14 Easy Zucchini Recipes To Use Up Your Bumper Crop

You have a mountain of zucchini. We have the solution.

By
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated April 27, 2025
Robin Shreeves
A bowl of zucchini fritters set on a white background.
Cambrea Bakes

Home cooks, food writers, and backyard gardeners may joke about the abundance of zucchini each summer, but sometimes it's not so funny when you're staring at a mountain of squash on your kitchen counter and no new ideas for how to use them.

We're here to make zucchini fun again with these 14 recipes. Yes, there's zucchini bread and muffins. There's quiche and a gratin. But there are also unexpected recipes, like a creamy one-pot pasta you're going to want to make right away.

Each of these recipes starts with a good amount of shredded zucchini to help you use up the abundance, and maybe sneak some veggies into your meals as well.

  • Zucchini Fritters

    A bowl of zucchini fritters set on a white background.
    Cambrea Bakes

    Can any food with the word fritter in it not be enticing? Gently fried, they come out crispy and oh-so-yummy. A sour cream and minced garlic dipping sauce ups that yum factor!

  • Zucchini Tomato Quiche

    zucchini tomato quiche in a glass pie plate on a marble counter top
    Elise Bauer

    This quiche says summer, summer, summer. Zucchini, tomatoes, and basil are plentiful at the same time during the growing season. Use them up in this quiche in an all-butter crust. (Or go ahead and use a pre-made crust.)

  • Turkey Zucchini Burger

    Turkey Zucchini Burger with Garlic Mayo
    Elise Bauer

    Make your turkey burger juicy by adding shredded zucchini. Give it some zing on a bun with the smear of garlic mayo that's so simple to make. Just add garlic to mayo!

  • Grandma's Zucchini Cake

    A plated square slice of zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    A sheet cake full of moist zucchini, warm spices, nuts, and raisins, topped with hard-to-resist cream cheese frosting. Take it to your next potluck or BBQ and watch it disappear.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below

  • Creamy One-Pot Pasta With Zucchini

    Bowl of Creamy One Pot Pasta with Zucchini

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Sauté shredded zucchini until it has a jammy consistency, then add it to cooked pasta in a cream cheese sauce. Top with walnuts.

  • Chocolate Zucchini Bread

    Best Chocolate Zucchini Bread
    Elise Bauer

    The addition of natural unsweetened cocoa takes zucchini bread from yum to YUM, and instant coffee and almond extract intensify its flavors.

  • Zucchini and Spinach Gratin

    zucchini gratin in a white baking dish with a spoon
    Elise Bauer

    This classic French gratin is bursting with grated zucchini, spinach, and onions sautéed with bacon, parsley, and garlic, all bound together with eggs and Parmesan. A great side dish for baked ham.

  • Cheesy Zucchini Bites

    Cheesy Zucchini Bites
    Elise Bauer

    These are kind of like tater tots, with no potatoes. Or broccoli cheddar bites, without the broccoli. They're perfect for breakfast, a quick snack, or a school lunch.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below

  • Zucchini Carrot Bread

    Slices of Zucchini Carrot Bread on Round Wood Board Next to Small Bowl of Coconut Flakes

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    Take regular zucchini bread up a notch with the addition of shredded carrots for sweetness, freshly grated orange zest for brightness, warm baking spices, and a powdered sugar glaze. Top it all with grated coconut.

  • Easy Zucchini Bread

    Easy Zucchini Bread

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Zucchini bread is so versatile, and this easy recipe has plenty of ideas for customizing this quick bread to your taste, including using gluten-free flour.

  • Spicy Turkey and Zucchini Burger

    Spicy Turkey and Zucchini Burger
    Elise Bauer

    Zucchini adds moisture to turkey burgers flavored with plenty of herbs. Serve with a side of lemony sour cream sauce.

  • Easy Zucchini Butter

    Slices of Toast Topped With Ricotta and Zucchini Butter on a Marble Slab Next to a Bowl With More Zucchini Butter and a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Mustard Colored Kitchen Towel and a Glass

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Smear this savory, 5-ingredient spread on toast or sandwiches for easy lunches on hot days. Or, toss it with pasta, parm, and olive oil for a quick dinner.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below

  • Chocolate Zucchini Cake

    chocolate zucchini cake with sugar glaze on a white cake pedastal
    Elise Bauer

    When you're asked to bring a cake to the next summer gathering, this Bundt is the one to take. Flavored with chocolate, shredded zucchini, orange peel, and pecans, it's drizzled with a sweet sugar glaze.

  • Zucchini Bread With Pineapple

    Zucchini Bread with Pineapple
    Elise Bauer

    The options for adding flavor to zucchini bread seem endless. In this version, crushed pineapple adds sweetness and moisture. Makes two loaves. One for now and one for freezing.

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