Zucchini Noodle Bowls

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Zucchini Noodle Bowls (or Zoodle Bowls) are fresh, crisp and delicious with raw zucchini noodles, crunchy chickpeas and a spicy jalapeño vinaigrette! These vegetarian noodle bowls can be prepped ahead for easy lunches and dinners.

When you need a quick lunch, dinner or side dish, these zucchini noodle bowls are a filling option. They’re made with fresh and crisp veggies, plant-based protein and a flavourful homemade jalapeño lime salad dressing.

Overhead view of a zucchini noodle bowl with toppings.

Why you’ll love these zoodle bowls

These zucchini noodle bowls can be made in advance so they’re a great option for meal prepping.
The noodle bowls stay fresh and crisp, even when made ahead of time. So, you don’t need to worry about watery or soggy zucchini noodles.
It’s a versatile recipe! The noodle bowls are filling enough for lunch or dinner but light enough to be served as a side dish.

Details on the ingredients

Ingredients to make zucchini noodle bowls arranged on a wooden table.

Zucchini – You’ll need two large zucchini to make the noodles, or about 8 cups of noodles. Choose zucchini that are firm, with no blemishes on the skin and a vibrant dark green colour.

Yellow squash – To top the zoodle bowls, I sliced up a small yellow zucchini to add a pop of colour. If you can’t find yellow zucchini, you can leave it out or use more of another veggie.

Cucumber – English cucumber is our favourite option as it is sweeter than other varieties with a thin skin. You’ll want to slice or cube them for the bowls.

Radishes – Some radish slices add a peppery flavour and additional crunch.

Chickpeas – To add some plant-based protein to these vegetarian noodle bowls, I like to add some chickpeas (canned or crispy). I normally use these crispy air fryer chickpeas, but I’ve also included a recipe for oven roasted chickpeas in the recipe card below.

Vinaigrette – While you can top your zoodle bowl with your favourite salad dressing, I like to use a homemade jalapeño vinaigrette, which is spicy, sweet and tangy. The light texture adds flavour to the zoodles without overpowering the fresh vegetables. I’ve included a link to this recipe in the recipe card below.

How to make crispy chickpeas in the oven

Preheat your oven to 425F degrees. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Pat dry and gently rub the chickpeas between two clean dish towels until the skins loosen. Pick out the skins and discard them.

Add the chickpeas to a large bowl and coat with oil and seasonings. Spread the chickpeas out on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until crispy. Stir the chickpeas every 10 minutes to ensure they don’t burn.

How to make zucchini noodle bowls

Overhead view of spiralized zucchini noodles on a white plate.

Start by making the vinaigrette, cutting the veggies and preparing the chickpeas. (This can all be done in advance).

Make the zucchini noodles by using a spiralizer, vegetable peeler or julienne peeler.

Add the zoodles to a large bowl and toss with half of the vinaigrette.

Zucchini noodles in a large bowl with jalapeño vinaigrette being drizzled over them with a spoon.

Divide the noodles into 4 bowls and top with veggies and chickpeas.

Drizzle more vinaigrette over the top and serve.

Storage instructions

You can store assembled noodle bowls (minus the crispy chickpeas) in the fridge in an airtight container for 1-2 days.

The crispy chickpeas should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They’re best enjoyed within a day of roasting, but will keep for 2-3 days if stored properly.

Frequently asked questions

What are zoodles?

Zoodles are noodles made from raw zucchini. The easiest way to make them is with a spiralizer but you can also use a vegetable peeler or julienne peeler. This pasta alternative is normally served raw or lightly sautéed, and can be topped in many of the same ways you would top pasta. (I often enjoy zoodles with this homemade marinara sauce!)

Do you need to peel zucchini to make zucchini noodles?

No, the skin on zucchini is thin, so you don’t need to peel it before making noodles with it. Just make sure to choose zucchini without any dents or scratches on the skin, and wash well to remove any dirt.

Do zucchini noodles taste like pasta?

While the spiralized shape is a great alternative to pasta noodles, they don’t really taste like pasta.

Can you make these zucchini noodle bowls in advance?

Yes! You can prepare all of the ingredients a day or two in advance and assemble the bowls when ready to eat. You can also assemble the bowls a day or two in advance and store them in the fridge. I wouldn’t add the crispy chickpeas as they’ll get soggy, but everything else will stay fresh and crisp mixed together with the vinaigrette.

Zucchini noodles in a white bowl with chopsticks and toppings surrounding the bowl.

Key recipe tips

While I made my own crispy air fryer chickpeas, you can also roast them in the oven, use store-bought crispy chickpeas or just use canned chickpeas (without roasting them).
If you’re using a vegetable or julienne peeler, the zucchini noodles will be short. If you’re using a spiralizer, the noodles will be long. I normally use a knife or kitchen scissors to cut the long noodles into shorter strands.

Recipe variations

Instead of chickpeas, use another plant-based protein like white beans or tofu.
If you don’t need these zucchini noodle bowls to be vegetarian, feel free to add shredded chicken, turkey meatballs or salmon.
Serving these bowls with salmon cakes or crab cakes on top would also be delicious!
Add other types of veggies like diced peppers, shredded carrots, red onion, broccoli florets or cherry tomatoes.
Top with cheese like feta or parmesan (if you don’t need this recipe to be dairy-free).
Use a different salad dressing like the lemon thyme vinaigrette in this spring salad, or go for a creamier dressing like this jalapeño dip (just stir in a little water to thin it out).

More zucchini recipes

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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