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Easy low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini

The perfect low carb parmesan goodness on a plate. Take a bite to indulge in cheesy zucchini and your taste buds will love the hit of garlic and jalapeño. This easy low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini is a fabulous keto side dish for BBQs and picnics.

Low carb keto garlic parmesan zucchini

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Seriously, I eat this stuff off the pan like candy. And do you know what? I’m going to tell you a little secret. I have a love-hate relationship with zucchini. Gasp. Yes, it’s true. 

As someone who adores having a garden, I LOVE it because zucchini is one of those plants that seem to thrive no matter what you throw at it. I can kill everything else in the garden, and I’ll still get a million zucchini I don’t always know what to do with.

A lot of people go on the keto diet to lose weight, but it’s not just for that. It can also help with diabetes and other health issues. Zucchini is a low carb vegetable so it fits in well with this type of diet. The two most common ways to prepare zucchini are grilling or sauteeing; both have their advantages and disadvantages. Grilled garlic parmesan zucchini tastes delicious!

The post will be about how you can make grilled garlic parmesan zucchini if you’re on a keto diet or want to try something new for dinner tonight!

Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe or PIN it here for later!

Easy low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini, circle pin

Keto zucchini recipes

Yes, I love anticipating the first garden zucchini of the year. What don’t I love? Eating the hundredth zucchini of the summer. Unfortunately, I grow less enthusiastic about zucchini as the summer progresses.

Truly, you can always love zucchini muffins, bars, bread, what have you, but what’s a challenge for me is how to enjoy zucchini cooked, savory, or on its own.

That’s where this easy low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini recipe is a small miracle! It’s really that good. Try it.

The idea of a vegetable garden is often overwhelming to people, but it doesn’t have to be. A small patch in your backyard can provide you with fresh produce all summer long and help you stick to your keto or low carb diet. Wondering what to plant in your keto vegetable garden?

🍽 Equipment

To make low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini you’ll need:

That’s about all you’ll need for kitchen gadgets!

Baked zucchini pan side

🥘 Ingredients in keto parmesan zucchini

  • zucchini
  • garlic
  • olive oil
  • jalapeño (optional)
  • salt
  • pepper
Circles of sliced zucchini on a mandolin

🔪 Instructions: how to make grilled parmesan zucchini

To begin, I have to give credit for the inspiration of this recipe to my friend and fellow gardener Melissa. It’s funny, because whenever friends with gardens, who like to eat, get together in summer the subject inevitably turns to what to do with all that zucchini!

Or maybe it’s just me and my friends. Anyway, all I know is I like to discuss zucchini recipes, and Melissa’s ideas are pretty fabulous.

How to make low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini

First, take out a baking sheet and line it with foil. Preheat the grill or oven to 400F.

Second, get out the olive oil and brush 2 tablespoons over the foil to coat it pretty evenly. Then take your cutting board and knife or mandoline slicer to slice the zucchini in slices about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch thick.

Take the slices and spread them out all over to cover the baking sheet. Push the zucchini slices close together to make sort of a base for the toppings.

Then, use the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil to drizzle or brush on the zucchini. Once that’s complete salt and pepper the zucchini to taste.

Then, sprinkle the minced garlic all over the zucchini so each piece has at least a little bit of garlic to flavor it.

Parmesan cheese and jalapeño!

Pan of easy low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini to bake

Now’s the fun part! Take a good cup of grated parmesan cheese and spread it all over, then top with slices of jalapeño. If you are not one for spicy peppers leave the jalapeño off, but let me tell you it’s pretty darn good with the zucchini and cheese.

💭 Top tip

Tip: As another option, if you’d just like to tone down the heat, you can remove the membrane and seeds from inside the pepper then slice it over the cheese.

⏲️ Baking time

Next, grab the edges of the foil with the zucchini and toppings and slide it off the baking sheet and onto the grill on medium-high heat for twenty minutes or until the edges begin to brown and cheese melts.

OR if you don’t wish to use a grill, you can bake in a 400 degree (F) oven for twenty to twenty-five minutes or until again, the edges are brown.

A good rule of thumb? Either way you do it, keep an eye on it. Grills and ovens can vary in temperature.

Bite on fork of low carb garlic parmesan zucchini

👩‍🍳 Variations

One reason I love this recipe is that it’s so versatile. It’s easy to change up the cheese and toppings with what you have in the refrigerator.

First, it’s easy to switch out the cheese. If you don’t have parmesan, use white cheddar, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, or provolone. Or experiment any other cheese. It’s hard to go wrong.

Second, change up the toppings. Add pepperoni on the mozzarella cheese for a pizza style. Or, use my favorite Everything Bagel Seasoning on top of white cheddar, my husband’s favorite.

Low carb garlic parmesan zucchini, everything bagel seasoning

♨️ Air fryer instructions

Since I got my Ninja Foodi, I’ve been addicted to the air crisper (air fryer) setting. With this glorious machine, I don’t have to heat the oven in the house or the grill outside. Mind blown. I LOVE this thing.

