Canned Zucchini Salad Recipe
This canned zucchini salad recipe is healthy, delicious and so easy to make. It’s sure to earn a spot in your weeknight dinner rotation, especially during cold months. Combining zucchini, fresh dill and garlic, this dish is positively packed with flavor.
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Easy Canned Zucchini Salad Recipe
If you love pickles, you are going to love this easy canned zucchini salad. The taste is no different than pickles. In fact, when my sister Mariya (who shared this recipe with me) gave a jar of this salad for me to try, I couldn’t tell the difference. I was sure these were pickles.
This recipe uses healthy, simple, fresh ingredients. Since zucchini are pretty much always in season, it makes this salad the perfect make-ahead recipe for any time of the year. Whether you are growing zucchini in your garden in summer like we do or purchase from store during colder months, you almost always have access to it.
Zucchini salad comes with a generous amount of marinade in each jar, but don’t dispose it. Use that extra flavorful liquid to pour over mashed potatoes or use as a dressing for tomato salad. Garlic and tomatoes work great together.
Why You’ll Love This Canned Zucchini Salad:
- Cook everything in 1 pot on the stovetop
- Prep ahead of time – eat all winter long
- Recipe uses simple, fresh and healthy ingredients
- Can be stored in pantry, up to a year
Tell Me About This Canned Zucchini Salad
- Flavor: Herby, salty and slightly sweet with a little bit of zesty kick from that generous amount of fresh garlic. If you love fresh and garlicky herb flavor, you’ll love this one. I use fresh dill, but feel free to add some fresh parsley.
- Texture: Zucchini is a very wet ingredient, which is why it’s so lovely in canned salads…moisture! Each bite is packed with tender zucchini cubes, grated carrots and pressed garlic.
- Ease: All you’re doing is mixing all the ingredients together in a large pot and cooking for 10-15 minutes. It takes few minutes to ladle the salad into prepared jars and you’ll be done in no time.
- Time: It takes about 15 minutes of chopping, grating and pressing of ingredients. Then once the pot with mixture comes to a boil, you’ll need another 10 minutes to soften the zucchini. Finally, you will ladle into jars and seal. Now, you wait at least 24 hours before you can enjoy this salad. The flavors need time to blend to make this salad flavorful and irresistible.
Grab These Ingredients for Your Zucchini Salad:
Raw zucchini can be a dull ingredient, but when you add some fresh ingredients to it, it marinates beautifully. Here’s a quick review of the ingredients needed:
- Zucchini: Zucchini varies greatly in size, especially home grown. You need 7 pounds, which is about 12 medium zucchinis. No need to peel the zucchini because we need that harder texture so it’s not just mush. Just rinse zucchini under cold water and cube into 1-inch cubes.
- Carrots: You will need 3 large carrots, grated onto the large hole of grater.
- Fresh Garlic: Garlic cloves vary in size, so it’s best to weigh garlic amount for this recipe. It plays the main role in the marinade, so you want to be as precise as possible with it. The amount of garlic here makes this salad slightly zesty, but so good!
- Ketchup: Ketchup is used for extra flavor, a bit of tangy tomato-like flavor.
- Fresh Dill: Flavor! I finely chop it, so it releases the maximum flavor.
- Oil: I use grapeseed oil since it’s light in taste, but you can use sunflower oil, vegetable oil or even olive oil if you prefer.
- Granulated Sugar: The sugar doesn’t make this salad overly sweet, instead it balances the vinegar and salt to create an irresistible flavor.
- Vinegar: Use old-fashioned distilled white vinegar with 5% or 6% acidity.
- Fine Salt: Regular fine salt works great in here. It gives the salad flavor and helps draw out some of that zucchini moisture into the marinade. All the gooey ingredients blend nicely, creating delicious salad.
- Ground Paprika (optional): For extra flavor and color, add a teaspoon of ground paprika.
Home Canning Tools Needed:
- 32 oz sized (wide-mouth) Mason jars with rings and new lids
- Large stock pot (10qt+)
- Grater and ladle
- Garlic press
Success Tips:
- Use smaller zucchini. Small to medium sized zucchini are best to use for this salad because they have less seeds and flesh inside. This will prevent the canned salad from being mushy, compared to large zucchinis with too much flesh.
- Avoid overcooking. If cooked for too long, zucchinis become overly soft to the point of tasting mushy. You want to retain some texture. Always keep it on low heat and start putting into jars the moment zucchini skin turns lime green color. Keep in mind, it will continue cooking in jars covered under towels or blankets.
- Use fresh herbs. Nothing compares to the flavor of fresh herbs.
- Let it rest. Allow canned zucchini salad to sit for at least 24 hours before eating. It gives the zucchini enough time to develop their flavor. It’s worth the wait!
How to Store Zucchini Salad?
When canned properly and stored in a cool place, this zucchini salad can keep for up to 1 year at room temperature. Once you break the seal, make sure to store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Is Zucchini Good for You?
Absolutely! Zucchini is rich in multiple antioxidants and it’s low in calories, fat and sugar.
Can I Use Yellow Squash Instead?
You may use yellow squash instead by simply replacing some or all of the zucchini with the same amount of yellow squash.
