Baked zucchini and squash is the perfect way to enjoy all the flavors of the season whether you are picking from your own backyard garden or perusing the local farmer's market.
We are roasting our zucchini and squash right in the oven alongside onions and fresh parmesan cheese and topping the entire dish with a dash of balsamic vinegar to create a dish that is simple yet bursting with flavor. This baked zucchini and squash recipe is about to become your family's new favorite side dish because as you'll find out, it's a WHOLE LOTTA YUM!
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Italian Style Zucchini and Squash
With our garden bursting at its seams with fresh produce, our family is always looking for new ways to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Roasted vegetables are always a favorite in our home and a great way to utilize the harvest. The two vegetables we always grow at home since they're so bountiful, easy, and inexpensive are zucchini and tomatoes. This is the first year we added yellow squash too!
This baked zucchini and squash dish is a perfect way to do just that! Loaded with fresh zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and onions, these roasted veggies are ideal for gluten-free eaters, as well as low-carb and keto fans. If you are looking to make roasted squash and zucchini work for dairy-free and vegan diets, simply forgo the parmesan cheese.
Why You'll Love This Zucchini and Squash Recipe
- Just three simple steps (slice, season, and roast) are all that separates you from crispy and flavorful oven-roasted vegetables!
- Baked zucchini and squash takes less than 30-minutes to make.
- Roasted squash and zucchini pairs well with just about any main course.
- Easily adaptable to dairy-free and vegan lifestyles (simply omit the parmesan cheese).
Create an entire low-carb meal by pairing your baked zucchini and squash with air fryer pork chops and this broccoli cauliflower salad.
Are you looking for more ways to use up all of that zucchini? Be sure to check out our ground beef zucchini casserole, zucchini curry, vegan ratatouille! These three dishes let the zucchini shine and are all packed with flavor.
Oven Roasted Squash and Zucchini Ingredients
There are a lot of ingredients on this list, but don't let that scare you off! This baked zucchini and squash dish is super easy to pull together and tastes amazing! After a few minutes of prep work, you can let the oven do the hard part. 😉
- medium-sized zucchini
- medium-sized yellow squash
- red onion - we added red for color but yellow or sweet is a great substitute
- cherry or grape tomatoes - any small tomatoes can work
- olive oil
- sea salt
- dried garlic
- ground black pepper
- Italian seasoning
- parmesan cheese- shredding your own adds great flavor and melts better, pre-shredded will work too
- balsamic vinegar- optional
How to Make Roasted Zucchini and Squash
Your baked zucchini and squash is as easy as 1, 2, 3, and just needs to slice, season, and bake. Let's get cooking!
Prep the Veggies
Preheat your oven to 400F and make sure your rack is in the middle.
Slice the zucchini, onions, and squash into thin, uniform slices. Half the cherry or grape tomatoes.
Place all of the vegetables in a medium-sized bowl and combine them with olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Bake
After seasoning, spread your vegetables on a roasting pan in a single layer. If you are concerned they may stick to the pan, apply a light coating of oil, or use parchment paper.
Roast your vegetables in the oven.
After 20 mins, remove the pan from the oven and flip the vegetables on the pan. Add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar (optional but super tasty!) and the parmesan cheese.
Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Roasted Zucchini and Squash Recipe Tips
- For even baking, make sure your zucchini and squash pieces are sliced as evenly as possible.
- If making a larger batch you may need to use two baking pans to ensure the vegetables are in a single layer.
- If your pan is overcrowded, or you prefer softer vegetables, you may need to cook longer.
- Be sure you add the parmesan cheese during the last 5-minutes of cooking.
- Add other vegetables including carrots, halved Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, or butternut squash to your pan to create a very seasonal dish.
- Lightly sprinkle your favorite bread crumbs on the vegetables when you add the parmesan cheese for additional crunch (just be mindful of the carb content).
- Sprinkle additional parmesan cheese on top just before serving.
Zucchini and Squash Variations
- While we gave our roasted zucchini and squash recipe Italian flavors, there’s so many ways to change up the taste!
- Herbs and Spices: Experiment with different herbs and spices for a flavor twist. Try adding garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, or Italian seasoning.
- Cheese Variations: Swap out the Parmesan for another type of cheese. Try crumbled feta, shredded cheddar or a sprinkle of blue cheese.
- Add Heat: For a spicy kick, sprinkle some red chili flakes before baking.
- Citrus Zest: Add some lemon or lime zest for a pop of freshness.
- Nutty Topping: Add some crushed almonds or walnuts for an added crunch.
