess.
Zucchini Stuffing Casserole – Life Currents vegetarian
Zucchini Stuffing Casserole delicious comfort food made with zucchini & carrots tossed in mushroom cream sauce & topped with stuffing & baked to perfection
I do love a stuffed courgette. They remind me of all the delicious stuffed vegetables I enjoyed when I lived in Egypt. I usually stuff mine with rice and lentils and cook them in tomato sauce. Something similar to these stuffed peppers in fact.
These recipes all offer something a bit different.
Chickpea curry stuffed zucchini boats recipe! Vegetarian zucchini boats stuffed with a simple chickpea tikka masala and topped with a cumin yogurt sauce.
Stuffed Courgettes with Bulgur Wheat and Preserved Lemon
Stuffed courgette (zucchini) boats filled with bulgur wheat, lemon, nuts, herbs and feta cheese (use vegetarian or vegan Greek style cheese). Serve as a veggie main or a sensational side dish.
If you want to get rid of a number of courgettes, soup is often the way to go. Especially a blended soup. Soup is also one of the best ways of using up overgrown courgettes that are a bit too watery for other recipes.
Summer Green Soup with Parsley Pesto
A delicious green soup using up summer’s bounty and enhanced with parsley and almond pesto. It makes a substantial meal.
This velvety zucchini soup is tasty, healthy and quick! Just 5 ingredients and 15 minutes for this courgette soup recipe. Only 46 calories per bowl. Vegan.
When I think of courgettes, it’s often a side dish that springs to mind. But I have to confess I rarely think about adding them to salads and even less as the main attraction.
Zucchini Side Dishes
Courgettes With Za’atar and Yoghurt
A really simple dish of fried courgettes, spiced with za'atar and served on a bed of minted yoghurt. Wolf it down all on its own for an easy lunch or supper, or use it to accompany a main meal or as part of a mezze spread. It's that versatile.
Sweet and Sour Zucchini (Zucchini Agrodolce) (vegan) | Sip and Feast
Sweet and sour zucchini is the perfect summer side to use up all that beautiful zucchini! Thinly sliced zucchini is lightly fried and dressed with a vinegar-based, sticky-sweet, red onion sauce.
These simple Ginger & Chilli Courgettes are soft, spicy and the perfect vegan friendly side to any number of Asian inspired dishes. The courgettes/zucchini are gently fried then doused in seasoning.
This 5 ingredient shredded zucchini recipe is a healthy and easy side dish that’s Weight Watchers friendly at 3 WW points on the blue plan. Sautéed with garlic and dill, using low-fat (light) feta, it’s a delicious, gluten-free and low calorie veggie dish that can be made in 20 minutes!
Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables: Air Fryer Or Oven
Colourful roasted Mediterranean vegetables make for a flavoursome and healthy side dish. It goes well with many summer recipes and you can also incorporate the veg into various main meals. In this recipe I combine a mix of aubergine (eggplant), courgettes (zucchini), red onions and peppers, but it's versatile and you can easily swap some of the veg for others. Roast in an air fryer or the oven.
Courgette fritters are one of my favourite ways to eat this ubiquitous summer squash. They work really well as a light lunch, a side dish or the main part of a larger meal.
Spicy Courgette Fritters
Fritters packed full of flavour and nutrients. Crisp on the outside and soft in the middle, they're delicious served warm with minted or plain yoghurt for breakfast, brunch, lunch or supper.
Courgette Sweetcorn Fritters with Chilli Tomato Sauce
These delicious yellow fritters are full of goodness, easy to prepare and make for a nice brunch, lunch or light supper. Serve with or without chilli tomato sauce.
Marinated Courgettes: Side, Starter or Light Lunch
Marinated courgettes is one of those simple salads you don't believe will be nearly as good as it in fact is. With only a few ingredients, the flavours really shine. Serve as a side dish or scatter with either toasted pine nuts or goat's cheese to make a rather fabulous and elegant starter or light lunch.
This delicious courgette salad features crisp slices of courgette, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, & chickpeas tossed in a tangy lemon tahini dressing!
A light and refreshing spiralized summer raw zucchini salad made with seasonal zucchini, olives, sundried tomatoes, and light lemon vinaigrette dressing.
I’ve made zucchini fries a number of times and I highly recommend them as an appetiser or light lunch. There are, however, a few other things you can do with them.
By the way, I have a lovely mushroom pâté recipe that would be perfect for the zucchini roll ups featured in this section. Just saying!
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips – Easy No Breading Recipe
Crispy garlic flavored air fryer zucchini chips make the best healthier snack. With no breading, this recipe is easy and quick!
These easy to make baked vegan zucchini fries are the perfect way to eat up loads of in-season courgettes/zucchinis. Perfect served with some vegan Alioli mayo.
