Parmesan Crusted Zucchini
Parmesan Crusted Zucchini is the perfect easy way to cook zucchini for everyone who loves Parmesan cheese. And this is one zucchini recipe where the whole family will devour it and ask for seconds!
PIN Parmesan Crusted Zucchini to try it later!
I’m reminding you about delicious Parmesan Crusted Zucchini for this week’s Friday Favorites post! We haven’t quite reached the time of the summer when people start leaving zucchini on the neighbor’s porch, but zucchini is already pretty abundant in many places. So this easy way to cook zucchini with Parmesan Cheese is perfect to add to the theme of low-carb cheesy zucchini that that so many people seem to like!
And everyone who likes melty Parmesan Cheese is going to love this perfect easy way to make zucchini! I promise you it doesn’t get easier than this for a cheesy way to cook zucchini that even the kids are going to devour.
You might need to experiment to get the timing perfect for your broiler, since they can vary in temperature. But other than that, this Parmesan Crusted Zucchini recipe really is foolproof and delicious, enjoy!
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What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- zucchini
- Olive Oil (affiliate link)
- Italian Herb Seasoning (affiliate link), or your favorite seasoning blend
- butter
- coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
How did a reader improve this Parmesan Crusted Zucchini recipe?
This zucchini parmesan recipe originally came from Vegetables Every Day by Jack Bishop (affiliate link), a very old book that I still love to use to look for ideas for cooking vegetables. But my preferred version of the recipe and the one I’m sharing here is actually simpler than the one in the cookbook! That’s because years ago a reader told me they cooked the zucchini completely under the broiler, and that’s the way I’ve been doing it ever since.
What kind of Parmesan should you use for Parmesan Crusted Zucchini ?
Of course freshly-grated Parmesan would be great for this recipe. But if you don’t have a block of Parmigiano Reggiano, this recipe will work perfectly well with the coarsely-grated Parmesan that’s widely available. I wouldn’t use the finely grated Parmesan in the green jar for this. That won’t melt and cover the zucchini in the way that makes this parmesan crusted zucchini recipe so good!
How low in carbs is this broiled zucchini crusted with Parmesan Cheese?
A generous serving of this recipe (one small zucchini per person) will have 7 net carbs with 9 grams of protein. If you make it into six servings, each serving will have 4.6 net carbs with 6 grams of protein.
How to make Parmesan Crusted Zucchini:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Trim the ends and cut each zucchini in quarters lengthwise, cut into strips about 3 inches long and then cut away the inner seedy part of each piece.
- Cover baking sheet with foil and lay the zucchini on the baking sheet in rows.
- Then brush or mist the zucchini with a tiny bit of olive oil (I used my Misto Olive Oil Sprayer (affiliate link) and sprinkle with Italian Herb Seasoning (affiliate link) or your favorite seasoning.
- Put in a pre-heated broiler for 6-8 minutes, or until the zucchini is starting to get barely tender. (Remember the zucchini will cook longer when you’re melting the cheese.)
- While the zucchini cooks, melt the butter (or use a combination of butter and olive oil, or all olive oil) and measure about 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. (I recommend coarsely grated Parmesan that comes in a plastic jar or grate it yourself, but powdery pre-grated Parmesan won’t work well for this.)
- When zucchini is nearly as tender as you’d like it, remove from oven, brush with butter, sprinkle the zucchini generously with Parmesan, and put back under the broiler for 4-5 minutes, or until it’s melted and starting to brown. Watch carefully towards the end!
- Serve the Parmesan Crusted Zucchini hot and wait for compliments! And there will not be leftovers!
Make it for a Low-Carb Meal:
This amazing cheesy zucchini would be great for any of these summer main dishes:
- Grilled Lamb Chops
- Marinated Beef Kabobs
- Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Capers
- Grilled Cuban Flank Steak
- Grilled Cod with Garlic, Basil, and Lemon
Want more low-carb zucchini winners?
This recipe is featured in the Top Ten Low-Carb Zucchini Recipes on my site. That collection of zucchini ideas includes Easy Cheesy Zucchini Bake that’s one of the most popular recipes on my site!
