Sautéed zucchini is a quick, easy, and healthy side dish. Thanks to a delicious garlic butter, this is one of our favorite zucchini recipes. You only need five minutes of cooking time, and it’s time to eat!
There are lots of ways to cook zucchini, but the quickest is to pan-fry or sauté it in a pan on the stove.
By cooking zucchini this way, the zucchini browns on the outside and becomes tender on the inside.
Key Ingredients
- Zucchini: I like medium zucchini best. Any larger and the middle turns a bit too mushy and squashy for me. When buying zucchini, look for them to be dark green and firm.
- Butter: Adds a nutty flavor and helps the zucchini to brown. You can substitute it with olive oil.
- Garlic: I love the garlic butter in this zucchini recipe. It’s so delicious.
- Green onion, lemon juice, and parmesan: These are optional but make the zucchini extra delicious. I love stirring in sliced green onions, a splash of lemon juice, and some parmesan just before serving.
How to Sauté Zucchini
Use a wide skillet when sautéing zucchini. This way, the zucchini can spread and brown instead of steaming on top of each other. (I use the same trick when cooking mushrooms.)
You’ll heat your skillet over medium-high heat, add some butter, and then, when it’s melted, toss in the garlic and zucchini. Spread them out in the skillet and let them brown in places. I don’t stir too much so that the zucchini has more chance to brown.
When you start seeing some brown spots, stir and cook until the zucchini is tender. At this point, season with salt, pepper, and optional ingredients like scallions, lemon juice, and parmesan. Adding the salt towards the end prevents the zucchini from turning mushy and soggy.
Recipe Variations
Sautéed zucchini has lots of possible recipe variations. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Make it cheesy and stir in more grated parmesan or other cheese before serving. I love feta!
- We love the combination of garlic and butter, but you can use other spices. Try Italian seasoning, Za’atar spice blend, Cajun seasoning, or an Indian spice blend like curry or chili powder.
- Add extra crunch with toasted sliced almonds or buttery pine nuts.
- Stir in chopped tomatoes and cook until the zucchini is crisp-tender and the tomatoes collapse a little and release some of their juices.
- Stir in cooked or canned beans, such as white beans, chickpeas, and black beans.
More Zucchini Recipes
- Garlic Roasted Zucchini with Feta
- Easy Garlic Zucchini Noodles
- Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Parmesan Baked Zucchini Chips
Quick Easy Sauteed Zucchini
- PREP
- COOK
- TOTAL
Sautéed zucchini is quick, easy, and healthy. We love cooking the zucchini with butter, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. That said, we have shared several variations in the article above.
Watch Us Make the Recipe
You Will Need
1 ¼ pounds chopped zucchini, 2 medium
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon minced garlic, 3 cloves
1 scallion, thinly sliced, optional
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or more to taste, optional
1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, optional
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
Directions
1How you cut the zucchini is up to you. You can slice it into rounds, cut it into half moons, or chop it into bite-size pieces.
2Melt the butter in a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is browned in places and tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
3Turn off the heat, stir in the scallions and cheese (if using), and squeeze in lemon juice. Taste and season with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Vegan modification: Substitute the butter with olive oil or plant-based butter, and either leave out the cheese or replace the parmesan with a bit of nutritional yeast.
- Alternatives to parmesan cheese include feta cheese, goat cheese, or a sharp cheddar.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.
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Honestly I think I died and went to where all good recipes and zucchini go, seriously good, you got to make this you won’t be disappointed.
Was absolutely delicious. Will make again even husband enjoyed thank you!
This was delicious, great side dish!
I made this for my husband tonight, but I added goat cheese on top instead. He said it was incredible and worthy of being served at a high end restaurant. Thank you!!! 😍
Excellent as written. Once you’re at ease with this, try emptying the garden harvest in it. The lemon is a must; turns this into a veggie dish you can’t get enough of. Sliced carrots were great second time around. Try some marinated chicken pieces for an extremely quick all in one pan meal.
Thank you…
Excellent as written! Once you’re at ease with this, try emptying the garden harvest in it. Sliced carrots worked great second time around. The lemon is a must, really makes this veggie dish one you want more of. Could throw in some marinated chicken pieces and have a super quick, one pan meal!
Thank you!
I love your zucchini recipe, it easy yummy
Great Recipe!!!!!
This was so easy and delicious. It’s a keeper. I’ll add tomatoes sometime too as I think it would change it up and also be fabulous (as recommended in the recipe). The lemon was my favorite touch to it.