This grilled zucchini with feta is an easy summer side dish! Featuring smokey grilled zucchini, crumbled feta cheese & fresh basil all tossed in a simple lemon-garlic vinaigrette & topped with toasted pine nuts!
Ok fam – I could start this out by saying “zucchini is one of my favorite summer vegetables”…But the reality is, that’s just not true.😲 My husband’s the one who loves zucchini and I’ve been desperately trying to find a way to prepare it that doesn’t taste like wet socks to me. Cue in grilled zucchini!
This grilled zucchini with feta cheese is IT! Bright, refreshing, so easy to make and the best part – it’s packed with flavor! The zesty lemon + fresh basil and toasted pine nuts almost reminds me of pesto which pairs so well with zucchini!
This would be such a great side dish for any summer cookout or party! It takes minutes to cook and the grill does all the work. (Plus I’ve included a few tips to make this the BEST grilled zucchini recipe!)
Ingredients You’ll Need
Zucchini: Look for thicker zucchini to make slicing them easier. (You’ll want to keep your slices decently thick so they don’t become mushy.)
Garlic: Two minced garlic cloves are needed for the vinaigrette.
Olive oil: We’ll be using olive oil in our vinaigrette and to brush over the zucchini before cooking. (We prefer using extra light tasting olive oil.)
Lemon juice: Use fresh lemon juice for the best results!
Feta cheese: We always buy a block of feta cheese and crumble it ourselves. (It’s softer, creamier and has much better flavor than store bought feta crumbles.)
Fresh basil: Slice or tear as much fresh basil as you want! (I LOVE fresh basil so we tend to use a lot.)
Pine nuts: Elevates your grilled zucchini by adding texture and crunch! (Try them toasted – they’re so good!)
How To Make Grilled Zucchini With Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
1. Prepare the zucchini. Slice the zucchini into thick slices (roughly a ½ inch thick) and lay them out on a tray lined with a paper towel. Sprinkle salt over each slice and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. (This helps to draw out any excess moisture so they won’t become soggy after cooking.) Pat them dry with a paper towel once done.
2. Prepare the vinaigrette. While the zucchini sits, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice and minced garlic together in a small bowl and set it aside.
3. Grill. Preheat your grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat and brush both sides of the zucchini slices with your remaining olive oil. Once hot, place the zucchini directly on the grill. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until they’re just tender and have grill marks. Transfer the zucchini to a tray once done.
4. Toss! Add your zucchini to a large bowl and gently toss them with crumbled feta cheese, fresh basil and your desired amount of lemon-garlic vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
5. Serve. Keep them in the same bowl (or arrange them on a platter) and sprinkle toasted pine nuts over the top. Serve immediately.
You’re going to LOVE how easy this grilled squash recipe is!
Variations
Use summer squash instead! (Grilled summer squash is so good!)
Replace the pine nuts with chopped walnuts or toasted pepitas!
Swap out the basil for fresh dill!
Add lemon zest for extra flavor!
Expert Tips
Always salt the zucchini to draw out excess moisture! This helps to keep the squash firm while cooking and not become soggy.
Keep your slices pretty thick! I found that ½ inch slices worked the best for us!
Don’t overcook it! Trust me – no one wants mushy zucchini!😉 I’d suggest removing the zucchini from the grill while they still look a little undercooked. (They’ll continue cooking as they sit.)
Why you’ll love this grilled zucchini recipe!
- Simple ingredients! Fresh seasonal squash + a handful of every day ingredients! This is one of the best side dishes for a bbq!
- Light & flavorful! The salty feta + fresh lemon flavors pair so well with popular summer main dishes!
- An easy summer side dish! Only a few minutes of prep work required and all the cooking is done on the grill!
More vegetable side dishes you might like:
- Grilled Asparagus Salad with Lemon & Feta
- Lemon Dijon Roasted Carrots
- Parmesan Roasted Asparagus with Tomatoes & Balsamic
- Honey Roasted Carrots with Feta & Dill
[Made one of my recipes? Tag my Instagram @kalefornia_kravings & leave a review in the comments – I love seeing what you create!]
Grilled Zucchini with Feta & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 3 large zucchinis
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (plus more to brush over the zucchini)
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup fresh basil, sliced
- Pine nuts, toasted (optional)*
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the zucchini. Slice the zucchini into thick slices (around a ½ inch thick) then lay them out on a tray lined with a paper towel. Sprinkle salt over each slice and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. (This helps to draw out any excess moisture so they won't become soggy after cooking.) Pat them dry with a paper towel once done.
- Prepare the vinaigrette. While the zucchini sits, whisk the olive oil, lemon juice and garlic together and set it aside.
- Grill the zucchini. Preheat your grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat and brush both sides of the zucchini slices with olive oil.Once hot, place the zucchini directly on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes per side (or until they're just tender and have grill marks). Transfer the zucchini to a tray once done.
- Toss. Add the zucchini to a large bowl and gently toss with your crumbled feta, fresh basil and desired amount of lemon-garlic vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve. Keep the zucchini in the same bowl (or arrange them on a platter) and sprinkle toasted pine nuts over the top. Serve immediately.
