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These Baked Zucchini Fritters with Smoky Dipping Sauce are a kid-friendly snack for after school, or a delicious appetizer for any game day party.
Aside from the occasional date night with my husband Jack, most of our socializing these days centers around our eleven-year-old daughter’s friends, and their parents. Luckily for us, they are a really great group of parents, we have common interests (like really good food!), the kids all get along, and we feel lucky to have met each other!
This time of year, most of our get-togethers start centering around watching weekend football. Each family takes a turn hosting the game day party at their house, and we all chip in, bringing drinks plus a snack or appetizers, and dessert for everyone to enjoy.
But we can’t forget about feeding the kids – and these Baked Zucchini Fritters with Smoky Dipping Sauce are a snack that both kids and grownups will love!
We made this recipe for the first time over the summer as a way to use up some of zucchini from our backyard garden. Even the picky eater in our house gave this recipe the thumbs up – and that says a lot! 😉
How do you make Baked Zucchini Fritters with Smoky Dipping Sauce?
Shredded and drained zucchini is mixed with eggs, cheese (two kinds – Parmesan and white cheddar), panko bread crumbs, garlic, scallions, and other seasonings, plus a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
The mixture is scooped out into about two dozen portions, then placed on a cookie sheet lined with buttered parchment paper and flattened into little patties. Before baking, brush some additional melted butter on the top so the fritters turn a nice golden color while baking in the oven.
While the Baked Zucchini Fritters are in the oven, mix up a delicious Smoky Dipping Sauce. It is simply mayonnaise, sour cream, relish, scallions, and Worcestershire sauce, plus smoked paprika and other seasonings. (Feel free to use sweet paprika if you prefer a milder sauce.)
How do you serve Baked Zucchini Fritters with Smoky Dipping Sauce?
Once the baked zucchini fritters are out of the oven, pile them up on a plate with the sauce on the side – and dig in! The fritters have a delicious, golden crispy outside, and a soft and tender cheesy zucchini inside. (The perfect snack!)
Can these Baked Zucchini Fritters be made ahead?
Absolutely! Mix up a double batch, bake, then freeze some of them in a single layer on a sheet pan until frozen solid. Place the frozen Baked Zucchini Fritters in a zipper seal plastic bag – then when you’re craving a healthy snack, bake in a preheated oven (350 degrees F for about 5 to 10 minutes) until warmed through.
You may enjoy these other snack ideas:
- Baked Zucchini Fries
- Mediterranean Nachos
- Oven Baked Beet Chips
- Hummus with Caramelized Cauliflower and Onions
- Loaded Pub Fries
We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @afamilyfeast or hashtag #afamilyfeast so we can see your creations!
Baked Zucchini Fritters with Smoky Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
4 cups zucchini (about 3 medium zucchini), see instructions
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 whole eggs beaten
2 teaspoons finely grated garlic (use a garlic press)
1/4 cup scallions minced fine
1 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Zest from 1/2 lemon
2 cups sharp white cheddar, grated on fine holes of box grater
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Optional dipping sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup drained zucchini relish (see recipe here), or any other favorite relish
2 tablespoon scallions minced fine
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (more if you like it really smoky)
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
Grate half the zucchini on the large holes of a box grater and the second half on the fine holes of a box grater. The larger pieces give the snacks structure and the fine pieces help bind the mixture. Place in a dish towel over a colander and sprinkle on the salt. Let this sit over the sink for 30 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, mix eggs, garlic, scallions, panko, Parmesan, lemon zest and cheddar cheese.
After the 30 minutes, pull up the sides of the dish towel and twist the top and squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the zucchini. Then add to the bowl and mix to combine.
Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and brush with some of the butter.
Use a one-ounce scoop and scoop out 24 balls lined up 4×6 on the prepared sheet tray.
Flatten each ball to about a half inch high while pressing in the sides to neaten them up.
Brush with the remaining butter and bake for 12 minutes. Flip each one over and bake for another 12-15 minutes or until golden on both sides.
While zucchini snacks are cooking, make optional sauce by combining all sauce ingredients. Refrigerate until needed.
Serve warm with the optional dipping sauce.
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Can I make these in my Air Fryer?
Hi Lynn – We’ve never tried but I’m sure you can…an air fryer is essentially a small convection oven so it should work.
Question: can you use frozen zucchini?
Hi Lena – We’ve never tried using frozen. Was it shredded before being frozen? I think the success it would depend on how the zucchini thaws…you’ll definitely want to thaw and squeeze out as much moisture as you can but if it’s all mushy after being frozen, you won’t have the same structure and texture as if you made the fritters with freshly shredded zucchini. Hope that helps.
Really looking forward to trying this recipe Do these freeze well? Trying to decide if I should make a double batch or not. GIANT zucchini!
Hi Cynthia – Yes, these freeze very well! Hope you enjoy them!
Absolutely delicious! My whole family loved them. I paired them with sliced tomatoes from the garden and honeydew melon, and it made a wonderful, light dinner. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Sounds like a delicious meal Jenn – glad the recipe was a hit!
COULD YOU POSSIBLY USE CRUMBLED 90 SECOND BREAD CRUMBLES OF UNFLAVORED CRUSHED PORK RINDS IN PLACE OF THE PLANKO TO MAKE THE RECIPE KETO
Hi Arthur, this is Jack. I have used the 90 second bread in other recipes when I eat Keto and they seem to work so I don’t see why it wouldn’t work here.
Although I like eating pork rinds as a snack, I have never tried them as a bread substitute, except as a breading on chicken, so not sure if they would work. If you try it, let us know how they came out.
Good luck,
Jack
I have so much zucchini. My freezer is full of bread.
I was looking for something else to use if for and we are not big on zucchini boats. This recipe is FANTASTIC. My family kept sneaking them even before they made it to the table. Thank you so much.
You’re welcome Kelly – so glad everyone enjoyed them!
Thanks for a great recipe! I make these for my 1.5 year old son and substituted whole wheat flour for the bread crumbs. We love them!
How do you recommend reheating these?
Hi Katie – We’d suggest reheating them in the oven.
I tried your recipe for a birthday party and it was a hit. I have so much zucchinis and did not know what to do with them.
Thanks Rebecca – so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
What’s the nutritional break down of this recipe?
Hi Leigh – We don’t currently calculate the nutritional breakdown of our recipes but may be adding it soon. In the meantime there are several free online calculators you may use (MyFitnessPal, etc) to calculate the information you need. Hope that helps!
Hello Martha
Baked Zucchini Fritters are just what a football watch party needs. So often, all the choices are calorie laden, now I have a healthier recipe to
impress our friends. Fall is my favorite season and football is the only sport we watch, especially college football.
Roll Tide!!!!
Linda
We hope you all enjoy the fritters Linda! Happy Fall (and happy football season!) 🙂