Zucchini Fritters

This is my mom’s recipe for zucchini fritters. They come out nice and crispy and ready for dipping into marinara or topping with a dollop of sour cream!

Shredded zucchini is mixed with bread crumbs, an egg, cheese, and some seasonings. Form them into patties and cook until crisp.

It’s a side dish or snack that everyone will rave about.

What are Zucchini Fritters?

Zucchini fritters are zucchini patties that are soft inside and nice and crisp on the outside, kind of like a hashbrown patty or potato pancakes. They’re different from my zucchini pancakes which are a bit softer in texture.

In this zucchini fritter recipe, shredded zucchini is mixed with egg, flour, breadcrumbs, and cheese. Once formed into patties they can be pan-fried or air fried.

A Garden Favorite 

• Zucchini fritters are the perfect way to enjoy garden zucchini and are easy to make!
• They’re crispy crunchy on the outside and soft and cheesy inside.
• If you have zucchini, you likely have all of the other ingredients on hand.
• They can be prepped ahead and reheat well for snacking. If you have lots of zucchini, double (or triple) the recipe!

Ingredients for Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini: Use medium-sized zucchini, and shred it using a box grater; no need to peel! If you’re using a larger zucchini, scrape out the big seeds with a spoon. Add other cooked and finely diced or shredded vegetables if you’d like (squeeze them dry before using).

Egg, bread crumbs & flour: Seasoned bread crumbs add flavor and together with the egg and flour, help bind the fritters together.

Cheese: Pre-shredded or freshly shredded cheese is great, I love cheddar cheese and/or mozzarella. Want to mix it up? Try feta or pepper jack.

Variations: Change it up and make your zucchini fritters with your own cheeses or seasonings. Red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic, spices, or herbs such as parsley or fresh dill all work well.

How to Make Zucchini Fritters

1. Shred zucchini and toss with a bit of salt and let rest in a colander (per the recipe below). Squeeze out excess liquid.
2. Add the zucchini to a large bowl with the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
3. Form the zucchini mixture into patties and cook in a skillet or air fryer until golden-brown and crisp.

Tips for Great Fritters

• Shred zucchini using the large holes of a box grater.
• ‘Sweat’ the zucchini with salt to draw out the excess moisture and guarantee tender, crispy fritters. Squeeze out as much water as you can with cheesecloth or a kitchen towel.
• Choose vegetable oil over olive oil for frying, it has a higher smoke point and milder flavor.
• Keep leftover zucchini fritters in a covered container in the refrigerator and reheat them in an oiled skillet or air fryer until crispy and hot.

Serving Suggestions

Try a squeeze of lemon juice or fresh herbs on top and serve them with a side salad.

Make mini zucchini fritters as an appetizer and try these delish dips and sauces, like thousand island dressing, avocado ranch dressing, or homemade ranch dressing.

Top them with some sour cream, Greek yogurt or even warm marinara.

Did your family love these Zucchini Fritters? Leave us a rating and a comment below!

Recipe slightly adapted from Everything Air Fryer.