How Long To Grill Zucchini And Squash

What Month Do You Plant Squash

How To Grill Zucchini Squash | Grilled Zucchini Recipe | Cait Straight Up

Most summer squash require 50 to 65 frost free days to mature. That means you can safely plant squash in the last week or two of spring. Winter squashes take a bit longer: 60 to 100 frost free days to mature. You can still sow winter squash seeds in late spring and get to harvest before the first frost in most regions.

More Reasons To Love This Grilled Zucchini Recipe:

  • it looks uber fancy but is astonishingly quick and easy to prepare
  • pairs beautifully with chicken, fish or meat
  • pairs well with practically every type of cuisine
  • is versatile: mix up the flavor profile with different oils, vinegars or spices
  • is vegan, gluten free, low-carb, keto and Whole30 friendly
  • can be prepped up to two hours ahead of time then grilled when ready
  • can also be made with squash which is available year round
  • can be cooked in an indoor grill pan another win for year-round grilled zucchini!

Why This Is The Best Grilled Zucchini:

I havent ever made a side dish thats as easy as this one! And, my kids LOVE grilled zucchini and squash! Any vegetable the kids will devour is a win all by itself!

In the summer Im always on the farm and getting meals on the table is rushed and hectic. Its pretty hard to make dinner when youre in a tractor! Thats the beauty of these foil packets! I assemble everything ahead of time and then cook them later. Any side dish that can be prepped ahead of time is going to make its way into our meal rotation.

Grilled Zucchini can be thrown on the grill with your meat and taken off with the meat. It really doesnt get any easier than this!

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How To Cut Zucchini For Grilling

There are two popular ways to cut up zucchini for grilling: into long planks or into batons.

I prefer to cut the zucchini into batons. Batons hold their texture and are easy to turn so that they do not slip into the grates.

To cut up zucchini for grilling:

  • Wash the zucchini and trim off the ends .
  • Cut it in half lengthwise.
  • Place the cut sides down flat on the cutting board and cut it lengthwise in half again to create four zucchini sticks or batons.
  • Season as desired and throw on the grill!

Variations: Try These Flavor Combos

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Zucchini and squash are mild in flavor which makes them a blank canvas to dress in the flavorings of any type of cuisine which means they pair well with every type of cuisine. While Mediterranean and Italian are always a favorite paired with lemon juice, you can also swap in your favorite seasonings or seasoning blends paired with lemon juice, lime juice, or a splash of soy sauce or balsamic. Keep the ¼ cup olive oil then add an acid and seasonings of your choosing. Here are just a few ideas:

  • Asian Grilled Zucchini: rice vinegar, soy, sesame oil honey sriracha, ginger and garlic garnished with sesame seeds.
  • Greek Grilled Zucchini: red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, then top with crumbled feta.
  • Mexican Grilled Zucchini : lime juice, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic, salt pepper, etc., then top with crumbled Cotija.
  • Cajun Grilled Zucchini: Cajun seasoning, lime juice, garlic.
  • Middle EasternGrilled Zucchini: half lemon and half balsamic, curry powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, ground coriander, garlic, salt and pepper.

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How To Grill Zucchini And Squash

Now, lets get to the grilling! All you need to know is the grill temperature and basic timing. Once youve got that down, memorize this recipe and make it on repeat! Here are the basic steps :

  • Preheat a grill to medium high heat. Thats about 375 to 450 degrees.
  • Cut the zucchini and summer squash into rounds or on the bias. Make the pieces about 1/2-inch thick.
  • Toss with olive oil and seasonings. See the recipe below adjust as necessary if you have more or less quantity of vegetables.
  • Grill on the grates for 4 to 6 minutes. Cook until charred and tender, turning once.

How Do You Make Grilled Zucchini

The first step in this recipe is to prepare your marinade, which is a blend of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried herbs, garlic and seasonings. Youll want to let your zucchini soak up the marinade for at least 20 minutes, but its better if you have the time to let it sit for at least 2 hours. After the zucchini has marinated, it goes onto the grill I use my charcoal grill, or if its not grilling weather, I opt for for my indoor grill pan on the stove.

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Grilled Zucchini And Squash

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Grilled Zucchini and Squash is the perfect go-to side dish when grilling out. My family loves this easy recipe and we are always in abundance of zucchini and squash during the summer. I love how simple it is to make this side dish recipe and that I can prep it in no time and throw it on the grill and let it cook while the meat is cooking.

It is also nice that I cook this in a foil pocket so that means no dirty dishes for me to clean up! It is an easy recipe that you can prepare when you are camping too! I have even taken it with me to the pool for a healthy side dish with our burgers poolside. This side dish recipe is naturally gluten free which makes it nice for everyone to enjoy.

This is a healthy side dish that you can make in just a few minutes! Grilled Zucchini and Squash is the perfect go-to side dish when grilling out this summer. I love how simple it is to make this easy recipe. I hope you enjoy it all summer long like we do.

