50 courgette recipes

Want expert advice for growing your own crop? Learn how to grow your own courgettes from our friends at Gardeners’ World.

For more veg inspiration, check out our fennel recipes, aubegerine recipes and runner bean recipes.

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Courgette recipes
Vegetarian courgette recipes

Why we love courgettes

Courgettes come from the same family as cucumbers, squashes and melons. They're versatile and budget-friendly, too. They have a thick green skin and soft, fluffy inside. They can be eaten raw in long, wide ribbons and spiralized to make courgetti, as well as blitzed into summer soups. They're at their best when gently fried with olive oil, garlic, chilli and a pinch of dried thyme or oregano, and finished with a squeeze of lemon. The courgettes act like sponges, soaking up the Mediterranean flavours.

Health benefits of courgettes

Courgettes contain a good amount of vitamin A, which supports healthy eyes. They're also rich in antioxidants, so help protect the body from a number of diseases. They contain plenty of fibre, meaning they contribute to good gut health. Not to mention, they have a high water content, making them a hydrating food choice.

When are courgettes in season?

British courgette season starts in June and ends in October. They are at their best from June until September – choose smaller courgettes that are firm to touch with a glossy, unblemished skin.

How do you cook courgettes?

How to grill courgettes: The best way to grill courgettes is to cut them into slices, brush with oil and put under a hot grill for 3-4 minutes until charred and blistered, then flip and repeat.

How to fry courgettes: To fry courgettes, half, dice or cut into slices and fry in olive oil into charred or alternatively cook low and slow until meltingly tender.

How to roast courgettes: Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Dice or thickly slice the courgette, season and toss with olive oil then roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway, until caramelised and cooked through.

Can courgettes be eaten raw?

You can eat courgettes raw, they're great thinly sliced and added to salads.

Courgette recipes

Courgette, parma ham and lemon ricotta lasagne

This summery twist on lasagne is packed with courgette, zesty ricotta and folds of delicate parma ham – a light but flavour-packed take on the classic.

You can also make our baked spinach and ricotta-stuffed shells.

Chargrilled courgette and smoked bacon pasta

Salty smoked bacon adds extra flavour to this simple courgette pasta, livened up with fried chilli flakes. A speedy midweek meal.

Swap meat for fish and try our creamy healthy salmon pasta.

Avocado, courgette and lime drizzle cake

Sneak some of your five-a-day into your bake with this recipe for avocado, courgette and lime drizzle cake. The avocado gives a subtle silky feel to the sponge.

Looking for other veggie cake recipes? Make our courgette and lime cake, courgette and coconut layer cake and chocolate courgette cake.

Courgette carbonara

Dressed in a light and creamy carbonara sauce, this quick-to-make pasta with courgette is perfect on a warm summer evening. It quickly dispenses with any garden gluts, too.

You'll love our classic spaghetti carbonara recipe, vegetarian carbonara, vegan carbonara and leek carbonara.

Stuffed courgettes with spiced lamb

Make the most of this versatile vegetable by topping with spiced lamb mince, pine nuts and feta to create this crowd-pleasing Mediterranean dish.

Courgette parmigiana

This is great for using up a glut of courgettes you might have acquired over the summer months. Top with golden toasted pine nuts for extra crunch.

Braised courgettes and cannellini beans

The stove does all the work in this easy one-pot with courgette, cannellini beans and parmesan. Hands-on time is minimal – as is the washing up at the end.

Got some cannellini beans to use up? Try our chorizo, greens and bean stew.

Easy flatbreads

Pile in-season courgette onto shop-bought flatbreads for a light supper or al fresco lunch. Simply toss the courgette strips in dressing, then assemble.

Chocolate courgette cake

Courgette is the secret weapon in this decadent chocolate cake, topped with a silky chocolate icing for extra wow factor.

Like this? Now try our indulgent easy chocolate cake.

Courgette pilaf

A jumble of courgette, caramelised onions, tomatoes, basmati rice and gentle spices makes for a perfect pilaf.

Want to know how to cook rice perfectly? Follow our step-by-step guide.

If you're not vegetarian, give our healthy chicken pilaf traybake a go.

Quick pickled courgette, ham hock, pea and goat’s cheese salad

We've pickled courgettes in this quick and easy salad recipe with goat's cheese, ham hock and peas, for extra flavour.

Check out our best pea recipes.

