Easy Zucchini Fritters have crispy edges, tender insides and make a great snack or side dish to your lunch or dinner. Kids and adults love these delicious fritters that can be customized to fit anyone’s tastes.
These Easy Zucchini Fritters can be made in under 20 minutes or even less if you have a really large skillet and can throw 6-8 fritters on at a time.
The version I am sharing has three different cheeses in it, along with shredded zucchini and some spices, but feel free to adapt the recipe to suit your own tastes.
Enjoy them as they are with a variety of different toppings. Or serve with an easy dip, try my Creamy Herb Dip, Salsa or Guacamole.
This easy zucchini fritter recipe is kid-friendly too. Involve your little ones in the process of making the batter by having them measure out ingredients into the mixing bowl and then using a wooden spoon to combine everything.
These not only are easy to make they have fiber and you can add veggies to your daily meals!
Zucchini is a versatile vegetable and can be used in a variety of both sweet and savory dishes. If you like zucchini recipes try my Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, Zucchini Frittata, Easy Zucchini Tacos, or this Zucchini Applesauce Bread.
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Zucchini Fritters Recipe
Here are more reasons it’s a must-try dish:
- Seasonal Ingredients: With a garden full of fresh zucchini, this recipe is a delicious way to use seasonal produce. Whenever I have an abundance of zucchini in my garden I always make these for my kids! We like to dip them in Greek yogurt, tzatziki sauce or this Creamy Dill Sauce.
- Easy Preparation: It only takes 10 minutes to prepare the batter, and a further 10 minutes to cook the fritters. These are super easy and make a great meal-prep option!
- Versatile: Make the fritters how you want, adding extra veggies, different cheese, or fresh herbs. These are very versatile to what you have on hand!
Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need
- Zucchini: I use 2 cups of grated zucchini which is enough to make 12-14 fritters.
- Eggs: beaten egg helps to bind the fritters together.
- Onion: I use chopped sweet onion, you could also use red onion or shallot as they have a mild flavor.
- Garlic: I use fresh minced garlic as it has the best flavor, you can also use garlic puree or frozen garlic in a pinch.
- Flour: I use both all purpose and whole wheat flour in the fritter batter.
- Cheese: I use a combination of Parmesan cheese, shredded mozzarella and sharp cheddar cheese in these fritters.
- Seasoning: I season the batter with dried parsley, red pepper flakes, sea salt and black pepper.
- Oil: I use regular olive oil or vegetable oil when sautéing the fritters.
For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below.
Recipe Variations
- Vegetables: Add different vegetables like chopped mushrooms, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, and grated summer squash.
- Cheese: Change it up and add different cheeses, try Swiss, gruyere, gouda or pepper jack.
- Fresh Herbs: Add some fresh herbs into the fritter batter. Try soft herbs like chopped parsley, chives, mint, basil, cilantro or fresh dill.
- Spices: Spice up the fritters, try adding some chopped jalapeño, or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne red pepper to give it some kick.
- Breadcrumbs: Do you like your fritters extra crunchy? Before you fry them, sprinkle breadcrumbs on both sides to give it extra texture.
- Garnishes: Add other garnishes, try chopped green onion, chopped chives, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, or a spoonful of salsa, Greek yogurt, or marinara sauce.
How To Make Zucchini Fritters
Step 1 – Prepare the Zucchini: Grate the zucchini and place between two paper towels. Using your hands squeeze the excess liquid from the zucchini and set aside.
Step 2 – Beat the Eggs: In a small bowl beat the two eggs and set aside.
Step 3 – Make the Fritters: In a large bowl stir together the zucchini, eggs, sweet onion, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, the 3 cheeses, parsley, garlic, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4 – Cook the Fritters: In a medium pan or cast-iron skillet heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Drop spoonful’s of the zucchini mixture onto the skillet and cook each side for about 4 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Set on a paper towel to cool and sprinkle with additional salt if desired.
Step 5 – Garnish & Serve: Top the fritters with sour cream and chives or garnishes of your choice.
Expert Tips for Perfect Zucchini Fritters
- Take time to remove as much moisture as you can from the zucchini before making the fritters. The less water, the easier it is to combine the ingredients together.
