Roasted Zucchini with Garlic

Easy roasted zucchini recipe! How to cook zucchini by cutting lengthwise, oven-roasting with olive oil, garlic, black pepper, and Herbes de Provence.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated August 25, 2021
Elise Bauer
Roasted Zucchini with Garlic on a serving platter sprinkled with black pepper
Elise Bauer

During the summer, our gardens are filled with more zucchini than we know what to do with, and I hunt down all my zucchini recipes. Here is one quick and easy way of preparing zucchini.

I had a variation of this baked zucchini the other night at a friend's house and was amazed to hear her children exclaim, "Please give me some zucchini. I love zucchini!" Hello? When was the last time you heard that?

Oven Roasted Zucchini
Elise Bauer

Video: How to Make Roasted Zucchini With Garlic

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Roasted Zucchini with Garlic

How to Avoid Soggy Zucchini

This baked zucchini will definitely be soft, but it shouldn't be soggy. Here's how to avoid soggy zucchini:

  • Roast, don't bake: A high oven temp of 450°F means the zucchini roasts instead of bakes. That means the zucchini develops a bit of char and is less likely to become soggy.
  • Don't crowd the pan: Make sure there is plenty of space between your spears.
  • Flip the spears on their backs: Arrange all the spears skin-side down, so that the triangle part is sticking up. This will help the moisture cook out and evaporate instead of getting trapped against the baking sheet.
  • Don't overcook: Start checking your zucchini after 7 minutes and then keep checking every few minutes. The zucchini is ready when it's tender, but still has some bite.

Ways to Adapt This Recipe

  • Toss the zucchini with a different herb or spice mix, like za'atar seasoning, fresh dill, or fresh basil.
  • Toss the warm zucchini with grated Parmesan, feta, or goat cheese.
  • Skip the minced garlic and toss the cooked zucchini with roasted garlic instead
  • Toss with slivered almonds or pine nuts
  • Mix the zucchini with some summer squash

What to Serve With Roasted Zucchini

This zucchini is the perfect side for anything coming off the grill during the summer: grilled chicken, grilled salmon, grilled steaks, you name it. Other times of year, pair this with roast chicken or baked fish.

More Simple Zucchini Recipes

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Roasted Zucchini with Garlic

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound zucchini, each cut in half across the middle, then each half quartered lengthwise
  • 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Herbes de Provence or dried thyme, or 1 teaspoon of fresh chopped thyme

Method

  1. Preheat oven:

    Preheat oven to 450°F. Make sure there is a rack in the top third of the oven.

  2. Prep the zucchini:

    Place the zucchini and garlic in a bowl and toss with olive oil.

    Spread the zucchini out onto a foil or silicone-lined sheet pan, skin side down. Sprinkle with salt (1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon).

    Toss the zucchini with garlic and olive oil in a bowl
    Elise Bauer
    Arrange the zucchini on a baking sheet, skin side down
    Elise Bauer
  3. Roast zucchini:

    Roast the zucchini at 450°F for 8-15 minutes, or until it begins to brown. (Start checking at about 7 minutes and keep checking every few minutes.)

    Roast the zucchini until the tips begin to brown
    Elise Bauer
  4. Toss with herbs, salt, pepper:

    Once the zucchini has started to brown at the edges, remove it from the oven and place the zucchini in a bowl. Gently mix in the herbs and salt and pepper to taste.