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    Home » Grilling, Griddling and Smoking

    Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash

    LAST UPDATED: May 31, 2021 PUBLISHED: May 31, 2021 By Pam Greer 5 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    This grilled zucchini and summer squash is the perfect summer side dish! Why just grill your main dish when it is so easy to grill your side dish?

    Zucchini and yellow summer squash are marinated in lemon juice, white wine vinegar, garlic, fresh thyme and olive oil.

    The squash soaks up all that herby lemon flavor and come out amazingly delicious!

    Click here to pin this now!

    Platter with grilled zucchini and yellow squash.

    Grill your side dishes!

    Let's face it, when you are grilling you don't want to be running inside every few minutes to check on your side dishes. That's why potato salad and coleslaw are such favorites when you are grilling.

    But what about if you grilled your side dish?! It turns out, it's easy and delicious!

    I've been making this marinated zucchini and summer squash from Giada for years and years. It's in her Family Dinners Cookbook which was published in 2006, so that's how long I've been making it!

    I love that it goes with everything, it's the perfect side for chicken, pork, beef or seafood!

    Ingredients.

    Summer squash, zucchini, and marinade with a text overlay.

    With just a handful of ingredients you can make this light and lemony simple grilled zucchini.

    • Summer squash and zucchini - you can use whatever ration of summer squash to zucchini that you'd like. Honestly, I just use whatever I have. I've done this with all zucchini and all summer squash and it's always good!
    • Lemon juice - fresh squeezed, no bottle juice.
    • White wine vinegar - sometimes I use an herbed vinegar for extra flavor.
    • Garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.
    • Fresh thyme - can also use dried time.

    Step by step directions.

    Photo collage showing marinade mixed in a pan and zucchini and squash in the marinade.

    Mince the garlic and chop the thyme.

    In a pan large enough to hold the zucchini (or in a ziplock bag) whisk together the lemon juice, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, fresh thyme, olive oil and salt and pepper.

    Cut the zucchini and yellow squash into quarters lengthwise.

    Save 3 tablespoons of the marinade for later and add the zucchini and yellow squash. Toss to combine.

    Cover and marinate at room temperature for at least 3 hours or overnight in the fridge.

    Preheat the grill.

    Open grill being preheated.

    Preheat your grill for a medium high heat.

    Make sure that your grill grate is clean. I like to preheat mine on high, scrape the grates and then adjust to the proper temperature.

    Grill the squash.

    Zucchini and yellow squash placed on a grill.

    Remove the squash from the marinade and place on the grill.

    You can use a grill basket, but since the pieces are a nice size, they are pretty easy to flip individually.

    Zucchini and squash with grill marks on a grill.

    Grill the zucchini, turning occasionally until they are crisp tender about 8 minutes total.

    I like to lay the zucchini perpendicular to the grill lines so that you get lovely grill marks!

    Place the zucchini on a platter and drizzle with the reserved marinade.

    Enjoy!

    Grilled zucchini and summer squash on a platter.

    Once you make this grilled zucchini and summer squash, you'll make it over and over again!

    It really is the perfect side dish for grilling! It can be served warm or at room temperature.

    Variations - sometimes I use tarragon, mint or oregano in place of the thyme.

    More zucchini recipes to try.

    • Scalloped Zucchini Salad
    • Zucchini and Green Bean Slaw
    • Zucchini Bread and Butter Pickles

    Click here to pin this now!

    **As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Platter of grilled zucchini.
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    4.98 from 35 votes

    Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash

    Zucchini and summer squash are marinated in a lemon herb marinade and then quickly grilled for the perfect summer side dish!
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes minutes
    Marinating 3 hours hours
    Total Time 3 hours hours 18 minutes minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 136kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon garlic minced
    • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme chopped
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • salt and pepper
    • 1 pound zucchini trimmed and quartered lengthwise
    • 1 pound yellow squash trimmed and quartered lengthwise

    Instructions

    • Whisk together lemon juice, white wine vinegar, garlic, thyme, olive oil and salt and pepper.
    • Reserve 3 tablespoons of the marinade.
    • Place the marinade in a dish large enough to hold the zucchini or a ziplock bag.
    • Marinate for at least 3 hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
    • Heat grill to medium high and grill squash for about 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until crisp tender.
    • Serve, room temperature or warm, drizzled with the reserved marinade.

    Notes

    Variations:  you can use oregano, mint or tarragon in place of the thyme.  You can also omit the herbs altogether and it's still lemony and delicious! 

    Equipment

    Giada's Family Dinners

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 412mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 334IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jen says

      May 31, 2021 at 10:09 am

      5 stars
      Such an easy side dish to add when already grilling out. The grill marks give it a bit of crunch to it. So delicious!

      Reply
    2. Blair says

      May 31, 2021 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      The absolute perfect summer side dish!

      Reply
    3. Biana says

      May 31, 2021 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      This marinade sounds great! Perfect marinade for summer veggies.

      Reply
    4. Carrie says

      May 31, 2021 at 9:30 am

      5 stars
      This looks like the perfect side dish for a summertime BBQ! 🙂 Yum!

      Reply
    5. Erin says

      May 31, 2021 at 9:17 am

      5 stars
      It doesn't get better than grilled vegetables like this grilled zucchini. The perfect side dish for grilled BBQ chicken.

      Reply

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