Vegetarian courgette recipes

Courgette and mint soup

This vibrant, summery soup is a great way to make use of a courgette glut. The summer veggies are joined by fresh mint and lemon zest for a zingy lunch that's perfect for a warm day. It's best served with a dollop of crème fraîche on top.

Check out plenty more soup ideas such as our equally refreshing pea and mint soup or spinach soup.

Courgette fritters

Top our lightly spiced courgette fritters with poached eggs for a quick weekend brunch with fewer than 250 calories.

Try these then check out our leek fritters, cauliflower fritters, pea fritters and chickpea fritters. You will need a spiralizer for this recipe – check out our guide to the best spiralizers to buy here.

Courgette frittata

Courgettes, spring onions and goat’s cheese meet in this vibrant veggie frittata, perfect for an al fresco lunch.

Browse all our fabulous frittata recipes.

Courgette parmigiana

Parmigiana is a classic northern Italian dish usually made with aubergine. This version substitutes the aubergine for courgette and mozzarella or ricotta for a fresher taste. It works really well as part of a sharing menu. The recipe was taken from Sharing Puglia: Simple, Delicious Food From Italy's Undiscovered Coast.

For meat-eaters, there's chicken parmigiana.

BBQ courgettes

Courgettes are made smoky in this winning BBQ side dish, paired alongside creamy labneh for contrast.

Make these barbecued courgettes with creamy labneh and savoury granola, then check out more vegetarian BBQ recipes, such as our BBQ aubergines,

Courgette curry

This simple yet pleasing flavour combination of courgettes and frozen peas makes for a light and summery curry which is ready in less than an hour.

For another veggie dinner, serve up our paneer curry.

Courgette lasagne

This must be the best easy vegetarian lasagne. Mix the courgettes, garlic and chilli with ricotta, add a shop-bought tomato sauce and fresh lasagne and dinner can be on the table in under 30 minutes.

For more veggie lasagne options, check out our vegan lasagne, aubergine lasagne and butternut squash lasagne.

Courgette risotto

A fresh and creamy risotto that puts baby courgettes in the limelight. It's also flavoured with mint, lemon and plenty of salty parmesan.

Check out more of our best risotto recipes.

Courgette muffins

A super-simple savoury muffin recipe, made with grated courgette and cheddar. These easy vegetable muffins make a delicious afternoon snack and are a great way to use up a glut of veg.

Make these courgette muffins, then check out our classic breakfast egg muffins, banana muffins, cheese muffins and cornbread muffins.

Slow-cooked courgette spaghetti

Put your courgette glut to great use in this veg-packed, slow-cooked sauce – toss through spaghetti for a crowdpleasing dinner.

We think you'll love our caponata spaghetti with tomatoes and aubergines.

Courgette tart with dill dressing

Try this beautiful vegetarian tart. It's low calorie, low fat and 5:2 diet friendly, for a healthy entertaining meal.

Next, try our cheese and onion quiche.

Griddled courgette, pine nut and mozzarella salad

A quick idea for courgettes that can be turned into an easy, filling salad. Top with mozzarella and pine nuts then serve with bulgar wheat or orzo. A simple midweek meal for two.

We love using orzo, try our top recipes.

Healthy courgette lasagne

Check out our low-carb take on lasagne, complete with an easy to follow video. This version uses courgette in place of pasta, so you still get lots of creamy layers but a bit of a healthier result.

Next, give our butternut squash lasagne.

Healthy tacos

Stuffed with smoky courgette, zesty black beans, pickled red onion and creamy avocado, these healthy tacos are bursting with flavour – they happen to be low in calories and vegan, too.

Griddled courgette salad with mozzarella, peas and mint

Make the most of homegrown courgettes in this vibrant salad for a quick vegetarian meal. It's light, fresh and gluten-free.

Courgette mac ‘n’ cheese with garlic sourdough crumbs

In the US, mac ‘n’ cheese often has its own heading on a menu with a choice of flavourings. Courgette and garlicky crumbs get our vote. This recipe is easy but super comforting.

Roasted courgette, chickpea and lemon salad

Courgette stars in this vegan salad served with crunchy chickpeas tossed in punchy harissa. It's ready in 20 minutes and low in calories, too.

Courgette and coconut layer cake

If you love veggie cakes then you'll love our easy courgette and coconut cake. This super moist and moriesh layer cake is packed with fluffy cream cheese icing and topped with crunchy coconut chips, a modern take on the British classic carrot cake.

