Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

Free: Healthy 5-Ingredient Meals Ebook

Get It Now

Table Of Contents hide

  • Can You Saute Zucchini?
  • Why You’ll Love This Sauteed Zucchini Recipe
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Saute Zucchini
  • How Long To Saute Zucchini?
  • Can You Scale This Sauteed Zucchini Recipe?
  • Storage Instructions
  • What To Serve With Sauteed Zucchini
  • More Healthy Zucchini Recipes
  • Tools For Cooking Zucchini In A Pan
  • Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!)

Sauteed zucchini is one of the most versatile healthy side dishes you can make. This version is seasoned simply with garlic and butter (yum!), but I’m also sharing a few seasoning ideas below. Feel free to switch it up depending on what you’re serving it with. Let me show you how to cook zucchini saute in just 10 minutes!

This is definitely the best sauteed zucchini recipe I’ve ever made, thanks to the garlic butter (the secret ingredient!). That being said, there’s a special method to do this.

The thing is, butter has a low smoke point, so it actually can’t withstand the temperature of sauteing. Some sauteed zucchini recipes (or other sauteed dishes) combine butter and oil together in attempt to solve this issue, but that does not actually raise the smoke point of the butter.

Instead, in this easy sautéed zucchini recipe, I used a different method to achieve that buttery flavor. Simply add the butter, as well as garlic that also burns easily, toward the end, with the heat reduced and cook for only a short time after that. Delish butter flavor, without burning it! (I use a similar method for making garlic butter sauteed mushrooms as well.)

Can You Saute Zucchini?

Yes, you can absolutely cook zucchini in a pan! There are so many ways to cook zucchini — baked, roasted, grilled, served raw, or fried, to name a few — and sauteed is one of the best ways to cook it, as it gets a little caramelized. The versatility just one of the reasons I love this vegetable. And once you see how to saute zucchini, I bet it’ll be on regular rotation at your house.

Why You’ll Love This Sauteed Zucchini Recipe

  • Garlicky, buttery flavor
  • Tender texture with caramelization
  • Super easy to make
  • Just 4 simple ingredients
  • Ready in just 10 minutes!
  • Naturally low carb and gluten-free
  • Perfect healthy side dish for summer (get more summer recipes here to pair with it!)
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (2)

Ingredients You’ll Need

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for cooking zucchini on the stove top, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

  • Zucchini – Obviously you need this veggie to make a zucchini saute, though technically yellow squash or patty pan squash would work the same way. I prefer to slice it slightly less than 1/2 inch thick. The important part is to make sure the slices are uniform in thickness, so that they cook evenly. You could also cut into cubes if you prefer. If you want to make your zucchini into noodles instead, learn how to cook zucchini noodles here.
  • Olive Oil – For sauteing. Other neutral oils, such as avocado oil, are also fine to use.
  • Unsalted Butter – Added toward the end for flavor — it’s my “secret” ingredient for a rich flavor when cooking zucchini in a pan.
    • For even more flavor, try swapping the butter and garlic with a compound butter!
    • If you only have salted butter on hand, you’ll need to reduce the amount of salt you add at the end.
    • For a dairy-free version, use a butter-flavored coconut oil or your favorite dairy-free butter substitute.
  • Garlic – I love the flavor of fresh minced garlic in this dish, but you can also buy jarred for convenience. If you don’t have garlic on hand, you can substitute 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
  • Salt – I use sea salt for all my recipes, but kosher salt is fine as well.
  • Pepper – I kept it simple with black pepper, but if you want more heat, red pepper flakes make a nice addition.
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (4)

Other Things You Can Add To Sauteed Zucchini:

This recipe is basic and is seasoned with garlic, sea salt, and pepper, but zucchini is a blank slate! Try these additions if you like:

  • Spices – You can add other seasonings depending on what you’re serving it with. Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or lemon pepper would all be delicious.
  • Cheese – Try dredging the zucchini in grated parmesan cheese, or simply sprinkle on your favorite shredded cheese at the end.
  • Onion– Cook sliced or diced onions in olive oil, in the same pan, before adding the zucchini. and proceeding with the recipe as written. The onions may be almost caramelized by the time you’re done sauteing the zucchini, which is delicious!
  • Cherry Tomatoes – Add them after the zucchini starts to brown, before adding the butter and garlic. They will pop and get sweeter — so good!
  • Fresh Herbs – Add them on top at the end. Fresh basil is the classic choice for this summery dish, but others, such as dill or thyme, can also work.

