Here’s a great way to cook zucchini from your garden!
Hey there! Do you love zucchini? If so, you are going to love this sauteed zucchini recipe!
If you’re a seasonal gardener, you know what it’s like to have an overload of zucchini in the late summer/early fall.
It’s an awesome veggie that can be used in so many different ways. But sometimes it can feel more like a chore, trying to use up all that zucchini!
Well, have no fear! My sauteed zucchini recipe is here!
One of our family’s absolute favorites is pan-fried zucchini. We look forward to it every fall!
Well…okay. So it’s not the little boys’ favorite. They don’t like it at all. But my big boys do! They love sauteed zucchini with onions and garlic.
Whether you have a large family or are cooking on a budget, this sauteed zucchini recipe is sure to be a hit with (almost!) everyone at your dinner table.
If you’ve never gardened before, pin these posts for next fall! And plant a small garden this spring. Your budget will thank you.
And now let’s get back to that sautéed zucchini!
What you need for this sautéed zucchini recipe
The best part about pan-fried zucchini is that it takes hardly any ingredients to make! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fresh zucchini
- Fresh yellow summer squash
- Onion
- Butter, garlic butter, or olive oil
- Garlic salt, garlic powder, or minced garlic
- Pepper
- Tomatoes, optional
You can add in all sorts of other ingredients as well, creating different variations of this sautéed zucchini recipe. But the basic sauteed zucchini recipe is pretty simple.
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How to make fried zucchini
Fried zucchini is a super easy vegetable to add as a side dish to almost any dinner.
Here’s how to make it:
1. Wash and dry the zucchini and the summer squash. Cut the ends off, and then slice the rest into evenly-sized coins. You can also chop it if you prefer.
2. Toss the zucchini slices or chopped zucchini into a large skillet or frying pan.
3. Add onion slices and tomatoes to the pan as well. You can add as much or as little as you’d like.
4. Sprinkle the minced garlic or garlic salt, and pepper over the zucchini slices. How much you use will depend on your preference.
5. Dot the zucchini with butter.
6. Cook the zucchini, over medium-high heat, stirring often. They will soften up and start to look kind of “see-through” or translucent as they cook.
If you like your zucchini crispy, cook evenly for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until they turn a golden brown. But, if, like me, you like it cooked to the point where it almost looks soggy, then continue cooking until your zucchini starts to fall apart.
Store leftovers in an airtight container, such as Tupperware, in the fridge. It’ll keep for a few days, so eat it pretty quickly.
What to serve with this sauteed zucchini recipe
Pan-fried zucchini makes a great side dish for nearly any meal. Here we served it with grilled meatloaf and cheesy garlic mashed potatoes.
But last night we served it with breaded ranch chicken and steamed potatoes. (I forgot to take a pic.)
You can serve your cooked zucchini with grilled chicken, fish, or steak. It’s also a great side dish for pasta, risotto, or quiches.
Easy sauteed zucchini recipe variations
The basic recipe calls for very few ingredients – just butter, zucchini, onion, garlic salt, and pepper. But I always love to add tomatoes to mine.
In the picture above, I used pizza oil, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning.
You can play around with this fried zucchini recipe!
Some other variations to try:
1. Cheesy Zucchini: Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese, feta cheese, or your favorite cheese over the zucchini slices while they’re still hot.
2. Zucchini Medley: Pan-fry zucchini with other garden vegetables, like bell peppers, onions, or cherry tomatoes for a colorful, nutritious medley.
3. Spicy Zucchini: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to give your sauteed zucchini a spicy kick.
You can play around with all sorts of flavored oils, or use olive oil.
It’s really fun to experiment with and try new variations!
Money-saving tips for this zucchini recipe
I’m going to try to add money-saving tips to each recipe for you since we are all cooking for a big family and on a budget. So, here’s how to save on your zucchini recipes.
1. Buy in season.
If you have to buy your zucchini, buy it when it’s in season. For my area, this is right now! The end of July through September. You can google when zucchini is in season for your area.
You can purchase your zucchini at the grocery store, of course, but don’t forget farmer’s markets and hobby farmers. You can also join a coop and get garden fresh produce every week.
2. Buy in bulk.
When you buy, buy in bulk! You can freeze zucchini. I’ll try to get another post up on that later this fall if I have any zucchini I need to freeze (we usually eat it all!). But basically, you just slice it or cube it, quickly blanch it, let it dry, and then freeze it in freezer bags or with a vacuum sealer.
