These buttery, lemony zucchini skewers are an ideal addition to any summer menu.
Say hello to a new favorite summer side dish. Lately I’ve been having fun with skewers — turning simple vegetables into something elegant and grill-ready. The process is enjoyable, and the results are fantastic.
How pretty are those ribbons?
Before we get to the full recipe, let’s talk about the butter. This lemon-garlic butter—melted with lemon zest, garlic and red pepper flakes—becomes glossy and brushable. It’s rich, bright and slightly spicy; honestly, it’s so good I want to jump into the pan with it.
The zucchini ribbons pick up smoky char on the grill while staying tender inside. You can serve the squash on the skewers or slide the strips off onto a plate. The edges crisp up and the lemon-garlic butter keeps the flavor bright and irresistible.
This is a fun way to eat more vegetables and a fresh twist on grilled squash. The presentation is lovely, and the taste is even better: charred, buttery, slightly spicy and full of lemon.
About slicing the zucchini
For long, tender ribbons, use a vegetable peeler or a mandolin to slice the zucchini lengthwise. I prefer a peeler because it’s quick and easy. Avoid a knife unless you can cut extremely thin strips — thicker slices will break when skewered. Short strands work fine too, so don’t worry if your ribbons vary in length.
The extra step of peeling and folding the strips into ribbons is worth it for the texture and look — scrunching the slices and threading them on skewers is satisfying and yields beautiful results.
Brush the assembled skewers with the spicy lemon-garlic butter before grilling. The butter melts into the squash and caramelizes, adding bright acidity and gentle heat from the red pepper flakes.
Grill directly on the grates or use a grill pan. Cook until the edges are charred and crisp and the inside is tender. The combination of smoky char and lemony butter is addicting.
If you’re short on time or don’t want to make ribbons, simply slice the zucchini into rounds, brush with the lemon butter and grill. You’ll still get plenty of flavor and char.
The essential idea is simple: zucchini (or summer squash) plus lemon-garlic butter with a touch of heat. Everything else is just variations to suit your preference.
Zucchini Skewers with Spicy Lemon Butter
Zucchini Ribbon Skewers with Spicy Lemon Butter
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini squash
- 2 medium summer squash
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, basil or a mix)
Lemon Garlic Butter
- 6 ounces unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
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Note: About 4 medium zucchini usually makes 6 to 8 skewers depending on how thinly you slice the ribbons. A vegetable peeler or mandolin works best to create long, flexible strips that won’t break when skewered.
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Preheat the grill to medium-high. If using a grill pan, brush or spray it with oil.
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Stand each zucchini on its base and use a vegetable peeler to make thin ribbons from top to bottom. Lay the ribbons in a single layer on a baking sheet or cutting board.
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Brush one side of the ribbons with the lemon garlic butter. Fold each strip back and forth a few times and skewer through the center. Use 8–10 thin slices per skewer or adjust to your preference, keeping the pieces close together.
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Give the skewers a final brush with the lemon butter and place on the grill. Cook 2–3 minutes, rotate, cook another 2–3 minutes, rotate once more and cook an additional 2–3 minutes, until nicely charred and tender.
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Remove from the grill, brush with extra lemon butter if desired, and sprinkle with fresh herbs. Serve on the skewer or slide the ribbons onto a plate.
Lemon Garlic Butter
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Combine the butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small saucepan. Heat over low until melted and bubbling, then remove from heat and use immediately.
Notes
Those crisped edges are everything — the zucchini gets slightly crunchy on the outside while remaining tender and flavorful inside. Enjoy these as a gorgeous, easy summer side.