- I take time to chop the onions finely, that way they work better in the batter and you don’t have chunks of raw onion once the fritters are cooked.
Serving Tips
These easy cheesy fritters make a great light lunch, or appetizer for any party. Here are some ideas of how to serve the fritters:
- Light Lunch: Serve a few fritters as a light lunch option with a salad side, try my Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts, or this Easy Lebanese Salad.
- Appetizer: The perfect finger food, a great appetizer for any party. Serve it with some of my other favorite finger food recipes, like this Cucumber Hummus Bites, Beef Crostini with Caramelized Onion, and this Smoked Salmon Cucumber Appetizer.
Storage Tips
Store leftover fritters in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Warm up leftovers in a 275°F oven, or place the fritters in a skillet over medium heat on the stove top.
To freeze, place the cooked and cooled fritters into an airtight container or Ziplock bag, adding a sheet of parchment or wax paper between each layer to stop them sticking together. Freeze for up to 3 months, and thaw in the fridge before reheating.
FAQs
These fritters are best enjoyed freshly cooked. But if you want to get ahead, you can make the fritter batter earlier in the day, then over the bowl and place into the refrigerator until you are ready to cook the fritters.
If the fritters are soggy it’s a result of too much moisture. Firstly make sure you get as much water out of the shredded zucchini before you start. The egg and cheese will help to bind the fritters together. Also, don’t use too much oil when sauteing the fritters, just enough to cook the fritters and stop them sticking to the skillet.
You can use a box grater to shred the zucchini. You also could use a food processor to make the shredded zucchini.
More Appetizers to Try
Mediterranean
Honey Goat Cheese Balls
Appetizers
Easy Pear and Brie Flatbread
Mediterranean
Lemon Whipped Feta Dip
Mediterranean
Goat Cheese Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto
Easy Zucchini Fritters
Ingredients
- 2 cups zucchini, grated
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- sea salt & black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Grate the zucchini and place between two paper towels. Using your hands squeeze the excess liquid from the zucchini and set aside.
- In a small bowl beat the two eggs and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine zucchini, eggs, sweet onion, garlic, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, the 3 cheeses, parsley, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste.
- In a medium skillet heat the vegetable oil over medium high heat. Drop spoonfuls of the zucchini mixture onto the skillet and cook each side for about 4 minutes {until golden brown}. Set on a paper towel to cool and sprinkle with additional salt if desired.
- Top the fritters with sour cream and chives or garnishes of your choice.
Notes
- Feel free to add other additions to your zucchini fritters, try chopped mushrooms, red pepper, green pepper, tomatoes, grated squash.
- If you like it spicier try adding another 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, or a chopped jalapeño.
- Do you like your fritters extra crunchy? Before you fry them, sprinkle breadcrumbs on both sides to give it extra texture.
- Add other garnishes, try chopped green onion, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, or a spoonful of salsa, Greek yogurt, or marinara sauce.
Can these be air fried? If so, would 3-4 min a side at 400 be compatible to recipe instructions?
Yes! I think that would work great. You can do that and could also use an air fryer if you have that. After 4 minutes per side if they still aren’t crispy enough just cook a bit longer.
The recipe for Cheesy Zucchini Fritters are well narrated. Loved reading it. However, instead of using vegetable oil, may I use grass-fed ghee for frying the fritters? Ghee is more flavorsome and stable than vegetable oil due to its high smoke point. What do you say?
https://milkio.co.nz/grass-fed-ghee/
Yes! You could use ghee.
I tried this with panko crumbs, and chopped mushrooms and it was fantastic! Thanks for a great recipe.
Oh I love those ideas! So glad you liked them. Thanks!
I remember my mother used to make corn fritters and mashed potato fritters using
leftovers but she was such a planner it was intentional leftovers. The potato
fritters were always wit pork chops and apple rings( no need to peel the apples just core them).
This was a 1 skillet dish– she did the apple rings after the pork chops were done..
I love the idea of mashed potato fritters. Such a great way to use up leftovers of any kind. My favorite recipes are ones that remind of family members, like your story! Thanks for sharing.