Everyone knows that eating vegetables is healthy, but sometimes it's hard to incorporate vegetables into convenient and tasty dishes. Enter zucchini. At only 25 calories per serving, zucchini is great for adding volume to your meals, which makes you feel fuller. It's also high in antioxidants and has been found to help prevent cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Now you know this miracle veggie is super healthy, but, more important for you broke college kids, it's relatively cheap at a little over a dollar a pound. But like anything else, zucchini can get really boring when it's prepared the same way over and over. I had my eureka moment with zucchini when I made this double chocolate zucchini bread.
With that, here are some recipes to help you integrate zucchini into breakfast, dessert and everything in between.
1. Zucchini Oats: "Zoats"
We all know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not use one of these recipes to hide a serving of vegetables in your morning oats? Plus, "zoats" just sounds cool.
2. Vegetarian Breakfast Burrito
Savory breakfast fans, this is for you. You can even make this burrito ahead of time and freeze it for a quick microwavable breakfast on the go.
3. Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
Listen up chocoholics. This recipe adds a healthy twist to your not-so-healthy obsession. Somehow, the zucchini moistens these muffins and complements the rich chocolatey flavor without tasting like you're eating your vegetables.
4. Zucchini Chips
Save yourself the guilt of snacking on chips. Make this recipe on Sunday afternoon and have a supply of healthy chips waiting for you all week to ward off the #hanger.
#SpoonTip: Make your zucchini chips appetizer-worthy at your next party with these zucchini nachos.
5. Zucchini Fritters
A wise man once told me, "cheese makes everything better." The gooey ricotta in this recipe scientifically proves that.
6. Zucchini Corn Salad
Whether you're missing summer or are just looking for an easy dish to bring to that potluck you forgot about, this recipe is the answer. All you need is a cutting board and a pan. Bam. You've got a tasty salad on your hands.
7. Zucchini Dinner Rolls
These fancy dinner rolls are an easy way to make yourself feel super sophisticated while getting a healthy dose of veggies (zucchini and carrots) with your carbs. Even though we both know you're probably in bed eating off a paper plate with a plastic fork. Don't worry. I won't tell.
8. Zucchini Noodles: "Zoodles"
If you keep up with the latest food trends, I'm sure you've heard about zucchini noodles. They've swept the internet in the last few months as a low-carb alternative to pasta. Try this recipe if you want to step up your "zoodle" game with a play on shrimp scampi, and, while you're in the mood, check out what other foods you can spiralize.
If you don't own a spiralizer, don't fear. Check out this tutorial to make "zoodles" by hand. Or, skip the mess and make these zucchini ricotta roll ups.
9. Vegetarian Meatballs
Even the biggest carnivore you know won't miss the meat in this recipe. Who knew you could get such authentic Italian meatball flavor with no meat at all?
10. Zucchini Pizza Boats
You're allowed to have pizza every night when you use this recipe. Substituting halved zucchinis for pizza dough will satisfy all of your deep-dish cravings without killing your diet.
11. Zucchini Crostata
If you can't stand the idea of living life without carbs, find the perfect balance between authentic, but admittedly unhealthy, pizza and zucchini pizza with this recipe.
12. Zucchini Burger
Yes, you read that correctly. No need to scroll back up. With this recipe, the words "zucchini" and "burger" actually do belong in the same sentence.
13. Zucchini Brownies
These zucchini brownies are just as chocolatey as your normal brownie, but with far fewer calories and a lot more nutritional value. Top a warm slice with a scoop of ice cream for maximum enjoyment.
Now, all that's left to do is buy some zucchini and get cooking. If you're still having trouble fitting in your recommended daily vegetable intake check out this article for sneaky college student-approved ways to eat more veggies.