Parmesan Crusted Zucchini
Low-Carb and Gluten-Free Parmesan Crusted Zucchini is the perfect way to cook zucchini and this is an extra-easy recipe the whole family will love! In fact, I bet this zucchini plus parmesan recipe is something you'll make over and over during zucchini season.
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini
- 1 T olive oil, for misting zucchini
- 1 tsp. Italian Herb Blend (or your favorite seasoning blend)
- 1/4 C butter, melted (see notes)
- 3/4 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese (more or less to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler and adjust the rack so your pan will be about 6 inches away from the heat.
- Cover a large baking sheet with foil (or spray with non-stick spray if you prefer).
- Wash zucchini skins and pat dry, cut off stem and blossom end of each zucchini, and cut zucchini into four lengthwise strips and cut the zucchini pieces into strips about 3 inches long. Then cut away the inner seedy part of each piece.
- Arrange zucchini on broiler pan in rows, close together, skin side down.
- Mist or brush the zucchini with olive oil and season the zucchini with the Italian Herb Seasoning (affiliate link) or your favorite seasoning blend.
- Broil zucchini about 6-8 minutes, or until it’s starting to feel barely tender when you pierce it with a fork. (If your broiler is powerful I’d start checking after about 4-5 minutes. Remember the zucchini will cook more when you melt the cheese.)
- When the zucchini is barely tender, remove the pan from under the broiler, brush zucchini with melted butter (or whatever combination of butter and olive oil you’re using), and sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the zucchini, trying to get most of the zucchini covered.
- Put zucchini under broiler and cook until cheese is completely melted and well-browned, about 4-5 minutes, or a little more or less, depending on how hot your broiler is and how close the pan is to the heat source.
- Serve the Parmesan Crusted Zucchini hot or warm. There won’t be leftovers, so you don’t need to worry about whether this will keep in the refrigerator.
Notes
You can use a combination of butter and olive oil or all olive oil for brushing the zucchini if you prefer, but the butter adds a nice flavor.
This recipe adapted from Vegetables Every Day. (affiliate link)
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 251Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 11gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 47mgSodium 438mgCarbohydrates 10gFiber 3gSugar 5gProtein 9g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This Parmesan Crusted Zucchini is great for low-carb and Keto eating plans. It would probably be considered a “once in a while treat” for any phase of the original South Beach Diet, due to the amount of saturated fat in the cheese (and butter if you’re using it), although zucchini is very low in calories, carbs, and fat.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Zucchini Recipes or Side Dishes for more tasty ideas like this one.Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
The recipe for zucchini broiled with Parmesan Cheese was first posted in 2007, and I’ve made it many, many times for guests since then. It was last updated with more information in 2026.
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61 Comments on “Parmesan Crusted Zucchini”
One of the best zucchini recipe. Love it!
SO glad you have enjoyed it!
Probably the best zucchini recipe I've ever managed to cook. Thank you so much for this – my whole family gave me a big A+
How fun!! I absolutely love hearing that!
Oh my Gosh these are gorgeous! I made a variation for my husband and he keeps asking for more. Thanks for the share.
Glad you like it!
I've always intended to hop on the Meatless Mondays bandwagon but haven't…mostly because I haven't planned for it! Since I love zucchini, this will be a great way to start. I think I could eat an entire recipe of this!
Hope you enjoy Cheryl! I used to be so consistent with Meatless Monday, but lately it's hit and miss. But I do try!
HELLO Kalyn. I am a big fan,and sing your praises. I do have a request, I was gifted some patty pan squash,& have been looking for receipts everywhere & it seems they all require the oven. It's summer, and hot so my request is are there summer bounty recipes that don't require ovens,or bar-b-q ing? Sure would appreciate it.Regards.
Thanks for the nice feedback Callie! The only recipe I've seen that uses patty pan squash raw is this Marinated Summer Squash and Chickpea Salad. Hope that helps.
Thanks for letting me know that Kathy. Now I need to make these without pre-cooking and take new photos!
