Here’s a quick and simple recipe for Zucchini Pasta. Grated zucchini melts into a flavorful succulent sauce, perfect for cradling linguini or your favorite pasta! Enhanced with lemon, black pepper and garlic you’ll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes! Video. Go here for Spiralized Zucchini Noodles.

Here's a quick and simple recipe for Easy Zucchini Pasta. Grated zucchini melts into a flavorful succulent sauce, perfect for cradling linguini or your favorite pasta! Enhanced with lemon, black pepper and garlic you'll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free adaptable.in 30 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free adaptable.

Even the most thorough change happens one choice at a time.

Charles eisenstein

This easy Zucchini Pasta recipe is here to honor the beloved zucchini plant that just keeps on giving! We love the generosity of this plant. And we especially appreciate recipes that help us use them up! This is a simple, quick dish that comes together in about half an hour. You could also get all the ingredients prepped out ahead of time and then cook this up 10 minutes before serving!

Zucchini pasta tastes so clean, light, and savory. Lemon, black pepper, and garlic give their goodness while the olive oil and broth create richness. We’ve intentionally left out the butter here- as the zucchini melts as it cooks, turning it into a zucchini pasta sauce.

Make it gluten-free with your choice of pasta. We add in parmesan, but it is flavorful without if you want to keep it vegan or use vegan parmesan! We love topping our vegan pasta dishes with vegan cheesy sprinkle…so yummy.

Table of Contents

Zucchini Pasta Recipe Ingredients

Zucchini and pasta layed out with ingredients for zucchini pasta sauce.
  • grated zucchini – any summer squash variety will work, use zucchini, summer squash, patty pan or a combo! If they are very large, scrape out the seeds.
  • pasta– linguine, spaghetti or fettuccine, orzo is fun too! Feel free to use gluten-free pasta or grain-free pasta. Low-carb almond flour pasta is available in some upscale grocery stores in the freezer section.
  • cheese -grated parmesan cheese, pecorino romano or Vegan Cheesy Sprinkle 
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • Herbs– Italian parsley or fresh basil leaves

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.     

Elevate your Zucchini Pasta Sauce

  • add Aleppo or red pepper flakes in with the garlic for spice
  • for dreamy richness add 1/4 cup heavy cream (or rich cashew cream) in with the broth.
  • Top with toasted bread crumbs or crushed croutons for extra texture.
  • Top with halved cherry tomatoes for color!
  • add chickpeas or shrimp scampi for extra protein.

How to make Zucchini Pasta

Chopped lemon zest, parsley and garlic on a cutting board with grated zucchini in a glass bowl.

STEP ONE

In a large pot, boil the pasta in salted water to al dente, according to the package directions and drain. Grate and chop all your ingredients.

Sautéing garlic and grated zucchini with a wooden spoon in a cream brasier.

STEP TWO

In a large skillet or sauté pan add garlic and olive oil and cook for about a minute over medium heat.  Add grated zucchini, and stir to coat with oil and garlic.  

Lemon zest incorporating into zucchini sauce.

STEP THREE

Add in broth and lemon zest and cook for about 5 minutes; the zucchini should soften and come to a light simmer for a few minutes.

Zucchini sauce simmering in a brasier.

STEP FOUR

Toss in parsley, lemon juice, kosher salt and pepper.  Toss to distribute thoroughly.  Add pasta and sprinkle in parmesan cheese.

Tossing pasta, parmesan cheese, parsley and zucchini sauce.

Transferring this to a serving dish is helpful as the sauciness tends to sink to the bottom, this way you can scrape all the yummy bits onto the top of the pasta.

Serve with another sprinkle of parmesan and black pepper.

How to store Zucchini Pasta

Leftover Zucchini Pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can be gently reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.

FAQs

What goes well with zucchini?

Zucchini has a very mild flavor and adapts to almost any flavor profile, from savory to sweet. It is an easy vegetable to add in as it goes with most anything.

