13 Fresh Zucchini Recipes that Take 45 Minutes or Less

Squash isn't always the easiest sell for kids, but no negotiating is required to get them to dig into this casserole using zucchini noodles. Ask your little sous chefs to choose their favorite pizza ingredients for toppings.

If you have five minutes, you've got all the time you need to prep this quick and easy dinner recipe. Wrap portions of pork tenderloin in thin slices of zucchini to seal in the the juices and add an elegant look. While we call for a topping of basil pesto, you could also try blending a bit of zucchini into the pesto for extra squash flavor. Serve with quinoa, brown rice, or orzo to round out this simple summer supper.

Related: 24 Quick and Easy Summer Dinner Recipes

If you need some ideas for what to do with all that garden zucchini, grill it. This easy appetizer recipe gives your fresh squash and bread a nice char. Paired with goat cheese and a sprinkle of za'atar (Middle Eastern spice blend) it creates one unforgettable bite.

Supplement store-bought pasta with sliced zucchini and a tangy balsamic drizzle to give it a gourmet taste (rather than just OK). Crunchy chopped almonds are an ideal contrast to the fork-tender zucchini half-moons in this 30-minute meal.

Craving curly fries without all the fat and calories? Spiralize a spud, oven-fry the curlicues, and use them as a garnish on this refreshing zucchini-tomato salad. Kids big and small will enjoy twirling the zoodles in this simple yet showy starter.

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Caramelize zucchini, onions, and tomatoes, to bring out their natural sugars and turn them into something your family will crave. Start this 30-minute summer frittata recipe by searing the slices of zucchini to caramelized perfection, then layer on the tomatoes, eggs, cheese, and walnuts. The result: a savory pie that's just as delicious right out of the oven as it is reheated the next day.

Related: 33 More Zucchini Recipes to Squash Your Summer Cravings

Add some delicious crunch to your healthy snack lineup with this easy air-fried zucchini recipe. Toss fresh zucchini coins in a quick egg wash and cheese panko before a quick round in the air fryer for a dippable, oil-free starter.

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Three parts carrot and two parts zucchini make these fan-favorite nutty dessert bars moist and surprisingly light. Many baking recipes take hours, but not this hidden-vegetable dessert. It bakes in 25 minutes.

Related: 10 Top Zucchini Bread Recipes

Dinner in 30 minutes is a relief. This protein-rich recipe delivers, as well as adding a half zucchini per serving to ensure your family gets their vitamin fix. Toss together a fruit salad to serve on the side to cover all your nutrition bases.

Two ounces of spaghetti might look and sound like a skimpy portion, but that's the true serving size. (Go ahead and check the back of the box.) Bulk up each bowl with a handful of zucchini noodles for a cheese pasta recipe that actually satisfies.

At first glance, this dessert looks like a classic chocolate brownie recipe. Take a peek at the list of ingredients, however, and you'll see all the surprising nutrition-boosting elements. Mashed banana and shredded zucchini make the bars moist, while whole wheat flour and flaxseeds add fiber.

Single-serving, cheese-topped casseroles are a surefire way to coax picky eaters into eating vegetables. Slice up a mix of yellow summer squash and zucchini and alternate them around the casserole for a striped look.

Related: 20 Summer Squash Recipes

Use this six-ingredient fresh zucchini recipe (a twist on more standard stuffed peppers) to clean out your refrigerator. Choose chicken or turkey, any variety of steamed veggies, and your favorite cheese to stack inside each squash "boat." This low-carb recipe needs only 10 minutes in the oven before hitting your plate.