This was so delicious, thank you! I skipped the steaming, and just broiled them. I also seasoned them with salt and pepper before topping with cheese.
LOL don't worry about leftovers… I will try this today or tomorrow for sure!
Good to know, although some people don't have a microwave. But good idea for those who do.
Instead of par-boiling, just nuke for 2 minutes. Works fine & you don't have to drain or dry!!
So glad you liked it!
I see Mrs K had the same idea I did – to oven bake. I sprayed the pan with OO Pam and decided to spray the zucchini too. Then I coated them with the cheese. I was grilling chicken breasts that had been marinated in a mixture of EVOO, lemon, oregano, salt & pepper and I timed everything to finish at the same time. Served them with a salad of mixed greens that were dressed with a vinaigrette made with both lemon and white balsamic. What an easy and awesome meal – I'm making the zucchini again. Thanks so much for the idea! Love your blog
Tammy, so glad you're enjoying it, and how fun that even your daughter likes it.
I have made this several times now. We LOVE IT! Such a great recipe. Even my 20 month old daughter eats it and asks for more.
I make something very similar to this, but no boiling in water. If you do not want to cook in water first, place in 400 degree oven until golden brown, about 25 minutes
Mrs. K, thanks for sharing that info. I think next time I will try your method.
Jennifer, great idea. Sounds good to me!
bwalice, I love your adaptation to cut the zucchini into chips! I'll have to try that.
Just wanted to add a note that I've modified this recipe a tiny bit, and my hubby loves it. Instead of cutting the zukes into "fries," I slice them into "chips" — about 1/4" slices using my mandoline and then put them on the broiler rack. Everything else is pretty much the same – brush with a little bit of butter, sprinkle on salt, pepper, parmesan, and bake for about 15 minutes. We like our "chip" version a lot, and using the mandoline to slice is so fast! Every time I make these, we gobble them all up!
TSannie, I do love that cookbook, use it all the time. I bought a used one, so it was pretty inexpensive.
That looks delicious! And a lot more healthy than breadcrumb encrusted.
Just looked at the cookbook over at Amazon. Just the artichoke chapter looks wonderful! Might have to buy that book.
I love cooking this for my family. My husband doesn’t care for veggies and sometimes the kiddos are hard to please but this one has been a dish that everyone goes for!!! thank you for making our Zucchini eating experience so much more enjoyable!
Tonight I’m cooking it for my parents who are on the low-carb diet so this will be great for them also!
Thank you again ~ Oh and I LOVE the pictures!!! Good work!!
Oh, you’re killing me here!! This looks incredible. I usually just make zucchini carpaccio when I have an abundance, but now I think I’ll try this. Thanks!!
A brushed garlic butter on instead of just butter and they were delicious!
Hi,
I made this last night, but I had forgotten to take the recipe with me. But my memory served me well!
However, I did forget to boil the zukes first, and it came out just fine! Also I didn’t remove the white stuff, and cut them thicker than fries…just took a little longer backing but juicy and delicious!
Thanks much,
Nancy
I just made the lazy girl’s version of this, and it turned out great:
I cut the zucchini into fry-sized spears, arranged them in a pan, drizzled butter over them and baked them at 350F for ten minutes. Then I sprinkled parmesan over them, and baked them for 20 more minutes. Simple as that, and mighty delicious.
These look so very yummy. They remind me of the fried zucchini sticks my mom used to make sometimes. I think she just dipped them in a flour and water batter and then pan fried them, and squeezed lemon over them. She didn’t cook the zucchini first, but they probably got more cooking during the frying than these would under the broiler . . . still, I think it could work to not parboil them first.
This would be great with the stuffed peppers I am making tonight.
A person can’t have too much zucchini, peppers, tomatoes or eggplant fresh from the garden Kalyn!!!!I love this zucchini dish. I’m in an aoili mood so maybe some for a dip!!!
great recipe, Kalyn! I’ll try this tonight.
Can anyone say alternative to french fires?
Mandy, hope you like it.