What are the health benefits of eating zucchini?

Rich in antioxidants, zucchini is packed with nutrients as well as low in calories, fat and sugars. Also rich in vitamin B which helps regulate blood glucose and may play a roll in protecting from diabetes.

Can I grate or shred zucchini ahead of time?

Yes, store shredded zucchini in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can raw zucchini be frozen?

Yes. An easy way to do this is to shred the zucchini and lay it out on a sheet pan, freeze, and then seal the shreds in mason jars or a ziplock bags in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. Frozen shreds of zucchini works great for adding to soups, casseroles, sauces or smoothies. Not as great for baked goods.

Here's a quick and simple recipe for creamy Zucchini Pasta. Grated zucchini melts into a flavorful succulent sauce, perfect for cradling linguini or your favorite pasta! Enhanced with lemon, black pepper and garlic you'll have this on the table in 30 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free adaptable.

How to serve this Pasta with Zucchini

Here's a quick and simple recipe for creamy Zucchini Pasta. Grated zucchini melts into a flavorful succulent sauce, perfect for cradling linguini or your favorite pasta! Enhanced with lemon, black pepper and garlic you'll have this on the table in 30 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free adaptable.

Enjoy the leftovers for up to 3 days, in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat the zucchini pasta on the stovetop in a saute pan, or microwave.

If you enjoy this pasta, be sure to try our Baked Feta Pasta, too!

More Zucchini Dishes You May Enjoy

Love this recipe? Please let us know in the comments and leave a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below the recipe card.

Zucchini Pasta Video

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Here's a quick and simple recipe for Easy Zucchini Pasta. Grated zucchini melts into a flavorful succulent sauce, perfect for cradling linguini or your favorite pasta! Enhanced with lemon, black pepper and garlic you'll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free adaptable.

Pasta with Zucchini Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 22 reviews
  • Author: Tonia | Feasting at Home
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 5-6 cups
  • Category: pasta, main,
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

Here’s a quick and simple recipe for Easy Zucchini Pasta. Grated zucchini melts into a flavorful succulent sauce, perfect for cradling linguini or your favorite pasta! Enhanced with lemon, black pepper and garlic you’ll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free adaptable.

Ingredients

Units
  • 8–10 ounces pasta cooked in salted water according to the package directions
  • 5 garlic cloves (more to taste), chopped small
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1.5 pounds zucchini, grated ( use a hand grater or food processor with grater attachment)
  • 1/2 cup chicken or veggie broth; make sure it is flavorful!
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced, keep separate from each other + more to taste
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper (this amount give a little peppery zing – adjust to taste)
  • 1 bunch parsley, chopped small
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated + more for topping (use vegan sprinkle for non-dairy garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a large sauté pan add garlic and olive oil and cook about a minute over medium heat.  Add zucchini, stir to coat with oil and garlic.  
  2. Add in broth and lemon zest cook for about 5 minutes, the zucchini should soften and come to a light simmer for a few minutes.
  3. Toss in parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper.  Toss to fully distribute.  Add pasta and sprinkle in parmesan (optional) evenly.  Transferring to a serving dish is helpful as the sauciness tends to sink to the bottom, this way you can scrape all the yummy bits out on to the top of the pasta.

Serve with another sprinkle of parmesan or if keeping it vegan top with vegan cheesy sprinkle.

Notes

Ways to enhance:  add Aleppo or red pepper flakes in with the garlic for spice, for dreamy richness add 1/4 cup heavy cream (or rich cashew cream) in with the chicken broth, top with crushed croutons, add chickpeas for plant protein.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
  • Calories: 353
  • Sugar: 2.2 g
  • Sodium: 439.7 mg
  • Fat: 13.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 46.6 g
  • Fiber: 2.6 g
  • Protein: 11.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 5.4 mg

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Comments

  1. Great recipe! I skipped the cheese and added Berbere spiced chickpeas to mine. It was so good! Thank you! ❤️

    Reply

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