Grilled Zucchini is the ultimate summer side dish! Fresh zucchini is made flavorful with ingredients like Cajun seasoning and lemon juice before being grilled to tender, juicy perfection. This quick recipe makes eating your veggies so easy!
Grilled Zucchini
This might just be my favorite veggie side dish… ever. Well, it’s at least my favorite one to make during the summer! When the sun’s out and it’s hot outside, I love firing up the grill, especially for easy recipes like this. Grilled zucchini is truly one of the easiest side dishes you’ll ever toss together. The best part? It tastes like it’s from a nice restaurant! Juicy zucchini is flavored with freshly squeezed lemon juice and bold Cajun seasoning to give it the most amazing flavor. Make some at your next backyard bbq and watch it disappear! You’ll be surprised how many people pass up on chips, fries, and other sides for this grilled veggie.
Enjoy more of my other favorite vegetable side dish recipes like Buttered Corn, Parmesan Ranch Baked Broccoli and Classic Pea Salad.
Why is My Grilled Zucchini Mushy?
The biggest culprit here is overcooking. If you grill your zucchini for too long, it’ll turn to mush. The zucchini only needs about 5 minutes per side to cook all the way through, so don’t walk away from the grill! Also, keep in mind that zucchini is a very watery veggie. That’s why I salt them before grilling – to help draw out excess moisture.
How to Make Grilled Zucchini
- Salt the zucchini. Place a layer of paper towels on a flat surface. Slice the zucchini and lay them on the paper towels. Sprinkl with salt and let sit for about 20 minutes. Then, pat them dry with some more paper towels.
- Season the zucchini. While the grill’s heating to medium heat, sprinkle the zucchini with your Cajun seasoning, garlic powder and cracked black pepper.
- Grill. Grill the zucchini for about 5 minutes, then flip and keep cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Add lemon juice. Brush fresh lemon juice on one side of the zucchini. Then, flip and brush the other side as well.
- Enjoy! Let the grilled zucchini cool at room temperature for a few minutes before serving with extra lemon wedges.
Storing Grilled Zucchini
This is one of those recipes that’s best served fresh. However, if you do have leftovers, they’ll stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I recommend letting the grilled zucchini fully cool to room temperature prior to storing! You don’t want any excess condensation to form in the container. To reheat, pop your leftovers in the air fryer or oven for the very best results. Try not to overheat it – you don’t want it to get mushy!
Ingredient Notes
- Zucchini – They’ll need to be sliced into half inch slices, lengthwise.
- Salt – This is just used to draw out the moisture before grilling. Kosher salt is preferred over iodized. Keep in mind that you’ll be patting the zucchini dry and most of the salt will end up on the paper towels, not the vegetable.
- Cajun Seasoning – Any brand works! Honestly, I’ve yet to meet a Cajun seasoning that I didn’t like. Some brands are spicier than others, so keep that in mind if you’re picking out a new one.
- Black Pepper – Freshly cracked pepper will create the boldest flavor.
- Garlic Powder – Add more if you want a really pronounced garlic flavor.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed is really the way to go! Bottled lemon juice won’t have the same fresh flavor or pop of acidity that the real deal does.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Grilled Zucchini
Ingredients
- 4 Large Zucchini each sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices lengthwise
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1/2 Large Lemon juiced
Instructions
- Place a layer of paper towels on a large baking pan or a countertop.
- Lay the zucchini slices on top in an even layer then sprinkle with salt.
- Let them sit for 20 minutes then pat dry with more paper towels.
- Preheat your grill to medium heat and sprinkle the zucchini with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Grill for 5 minutes then flip and grill for another 5-8 minutes or until cooked through.
- Brush the lemon juice on top then flip and brush the other side with lemon juice.
- Set aside to cool for a few minutes then serve with lemon wedges if desired.