Lately, I cook everything from this low carb garlic parmesan zucchini, to chicken legs, to keto zucchini bread in the machine. It makes my life a lot easier.

When the zucchini is sliced between 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch thick, I arrange it on the trays, put on the toppings, and preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit.

I’ve found it’s best to cook the zucchini for about 9 minutes at 390 degrees. Experiment with your own air fryer and to your own preferences.

What else do you make with zucchini?

So do you garden? Are your zucchini as abundant as ours this year? We’ve actually been through three pretty big hailstorms this year which has stopped many things from growing but not the zucchini. It’s definitely a hardy, strong plant, and the whole family loves it!

How do you prefer it? Salty or sweet? Zoodles or bars? Try this recipe out, and if you can get the kids to at least try it I will bet even they’ll gobble it up. Until next time!

Baked low carb grilled garlic parmesan zucchini pan

Tag me in your recipe pics on Instagram @explorermomma.

If you LOVE this recipe please consider giving it a good rating in the review area below!

🥗 Keto veggie recipes:

Keto Antipasto Salad

Georgian Eggplant with Walnuts

Cheesy Low Carb Zucchini Lasagna

Instant Pot Keto Egg Stuffed Bell Peppers

Easy low carb garlic parmesan zucchini

Low Carb Garlic Parmesan Zucchini

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

The perfect low carb parmesan goodness on a plate. Take a bite to indulge in cheesy zucchini and your taste buds will love the hit of garlic and jalapeño.

Ingredients

  • 2 zucchini, medium
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 jalapeño, sliced
  • 1 tsp salt , more or less to taste
  • 1/2 tsp pepper, more or less to taste

Instructions

  1. First, take a baking sheet and line it with foil.
  2. Second, brush 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the foil coating it evenly.
  3. Then slice the zucchini about 1/3 of an inch thick and spread it out to cover the baking sheet. Place the zucchini slices close together.
  4. Next, drizzle or brush the zucchini with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
  5. Salt and pepper the zucchini to taste.
  6. Then, spread the minced garlic over the zucchini so each piece has some on it.
  7. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese over it all and then top with slices of jalapeño. The jalapeño is optional. Leave it off if you don't like spice.
  8. Take the foil with the zucchini and toppings and place it on the grill on a medium heat for 20 minutes or until edges begin to brown and cheese melts.
  9. OR bake in a 400 degree (F) oven for 20 minutes or until edges are brown. Keep an eye on it.

Notes

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6.0 Amount Per Serving Calories 168  Total Fat 14 g Saturated Fat 4 g Monounsaturated Fat 8 g Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g Trans Fat 0 g Cholesterol 15 mg Sodium 261 mg Potassium 209 mg Total Carbohydrate 4 g Dietary Fiber 1 g Sugars 2 g Protein 7 g

*Nutrition Facts per MyFitnessPal.com. For most accurate facts, calculate your own with the exact ingredients you use in the recipe.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 168Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @explorermomma on Instagram and hashtag it #explorermomma. Thanks a bunch!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Please be aware I am not a medical specialist or nutritional professional. On this blog, I share recipes and what works for me. Please do not take anything on this blog as medical advice and always consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

I use MyFitnessPal.com to calculate nutrition facts as a courtesy to my readers, and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count because does not affect my own blood glucose levels.

This is as accurate as possible, but it’s best to independently calculate nutritional information on your own with the specific ingredients you use. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Cassie

Tuesday 21st of August 2018

Yummy! I've never thought of adding jalapenos alongside zucchini. I bet the heat is a great addition :)

Jen @ Jenron Designs

Tuesday 21st of August 2018

I love the addition of the jalapeños, it is like you made a healthy version of my favorite potato chip. I love zucchini bread and we do a pasta bake like a lasagna but with zucchini in place of the noodles, so many great options.

Lauren

Tuesday 21st of August 2018

Thanks, Jen! I love a lasagna made with zucchini noodles too and have not made one in a long time! I'll have to get that in the family meal plan. :)

Sarah Fatima

Monday 20th of August 2018

One of the healthy food and perfect substitute for unhealthy potato chips. Like the variation of jalapeno in it.

Sara Michelle

Monday 20th of August 2018

I literally do courgette like this All the time at home!! Nice, quick and easy to prepare, and even my fussy-eater little boy will suddenly eat courgette when it comes out like this!

Lauren

Tuesday 21st of August 2018

It's awesome how easy it is! I think the biggest challenge is to get kids to try it, but once they do it's hard not to love it!

Tracy @ Cleland Clan

Monday 20th of August 2018

This sounds great! I'm not so sure about the jalapenos though--I may have to try your suggestion about removing the membrane and seeds.

Lauren

Tuesday 21st of August 2018

If you don't like the jalapenos you could always add onions or any kind of greens you like. Sometimes we do basil from the garden, and it's great too!

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This post may include Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I only mention products or services I genuinely love and would recommend to a friend.
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