3. Use store brands.
When you purchase your seasonings and olive oil, use generics. They usually are labeled as “Everyday Essentials” or “Great Value”, etc. I’ve noticed no difference. You can also grow your own seasonings. I grow basil, parsley, and cilantro in pots on my deck during the summer.
4. Grow your own.
Lastly, of course, you can grow your own zucchini. It is almost fail-proof.
Next spring I’ll do a little post on planting a garden, but you don’t even need to plant a full garden. If you have a little space somewhere, plant a few zucchini. They grow huge and are quite nice to look at!
Plus, they grow like a weed and produce like crazy! You’ll be giving zucchini away! Promise.
Pan-fried zucchini FAQ’s
Here are the most often-asked questions about frying zucchini. But if you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments below. I’ll answer them for you just as soon as I can!
What is a good herb for zucchini?
While you can use almost anything that you like, fresh herbs, such as fresh basil, fresh thyme, and oregano go beautifully with fried zucchini.
How do you keep zucchini from getting soggy when sauteed?
I actually like mine soggy. But if you are trying to keep your zucchini crisp and crunchy, make sure the pan is hot before adding the slices. Warm up your butter or oil first, and then add your zucchini.
Also, do not overcrowd your zucchini. I like to fit as much zucchini in there as I can, but if you are trying to keep it from getting soggy, only add a single layer of zucchini to your frying pan.
Cook it for just a few minutes on each side.
How do you keep zucchini crisp when cooking?
The key to crispy zucchini is to cook it quickly over high heat and avoid adding too much oil or butter. Cutting thicker slices will help as well.
What is the best way to cut zucchini for stir fry?
Slice the zucchini into coins or spears. That is the best way to cook zucchini in a stir fry.
Do you need to peel zucchini before cooking?
No, you do not need to peel zucchini before cooking. You can eat the outer peeling.
But if you want to peel the zucchini you can.
Why do you salt zucchini before cooking?
Salt draws out excess moisture, preventing it from becoming watery when cooked.
Other ways to cook zucchini
There are so many ways to cook zucchini! You can:
- Grill it
- Roast it in the oven with a little grated parmesan cheese
- Air fry it
- Boil it
- Steam it
You could even spiralize it to make zucchini noodles for a low-carb alternative to pasta.
And, if you are tired of cooking with it, you can bake with it! Use larger zucchini in brownies, cakes, and muffins. They are absolutely amazing!!
Final thoughts on how to cook zucchini
Pan-fried zucchini is a simple and very yummy way to make the most of your garden harvest while feeding a large family on a budget.
This sauteed zucchini recipe is so versatile – you can make this simple zucchini recipe just the way it is, with onions and tomatoes, or spice it up any way you’d like to.
Play around with it and have fun! Let me know how you make it and what you add to it in the comments below! If you can figure out how to add a picture of your recipe, bonus points! I’d love to see it!
Before you go!
If you loved this pan-fried zucchini, stay tuned for more healthy zucchini recipes coming soon! From zucchini bread to oven-roasted zucchini to stuffed zucchini boats, there’s no shortage of easy zucchini recipes to try out!
So, head to your garden, pick those zucchinis, and get a-cookin’! (Most of) your fam will thank you.
More Garden Recipes
How to Can Your Own Dill Pickles
How to Make Your Own Apple Cider
Fried Zucchini
Ingredients
- Fresh Zucchini
- Fresh Yellow Summer Squash
- Onion
- Cherry or Roma Tomatoes optional
- Butter may also use oil
- Garlic Salt may also use fresh garlic or minced garlic
Instructions
- Wash and dry the zucchini.
- Cut the ends off, and then slice the rest into evenly sized coins.
- Toss the zucchini into a large skillet or frying pan.
- Slice an onion and add the slices to the pan. You can use as much or as little onion as you'd like.
- Slice a few roma or cherry tomatoes, if you'd like, and add them to the pan as well.
- Sprinkle garlic salt and pepper over the zucchini, to taste. How much will depend on your preference.
- Dot the zucchini with butter.
- Cook the zucchini, over medium-high heat, stirring often. They will soften up and start to look kind of “see through” or translucent as they cook.
- Remove the pan from the heart and serve immediately as a side dish to your favorite dinner.