Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, this delicious and healthy Zucchini Fritters recipe is easy to make, and is perfect for any occasion. Cheesy zucchini fritters are always a hit with my family and friends. Who wouldn’t want to sink their teeth into little golden pieces of crunchy heaven?
Delicious Homemade Zucchini Fritters Recipe
With their crisp exterior and flavorful interior, zucchini fritters have always been my favorite healthy and nutritious treats. They are surprisingly easy to make! All you need is some grated zucchini, egg, flour, and seasonings. I love that zucchini fritters can be pan-fried in a thin layer of oil, air fried, or baked in the oven. The combination of savory zucchini, cheese, and crispy binding is unforgettable. Some of my other favorite fritter recipes are Sweet Potato Fritters, Cabbage Fritters, and Air Fryer Potato Fritters with bacon and cheese.
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini, grated. About 2 cups of shredded zucchini.
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (substitute for Almond flour for a keto-friendly and low-carb version)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (can substitute for shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese)
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped (substitute for chopped fresh parsley, if you prefer)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced, or garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon seasoning of choice. I used Vegeta All-Purpose seasoning.
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Black pepper to taste
How to Make Crispy Zucchini Fritters
The trick with Crispy Zucchini Fritters is to get your shredded zucchini nice and dry before adding them to the batter - that's the key to achieving maximum crispiness! Start by grating 2 medium or large zucchini and give them a few good squeezes to get rid of any excess moisture.
How to Squeeze Water out of Zucchini?
Zucchini is packed with water - 95% on average! You may be surprised that from two medium freshly grated zucchini you can squeeze one full cup of water!
If you want to make zucchini fritters that are not as soggy and watery, you will need to squeeze the moisture out of the zucchini. Grab a kitchen towel. Place the shredded zucchini in between two paper towels or a kitchen towel and press on them firmly. Altering your tissues regularly, continue pressing out all of the moisture from the shreds.
Another method that I find helpful on how to squeeze the water out of zucchini is using a cheesecloth bag. Place your grated zucchini in the center of the cheesecloth bag and give it a few twists and turns, you will feel your zucchini getting drier by the second - not to mention you'll get an arm workout at the same time!
Once the zucchini has been squeezed out of all its excess water, it's time to use it in our fritter recipe!
Pan Fry Instructions
- Add grated zucchini into a large bowl. Then add in flour, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, dill, salt and pepper, and baking powder. Mix everything together with a fork until well combined.
- Refrigerate or freeze the zucchini mixture for 20 minutes. While this is optional, I like how the zucchini batter solidifies, making it easy to work with and to shape zucchini patties for pan frying or air frying.
- Heat up a skillet on medium heat with a thin layer of vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan, about 1 tablespoon.
- Using your hands, form patties out of the zucchini mixture (½ - inch to ¾ - inch thick) and lay them directly on the heated skillet, providing a 1-inch space apart from each other.
- Fry in the skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown on the outside and cooked through inside.
- When finished cooking place onto paper towels to absorb the excess oil.
- Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream on top. I love serving mine by dipping it into homemade Chipotle sauce.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters Instructions
- Add grated zucchini into a large bowl. Then add in flour, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, dill, salt and pepper, and baking powder. Mix everything together with a fork until well combined.
- Refrigerate or freeze the zucchini mixture for 20 minutes. While this is optional, I like how the zucchini batter solidifies, making it easy to work with and to shape zucchini patties for pan frying or air frying.
- Pre-heat the air fryer to 375F / 190C.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket or tray with spray oil.
- Using your hands, form patties out of the zucchini mixture (½ - inch to ¾ - inch thick) and lay them directly on the tray, giving them space.
- Air fry mode at 375F/190C for 7-8 minutes, flipping them halfway. Until they are golden brown on the outside and cooked through inside.
- Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce or sour cream!
Bake Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Assemble the fritters then place on greased baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes, flip, and bake another 5 minutes or until they are done and crispy golden brown.
Why Zucchini Fritters Are So Great
The Zucchini Fritters recipe is the perfect way to easily add some more veggies into your diet without having to sacrifice on flavor. For starters, zucchini is incredibly low in calories, fat, and carbs—which makes it a great choice for anyone looking to stay on track with their health goals.
