23 of the Best Courgette (Zucchini) Recipes

This collection of the Best Courgette/Zucchini Recipes is ideal for anyone looking to make the most of a homegrown glut of veg or if you’re simply looking for something new to do with this humble and super versatile summer squash.

Courgette isn’t something that I really grew up eating but as an adult I’ve wholeheartedly adopted it as a staple of my diet. Just like with the humble onion, I ensure that I always have some available in the fridge. Whether I’m making it the hero of a meal or simply using it to bulk out a dish and add extra veg, I use it in at least 60% of my meals!

Courgette or Zucchini?

In honesty, with readers from all over the world, writing a post like this where the main subject has two entirely different names depending on where you are in the world is a bit of a nightmare! I want to make sure that everyone knows what I’m talking about. But I do appreciate that it can read a little oddly. But if you’ve read this far, I suspect that you’re with the program already.

Courgette is the french term for this easy to grow vegetable and zucchini is the Italian word. Relatively unsurprisingly the French term made it over here to the UK and with the large Italian migration to the US, that term stuck on that side of the pond.

Types of Courgette / Zucchini

Here in the UK we can generally only buy green courgettes that look like cucumbers but many people also grow round courgettes which look a little like gala melons. (Courgettes, squashes and melons are all in the same family). You can cook and eat these in exactly the same way as regular long courgettes.

Summer squash is readily available in the US and is similar to a yellow skinned courgette although the skin is a little thicker and the shape more bulbous at one end. Actual yellow zucchinis are available but often for a very limited amount of time and usually only from farmer’s markets. Both of these variations cook and eat almost exactly the same way as the green variety.

Best Courgette Based Side Dishes

Like most vegetables, the most common way to prepare and eat zucchini is as a side dish to a protein such as Grilled Steak, Roast Chicken or Korean Belly Pork and a carb like Sticky Rice or Roast Potatoes. Here are some of my favourite options.

Griddled Courgettes (Zucchini)

These slightly charred Griddled Courgettes are a simple side with less than simple flavour! With a touch of garlic and finished with zaatar spice mix, they’re ideal as part of a middle eastern inspired mezze platter, bbq side or simple salad! Ingredients

Jalapeno Honey Courgette Cornbread – From The Larder

Gluten-Free Jalapeno Honey Courgette Cornbread is sweet, savoury and spicy. It makes the most of a glut of courgettes and is so easy to prepare.

Roasted Parmesan Courgettes – Sew White

This is a delicious way to prepare courgettes for dinner! My Roasted Parmesan Courgettes are simple to prepare and succulent to eat.

Ginger & Chilli Courgettes (Zucchini)

These simple Ginger & Chilli Courgettes are soft, spicy and the perfect vegan friendly side to any number of Asian inspired dishes. The courgettes (also known as zucchini) are gently and slowly fried then doused in seasoning just before serving.

Raw Zoodles Salad – Cook With Renu

Raw Zoodles Salad or Zucchini/Courgette noodles are no-cook, low carb, vegan, and gluten free vegetarian noodles made using Zucchini.

Courgette, Avocado And Strawberry Salad – The Healthy Tart

Courgette, Avocado and Strawberry Salad is an easy, spiralized salad with a mix of sweet and sour flavours, it’s the perfect summer salad.

Best Main Courses with Courgette

Just because we often eat veg as a side, doesn’t mean that they’re not also often incorporated as an ingredient in other dishes.

Sometimes they’re simply a backnote or base vegetable. Although often they are also made the hero of the dish. Here are some of my favourite main courses featuring or including courgette.

I’ve split this section between meaty mains and those suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets.

Meaty Mains with Courgette / Zucchini

Puff Pastry Quiche with Bacon, Courgette & Mozzarella

My Puff Pastry Quiche with Bacon, Courgette & Mozzarella is almost a complete meal in itself! I just can’t get enough of the light puff pastry crust packed full of smoky bacon, vegetables and melty mozzarella in a soft and creamy egg custard filling. Serve hot or cold for a tasty and portable treat. 