Zucchini Crostini ~ Toasted baguette with an easy bruschetta of grated zucchini, vegan parmesan, garlic and onion, and simple seasonings. Perfect for the warmer months as an appetizer or light meal served outdoors.
If you’ve not made savoury vegetable muffins before, you’re in for a treat. They’re perfect lunch box and picnic material. Easy to make, simple to pack and they hold up well to transport. They may not add much in the way of flavour, but they add moisture, nutrients and pretty green flecks.
Miso Muffins with Kale, Carrot and Courgette
Ideal for breakfast, brunch or lunch boxes these savoury muffins are very tasty and packed full of goodness. They’re also simple to make.
Healthy Vegan Savoury Muffins (Gluten Free) – Forkful of Plants
These vegan savoury muffins with zucchini and carrots are perfect served as a healthy vegan breakfast, a lunch box snack, or as a delicious savoury side to any meal.
It may not be that obvious, but courgettes can work really well in cake. Remember carrot cake? Just like carrots, they add bulk, moisture and nutrients. Half the time those not in the know don’t have a clue what they’ve just eaten.
Courgette Cake with Lime and Mascarpone Frosting
A light, delicious and not too sweet courgette cake flavoured with lime and optional rum soaked raisins. Two green-flecked sponges are sandwiched and topped with a lime flavoured mascarpone frosting. It makes a perfect late summer layer cake, ideal for alfresco dining.
Best Ever Zucchini Bread (Easy Recipe!) – Little Sunny Kitchen
Homemade zucchini bread is a classic recipe that everyone loves. Warm spices, brown sugar, and shredded zucchini star in this easy zucchini bread recipe.
A moist, tasty and not too sweet chocolate traybake with a crunchy top. A great way to use up courgettes and to sneak some extra veg into your diet. Most wouldn't suspect the courgettes were there.
These chocolate chip vegan zucchini muffins are perfectly moist and delicious with just the right amount of sweetness. These healthy zucchini-packed muffins make a great grab-and-go breakfast!
Zucchini Bars – Healthier Zucchini Bar Recipe with Cream Cheese Icing
These zucchini bars use healthier, gluten-free ingredients, less sugar and less oil than the classic recipe with a better for you cream cheese icing too!
EASY chocolaty brownies that are full of zucchini and are vegan/dairy-free. They’re moist and chocolaty with a simple frosting. You’ll never know there’s zucchini hidden in them.
There’s always something that doesn’t quite fit. That doesn’t make them less interesting or appealing though. Often it’s the opposite. These miscellaneous courgette recipes are a case in point.
What could be healthier than eating oatmeal in the morning? How about vegan zoats? Zucchini oats are an ingenious way to introduce some veggies to your sweet morning meals. After all, we’re talking about chocolate.
This Zucchini Smoothie Recipe is made with 7 ingredients & comes together in less than 5 minutes! Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo & vegan with no added sugar!
I hope you’ve found something to inspire you with all these fabulous courgette recipes. Let me know if you try any of them. I’m also keen to know what I’ve missed? What are your favourites? Do tell by commenting below.
If you’d like more posts with recipe collections, follow the link and you’ll find I have quite a lot of them. This one for blackcurrant recipes is always popular in summer. And just in case you don’t have enough ideas here, you can find all of my courgette recipes by hitting the link.
Hi Neil. Is what a book? Do you mean “All The Courgette Recipes You Will Ever Need”? If so, that is the title of this post. The advantage is that I can go on adding to it when I spot an interesting recipe.
Wow! So many fantastic ideas. I always end up with too many courgettes… they seem to take ages to get going and them poof … there’s enough to feed an army. I like the idea of picking a few. I’ve made courgette cake in the past but there are some interesting, new to me ideas for cakes and breads. I’m going to have to try those. Thank you for sharing.
I love ALL of these mouthwatering courgette recipes. It’s amazing how it is so versatile, you can make them in both savory and sweet dishes for any kind of meal!
This is such a wonderful collection of zucchini recipes and I look forward to giving them all a try especially since I have some growing in my garden. I now have my meals planned for the whole summer!
Thanks for sharing, all of these recipes look lovely to make with courgettes, which I’m excited to get ones from my dad’s garden, hopefully one year I grow them in pots myself 🙂
If you know anyone with courgettes, they’re usually delighted to pass a few on. They produce quite prolifically. Enjoy your dad’s and good luck with growing your own. Maybe next year?
I love courgettes but I’m the only one in our family who really likes them! We picked some the other day though so maybe I need to have a go at one of the sweet recipes.
Yes, stick them in a chocolate cake and they won’t be noticed. Courgettes seem a funny veg to have an aversion too though, they’re so innocuous. Or maybe that’s the problem?