How To Saute Zucchini

This section shows how to cook zucchini in a pan, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

  1. Cook zucchini. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, until shimmering. Add zucchini slices in a single layer (some overlapping is fine, but not multiple layers). Cook for about 5 minutes, until zucchini is starting to brown.

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (5)

TIP: Stir just once, not constantly.

This will allow the zucchini to brown nicely.

  1. Cook butter and garlic. Push the zucchini slices to the sides of the pan, making an open space in the center. Add the butter and wait for it to melt. Add minced garlic to butter and saute briefly, until fragrant.
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (6)
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (7)
  1. Mix zucchini with garlic butter. Stir everything together and season with salt and pepper. Mix gently until butter is absorbed into the zucchini.
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (8)

How Long To Saute Zucchini?

This sauteed zucchini squash cooks in just about 5 minutes, but the time to saute zucchini will of course depend on the thickness of your zucchini slices.

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (9)

TIP: You can adjust the heat and cook time for your desired texture.

Use higher heat and less time for crisp-tender sauteed zucchini, or medium heat for a bit longer for softer zucchini.

Can You Scale This Sauteed Zucchini Recipe?

Yes, you can. Simply increase the number of servings on the recipe card below. However, if you increase it to more than 3 servings, it’s best to cook the zucchini in batches, so that it can brown adequately.

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (10)

Storage Instructions

  • Meal prep: Because this zucchini side dish takes just 5 minutes to cook, I recommend making it right before eating. If you’d like to save a few minutes of prep time, feel free to slice the zucchini a day or two in advance.
  • Store leftovers: While sauteed zucchini recipes are best fresh, you can keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
  • Reheat: Reheat sauteed zucchini in the microwave or in a hot skillet, until heated through. It does tend to get softer when reheated, but is still delicious.
  • Freeze: Sauteed zucchini can be frozen, but the texture might change a bit when you reheat it. Freeze the zucchini slices in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Do not freeze uncooked zucchini, though.
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (11)

What To Serve With Sauteed Zucchini

Sauteed zucchini recipes can pair with all kinds of proteins for an easy and healthy dinner. Try some of these reader favorites:

  • Chicken – Try chicken Caprese or Mediterranean chicken for a summer themed meal, or keep it basic with baked chicken legs, chicken leg quarters, or air fryer chicken breast.
  • FishAir fried tilapia makes a super quick meal. But, choices like baked salmon, baked trout, or cod are also great pairings, and quick to make.
  • Beef – Sauteed zucchini recipes go great with steak, such as grilled sirloin (or top sirloin steak in the oven if the weather doesn’t cooperate), filet mignon, or even New York strip. But more cost effective juicy burgers are just as delicious!
  • Pork – Try pan seared pork chops or for a fancy, but still easy, meal, stuffed pork chops.
  • Seafood – For a more special meal, try grilled or broiled lobster tail, seared scallops (bonus: you can use the same pan, as the flavors are similar!), or crab legs. Or just keep it simple with baked shrimp or grilled shrimp skewers.

More Healthy Zucchini Recipes

If you love zucchini as much as I do (zucchini season is the best season, don’t you agree?), you might like some of these other healthy zucchini recipes:

Zucchini Roll Ups

Ratatouille

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Zucchini Lasagna

  • Mandoline Slicer – You can cut the zucchini slices with a knife but a mandoline is faster and ensures that the slices are uniform in thickness.
  • Large Nonstick Skillet – This skillet is a kitchen staple, I use it daily.

RECIPE SAVED! The recipe was sent to your email. I also sent you your free login info. You can use that to access your saved recipes at My Favorites.

Recipe Card

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (17)

4.89 from 68 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!)

This EASY sauteed zucchini recipe takes just 10 minutes! This simple technique for how to saute zucchini has a secret ingredient to make it turn out perfectly every time.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 5 minutes

Total: 10 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 2 (adjust to scale recipe)

Un-save RecipeSave Recipe Remove Ads

Recipe Video

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (19)

Like this video? Subscribe to my YouTube cooking channel for healthy recipes!

ReviewPrint

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Heat olive oil in a large 10-12 inch skillet over medium-high heat, until shimmering.

  2. Add the zucchini slices in a single layer (some overlapping is fine, but not multiple layers). Cook for about 4-5 minutes, stirring just once or twice but not constantly (stirring too often will prevent browning), until zucchini is starting to brown.

  3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Push the zucchini to the sides of the pan, making an open space in the center. Add the butter and wait for it to melt. Add the minced garlic to the butter and saute for about 1 minute, until fragrant.

  4. Once garlic is aromatic and just starting to brown, stir everything together. Season with salt and pepper. Stir gently until the butter is absorbed into the zucchini.

Did You Like It?

