Easy Baked Parmesan Zucchini

You can make them in less than half an hour; everyone at the table will take seconds.

Zucchini

We use green zucchini. You can also use grey or yellow summer squash.

Extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil adds flavor and helps cook the zucchini in the oven. Substitute regular olive oil.

Dried herbs

We use dried rosemary. Substitute dried oregano, thyme, basil, or parsley for rosemary. You can also use an Italian spice mix or combine more than one dried herb.

Garlic powder

We love the combination of garlic powder and parmesan. Substitute a fresh garlic clove, grated finely, for the powder.

Parmesan

Grated parmesan cheese adds a beautiful savory umami flavor. We recommend using Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano for best results. It would be best to get a piece and grate it at home. That’s the tastiest stuff! If you are vegan, you can substitute a non-dairy cheese for parmesan or make our roasted zucchini with crispy breadcrumbs, which are equally delicious.

Salt and Pepper

We use sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Preheat the oven or the air fryer to 400°F or 200°C. Wash and dry the zucchinis and cut them in half lengthwise, then cut them in half again. Now, cut each zucchini stick in half horizontally. Transfer onto a baking tray and season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Toss well with your hands to distribute the seasoning evenly, and arrange the sticks on a single layer. Bake at 400°F or 200°C in the center rack of the oven for 15 minutes or in the air fryer for 10 minutes, until the zucchini spears are almost cooked. In the meantime, grate the parmesan cheese and mix it with garlic powder and dried herbs. Now, sprinkle the baked zucchini sticks with the parmesan mixture. Tip: We recommend grating the parmesan with a microplane grated/zester. It melts beautifully this way. Put back in the oven with the broiler or grill function and gratin until the parmesan is melted and slightly charred (about 4 minutes). In the air fryer, you’ll need about 3 minutes. Arrange on a serving platter and serve as a starter or side dish. You can add some fresh thyme or oregano on top if you like. Refrigerator: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Freezer: This recipe is not suitable for freezing as the zucchini will get mushy. Reheat: Warm leftovers in the microwave or in the air fryer. For more ideas, check out the list Louise made with 20 + easy zucchini recipes.