It is not zucchini season here but this makes me want to go and buy a bundle – so many good recipes – those miso muffins are calling my name – and I love zucchini in sweet baking. The recipe I think of when I have lots of zucchinis is zucchini slice, (a bit like an eggless quiche with grated zucchini and cheese) which is pretty common in Australia and I had for dinner a lot when I was growing up – https://gggiraffe.blogspot.com/2012/05/fff-zucchini-slice-childhood-favourite.html
Ooh yes, that does look good Johanna. It’s sort of a cross between a frittata and a quiche. I think in our current heatwave I’d have to do a stove top version though.
Oh no Camilla. We didn’t have much success with ours either. Luckily a friend gave us a couple of his and they’ve been producing prolifically. Good luck.
This is a great roundup as I love courgettes but think they are so often treated as something to pack out a meal. You’ve proven they can be star of the show with this post. Thank you for including our courgette pasta which happens to be my favourite pasta dish.
Is that a book and if so please can i have details.
Hi Neil. Is what a book? Do you mean “All The Courgette Recipes You Will Ever Need”? If so, that is the title of this post. The advantage is that I can go on adding to it when I spot an interesting recipe.
Wow! So many fantastic ideas. I always end up with too many courgettes… they seem to take ages to get going and them poof … there’s enough to feed an army. I like the idea of picking a few. I’ve made courgette cake in the past but there are some interesting, new to me ideas for cakes and breads. I’m going to have to try those. Thank you for sharing.
You’re so right. Ours took ages to start producing this year, but we’ve been living off them for a month or more now and they still keep on coming.
I love ALL of these mouthwatering courgette recipes. It’s amazing how it is so versatile, you can make them in both savory and sweet dishes for any kind of meal!
The flavour is fairly bland, so you’re right, they’re good for both sweet and savoury.
A great gallery of recipes! Very helpful! Courgette’s are so versatile. I will be coming back often to pull recipes
Courgettes are just brilliant. They’re easy to grow and so easy to cook with.
This is such a wonderful collection of zucchini recipes and I look forward to giving them all a try especially since I have some growing in my garden. I now have my meals planned for the whole summer!
Well yes! If you’re growing your own zucchini, a few different recipes to try will be extremely useful. At least I’m finding them so.
Thank you so much for compiling all of these recipes! I can’t wait to try the zucchini tart with pesto! It sounds so delicious!
I’m glad you’re finding the recipes useful. That tart with pesto does sound good.
Thanks for sharing, all of these recipes look lovely to make with courgettes, which I’m excited to get ones from my dad’s garden, hopefully one year I grow them in pots myself 🙂
If you know anyone with courgettes, they’re usually delighted to pass a few on. They produce quite prolifically. Enjoy your dad’s and good luck with growing your own. Maybe next year?
I love courgettes but I’m the only one in our family who really likes them! We picked some the other day though so maybe I need to have a go at one of the sweet recipes.
Yes, stick them in a chocolate cake and they won’t be noticed. Courgettes seem a funny veg to have an aversion too though, they’re so innocuous. Or maybe that’s the problem?
so many wonderful ideas here choclette. we love zucchini! i make a light lasagne with grated zuke; it’s delicious.
That sounds like a splendid idea Sherry. I haven’t made a lasagne of any kind for years. Not sure why.
So many delicious recipes and ideas cant wait for my garden to give me beautiful zucchinis to try them all!
There’s a lot to try Sylvie and I’m starting with the pasanda tonight.
What a fabulous collection of zucchini recipes! I have a glut so thanks for these!
Perfect Christina. This collection is particularly aimed at those with a glut – read me!
All of these look so good! I’m intrigued by the zucchini overnight oats, it sounds delicious!
They do sound good and I reckon they’re going to be the first thing I try.
It is not zucchini season here but this makes me want to go and buy a bundle – so many good recipes – those miso muffins are calling my name – and I love zucchini in sweet baking. The recipe I think of when I have lots of zucchinis is zucchini slice, (a bit like an eggless quiche with grated zucchini and cheese) which is pretty common in Australia and I had for dinner a lot when I was growing up – https://gggiraffe.blogspot.com/2012/05/fff-zucchini-slice-childhood-favourite.html
Ooh yes, that does look good Johanna. It’s sort of a cross between a frittata and a quiche. I think in our current heatwave I’d have to do a stove top version though.
Loving all these courgette recipes! Just hope my plants actually get going this year as they’re not looking great so far!
Oh no Camilla. We didn’t have much success with ours either. Luckily a friend gave us a couple of his and they’ve been producing prolifically. Good luck.
What an amazing roundup of courgette recipes. I don’t know where to start.
How about at the very beginning Jac 😀 I have to say your stuffed courgettes sound lush.
This is a great roundup as I love courgettes but think they are so often treated as something to pack out a meal. You’ve proven they can be star of the show with this post. Thank you for including our courgette pasta which happens to be my favourite pasta dish.
In that case Lesley, I’m going to have to try it. In fact there’s quite a few recipes there on my list.