Zucchini is also high in fiber and vitamins A and C which can help support a healthy immune system. These low-carb zucchini fritters bring together crispiness, fluffiness, and flavor into one fantastic dish.
Can Zucchini Fritters recipe be made low-carb and keto-friendly?
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour for almond flour (or coconut flour) — You'll find almond flour (or almond meal) works beautifully in this delicious side dish, delivering all the flavor and crispiness of zucchini fritters while leaving out the extra carbs.
Leftovers
Store cooked zucchini fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If freezing, wrap them individually in wax paper or foil before placing them all in a freezer bag.
I like to use a small piece of parchment paper in between each fritter. This prevents them from sticking to each other. Reheating is easy. No need to thaw them.
Re-heat or re-crisp them in the air fryer for 2 mins per side at 350F (175C), or in the microwave until heated through.
Zucchini Fritters Tips and Variations
- The key is to use shredded zucchini free from moisture - be sure to squeeze them well.
- Add a touch of seasoning and herbs such as garlic or dill. It can help elevate your fritter experience to the next level.
- Do not overcrowd your skillet (or air fryer) while cooking; give each fritter room to reach its crispy potential!
- Add smoked paprika and Parmesan cheese for a tantalizing smoky twist,
- For extra flair, add some chopped cooked bacon to zucchini batter for extra crunchiness.
- Coat the zucchini patties in breadcrumbs or Panko for maximum outer crispiness.
More Zucchini Recipes to Try
Cheesy Zucchini Fritters with Garlic and Dill
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini grated. About 2 cups of shredded zucchini.
- ½ cup all-purpose flour substitute for Almond flour for a keto-friendly and low-carb version
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese can substitute for shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 1 egg large
- 2 Tablespoons fresh dill finely chopped (substitute for chopped fresh parsley, if you prefer)
- 2 cloves garlic minced, or garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon seasoning of choice I used Vegeta All Purpose seasoning
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil for frying Or spraying the fritters
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper to taste
Instructions
Pan Fry Instructions
- Shred those glorious green cylinders: Rinse and dry zucchini. Cut off the ends. Grate the zucchini (with skin) using a box grater. You should end up with approximately two cups of shredded zucchini.
- Squeeze the moisture out of zucchini: Place the shredded zucchini in between two paper towels or a kitchen towel and press on them firmly. Altering your tissues regularly, continue pressing out all of the moisture from the shreds.
- Add grated zucchini into a large bowl. Then add in flour, Parmesan cheese, egg, garlic, dill, salt and pepper, and baking powder. Mix everything together with a fork until well combined.
- Refrigerate or freeze the zucchini mixture for 20 minutes. While this is optional, I like how the zucchini batter solidifies, making it easy to work with and to shape zucchini patties for pan frying or air frying.
- Heat up a skillet on medium heat with a thin layer of vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan, about 1 tablespoon.
- Using your hands, form patties out of the zucchini mixture (½ - inch to ¾ - inch thick) and lay them directly on the heated skillet, providing a 1-inch space apart from each other.
- Fry in the skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown on the outside and cooked through inside.
- When finished cooking place onto paper towels to absorb the excess oil.
- Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream on top. I love serving mine by dipping it into homemade Chipotle sauce.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters Instructions
- Pre-heat air fryer to 375F / 190C
- Lightly grease air fryer basket or tray with spray oil.
- Using your hands, form patties out of the zucchini mixture (½ - inch to ¾ - inch thick) and lay them directly on the tray, giving them space.
- Air fry mode at 375F/190C for 7-8 minutes, flipping them halfway. Until they are golden brown on the outside and cooked through inside.
- Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce or sour cream!
Joe
They look delicious. Making them tonight
Cris
These look so good! Can you tell me the nutrition macros for this( if I change out the four for the almond flour and the cheese for half skim shredded cheese would it change the macros?) thank you
Irina
I have not calculated the macros for this recipe. If you switch for almond flour, they will be lower in carbs and keto friendly
carol murray
i made these tonight & they were not crispy.I tried them both in the air fryer & oven.What did i do wrong?
Irina
You did everything right. They should not be entirely crispy. The have crispy edges/crust and soft cheesy middle.