Simple Sauteed Zucchini Recipe

Name: Simple Sauteed Zucchini
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 1/2 Onion (sliced); 2 cloves garlic (crushed); 12 medium zucchini (sliced); ¼ cup Parmesan (finely grated); salt and pepper (to taste)

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This simple sauteed zucchini recipe is easy, cheesy, and keto-friendly. Hands down the best way to prepare a serving of veggies that goes well with any main dish.

I often find that I know what protein I want to prepare for dinner well before I have any side dishes planned. Eating keto leaves me with plenty of options, but sometimes you have to get creative. And sometimes (or a lot of the time), I just don’t feel like putting in all that much effort. I’m sure you know the kind of days I’m talking about.

That’s where this simple sauteed zucchini recipe comes in. The handful of ingredients marry together in the pan in just 10 minutes and it yields delicious results every time. I love to serve this zucchini as a side dish or appetizer, and when you’re barbecuing, it’s the perfect summer accompaniment.

Why You Should Make This Recipe:

There are so many reasons, but here’s just a few:

A beautiful and easy way to celebrate this summer vegetable.
Such a delicious side for any meal, the little bit of parmesan really adds such a lovely salty, tanginess to this dish.
Zucchinis are high in antioxidants, so extremely good for us.

Is This Keto Friendly?

Zucchinis are high in nutrients, but low in calories, so they’re highly recommended as a keto vegetable. The butter and parmesan also add great fat content to the low-calorie zucchini. I would say yes, this is definitely a keto friendly dish and an easy way to prepare it. Zucchini is also a great vegetable for making zoodles out of instead of pasta, so you can amend this recipe as you see fit and still feel good knowing you’re sticking to your keto diet.

What Should I Serve with This Simple Sauteed Zucchini?

This is a great vegetable to serve alongside dinner. I would recommend this zucchini with pulled pork, chicken drumsticks, or another protein. Then I like to whip up a salad or other side, like my turnip gratin, and you have a full-fledged, keto friendly dinner on your hands! If you prefer, this would make for a delicious snack or part of a filling lunch.

Ingredients

2 tbsp butter
1/2 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
12 medium zucchinis, sliced
¼ cup Parmesan, finely grated
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions to Make Simple Sauteed Zucchini

Use a sharp knife to slice up your onions, crush your garlic and slice the zucchini.
In a frying pan over medium-high heat on the stovetop, melt the butter and sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant, about 2 – 3 minutes.
Add in the sliced zucchini and sauté for 5 – 8 minutes until the zucchini is slightly browned. Be sure to use a spatula to keep turning and moving them so that they don’t burn.
Add in salt and pepper and sprinkle on the Parmesan.

Tips and Tricks for Simple Sauteed Zucchini

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your zucchini.

When selecting your zucchini at the store, make sure the vegetable is firm and around 6 inches long, as this indicates it’s at its ripest.
Ensure the pan is hot before adding your ingredients, or your cooking time may vary.
Be careful not to burn your zucchini by moving and turning it frequently in the pan.
We want our zucchini to be just slightly browned, any darker and your zucchini might overcook and any lighter, it’ll be crunchy and underdone.

FAQs

My zucchini is coming out soggy. What did I do wrong?

It is important to get the heat on the stove to a nice medium to high heat and make sure that your pan is hot before adding the butter and zucchini in. You should listen for a sizzle when it touches the pan. If it is too cold, the zucchinis will just sweat and will release their water. This is also why I like to add the salt at the end so that it doesn’t draw out the water.

Can I make zucchini ribbons this way?

Absolutely, this is an easy way to prepare zucchini in any shape. Whether ribbons, diced, or zoodles, the only adjustments you’ll need to make is shortening the cook time.

What can I do with the leftovers?

I love to keep the leftovers of these and add them into soups, stews or curries. There’s no need to waste something this good.

How to Store Simple Sauteed Zucchini

Let everything cool before storing your sauteed zucchini in a food storage container or plastic bag and placing it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months. When reheating, simply warm it in a pan over medium heat until heated through. You can also microwave it for a couple of minutes, then sprinkle over a little more Parmesan cheese before serving.