Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta is an interesting flavor combination and this is a super-easy but amazing summer side dish! Check out the other suggestions in the post if you’re not a fan of mint.

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Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta in serving dish on napkin

We’re just heading into that “what to do with zucchini” season, so it seems like a perfect time to make Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta. This is a recipe where the unique preparation method really spotlights the flavor of mint, so even if you think you’re not a mint fan, you might want to consider trying it!

The idea of roasting zucchini with lemon and chopped fresh mint came from a recipe I found in Vegetable Love (affiliate link), and I was skeptical about the idea of roasting the mint, but it definitely worked! I’ve made this quite a few times, and I’ve started using even more mint.

And then one time I had the idea of tossing the finished dish with a generous amount of crumbled Feta cheese, which definitely kicked it up several notches. And if you’re a regular reader, I’m sure you’re not surprised that I liked that!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  • yellow summer squash or zucchini
  • Olive Oil (affiliate link)
  • fresh lemon juice, I used my fresh-frozen lemon juice
  • finely chopped mint
  • salt
  • crumbled Feta cheese
  • fresh-ground black pepper to taste

What kind of squash can you use for Baked Summer Squash?

You can make this recipe with yellow summer squash, zucchini, or other summer squash varieties like patty pan squash. It’s fun to have more than one variety of squash if that’s an option for you.

What if you’re not a fan of mint?

You can probably tell by the introduction to this recipe that I’m a big mint fan. But I know not everyone is, and if you’d like to roast the summer squash like this without the mint, I’d love the addition of some fresh or dried thyme when you toss the squash with the lemon. Another fun option is this recipe for Roasted Summer Squash with Feta Cheese and Basil, and in that recipe the squash is roasted *with* the Feta Cheese, for lots of melty Feta flavor.

More about using fresh Mint:

Mint is a perennial herb that lots of gardeners love to hate, but I’ve been a mint fan for many years now and I even shared my ideas for Cooking with Fresh Mint. Two things I know about growing mint:

  1. Be sure the mint is planted in a spot where it’s completely contained by some kind of barrier or in a pot, or it will take over everything in its path! 
  2. Mint is very hardy, and if you have mint growing you’re probably searching for ways to use it by mid summer!

process shots collage for Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta

How to make Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. Cut up the zucchini and/or summer squash into strips about two inches long.
  2. Chop up about 1/2 cup fresh mint, more or less to taste.
  3. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, chopped mint, and salt.
  4. Put the squash in a bowl and toss with the mint mixture, then spread it out on a baking sheet, in a single layer as much as possible. (Mine is a bit too crowded!  It’s best to have some space between the squash even if you need to use two baking sheets.)
  5. Roast the squash about 35 minutes (or until it has browned to your liking), turning every 15 minutes or so.
  6. When the squash is done, toss it with the crumbled Feta.
  7. Season to taste with fresh ground black pepper and serve hot or at room temperature.

Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta in serving dish

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

For a low-carb meatless summer dinner, I think Baked Summer Squash would taste great with Green Tomato Gazpacho or Spicy Cabbage Salad. If you’d like to eat this with meat, chicken, or fish, choose one of my 35 Amazing Low-Carb and Keto Grilling Recipes.

More Summer Squash Recipes:

Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta in serving dish on napkin
Yield: 4 servings

Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta features summer squash that's roasted with lemon and mint and tossed with Feta cheese, and this is amazing!

Ingredients

  • 5 small yellow summer squash or zucchini, about 8 inches long
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice (see notes)
  • 1/2 cup very finely chopped mint, or more (measure after chopping)
  • salt to taste (I used about 1/2 tsp.)
  • 1 cup crumbled Feta cheese (more or less to taste)
  • fresh-ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 475F/245C, and put oven rack as high as it will go. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.
  2. Wash squash and cut off stem and flower ends.
  3. Cut each squash into quarters lengthwise, then cut into pieces about 2 inches long.
  4. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, mint and salt ; then put that mixture into a plastic bowl and toss squash with the mixture.
  5. Arrange squash on roasting pan, in a single layer as much as possible. (I would recommend using two baking sheets if it seems really crowded.)
  6. Roast squash, turning every 15-20 minutes, until slightly browned and cooked to your liking. I turned my squash twice, with a total cooking time of 40 minutes, but I would start checking after 35 minutes.
  7. When the squash is done, put it back into the same bowl and toss with the Feta cheese.
  8. Season with fresh-ground black pepper to taste. This can be served hot or at room temperature.

Notes

I use my fresh-frozen lemon juice for this recipe.

This recipe adapted from Vegetable Love (affiliate link).

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 270Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7.6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 642mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 3.7gSugar: 7.7gProtein: 7.6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

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Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Baked Summer Squash with Lemon, Mint, and Feta is a perfect low-carb or Keto side dish that would also be great for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. You might want to use a bit less cheese for South Beach if you’re following the letter of the law!

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Zucchini Recipes or Side Dishes to find more recipes like this one! Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2007, and I’ve been making it ever since! The recipe was last updated with more information in 2023.

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