How To Store Zucchini

How to Grill Zucchini
  • To Store: refrigerate grilled zucchini in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days in a single layer or with parchment in between the layers.
  • To Reheat: line the zucchini in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F until warmed through, 5-10 minutes or rewarm at 20 second intervals in the microwave.
  • Can I freeze zucchini? I do not recommend freezing grilled zucchini because it is 94% water and will become mushy once thawed.

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How To Cut Zucchini For The Grill

How you cut zucchini and squash for grilling can drastically affect cooking time. I slice mine into & frac13 ” – ½” medallions. A lot of people like to do ribbons, but I find the medallions both more difficult to deal with when slicing, and later while cooking the squash on the grill.

The medallions are surprisingly easy to work with! I don’t even use a grill pan or foil, although I provide instructions for using all methods below, for those who wish to do so.

How Do You Get Moisture Out Of Squash

Remove some of the moisture from the squash before cooking by sprinkling the raw flesh with salt then place the cut side down on a couple of layers of paper towels and allow it to stand for 20 to 30 minutes. The salt will draw the moisture out and the paper towel will absorb it. Rinse with cold water before cooking.

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More Easy Zucchini Recipes

Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables to add to pastas, stir-fries, soups and more. Here are a few zucchini recipes youll love:

  • If youre looking for low carb Zucchini Lasagna, this recipe is the comforting, hot, meaty, cheesy, saucy, low-carb, gluten free, keto answer. You will be obsessed!
  • You can also make zucchini into low carb spiralized noodles, then top them with any of your favorite comfort foods such as Chicken Stroganoff or Beef Stroganoff, Bolognese,Chicken Florentine, Tuscan Salmon, or Alfredo Sauce.
  • This Zucchini Casserole recipe is a creamy indulgent side made with layers of sliced zucchini, drenched with cheesy cream sauce that has been simmered with herbs and then topped with bubbly golden Gruyere cheese and buttery, crispy panko.
  • These Stuffed Zucchini Boats are loaded with juicy, fiesta seasoned shrimp, sweet corn, crunchy bell peppers, punchy red onions, spicy jalapenos all tossed with fresh lime juice and zesty cilantro. They are quick, easy, tangy, bright, refreshing, guilt-free, low-carb, and a healthier dinner the whole family will love!
  • My Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins are super low calorie but bursting with triple the chocolate!
  • How Do You Make A Foil Packet For Grilling

    How To Cut Zucchini To Grill : First, take a zucchini and ...

    How to Make a Foil Pack Lay out a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny-side up, on a surface and place the ingredients in the center. Pull the sides and ends of the foil up fold and crimp to seal into a pouch, leaving room for steam. Place the packet on the grill or over campfire coals to cook.

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    How Do You Grill Zucchini Without It Becoming Soggy

    If youve suffered through soggy or mushy zucchini, youve probably never wanted to touch it again. But please keep in mind not all grilled zucchini is created equal. When grilled correctly, zucchini and squash are crisp tender, lightly caramelized and injected with flavor. There are three keys to success for tender-crisp zucchini every time:

    • Set yourself up for success and choose small to medium zucchini. Larger zucchini have larger seeds which makes them waterier and pulpier not the ideal conditions for that coveted crisp-tender texture.
    • Slice the zucchini at least 1/3-inch thick. Thicker zucchini is harder to overcook, so it grills up tender and not mushy.
    • Grill over medium high heat . This is the ideal temperature because its hot enough to deliver those beautiful grill lines while caramelizing and crisping up the outside, but not too hot that it burns the zucchini on the outside before the inside is tender.
    • Dont cook the zucchini too long. This is crucial. The less time you cook the zucchini, the crisper it will be. The longer you cook the zucchini, the more tender it will be. If you dont want soggy zucchini, dont cook it past crisp-tender.
    • Serve the zucchini immediately. Even if you cook the zucchini perfectly crisp-tender, it has a tendency to get a little mushy as it sits and cools so make sure you serve it immediately.

    What’s The Best Way To Cut Zucchini For Grilling

    There really isn’t a wrong way to cut zucchini for grilling, but the way you cut it will affect how to grill the zucchini and how long it takes. Here are the main options and considerations:

    • Zucchini Spears: Cut the zucchini in half and then cut in half again into quarters. For the easiest option, leave the spears long to ensure they don’t fall through the grill grates. If using a basket or foil, you can cut them in half lengthwise for a smaller spear.
    • Zucchini Planks: Cut both ends off of the zucchini. Hold the zucchini lengthwise and cut into 1/2-3/4 inch thick planks. This is a great option for grilling directly on the grates since it won’t fall through.
    • Zucchini Halves: For smaller zucchini, you can simply cut them in half lengthwise. This only works with small zucchini. Larger zucchini will need to be cut into quarters or the outside will burn before the inside becomes tender. And extra large zucchini may need to be cut into eights or even sixteenths.
    • Zucchini Coins: For larger zucchini, coins can be a great option. Simply cut the zucchini, in a slight diagonal, into large coins or circles. For smaller zucchini, this option can also work, but you will need to cook the zucchini in a grill basket or on foil so it doesn’t fall through the grates.

