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This zucchini pasta sauce is the perfect way to use up your summer zucchini harvest! It’s easy to make in 30 minutes, buttery, and totally delicious.
Try my Easy Zucchini Soup or Baked Balsamic Parmesan Zucchini next.
Why you’ll love it
I have a number of zucchini noodle recipes on here, but this is my first time posting a pasta recipe with a zucchini sauce. I wasn’t even sure what to name it, but hopefully those who are searching for a pasta sauce made with zucchini rather than zoodles will actually find this one.
To those lucky enough to have a garden with zucchini growing in it, this zucchini pasta is the ideal pasta dish for you. I know that it can sometimes be difficult to use it all up. Melt-in-your-mouth zucchini is butter’s best friend in this simple pasta that’s fantastic for lazy summer evenings.
What goes into it
- Pasta – any kind will do, but I like how buttery sauces coat a longer pasta like linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti
- Zucchini – the star of the sauce. You don’t need to be super precise; the weight is more of a guideline.
- Olive oil and butter – for sautéing and making up the base of the sauce
- Onion and garlic – our tasty aromatics. I prefer using Vidalia (sweet) onions.
- Italian seasoning – my go-to seasoning blend for so many recipes. It’s a single jar with fragrant dried Italian herbs.
- Chicken broth – for deeper savory flavor. You can swap it out for veggie broth if you’d prefer this to be a vegetarian pasta.
- Lemon juice – it adds a touch of acidity and brightness
- Parmesan – to top it all off and add richness to the sauce. I always recommend grating your own parmesan cheese for the best results.
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- To mince the garlic, I use this garlic press since you don’t even need to peel the cloves beforehand.
- A pair of kitchen tongs is handy to toss the sauce with the pasta.
- I use my Microplane to easily and quickly zest the parmesan.
- This Le Creuset skillet is the one I used.
How to make pasta with zucchini sauce
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Boil the pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, prep the other recipe ingredients. In a skillet, sauté the onion until translucent, then add in the zucchini, garlic, and Italian seasoning, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or so.
Finish the sauce by adding the broth, remaining butter, and lemon juice. Stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese and starchy pasta water if desired. Toss with the drained pasta, and enjoy.
Substitutions and variations
- Try replacing half or all of the chicken broth with dry white wine if you’re feeling a little fancy! Use sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, or even chardonnay. Just make sure it’s one you’d enjoy drinking.
- This zucchini pasta is one of those forgiving recipes where it’s easy enough to throw in some fresh garden herbs on or even other garden veggies that you want to use up. We haven’t tested it, but fresh tomatoes could definitely be added in here, as an example.
- Want to add some protein to this dish? Leftover Baked Chicken or rotisserie chicken or even some shrimp would be delicious.
What to serve with this zucchini pasta
- It’s a lovely light meal on its own, but you could always serve it with a slice of fresh crusty bread, a dinner roll, or some Garlic Bread if you’re craving something more substantial.
- A salad is always a solid choice to go with this pasta. Try mixed greens with my Copycat Olive Garden Dressing, or make this Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad.
- Enjoy it on your patio with a glass of white wine, and it’s a seasonal meal done right.
Leftovers and storage
- This pasta is best enjoyed fresh, but it will keep in the fridge in a covered container for a few days.
- Warm it up over a low heat in a small saucepan. If it’s looking a little dry, give it a splash of broth to revive the sauce.
- I don’t suggest freezing this one since the texture will likely change once thawed.
More zucchini recipes to enjoy
Will you give this fresh zucchini pasta sauce sauce a try? Let me know! Questions, or want to leave me a star rating and review? Drop a comment below.
Simple Fresh Zucchini Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta I used fettuccine
- 1.5 pounds zucchini diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter divided
- 1/2 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 dash Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup chicken or veg broth
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water for your pasta. Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, chop the zucchini and prep your other ingredients.
- Add the olive oil and one tablespoon of the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Add the zucchini, garlic, and Italian seasoning to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the remaining butter, chicken broth, and lemon juice to the pan. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes or so.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and toss with the drained pasta (add a splash of pasta water if you wish). Season with salt & pepper as needed and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Zucchini sizing is pretty subjective, so I figured that including a weight would be the most useful thing to do. I used 3 small-to-medium zucchini totaling around 1.5 pounds. Anything around 1 lb. or so will work, but I wouldn’t go less than that if you’re feeding 4 people.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This recipe was originally published on July 26, 2019. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!
It was so easy to make this one vegan and it was great!
Many thanks.
You’re very welcome, Joann! ๐
Such a unique and tasty pasta-especially good in the summer! Will be making this one again!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Savannah!! ๐ Thank you for your review!
I am visiting with my mom this week and I decided to try this out my first night here. We both enjoyed it. I added rotisserie chicken and cherry tomatoes to make it the full meal. Very colorful!
I tweaked it some and will do so next time for personal preference. Less cheese and more garlic, Italian seasoning and lemon. Definitely a nice and light pasta dish that we’ll make again & again!
Sounds good to me! ๐ Glad it’s a new one for your recipe box, Angela! Appreciate your review as always!
This was the second time making this recipe. Quick and delicious meal.
Yay!! Glad you enjoyed it, JoAnn!
I add some tomato juice and parsley
Excellent!
Just made it and had a new zucchini from the garden. Was delicious!
That’s awesome!! Thanks for letting me know!
Made this for dinner tonight. It is excellent! Will make often!
Yay!! That’s great to hear, Sue! ๐ Thank you
LOVE!
Excellent!!
This is so exquisite tasting. I got young tender zucchini. The recipe is very easy to follow. It is so good and I mean very good! Paired with warm French bread with garlic salt and it is so satisfying.
I’m so pleased I made this and will be making it a lot more.
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Diane. I am so happy you enjoyed it! ๐
This was easy to make and tasted lovely. I was looking for a lighter sauce and wanted something other than a tomato or mushroom based sauce. This fit the bill beautifully. Thank you.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it, Elizabeth! Thanks for taking the time to write me a review. ๐