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Home » Recipes » Appetizers

Modified: Sep 16, 2022 | Categories: Appetizers

Crispy Zucchini Fritters

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Are you here for the crispy zucchini fritters?

When you’re craving something utterly and insanely delicious, pull out your box grater and a few zucchini for the crispiest and most savory fritters you’ve ever tasted!

A stack of crispy zucchini fritters on a tray.
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Featured Ingredients

  • Zucchini: One of the tricks for making the best zucchini fritters is to make sure to salt it, and then wring out all the moisture.
    • Wet zucchini is the enemy of the crispy fritter!
  • Cheddar Cheese: Goes so well with zucchini, and so well in these fritters. It provides a crispy, cheesy crunch edge when pan fried.
  • Panko: These coarse breadcrumbs give the fitters the perfect amount of crunch and body!
    • Even if you have to make a special run to the grocery store, make sure to use panko. Your taste buds will thank you.
  • Dried Basil: You don’t need a lot of dried basil in these fritters, but you definitely want to have it in the mix.
    • It adds just the right amount of robust herbal notes to pair with the zucchini.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Again, you don’t need a lot of them, but they add just the right amount of heat for these crispy zucchini fritters.
A metal tray with crispy zucchini fritters.

Recipe Substitutions & Alterations

  • Instead of zucchini: If you’re a fan of bright and sunny summer squash, feel free to substitute it for the zucchini.
    • They’re essentially twins, so prep the summer squash the same way you would zucchini.
  • Instead of cheddar cheese: Try nutritional yeast.
    • The cheesy-tasting powder is full of antioxidants, is a complete protein, and has trace metals like zinc and manganese.
    • Also, it has a hefty amount of vitamin B12, which is mostly found in animal products – so score one for vegans in your group of friends when you make these crispy zucchini fritters for brunch!
  • Add more veggies: You could always add in a little grated carrot, onion, or celery into these fritters to really ramp up the veggie quotient!
  • Add herbs: During the summer when garden herbs are full in bloom, a little fresh basil, oregano, dill, chives, or tarragon would really take these to a whole new level!
  • To make them gluten free: Use gluten free breadcrumbs.
  • To make them dairy free: Use nutritional yeast instead of cheddar cheese.
  • To make them vegan: Use nutritional yeast instead of cheddar cheese and use an egg replacer or make a flax 'egg' instead of the regular eggs (although I haven't tested this).

Serving Tips

  • Dipping: I love to serve these fritters with a spicy mayo.
    • But, they would also be delicious dipped into marinara, basil pesto, or a parsley purée.
    • Or, they could be topped with a little bit of sour cream and chives for a delicious flavor and temperature contrast.
  • Keeping them warm: If you want to serve these for a crowd, keep them warm in the oven at around 250 degrees until you’re ready to serve them.
    • A helpful tip is to keep them on a rack over a cookie sheet so they stay crispy.
A stack of zucchini fritters on a tray.

Chef's Tip

To make sure the crispy zucchini fritters turn out extra crispy, be sure the pan is really hot and the oil is really hot before adding the batter to the pan.

This will also ensure the fritter batter doesn't stick to the pan.

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Other yummy zucchini recipes:

  • Sweet Corn & Zucchini Gnocchi Skillet
  • Ricotta & Beef Zucchini Roll-Ups
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Zucchini Muffins
  • Cinnamon Crunch Zucchini Banana Bread
  • Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Print

Crispy Zucchini Fritters

Print Recipe

Simple pan-fried zucchini fritters with cheese, herbs and spices.

  • Author: Julie Andrews
  • Prep Time: 10-15 mins
  • Cook Time: 10-15 mins
  • Total Time: 20-30 mins
  • Yield: Makes 8 fritters 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove-Top
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3-4 medium zucchini, shredded (about 2 ½ cups)
  • 1 teaspoon coarse salt, divided
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ teaspoon dried basil leaves
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons oil

Instructions

  1. Place shredded zucchini and ½ teaspoon salt in a large mixing bowl. Allow to sit 10 minutes. Place zucchini in a large kitchen towel, wrap it up and twist, and squeeze water into the sink. Once zucchini is mostly dry, place it back into the mixing bowl. Stir in remaining salt, eggs, breadcrumbs, cheese, herbs and spices until thoroughly combined.
  2. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet or nonstick skillet to medium-high heat. Form zucchini mixture into a patty and place in the hot oil. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side, until each side is browned and crispy. Repeat with remaining zucchini mixture.
  3. Serve with spicy mayo (4 tablespoons mayo + 2 teaspoons Sriracha).

Notes

Cooking Tip: Be sure the pan is hot before adding the zucchini batter to it.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 fritters
  • Calories: 180
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 320mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Cholesterol: 75mg

Keywords: easy, healthy, dairy free, nutritional yeast, patties, without cheese

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alicia says

    June 06, 2017 at 12:41 pm

    Good tip about ridding the excess water from the zucchini. These are also great using an air fryer.. came out slightly brown and crispy on the outside, while soft and pillowy on the inside 🙂

    Reply
    • Julie Andrews says

      June 06, 2017 at 12:46 pm

      That's such a great idea, Alicia! I just might have to get an air fryer :):)

      Reply
  2. Mona says

    June 09, 2017 at 4:40 pm

    Love this recipe! I just bought some nutritional yeast and wasn't sure what I'd do with it. Now I know!

    Reply
    • Julie Andrews says

      June 11, 2017 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks, Mona! They're absolutely delish! Enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  3. Maria says

    June 21, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Can't wait to make this for my son. He might just eat it. Looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Julie Andrews says

      June 22, 2017 at 10:25 pm

      I sure hope he does, Maria! It's delish :):)

      Reply

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hi, i’m julie!

chef, registered dietitian & mom
passionate about simple, healthy cooking

*formerly the gourmet RD*

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