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This grilled marinated zucchini is tossed in a simple honey Dijon marinade made with lemon, garlic, and olive oil, then grilled until tender and flavorful. A delicious summer side dish for cookouts and weeknight dinners.

Marinated grilled zucchini spears on a wooden cutting board for serving a summer side dish. — *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains other affiliate links too for your convenience. You can read my privacy policy for more details.

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I have to admit that zucchini has never been one of my favorite vegetables.

Sure I love it in zucchini bread, however on it’s own, I always thought zucchini tasted a little bland, and overcooked…

Yuck!

Mushy squash reminds me of baby food, and who wants to eat that for dinner?

But a few years ago, I discovered that marinating zucchini before grilling completely changed my opinion of zucchini squash.

Instead of tasting watery and forgettable, the zucchini soaks up the bright flavors of lemon, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, and olive oil.

Then, after just a few minutes on the grill, it becomes tender with just the right amount of bite and those delectable charred edges.

Now it’s one of our families favorite summer side dishes that I like to serve with grilled chicken, burgers, hot dogs, or steak.

If you’re someone who’s never been all that excited about zucchini (trust me, I know how you feel), I think this grilled marinated zucchini recipe just might change your mind like it did for me.

Why marinate zucchini squash?

Fresh summer squash marinated with a honey dijon marinade and then grilled on the grill.

Zucchini isn’t exactly known for being the most exciting or flavorful vegetable.

Right?

It’s made up of a lot of water which gives it a mild taste and soft texture.

That’s exactly why marinating zucchini before grilling works so well.

As the zucchini sits in the marinade, it absorbs the flavors of the lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, and seasonings.

And so you get a summer vegetable that’s much more flavorful and anything but bland.

What You’ll Love About This Zucchini Recipe

Easy to prepare ahead of time.
Made with common ingredients you’ll find in your pantry.
Great for summer cookouts and BBQs.
Slightly sweet, tangy, and full of flavor.
Pairs well with grilled chicken, burgers, steak, and pork.
Leftovers the next day are absolutely delicious!

Find the measurements and full recipe below!

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Simple Ingredients You’ll Need to Marinate Zucchini

You only need a few pantry staples and a couple of fresh ingredients to create this flavorful zucchini dish.

Medium Zucchinis Cut Into Spears: The star of the recipe. Cutting the zucchini into spears makes them easy to flip on the grill and helps them hold their shape while cooking.
Fresh Lemon Juice: A bright, fresh flavor that balances the sweetness of the honey.
Honey: Adds sweetness and helps the zucchini caramelize slightly on the grill.
Dijon Mustard: Gives a tangy flavor and helps bring the marinade ingredients together.
Grated Garlic: Zucchini and garlic just go hand in hand.
Onion Powder: Adds subtle onion flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
Olive Oil: Helps coat the zucchini and prevents it from sticking to the grill.
Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper: Enhances all the flavors in the marinade and seasons the zucchini.

COZY TIP: This honey Dijon marinade isn’t just for zucchini. I use the same marinade on chicken breasts too. Double the recipe and use half on the zucchini and half on chicken to prep an entire meal with one marinade.

tools you’ll need

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I’m Heidi, the heart and hands behind Eleanor Rose Home.

Heidi and her dachshund rescue Eleanor Roosevelt.

I’ll show you that your home can become a place of warmth, comfort, and style with practical tips, creative ideas, and my own journey to help you create a space that feels like you…welcoming, personal, and full of charm.

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How to Make Marinated Grilled Zucchini

Making marinated grilled zucchini couldn’t be easier, and most of the work is done while the zucchini sits in the refrigerator soaking up all that delicious flavor.

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Here’s how to do it…

01

Prepare the Marinade

In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, onion powder, olive oil, salt, and pepper until well combined.

02

Marinate the Zucchini

Add the zucchini spears to the bowl and toss until every piece is coated in the marinade. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours. Give the zucchini a stir two to three times while it marinates.

Place the zucchini spears in a bowl and allow to marinate for 4 to 6 hours before grilling.

03

Grill the Zucchini

Preheat your grill to medium heat. Remove the zucchini from the marinade and place the spears directly on the grill grates. Grill for approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until the zucchini is tender and lightly charred. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy!

Marinated zucchini spears on a grill pan for a cookout or weeknight dinner.

Honey dijon marinated zucchini squash on a grill pan to make an easy summer side dish.

Helpful Tips

Cut the zucchini into similar-sized spears so they cook evenly on the grill.
Use fresh garlic. One of my favorite tricks is using a microplane to grate fresh garlic directly into the marinade. It eliminates the need for chopping and gives the marinade so much more flavor than jarred pre-minced garlic.
Give the zucchini at least 4 (up to 6) hours to marinate to soak up the flavors of the honey mustard garlic marinade.
Preheat the grill first. A hot grill helps create those beautiful grill marks and keeps the zucchini from sticking.
Zucchini cooks quickly so make sure you don’t overcook it. Remove the zucchini from the grill when it’s tender but still has a slight bite to it. Overcooked zucchini becomes mushy…yuck!

Garlic lemon marinated zucchini spears on a wooden cutting board.

Storing Leftover Grilled Zucchini

Allow the grilled zucchini to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or Ziploc baggie.

Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.

While you can reheat grilled zucchini in the microwave, we actually enjoy it cold straight from the refrigerator.

(Don’t knock it until you try it!)

Leftover zucchini is DELICIOUS chopped up and added to salads, pasta dishes, grain bowls, wraps, or sandwiches for lunch (or dinner) the next day.

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What to Serve With Marinated Zucchini

This summer zucchini side dish goes with just about everything…

Hamburgers
Grilled Chicken Breasts
Steak Tips
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Hot Dogs
Grilled Sausages
Fresh Summer Salads
Grilled Shrimp

Fresh zucchini from the garden marinated for the grill.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marinated Grilled Zucchini

Can I make this ahead of time?
You can. The zucchini is delicious served at room temperature, which makes it a great make-ahead option for cookouts or potlucks. Grill it up to a few hours before you need it and let it hang out on the platter.

Do I have to use a grill?
Not at all. A grill pan on the stovetop works too and gives you those same charred marks without going outside.

How do I keep the zucchini from getting soggy?
Make sure your grill is fully preheated before the zucchini goes on. A hot grill sears quickly and keeps things from steaming and going limp and mushy.

Can I use yellow squash instead?
Summer squash is a perfect swap and works exactly the same way. A mix of both zucchini and yellow squash on the platter is actually really pretty for a summer spread.

Did you make this recipe?

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Grilled zucchini squash is an easy side dish any night of the week.

Marinated Grilled Zucchini

This grilled marinated zucchini is one of our families favorite summer side dishes. The zucchini is marinated for several hours before grilling, giving it plenty of flavor and helping it stay tender on the inside while developing beautiful grill marks on the outside. It's easy to prepare ahead of time and goes perfectly with everything from burgers and hot dogs to grilled chicken and steak.

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 8

Marinating Time 4

Ingredients

3 Medium Zucchini cut into spears
2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Honey
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
2 cloves Garlic grated
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper

Instructions

Wash the zucchini and cut them into long spears.
In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper until combined.
Add the zucchini spears and toss until evenly coated in the marinade.
Cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hours, stirring about 2 to 3 times to make sure the zucchini absorbs the marinade evenly.
Preheat the grill to medium heat.
Remove the zucchini from the marinade and place directly on the grill grates.
Grill for 3-4 minutes per side, or until tender with light grill marks.
Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately.

Notes

This honey Dijon marinade also works well on yellow squash and other vegetables.
For the best flavor, allow the marinated zucchini to rest in the refrigerator for 4–6 hours before grilling.
These grilled zucchini spears can be cooked on an outdoor grill or an indoor grill pan.