Jump to Recipe

Learn How to Grill Zucchini with the foolproof easy recipe and grilling tips you’ll find in this mega-popular post! And tasty grilled zucchini is perfect for a side dish whenever you’re using the grill!

PIN this method for How to Grill Zucchini to use all summer long!

How to Grill Zucchini close-up photo of grilled zucchini on plate

This method for How to Grill Zucchini is one that I use over and over every summer, and I love to add grilled zucchini for to my dinner whenever I’m cooking on the grill! But I do want to confess that for many years I was lukewarm about zucchini, and it wasn’t until I discovered the deliciousness of grilled zucchini that I really started to crave fresh garden zucchini.

Now I cook zucchini all summer long as a side dish or an ingredient in a main dish, and there are more than 50 zucchini recipes on the blog! So if you’re not quite a zucchini fan yet, I hope you’ll try this recipe and see what you think!

And it’s grilling season and zucchini season, so I’m reminding you about this popular post of tips for grilling zucchini, and I hope you make some soon!.

What ingredients do you need?

(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 with ingredient.)

How low in carbs is the grilled zucchini recipe?

This recipe for zucchini that’s perfectly cooked on the grill is low-carb, Keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, and suitable for the original South Beach Diet, so this is a recipe you can make for anyone! And for those who care about the nutritional information, this perfect grilled zucchini has less than 2 net carbs per serving!

Can you grill zucchini without an outdoor grill?

Zucchini can be easily cooked on a stove-top grill pan with ridges (affiliate link) or even a George Foreman Grill (affiliate link) if you don’t have an outside grill. Remember the George Foreman Grill cooks both sides at the same time, so the cooking time will be less.

Can you use the tips for grilling zucchini for extra-large zucchini?

You want rather thick slices of zucchini when you’re cooking them on the grill, so for vegetable gardeners this is the perfect way to cook big zucchini that don’t quite get picked on time.

What other vegetables can be cooked with this method?

My method of marinating the vegetables, draining the marinade, and then grilling it is also very good to use on yellow summer squash or eggplant. You can also use it for mushrooms, peppers, and sweet onions.

Want more ideas for cooking vegetables on the grill?

Check out my round-up post of Amazing Grilled Vegetable Recipes for more ideas for perfect summer vegetable side dishes.

How to Grill Zucchini process shots collage

How to Grill Zucchini that’s perfect every time:

(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.)

  1. I use a mandoline slicer (affiliate link) to slice the zucchini in perfectly even slices, and I cut them on the diagonal for more surface area on the grill. (Just cut with a chef’s knife if you don’t have a mandoline.)
  2. Mix together low-sugar vinaigrette, garlic powder, and dried Italian herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, or rosemary.
  3. I always use Newman’s Own Classic Oil and Vinegar Dressing (affiliate link) but any dressing that’s low in sugar will work.
  4. Put zucchini in a single layer in a heavy Ziploc bag, dump in the marinade, and let it marinate in the fridge for several hours (or all day while you’re at work.)
  5. When it’s time to cook, let zucchini drain well in a colander placed in the sink while you preheat the grill to medium-high.
  6. There’s oil in the marinade to keep the zucchini from sticking, but if you have Non-Stick Spray for the Grill (affiliate link) I’d use that before you start heating the grill.
  7. When the grill is hot, lay zucchini on an angle to the grill grates and cook 3-4 minutes.
  8. Then lift one piece to see if grill marks are showing, and when they look good, rotate each piece going the opposite direction to get criss-cross marks.
  9. Then turn and cook a few minutes more on the second side.
  10. Season Grilled Zucchini with salt and fresh-ground black pepper if desired and enjoy!
  11. This is definitely best when it’s hot off the grill, but when I have leftovers I love adding the cold zucchini to a salad.

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

Perfect Zucchini cooked on the grill is a great low-carb side dish for any of these low-carb summer dinners:

Perfect grilled zucchini on serving plate.

More Favorite Dinners Cooked on the Grill:

Perfect grilled zucchini on serving plate.
Yield: 4 servings

How to Grill Zucchini

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

This post can teach you How to Grill Zucchini for a tasty low-carb side dish all summer long, and I bet your family will love this perfect zucchini that's so easy to cook on the grill!

Ingredients

  • 2 zucchini (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup low-sugar vinaigrette (see notes)
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder (see notes)
  • 1 - 2 tsp. dried herbs (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut zucchini into slices, making sure the slices are the same thickness. I like to use a mandoline slicer to slice the zucchini in evenly-thick slices on the diagonal so there is more surface area to touch the grill, but a knife will also be fine.
  2. Combine the salad dressing with garlic powder and dried herbs of your choice, if using. (I like this both with and without the extra flavorings. This is one recipe where fresh herbs are not better.)
  3. Put zucchini slices into a Ziploc bag, pour in marinade and let zucchini marinate in the fridge 4 hours or longer, even as long as all day if desired.
  4. When you’re ready to cook, drain zucchini into a colander placed in the sink. (Use a bowl to catch the marinade so it doesn't go down the drain and discard marinade.)
  5. To cook zucchini, preheat grill to medium-high. (You can only hold your hand there for 3-4 seconds.) I like to spray the grill with non-stick spray, but the marinade has plenty of oil so you may not need it.
  6. Place zucchini on grill diagonally to the grill grates, keeping a spray bottle handy for taming any flames that shoot up from the oil in the marinade that drips down.
  7. After 3 or 4 minutes, check for grill marks, and when you see them rotate zucchini going the opposite direction. Cook 3 or 4 more minutes after you've rotated.
  8. Turn zucchini to second side and cook a few minutes more, or until zucchini is starting to soften, with the outside slightly charred and browned. (
  9. I cook the zucchini about 10-12 minutes total, or slightly less if you want a bit more crunch left in the zucchini
  10. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper if desired and serve hot.
  11. This is best when it's hot off the grill, but whenever I have leftovers I eat the cold zucchini in salads!

Notes

You can cut most any zucchini into a size that will work for this recipe, but I like to use zucchini that's 10-12 inches long when I have it.

I like Newman’s Own Classic Oil and Vinegar Dressing dressing for this recipe. (affiliate links)

I have used oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, or a combination of herbs for this recipe. Minced garlic and fresh herbs may burn on the hot grill, which is why I use garlic powder and dried herbs!

This easy recipe for How to Grill Zucchini was created by Kalyn years ago when she had lots of zucchini in the garden, and it's been popular on the blog every summer for many years.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 196Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 2mgSodium 655mgCarbohydrates 3.9gFiber 2gSugar 9gProtein 2g

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.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

© Kalyn Denny
Category: Grilling
Square image for How to Grill Zucchini showing zucchini on serving plate.

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
As long as you use low-sugar vinaigrette, zucchini that’s grilled using my tips will be perfect for any low-carb eating plan including Keto, and it’s also great for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. I like Newman’s Own Classic Oil and Vinegar or Newman’s Own Balsamic Vinaigrette which has only 1 gram of sugar per serving. 

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Grilling Recipes to find more recipes 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:
This recipe was first posted in 2006, and it’s literally been popular since the first day I posted it. The tips for How to Grill Zucchini were last updated with more information in 2025.

Pinterest image of How to Grill Zucchini

Share This: