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Honey Balsamic Grilled Zucchini

Honey balsamic grilled zucchini with a sticky, dark mahogany glaze that caramelizes fast over char-marked planks. This easy sweet-savory summer side dish gets tangy from balsamic and glossy from honey as it grills.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
marinating 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 160
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

zucchini
  • 4 medium zucchini sliced into 1/3-inch planks or halved lengthwise
honey balsamic glaze
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 salt to taste
  • 1 black pepper to taste
  • 1 fresh thyme for garnish
  • 1 flaky salt for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 grill

Method
 

Make the honey balsamic glaze
  1. Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, minced garlic, and fresh thyme leaves until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Marinate and grill the zucchini
  1. Brush the zucchini generously with the honey balsamic glaze, coating all cut surfaces. Let it sit for 15 minutes so the glaze clings.
  2. Preheat the grill to medium-high, then oil the grates well. Place the zucchini on the hot grill.
  3. Grill for 3–4 minutes per side until deep grill marks form and the honey caramelizes quickly. Watch for flare-ups because the glaze can darken fast.
  4. Brush with extra honey balsamic glaze during the last minute of cooking, just as the zucchini finishes. Remove to a platter when tender and well char-marked.
Serve
  1. Arrange the zucchini on a platter and drizzle any remaining honey balsamic glaze over the top. Garnish with fresh thyme and flaky salt.

Notes

Pro tip: Use medium zucchini planks and don’t overbrush too early—caramelization accelerates once on the grill, so add a final glaze coat in the last minute for the darkest sticky surface. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat or briefly on the grill. Freezing is not recommended because zucchini softens. For a lower-sugar option, replace honey with an equal amount of a honey-style syrup sweetener and expect slightly less caramel browning.