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    Is Summer Squash And Zucchini The Same Thing

    Thats a great question! Most people would say yes, but Im here to argue with them. Both yellow squash and zucchini fall under the summer squash umbrella, but they are much different vegetables.

    Besides just the color, the internal makeup is different as well, and they taste quite different too.

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    Can You Eat Squash Raw

    Recipe: Simple Grilled Zucchini and Squash

    The seeds and skin are soft and fully edible. They are sometimes referred to as soft shell squash and as such, can be cooked or eaten raw. The entire squash is edible, versus the winter squashs hard seeds and shell that needs to be removed. The most common summer squash are yellow squash and zucchini.

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    Variations On Seasoning For Grilled Squash

    Yellow summer squash and zucchini work well with Italian and Mediterranean seasonings, but theres no reason not to change it up. Here are a few other seasonings that would work well.

    Important: Keep in mind many of these blends have salt included. Use ¼ teaspoon of the salt below, then sprinkle with the seasoning.

    Variations: Try These Seasoning Blends

    There are lots of ways to season grilled zucchini and squash! While theyre perfect with Mediterranean or Italian seasonings, there are lots of ways to think outside the box. These are especially nice if youre making a meal in the style of another cuisine. Here are some ideas:

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    Why Would Grilling Zucchini Take So Long

    Grilling zucchini takes 6 to 10 minutes because they need to be exposed to enough heat from the grill to soften. Depending on ones grill, it is either skin-side down or skin-side up, and turn them every 2 minutes before cooking the full 10 minutes.

    The time it takes to grill zucchini depends on the thickness of the slices 15 minutes is too long for most sizes.

    If eaten raw, a zucchini can make people very gassy. If one eats it raw, use a knife to cut off both tips, then slice into sticks about 3 inches long and ¼ inch thick.

    Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper before grilling for a couple of minutes on each side until browned but still a little al dente in the center or roast for 10 mins at 400 degrees.

    To avoid sticking problems, start by grilling zucchini upside-down. It is important to slice the vegetable into four layers that are thick each to produce even charring from zucchini. This will allow it to cook evenly and quickly without relying upon excessive oil or butter required by most vegetables during grilling.

    Overall, Grilling zucchini has a reputation for being time-consuming because most people start cooking the zucchini skin-side down before flipping over and finishing up with crispy skin. They do this to prevent sticking, which means that it can take 10 minutes or more before the results are worth eating.

    How Thick Do You Slice Zucchini

    Best Grilled Zucchini

    Grilled vegetables are a great addition to your summer meal. Easy to tend and even easier to clean up. Your garden zucchini takes on a whole new flavor when it spends a little time on those hot grill grates. Trim ends of zucchini, slice each about 1/4 thick, either into coins or the length of the zucchini.

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    How Do You Make Zucchini Noodles Not Soggy

    Here are my tips to avoid soggy zucchini noodles: Dont overcook the noodles, otherwise, theyll get soggy. After spiralizing your zucchini noodles, sprinkle with a bit of salt and let them sit in a colander for 10 minutes. Get rid of the seedy noodles. Roast your tomatoes long enough to remove the moisture.

    Can Zucchini Be Sliced Ahead Of Time

    Absolutely. You can prep your zucchini and squash ahead of time. Just make sure you cover them with a damp paper towel or cloth. This will help them from drying out. Then place in the fridge until you are ready to use the vegetables.

    That being said, this is a really fast dish to throw together so you really shouldnt need to slice in advance.

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    How Long Do You Grill Zucchini

    Zucchini will take about 10 minutes to grill on medium heat, with the grill between 350-375 degrees. This is the ideal temperature for grilling zucchini so that the zucchini doesn’t burn on the outside before it is cooked through.

    For thinner sliced zucchini, like those cut into thin planks or coins, they may cook more quickly needing just 3-4 minutes per side.

    Whenever you are grilling zucchini, you will want to flip it over so that you can get grill marks and that delicious charred taste on both sides.

    How Thick Should I Cut The Zucchini Before Grilling

    How to Make Sautéed Squash and Zucchini

    When cutting zucchini, take care not to slice them too thin or youll end up with soggy zucchini. Heres how to cut them for perfectly crisp-tender grilled zucchini every time:

    • Lay the zucchini on a cutting board and slice both of the ends off.
    • Cut the zucchini lengthwise into slabs that are about 1/3-inch thick.
    • This could mean 3 or 4 slabs per zucchini. When in doubt, cut them on the thicker side.
    • Thicker slabs wont break apart when removing from the grill and grill up crisp-tender instead of mushy.
    • If your zucchini is extra-long, you can cut it half crosswise and then into 1/3-inch-thick slabs so its easier to flip on the grill.

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