Sausage Ragu Stuffed Courgettes – Kavey Eats

I love the courgette season! Many home gardeners and allotmenteers love growing courgettes as these summer squashes are easy to look after and usually give an abundant harvest. But it’s surprising …

Pork Meatballs with Roasted Veg – Recipes Made Easy

Tasty pork meatballs flavoured with lemon and thyme and served with roasted vegetables and Freekeh makes an easy and healthy midweek meal.

Gnocchi with Chorizo & Courgette – Lost in Food

Gnocchi with chorizo and courgette is a quick and easy dish, perfect for using up courgettes growing in our gardens and on the table in 30 minutes!

Kousa Mahshi (Lebanese Stuffed Courgettes) – Cooksister

This delicious dish of mince and rice-stuffed courgettes is served throughout the Middle East – and it’s gluten and dairy free!

Best Courgette Vegetarian & Vegan Mains

Vegetarian White Bean Chili

My Vegetarian White Bean Chili is a brilliant and hugely flavourful alternative to a traditional chili sin carne. The creamy veg and bean packed chilli is a quick one-pan dish made using tinned beans and is a great base for heaps of tasty garnishes.

Creamy Courgette Puff Pastry Tart – Family Friends Food

Layers of tender courgette (zucchini) slices top this delicious puff pastry tart. Easy to make and full of flavour! Serve with salad for a quick family meal.

Cheesy Courgette Omelette – Fab Food 4 All

A Cheesy Courgette Omelette with a hint of garlic which is light, fluffy and oh so delicious! It’s our favourite quick weekend lunch.

Potato and Courgette Soup – Sneaky Veg

A deliciously creamy potato and courgette soup that makes a delicious summer lunch or starter. Easy to make and suitable for vegans.

Best Courgette Cakes & Bakes

Move over carrot cake, there is a new veg in town. And quite frankly a significantly better one (I’m not a fan of carrot cake, can you tell?!). Baking with courgette is a relatively new thing for me but I really love it.

The overriding taste is rarely of vegetable but using zucchni in baking keeps bakes lovely and moist. Plus it’s an easy and sneaky way to get another portion of veg into our diets. Win win!

Courgette Cupcakes with Lemon Curd – Curly’s Cooking

These Courgette Cupcakes with Lemon Curd & Cream Cheese Frosting are too delicious to let the idea of courgette put you off!

Courgette Brownies – Tales From The Kitchen Shed

These Courgette Brownies are super moist, delicious & decadent – no one will ever guess there’s zucchini in these brownies!

Courgette Cake with Lemon Drizzle – Veggie Desserts

A one-bowl moist and tasty courgette cake (zucchini cake) that’s easy, has reduced sugar and a zesty lemon drizzle. Freezable and easily vegan / gluten free

Chocolate Courgette Muffins – From The Larder

Chocolate Courgette Muffins are delightfully decedent and incredibly moist. Plus they are gluten-free and vegan.

Preserved Courgettes

There are a multitude of ways to preserve zucchinis and this is a very popular way of making that late summer harvest keep you in courgette all winter long. With these recipes you can pick your poison between chutney, pickle or jam. Why not make one of each?!

Spicy Courgette and Apple Chutney – Farmersgirl Kitchen

A step by step recipe for Spicy Courgette and Apple Chutney. A sweet and spicy preserve that makes the perfect accompaniment to any meal.

Quick Courgette & Shallot Pickle – Lost in Food

A quick and simple courgette and shallot pickle, a versatile pickle to keep in the fridge. Ideal if you have a glut of courgettes growing in your garden.

Courgette & Ginger Jam – Tales From The Kitchen Shed

Courgette & Ginger Jam is delicious & a great way to use up overgrown courgettes / zucchini. Perfect on toast & makes a great alternative to mango chutney!

And Don’t Forget Courgette for Breakfast!

If carrot cake inspired overnight oats are a thing (they are) then it only seems fair that courgettes get in on the action too.

Overnight Oats with Courgette, Lemon & Blueberry – Sneaky Veg

Zoats is a healthy overnight oats recipe with zucchini or courgette, lemon and blueberries is a delicious and healthy summer breakfast.

So now tell me what you favourite courgette or zucchini recipes are!

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