We have plenty more layer cake recipes.

Courgette risotto with pea, artichoke and barley

Barley is a great alternative to risotto rice and, when joined by courgette, pea and artichoke, makes for a delicious summery dish that feels indulgent but is under 300 calories.

Courgette pancakes with dipping sauce

An easy idea for a dinner party starter: give courgette fritters a Korean-style makeover and serve with a delicious dipping sauce.

Courgette galette

Put courgettes at the heart of this easy galette. All-butter pastry encases a creamy courgettes, flavoured with garlic – perfect for a stunning summer dinner.

Courgette and lime cake

Topped with pistachio nibs and lime zest, this seasonal loaf makes a refreshingly zesty alternative to carrot cake.

Lemon and mint marinated courgettes

These zesty grilled courgettes are a great summer side dish to have alongside your midweek meal or weekend BBQ. Find plenty more easy recipes here.

Courgette pickle

Use in-season courgettes in this quick pickle this summer – stuff the tangy veg into sandwiches or burgers, or enjoy with a cheese and charcuterie board.

Rigatoni with courgette, lemon and parmesan

Make courgette into a stylish supper with this refreshing pasta recipe. Packed with colour and ready in just 20 minutes this is the perfect weekday dish.

Courgette scarpaccia

Courgette takes centre stage in this Tuscan pancake-tart hybrid. Scarpaccia means old shoe, perhaps because the end result should be as thin as the sole of an old shoe.

Courgette, brown butter and basil gnocchi

Inspired by a piccata, this lemon and butter sauce is made even better with the addition of aromatic basil. It works well with pasta as well as gnocchi, and is just as great with ricotta instead of pecorino if you want to keep it vegetarian.

Give our homemade gnocchi, mushroom gnocchi and healthy gnocchi a go.

Mini quiches with salmon and courgettes

These hot-smoked salmon mini quiches look striking, are gorgeously crunchy and easy to put together. Great for picnics, canapés and savoury treats.

Check out our cheese and onion quiche, quiche lorraine and hot-smoked salmon vol-au-vents.

Courgette fries

Courgette fritti make a delicious, healthy alternative to chips. Serve with steak or just as a nibble with drinks.

For more nibble ideas check out our cheese straws, summer rolls and more party food recipes.

Greek lamb-stuffed courgettes

Make the most of this versatile vegetable by topping with spiced lamb mince, pine nuts and feta in this crowd-pleasing Mediterranean dish.

Try these stuffed courgettes and accompany with a Greek salad and our easy Greek recipes.

Courgette and chimichurri salad

Make the most of fresh green beans and courgettes by tossing them in a zingy chimichurri dressing, then crumble over salty feta for a nourishing lunch.

Courgette gratin

Try this simple courgette and tomato gratin topped with golden baked gruyère. If you want a bit of crunch, you could add a handful of breadcrumbs to the cheese.

For another comforting dish, try our Brussels sprouts gratin.

BBQ buttermilk chicken with charred courgette sauce

Buttermilk creates the juiciest chicken on the BBQ. It's delicious simply served in a bun, or try it with our smoky-sweet tomato and courgette sauce, plus crunchy crumbs.

Next, check out our classic buttermilk fried chicken, buttermilk fried chicken burger and perfect BBQ chicken.

Harissa lamb-stuffed courgettes

Fill courgettes with a mix of lamb mince, garlic, cumin and harissa, and bake in a fiery tomato sauce to make an exciting weeknight meal for two.

Try our stuffed marrow.

Artichoke, courgette and lemon farro salad

This recipe for artichoke, courgette and lemon farro salad is quick and easy to make, vegan and low-calorie, making it great for a midweek meal.

Courgette and chive pasta

Fresh and easy pasta dish for two. The courgette, garlic and lemon sauce is ready in the time it takes to cook the linguine. Mix in creamy mascarpone and serve.

Courgette lollipops

Add our easy courgette side to your next vegetarian BBQ, soaked in a citrussy sweet marinade with a hint of chilli. Try more veggie BBQ recipes here.

Romana courgette agrodolce

Romana courgettes served with a sweet and spicy agrodolce sauce is perfect for a vegetarian dinner party dish.

Fried courgette flowers with honey and vinegar

Packed with sweet and tangy flavour, these courgette flowers with honey and vinegar are an easy yet impressive starter for any summer dinner party. We've got plenty more starter recipes here.