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Here’s how to make the best grilled zucchini! It’s an easy side dish for dinners on the grill, seasoned to perfection with basil and oregano.
Turns out, zucchini is at its very best when it’s grilled. Throw thin slices on the grill and it comes out tender and charred, with an irresistibly smoky flavor! If you combine with Italian-style flavors like basil, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder: well, it’s sensational!
Zucchini is best known for zucchini bread: but Alex and I think grilled zucchini should be at the top of its greatest hits. At least, this way to cook it! It’s easy to grill, and takes less than 10 minutes to cook.
Ingredients In This Grilled Zucchini Recipe
Zucchini goes well with Italian-style flavors, so here we’re paired it basil and oregano. You could also use Italian seasoning, if you have it on hand. Otherwise, there’s not much you need to make great grilled zucchini. The firs time I bit into it, I was surprised at how much flavor comes from these simple seasonings. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- Zucchini: It’s preferable to have medium sized zucchini, for size and flavor (very large zucchini can be too seedy)
- Olive oil: My go-to oil for grilling.
- Spices: A mix of dried basil, dried oregano, onion powder, and garlic powder makes just the right flavor pairing.
Want to grill it with squash? Go to Grilled Zucchini and Squash.
How To Cut Zucchini For The Grill
There are a few different ways to cut zucchini for grilling it! Either way, you can get away with putting them right onto the grates: no grill basket needed! In my Grilled Squash recipe I chose to cut into rounds, but for grilled zucchini I like to cut into planks. It’s really your choice for how you’d like to serve it!
- Planks. Zucchini looks beautiful cut width-wise into long planks.
- Rounds or diagonal rounds (cut on the bias). You can slice the squash into 3/4-inch thick rounds. Or cut on the bias (diagonally), and you get larger, most interesting shapes.
How To Grill Zucchini
Grilling zucchini is fast and easy! Once you’ve cut and seasoned it, throw it on the grill and cook until tender and charred. Here are the basic steps (or jump right to the recipe):
- Preheat a grill to medium high heat. That’s about 375 to 450 degrees.
- Cut the zucchini into planks. Make the pieces about 3/4-inch thick.
- Toss with olive oil and seasonings. The blend of Italian spices in the recipe below is perfect.
- Grill on the grates for 4 to 6 minutes. Cook until charred and tender, turning once.
Tips For Grilled Zucchini That Isn’t Soggy
Soggy or mushy zucchini is the top complaint about grilling it — here are my tips for how to avoid that:
- Get the grates hot before anything touches them. A good preheat is key.
- Salt at the last minute. Salting draws water to the surface, so for this recipe I like to season the zucchini right before grilling.
- Turn once. More flipping makes things softer, so go for one flip.
- Avoid overcooking. Watch carefully and pull the zucchini when it’s just tender.
Sauces to Pair
This grilled zucchini tastes fantastic on its own! But to take it over the top, serve it with a tasty dipping sauce! Here are a few we’d recommend:
- Ranch: Ranch is perfect for dipping! Try our Homemade Ranch Dressing.
- BBQ: Try our Homemade BBQ Sauce or Mustard BBQ Sauce.
- Honey Mustard: This Honey Mustard sauce is balanced between sweet and savory.
- Teriyaki: Dip into homemade Teriyaki Sauce (if so, skip the basil and oregano.)
- Cucumber Sauce: This Greek-style Quick Cucumber Sauce is also fun for dipping.
Ways To Serve Grilled Zucchini
I like serving grilled zucchini with a few other of our best grilled vegetables to make a platter; here are some favorites:
- Onions, Peppers, Peppers & Onion and Squash are perfect for summer.
- Perfect Corn, Corn in Foil, or Elote work well alongside zucchini.
- Perfect Potatoes, Potatoes in Foil, Sweet Potatoes, or Carrots also are a nice pairing.
- Portobellos or Mushroom Skewers are full of meaty, smoky flavor that pairs well.
- Asparagus, Green Beans, Avocado, Bok Choy, Okra, or Brussels Sprouts are unique, tasty and easy.
Storage And Reheating
Store leftover grilled zucchini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, use a hot skillet and cook just until cooked through. Avoid the microwave, which can make it very mushy.
Dietary Notes
This grilled zucchini recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Preheat the grill fully to 375–450°F, cut planks at least ¾ inch thick, don’t crowd the grates, and turn only once. Pull the zucchini while it still has a little bite.
About 6 to 8 minutes total for ¾-inch planks: 3 to 4 minutes per side over medium-high heat.
No. Zucchini absorbs marinade like a sponge, then releases it on the grill, which steams instead of chars. Toss with oil and dry seasonings right before cooking.
No! The skin is what holds the planks together over direct heat.
Easy Grilled Zucchini
Here’s how to make the best grilled zucchini! It’s an easy side dish for dinners on the grill, seasoned to perfection with basil and oregano.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Slice the zucchini into into 4 thin slabs, about 3/4-inch or so. Place it in a bowl and mix it with the olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and kosher salt.
- Place the zucchini directly on the grill grates and grill for about 3 to 4 minutes per side (6 to 8 minutes total), until charred and tender. Remove from the grill, taste and add more salt if necessary.
More with zucchini
If you have too much zucchini on your hands, here are some zucchini recipe ideas to use it up:
- Baked Zucchini So easy to make, covered in a light coating of crunchy breadcrumbs and Parmesan!
- Perfect Sauteed Zucchini The BEST sauteed zucchini that will have everyone talking!
- Squash and Zucchini Casserole This cozy summer side dish is topped with crunchy breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
- Roasted Zucchini and Squash Baked until tender with Italian herbs and Parmesan cheese.
- Easy Zucchini Bread or Best Vegan Zucchini Bread Perfectly moist and easy to make, these quick breads are a great use!
- Chocolate Zucchini Cake The secret ingredient hiding in this dense, moist chocolate cake? Zucchini!
- Apple Zucchini Muffins or Easy Zucchini Muffins Adding this veggie makes for perfectly moist, scented muffins.
- Zucchini Ribbon Salad Thin sliced zucchini makes the ribbons for this salad.