Serve With These Dinner Favorites
Today’s canned zucchini salad recipe would pair wonderfully with the following savory dishes:
- Ukrainian Oven Roasted Cabbage
- Ukrainian Pork Meatballs
- Pork Plov
- Braised Potatoes with Pork
- Buckwheat
- Quick Oven Roasted Potatoes

Canned Zucchini Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 7 pounds (3.180g) zucchini
- 3 large (400g) carrots
- 3.5 ounces (100g) garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons (45ml) ketchup
- 3/4 cup (45g) fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika, optional
Marinade
- 1 cup (240ml) oil
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (120ml) distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 cup (72g) fine salt
Instructions
- Sterilize Jars: Wash all jars and lids with warm soapy water. Sterilize the lids fully submerged in water for 4-5 minutes after the water starts boiling; carefully paper towel pat dry lids. Preheat the oven to a 215°F and place jars upside down onto oven racks. Dry jars for 20 minutes or until completely dry.
- Make Marinade: In a large measuring cup or bowl, combine and stir: 1 cup oil, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup salt. Set aside.
- Prep: Cube 7 pounds zucchini (1 to 1 1/2-inch cubes) and grate 3 large carrots onto large hole of grater. Place zucchini and carrots into a large pot.
- Prep for Later: Prep these 3 ingredients into separate bowls: press 3.5 ounces garlic cloves, measure 3 tablespoons ketchup and finely chop 3/4 cup fresh dill.
- Cook: Pour the marinade mixture over zucchini and carrots and give it a gently stir. Bring pot to a light boil over low heat. Then add 3 tablespoons ketchup and 1 teaspoon paprika (if using paprika), give a gentle stir. Cook for 10 minutes. Add prepared garlic and fresh dill, gently stir. Cook for additional 5 minutes on low.
- Ladle and Seal: Keep the pot on the hot wire, on lowest setting. Carefully, but quickly ladle zucchini salad into prepared jars (one jar at a time) and tightly close lids (use kitchen towel or rubber oven mitt for best results). Cover canned jars with bath towels or blankets right away. Allow them to sit at room temperature undisturbed for 12 to 24 hours. Store canned zucchini salad in a cool place.
Notes
- Zucchini Size: Small to medium sized zucchini are best to use for this salad because they have less seeds and flesh inside. This will prevent the canned salad from being mushy, compared to large zucchinis with too much flesh.
- Avoid Overcooking. If cooked for too long, zucchinis become overly soft to the point of tasting mushy. You want to retain some texture. Always keep it on low heat and start putting into jars the moment zucchini skin turns lime green color. Keep in mind, it will continue cooking in jars covered under towels or blankets.
- Herbs: Nothing compares to the flavor of fresh herbs.
- Rest: Allow canned zucchini salad to sit for at least 24 hours before eating. It gives the zucchini enough time to develop their flavor. It’s worth the wait!
- Storing: When canned properly and stored in a cool place, this zucchini salad can keep for up to 1 year at room temperature. Once you break the seal, make sure to store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Yellow Squash: You may use yellow squash instead by simply replacing some or all of the zucchini with the same amount of yellow squash.
- Jars: You might end up with 10 (16 oz jars). It depends on the size of zucchinis you're using. Larger zucchini have more flesh, will let out more juicy and you will have a bit more marinade, but it won't change the flavor.
Susan says:
I love the taste of this recipe; however, while making it I did not have enough liquid to fill all the jars. What did I do wrong?
Olga in the Kitchen says:
Hi Susan! That’s completely normal. Depends on the variety and size of zucchini, sometimes you will end up with less or more liquid. The moment you sealed the lid, flip the jars upside down and keep cooling them under the blankets/towels. Once they are cooled, flip them back. This way whatever juice you have will marinade the top portion of zucchini which it doesn’t cover, and when you flip the jars back, it will continue marinating the bottom portion of zucchini until the jar is going to be open. This way, all the zucchini will have great flavor. Hope this helps! 🙂
Susan says:
Oops, I wasn’t aware the jar needed to be tipped over. My concern about not having enough was the potential for bacteria, as most canned items say to only have a 1/2 to an inch at the top. I recipe turned out delicious regardless. Should I make more marinade than what the recipe calls for?
Olga in the Kitchen says:
I don’t usually flip it over, but if you’re concerned about the flavor, then you can and it will help. The marinade is made out of zucchini juice as well, therefore you can’t really make just the liquid without making more zucchini salad (meaning full recipe). Keep in mind that every time you boil something, like vegetable salads for canning, you’re getting rid of the bacteria. This is why our jars last a year, sometimes longer before they get eaten on the shelf without going bad. Sterilizing jars and sealing tightly is important too.
Anne says:
What a wonderful way to make use of zucchini! This stuff is seriously addictive!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Anne!
Alexandra says:
I made this salad last summer and then in winter again. It’s so good and goes fast. I’m starting to load on my garden zucchinis again and I’ll be making it again. My whole family, kids included eat it just like that, out of jar. One of the very best zucchini recipes I ever made. Thank you for sharing!
Olga in the Kitchen says:
That’s amazing! I’m so glad you’re loving this recipe, Alexandra!
Susan says:
I totally agree. I love it!!
bethany says:
Super recipe!! I did a double because I love anything garlic and this salad is perfectly spiced and we served with your chicken drumsticks recipe and mashed potatoes. So tasty! Thanks much
Joshua says:
Great stuff will make again
Olga in the Kitchen says:
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Patricia says:
I’d give it 10 stars if that was an option. So good. It has such delicious garlic taste, goes so well with zucchini. We couldn’t wait until colder months to try, just gave 3 days and decided to try. Good thing we did because now I have to can more of this salad. So yummy