Easy Side Dish – Marinated Zucchini Spears
I’ve got the perfect way to use up and enjoy all that summer bounty! Marinating zucchini spears delivers a delicious vegetable and easy side dish. Using only 2-3 ingredients, it’s tasty, affordable, and kid-friendly.
Be Sure To Try My Oatmeal Zucchini Bread Next!
Marinated Zucchini Spears
It’s mid-summer and zucchini is in season (HOORAY!!!), which means it’s a “ripe” time to use up all the fresh vegetables available to you! Sometimes the best side dish recipes are the simplest to make. Zucchini can be enjoyed in so many ways, but my favorite is to think just a tad outside the box and create newish recipes for my family.
Simply cutting a vegetable differently can make food totally “cool” for my kiddos to eat. Making spears out of my zucchini keeps things exciting, and they also take on the marinade really well this way. When you need an easy side dish, look no further!
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The BEST Dressing for Marinade
My favorite brand of Italian dressing mix is Good Seasons. Friends, it is SO GOOD!!! Don’t buy bottled Italian dressing again because this stuff is too delicious and too easy to make! You can find it pretty much everywhere (except Aldi’s…). Use any vinegar you have on hand: red wine, rice, balsamic, or apple cider vinegar and whip it right up following package directions.
Note: If you can’t find Good Seasons, any dry Italian seasoning mix will do. If preferred, you can use a good quality store-bought dressing.
How to Make Marinated Zucchini Spears
Homemade Italian dressing makes the perfect marinade, and is better for you as it has less ingredients than its store-bought counterparts. I had some leftover in my refrigerator one time, so I decided to try marinating my zucchini in it. It turned out to be such a great side dish, my kids literally gobbled them up with no complaints! This might be the easiest “how to” ever!
Follow these simple steps:
Step One: Cut zucchini into spears and put in a one-gallon Ziploc bag or marinade bag.
Step Two: Add marinade to the bag using a dry Italian dressing seasoning packet, mixed with your favorite vinegar. Or simply use your favorite store-bought dressing. Seal the bag and allow to marinate for at least one hour, or overnight in the fridge.
Step Three: Arrange your spears on a baking sheet in a single layer.
Step Four: Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until the outer edges are crisp, but the inner flesh is soft and browned.
Note: If it’s a hot summer day and you don’t want to turn on your oven, these can easily be grilled outside or sauteed on the stovetop.
I hope you will try this easy and versatile summer side dish. Below I’ve linked some other flavorful side dishes, meals that incorporate zucchini, and even recipes that call for homemade marinade. Enjoy!
other recipe you might enjoy:
- Easy Hibachi Dinner at Home
- Flavor-Packed Sauteed Broccoli
- 3-2-1 Apple Cider Vinegar Marinade
- Marinated Onions
Marinated Zucchini Spears
Ingredients
- 8 zucchini
- 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
Instructions
- Cut zucchini into spears and put them into a 1-gallon ziplock bag.
- Add dressing, seal the bag, and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- When ready to bake, lay them in a single layer on a lined cookie sheet.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and slightly browned. These can easily be sauteed or grilled as well! Enjoy!
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Can you freeze the zuchinni spears with the marinated dressing on them, and then take them out to bake at a later date??
Since I don’t like Italian dressing or vinegar type flavors, can I just air fry these just like they are?
yes! Sounds great!