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Quick and crispy zucchini fritters are fried to golden perfection and are finger-licking good – a great way to use up that summer produce!

Similar to our Zucchini Tots and Zucchini Chips, these zucchini fritters are a delicious appetizer that we simply adore!

Close up of zucchini fritters stacked and topped with sour cream.
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You’ll Love These Fritters

We have several zucchini appetizers on our site—zucchini fries, chips, tots, you name it! And that’s because we love zucchini.

With that love, we decided to try zucchini fritters, which are a new, tasty favorite to add to the zucchini recipe making list.

There’s lots to love:

  • Addicting. Fried to crispy perfection, you’ll find it hard to eat just one.
  • Quick. They come together fairly quickly! From start to finish it takes less than 30 minutes.
  • Dippable. These fritters are perfect for dipping into Ranch Dressing or Dill Veggie Dip, but we love to top ours with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of green onion.

While these make an easy side, we especially love serving them with any of our appetizer spreads. However or whenever you decide to whip these up, you won’t be disappointed.

Three washed zucchini on a wooden table.

Ingredients

  • zucchini – I prefer medium zucchini (6-7 inches long and 2-3 inches in diameter) because the skin is softer, has smaller seeds, and is typically less watery than larger zucchini.
  • flour – for a gluten free version replace the all-purpose flour with an equal amount of gluten-free baking flour.
  • salt
  • grated parmesan cheese
  • garlic powder
  • black pepper
  • large egg 
  • canola oil
Grated zucchini on a white tea towel.

How to Make Zucchini Fritters

Whip up this zucchini fritters recipe in a flash. You’ll love these crispy pancakes!

  1. PREP. Place the grated zucchini in a colander in the sink and sprinkle with the salt. Let sit 5-10 minutes to drain. Wrap the zucchini in a kitchen towel and squeeze it to remove the excess water.
  2. COMBINE. Add the zucchini to a medium bowl, then add the flour, parmesan, garlic powder, pepper, and egg. Mix until combined.
  3. COOK. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Drop the zucchini mixture into the hot oil by spoonfuls, flattening slightly with the back of the spoon. Cook 3-4 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown on both sides.
  4. ENJOY! Serve warm with sour cream.

Air Fryer Directions

You will need to shape the zucchini patties before placing them in the air fryer. It can help to put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes so that they keep their shape. 

  1. Heat the air fryer up to 350°F. Spray each side of the fritter with cooking spray or olive oil, and place them in the air fryer basket. Make sure there that they are not touching. 
  2. Fry for 5 minutes and flip. Depending on the size and thickness, you will want to fry for another 5-8 minutes until cooked and crisped.
Top view of zucchini pancakes topped with sour cream.

Recipe Tips

Crispy zucchini fritters start with properly prepped zucchini.

  • Shredding the zucchini. The easiest and fastest way to shred the zucchini is to use a food processor or you can shred them using the large holes of a box grater.
    • You can store the grated zucchini in a container in the fridge for 1-2 days prior to making the recipe.  
  • Remove the moisture. It is important to squeeze as much liquid out of the zucchini prior to using them in the recipe. Excess moisture can keep the fritters from holding together and keep them from crisping up.
    • Note that homegrown zucchini tend to have more moisture than store-bought.
    • You can use a clean kitchen towel, cheesecloth, or a nut bag to help wring out the water. A potato ricer also works very well.
Dill veggie dip served with fresh veggies.

Storing + Serving

  • STORE. Allow the easy zucchini fritters to cool before placing them together in an airtight container. They will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • FREEZE. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
  • To reheat. You can reheat the fritters in the oven at 350°F or in a frying pan over medium heat. The microwave is my last choice only because it won’t crisp up the outside like the other methods.

Serving suggestions. These best zucchini fritters can be served alongside breakfast, as an appetizer, or snack.

  • They taste great with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt on top and garnish with a few chopped green onions or chives. You can also serve them alongside a dipping sauce like Marinara Sauce or Dill Veggie Dip.
Close up of a stack of zucchini fritters topped with sour cream and green onions.

For More Savory Zucchini Recipes, Try:

5 from 6 votes

Zucchini Fritters Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Quick and crispy zucchini fritters are fried to golden perfection and are finger-licking good – a great way to use up that summer produce!
Servings: 6
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes
Total: 23 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2 medium zucchini grated
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup flour
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil

Instructions 

  • Place the zucchini in a colander in the sink and sprinkle with the salt. Let sit 5-10 minutes to drain. Wrap the zucchini in a kitchen towel and squeeze it to remove the excess water.
  • Add the zucchini to a medium bowl, then add the flour, parmesan, garlic powder, pepper, and egg. Mix until combined.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Drop the zucchini mixture into the hot oil by spoonfuls, flattening slightly with the back of the spoon. Cook 3-4 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown on both sides.
  • Serve warm with sour cream.

Video

Notes

STORE. Allow the easy zucchini fritters to cool before placing them together in an airtight container. They will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
FREEZE. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
To reheat. You can reheat the fritters in the oven at 350°F or in a frying pan over medium heat. The microwave is my last choice only because it won’t crisp up the outside like the other methods.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 101kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 31mg, Sodium: 477mg, Potassium: 202mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 207IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 54mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. Kim says:

    5 stars
    Perfect! I swear if I fry anything, my family will love it! This was a great way to get some veggies in.

  2. Jessica says:

    5 stars
    I loved these! I made them with the zucchini from the store but I’ll be making these a lot during the summer from our garden!

  3. Melissa says:

    5 stars
    Such a fun way to make veggies yummy. My family loves this!

  4. Allyson Zea says:

    5 stars
    These are so yummy! My kids who usually hate veggies even like them!