Leave a rating to help other readers (this also helps me continue to provide free recipes on my site), or get the recipe sent to your inbox.

Rate recipe

Save Recipe

Related Easy Recipes

  • Low Carb Chicken Zucchini Casserole Recipe with Gruyere Cheese Sauce

  • Zucchini Noodle Salad

  • Zucchini Fries

  • Baked Chicken Caprese Recipe

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories158

Fat13.5g

Protein3.1g

Total Carbs8.6g

Net Carbs6.3g

Fiber2.3g

Sugar5.7g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Side Dish

Cuisine:American

Keywords:how to cook zucchini, how to saute zucchini, sauteed zucchini, sauteed zucchini recipes, zucchini saute

Calories: 158 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

How To Saute Zucchini

Pin It For Later!

Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (26)
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe (Easy, 10 Min!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep zucchini from getting soggy when sauteed? ›

Salt and drain zucchini

Salting and draining ensures the zucchini doesn't turn into a soggy mess while frying. This method also works for roasted zucchini, grilled zucchini, or baked zucchini if you're looking to remove as much water as possible.

Should you salt and drain zucchini before cooking? ›

Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices. I found quarter-inch slices the perfect thickness. Thinner slices fall apart during cooking; thicker slices require a longer salting time.

Do you remove the seeds from zucchini before sauteing? ›

How to make sauteed zucchini and yellow squash. Cut the vegetable lengthwise and remove the seeds. This part contains the most water and removing them will help our veggies stay crisp. Salt the veggies for 30 minutes.

Why is my sauteed zucchini bitter? ›

All cucurbits produce chemicals called cucurbitacins, which cause the vegetables to taste bitter and served as a defense against plant-eating wildlife.

How to cook zucchini without it getting mushy? ›

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven. Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

Is it necessary to peel zucchini before cooking? ›

There's no need to peel zucchini. In fact, the skin is a big source of zucchini nutrition (the deep green color is a dead giveaway) so you definitely want to leave the skin on. How to cut zucchini: after giving the zucchini squash a good rinse under cold water, slice off the stem and discard it.

Why is my zucchini so slimy when I cut it? ›

How to Tell If Zucchini Has Gone Bad. Bad zucchini will feel rubbery or slimy to the touch. It may also have an off-putting smell and dark or fuzzy moldy spots. The interior of bad zucchini may be off-white to brownish with stringy, mushy flesh and large, hard seeds.

How can I enhance the flavor of zucchini? ›

You can season the oil before you add the zucchini with garlic, shallots, spices, or red pepper flakes, it's totally up to you. Once the oil, butter, or combination thereof is heated, add all of the zucchini. If the pan seems crowded at first, don't worry. Season with salt and toss to begin drawing out the moisture.

How to know when zucchini is done cooking? ›

Once the zucchini is caramelizing, you'll continue to cook it until it's until tender all the way through—a paring knife or a fork should slip in without much resistance—but not yet mushy.

Should you wash zucchini before cooking? ›

Wait to clean zucchini until just before using. Clean well under cool running water. Coarse vegetable brushes can damage the skin; instead, rub with your hands to help remove dirt and bacteria before cutting. Refrigerate cut zucchini and use within 1-2 days.

Why is my sauteed zucchini mushy? ›

Mushy veggies are also often the result of overcooking. When the interior is loaded with moisture, you have to cook it for much longer to evaporate all of the water and avoid the interior having the unappealing, spongy, raw texture that eggplant and zucchini are notorious for.

Should zucchini be refrigerated? ›

Do Store Fresh Zucchini in the Fridge. If properly stored, zucchini will last up to a week. The best way to store zucchini is in the refrigerator, preferably in the crisper drawer where humidity is kept to a minimum.

Is zucchini a fruit or vegetable? ›

Botanically speaking, a zucchini (a type of squash) is definitely a fruit. Not only does it have and come from seeds, it grows on the flowering part of the zucchini plant. Fun fact: Zucchini blossoms are gorgeous and edible. The zucchini isn't the only fruit masquerading as a vegetable.

How do you sauté vegetables without making them soggy? ›

The key to properly sautéing vegetables is cutting uniform sized pieces, giving them enough time to brown, and providing enough space on the pan so that they do not steam.

How do you make zucchini less wet? ›

Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

Why are my sauteed veggies soggy? ›

Cutting the vegetables properly isn't the only way to keep them from getting soggy during a sauté. Here's another key tip: Whether you rinse the vegetables before or after cutting them down to size, you must make sure to dry them thoroughly. Adding wet vegetables to the pan is a surefire way to get a soggy meal.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 6236

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.