Pasta with Zucchini Recipe

You’re going to love this pasta with zucchini recipe. Using your favorite pasta and in season zucchini it’s a simple and easy to make summer recipe.

A plate of spaghetti with fried zucchini rounds and sprinkled with shredded parmesan cheese.

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. We always had a large garden growing up. My father would plant so many tomato, pepper and zucchini plants we were drowning in produce. While we canned the tomatoes, we had to get a bit more creative with zucchini.  Think zucchini bread, zucchini parmesan, etc.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • It uses your favorite pasta, while spaghetti is the top choice you can use other long cut pasta or short cut pasta if needed.
  • You can use your favorite marinara sauce whether it’s homemade or store bought.
  • By using zucchini you get a vegetable in your meal.
A large bowl of spaghetti with a smaller bowl of fried zucchini on paper towels next to it.

Ingredients

Zucchini – 1 -2 zucchini depending on their size.

Olive Oil – For lightly frying the zucchini, you are only using a small amount.

Pasta – Spaghetti or another long shaped pasta like linguine or capellini etc., however, you can use your favorite short cut pasta if that’s what you have on hand.

Marinara Sauce – Use your favorite homemade or store bought pasta sauce.

Salt 

Parmesan Cheese (Optional) – For added flavor 

Instructions

  1. Slice the zucchini into 1/4 inch slices.
  2. Warm 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large frying pan.
  3. Fry the zucchini in batches until lightly browned on both sides and fork tender.
  4. As the zucchini is cooked, place them on a paper towel lined plate to drain the oil and sprinkle lightly with salt. Set aside.
  5. Boil the pasta water, add salt to the water and cook pasta to box directions.
  6. Make or warm up the marinara sauce.
  7. Once the pasta is cooked, mix with the marinara sauce then top with the zucchini.
  8. Sprinkle with shredded or grated parmesan cheese if desired.
A plate of spaghetti mixed with marinara sauce.

Recipe Variations

  • You can make this recipe gluten-free by substituting gluten-free pasta. My favorite brand is from Jovial. You can find it at most supermarkets or Target.
  • Omit the cheese if you are dairy-free.
A plate of pasta with zucchini and shredded cheese on top of the pasta.

Storage Tips

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.

A plate of spaghetti with fried zucchini rounds on top of the spaghetti. Shredded parmesan cheese sprinkled over the dish.
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Pasta with Zucchini Recipe

Pasta with marinara sauce and topped with in season fried zucchini.
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Gluten Free
Keyword: dinner, gluten-free pasta, pasta, zucchini
Yield: 2
Calories: 615kcal
Author: Stillwood Kitchen

Materials

  • 1 Zucchini, sliced into rounds 1/4 inch thick approximately 1 lb.
  • 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce
  • 7 oz Pasta
  • Salt
  • Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated Optional

Instructions

Make the Zucchini

  • Add the olive oil to a large frying pan. Once heated add the zucchini rounds in one single layer.
  • Fry in batches if necessary until both sides are lightly browned and fork tender. Approx 5 minutes per side.
  • As the zucchini is finished cooking remove them to a paper towel lined plate or bowl. Sprinkle very lightly with salt.

Make The Pasta

  • Fill a large pot with water. Once it boils add salt, then the pasta. Cook the pasta to package directions.
  • Make or heat up the marinara sauce. Once pasta is cooked add it to the marinara sauce and mix until the sauce is covering all the pasta.
  • Top the pasta with the fried zucchini, the sprinkle on the parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

While long shaped pasta such as spaghetti, linguine, etc is recommended you can use short cut pasta if desired.
You can top the entire pan of pasta with the zucchini or bring the zucchini table side and let each person select how much they want.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 615kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Sodium: 885mg | Potassium: 1023mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 992IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 4mg

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