EMWK, I think a lot of us have zucchini at this time of year! This is a great way to use them.
Lydia, wish I could send you some.
Kelly, my sister broils zucchini with cheese on it, but this was definitely a kicked-up version of what she makes.
Mrs. G, I hear you!
Sher, can’t wait to hear your results after you try both ways.
I sure love the look of that picture! And I happen to love butter and parmesan-so I think I should do a taste test. Yes, I’ll make the zucchini both ways…….That way I will surely have lots of fun!
These are incredible!! I’m going to have to tell you that I feel strongly the butter is necessary! Thank you.
Sounds great, in my opinion. I’ve never had zucchini that style.
Now I’m hoping one of my zucchini-growing friends drops off a few soon, so I can try this. Yum!
I just happen to have some zucchini sitting around and can’t wait to try this recipe!
wow!!!!I am so going to try this! Thanks for the recipe!
Pinkiepie, I think kids would love this. Let me know if you try it with rice oil.
Nupur, that’s what I did!
CC- You’re welcome! I know you have zucchini to use!
Shea, hope you like it.
Meeso, Go for it!
Michelle, do let us know how it turns out without blanching. I thought about it too.
Katie, we’re on the same wavelength. I’ve just started cooking some of my butternut squash.
Margot, you must try it. I’m hoping to participate in Bread Day too.
Amy, it was stunning, which I can say because it’s Jack Bishop’s recipe!
r- I think I would go for olive oil over cooking spray for flavor, but I did use cooking spray to coat the broiler pan.
Alanna, yes it was a keeper!
Laura, your zucchini fries do sound very SB friendly and good! Let me know if they like this one.
Kevin, hope you like it. Asparagus with parmesan is indeed divine.
Another great way to do zucchini. I really enjoy broiling asparagus with parmigiano reggiano. I will have to try this.
Just FYI, I make a version of these without blanching them first, however, I cut my zucchini strips thinner. I lay the strips on a baking sheet, spray them with cooking spray, and sprinkle a Mexican style spice on them. Then I bake them at 450. My whole family loves them. With the spray and seasonings, instead of butter and cheese, they are very SB friendly. I am going to try your version tomorrow. They sound great.
OH MY OH MY OH MY
: – ))))
perhaps instead of drizzling with butter, you could spray with some butter-flavored cooking spray? it would add some of the butter flavor but less fat
This looks and sounds stunning.
I shall have to try it.
Amy
Kalyn,
Those zucchinis looks very tasty!!
I eat a lot of veggies… I used to be vegetarian, but I have never tied zucchini with parmesan, I must try it.
I will do some more baking with poppy seeds soon too!! Maybe bread for the bread day (October 16).
Greetings, Margot
Mine are still producing, too. And we’re still eating! Thanks for another recipe.
We’re switching to winter squash for tonight…have to have some variety!
Oh my gosh! I just got on-line to find a recipe for zucchini fries. I always stop by for your recipe of the day and low and behold there it was. Thank you again for another great recipe! I am going to try it without blanching first.
Zucchini is a great veggie…I think I wanna try this, and with the butter 😉
Oh…yummy yummy yummy!! I love zucchini. I normally just saute them with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper because I want to eat them as soon as possible. I am going to make these asap though. Seriously.
Thank you, sister!
These cheesy zucchini “fries” look so tempting! I could make a whole meal out of this platter…
It could also be good with rice oil instead of butter. This looks like a good recipe to try to get the kids to eat more veggies.
Truly guys, this was seriously good. I’m always testing new recipes so I don’t make too many things over and over, but I’m making this again tonight.
Sophie, I’d love to hear how you like it if you try it with olive oil.
These look seriously good – I think I might even be able to persuade my husband that zucchini is a good thing with those babies! I wonder if you could make them with olive oil and skip the butter all together.
I don’t have a garden but I still love seeing what wonderful recipes you are creating from your garden! This one looks great!!
Holy moley does this recipe ever sound good! And personally.. I think I am going to opt for the extra tablespoon of butter – But I appreciate all your experiments!