- Balsamic Glaze: Drizzle a little balsamic glaze over the top after roasting for a sweet and tangy twist.
- Pesto: Toss the veggies in pesto before roasting for a burst of herby flavor.
Diet Considerations
Vegan - To make baked zucchini and squash vegan simply omit the parmesan cheese. However, if you still want that cheesy flavor, sprinkle on some nutritional yeast after cooking.
Low Carb/Keto - All of the veggies are low carb, but the balsamic vinegar does add a tiny bit of sugar. Feel free to skip the balsamic vinegar or substitute with red wine vinegar.
What to serve with Oven Roasted Zucchini and Squash
Baked squash and zucchini is a versatile side dish that will pair nicely with a variety of main dishes and other sides such as:
- Pork chops
- A whole chicken or chicken pieces
- Pot roast
- Lamb
- Duck
How to Store Oven Roasted Squash Zucchini
Store any leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for 4-5 days.
Can this Roasted Zucchini and Squash Recipe be frozen?
While roasted zucchini and squash are best enjoyed fresh, you can definitely freeze leftovers if needed. Just be aware that the texture may change a bit upon thawing due to the high water content of these veggies. They might be a bit softer or even slightly mushy after freezing and thawing, but they'll still be delicious and perfectly safe to eat.
To Freeze: Let the veggies cool down completely, put them in a freezer safe container, and store them for up to 2-3 months. Since they will turn softer after freezing, defrosted zucchini and squash would be a fantastic addition to soup!
Reheating Italian Squash
- Oven (Best Option for Crispiness): Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread the roasted squash out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Reheat in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until it's heated through and crispy.
- Stovetop: Heat a bit of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the roasted squash and sauté until it's warmed through, for about 5-10 minutes.
- Microwave (Fastest, but Least Crispy): Place the squash in a microwave-safe dish. Cover the dish and microwave the squash on high for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Be sure to stir halfway through for even heating.
Italian Squash Common Questions
Soggy roasted squash usually comes down to a couple of reasons. First, your oven might not be hot enough. Roasting needs a high temperature (around 400-450°F) to get that lovely caramelization without the veggies turning into a soft, soggy mess. Second, overcrowding the pan can cause sogginess. The veggies steam instead of roast when they're all crammed together. So, make sure to give 'em some room to breathe!
Keeping your squash and zucchini crisp and caramelized instead of soggy is all about that oven love. First, crank up the heat. High heat helps the outside of the veggies get nice and caramelized before the inside has a chance to overcook. Second, space 'em out! Spread your squash and zucchini in a single layer on your baking sheet and make sure they're not touching. Lastly, don't be shy with the oil. A nice slick of olive oil can help protect the veggies from direct heat and promote even roasting.
Baking times can vary based on how thick your slices are, but generally, you're looking at about 20-25 minutes in a 400°F oven. You'll know they're done when they're golden brown and tender. If you like 'em extra crispy, feel free to let them roast a bit longer, just keep an eye on them so they don't burn.
More Zucchini Recipes
More Roasted Vegetable Recipes
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Italian Oven Roasted Zucchini and Squash
Italian style baked zucchini and squash combines fresh summer vegetables with parmesan cheese, basil, and balsamic vinegar. Healthy, gluten free, easy to make dairy free/vegan, and keto friendly.
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced
- 2 medium yellow squash, sliced
- ¼ red onion, diced
- ½ lb cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon dried garlic
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- optional- balsamic vinegar to drizzle
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F and make sure the rack is in the middle.
- Slice the zucchini, onions, and squash into thin, uniform slices. Half the cherry or grape tomatoes.
- Place all of the vegetables in a medium-sized bowl and combine them with olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- After seasoning, spread your vegetables on a roasting pan in a single layer. If you are concerned they may stick to the pan, apply a light coating of oil, or use parchment paper.
- Roast your vegetables in the oven.
- After 20 mins, remove the pan from the oven and flip the vegetables on the pan. Add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar (optional but super tasty!) and the parmesan cheese.
- Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For even baking, make sure your zucchini and squash pieces are sliced as evenly as possible.
- Be sure you add the parmesan cheese during the last 5-minutes of cooking so it doesn't overcook.
- Add other vegetables including mushrooms, carrots, halved Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, or butternut squash to your pan to create a very seasonal dish.
- Lightly sprinkle your favorite bread crumbs on the vegetables when you add the parmesan cheese for additional crunch.
- Sprinkle additional parmesan cheese on top just before serving.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 91Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 2mgSodium 205mgCarbohydrates 11gNet Carbohydrates 8gFiber 2gSugar 7gProtein 3g
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