These exquisitely crispy Zucchini Fritters are the best you'll ever have! They're pan-fried to golden perfection and the perfect way to use summer zucchini for a hearty side dish, finger food lunch, or even a main dish for dinner.
Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini Fritters are basically the perfect thing to make with all of that garden zucchini you have during the summer.
You can make a main meal out of it or you can serve on the side. Either way, it's amazing.
These zucchini fritters feature fresh zucchini in a fritter batter with a perfectly crispy exterior and a warm, soft interior. They're nutritious, low in calories, and a fun way to sneak some extra veggies into a meal.
Why Do You Salt and Strain the Zucchini?
This process, involving covering the shredded zucchini in salt and allowing it to sit in a colander, allows the extra water to drain from the zucchini, resulting in a firmer, less soggy fritter with all that zucchini flavor that you want!
How to Keep Zucchini Fritters from Getting Soggy
Soggy fritters are the worst. Keep yours nice and crisp with these tips.
- Follow the draining and squeezing process of the zucchini described above and in the recipe. Zucchini holds a lot of moisture, or water, and when cooked, that moisture will leak out into the fritter causing it to be soggy. Removing the extra moisture before cooking will also remove the extra moisture, aka sogginess, from the fritter.
- Zucchini fritters need a binder to absorb any extra moisture, hold the fritter, and help crisp up when it's fried. In this recipe, eggs and flour are both binders.
- Don't cook too many fritters in the pan at once. Never cook more than 2 to 3 maximum in the pan at the same time. Putting in too many at once will lower the temperature of the pan, and will make it harder for the fritters to get crispy.
How to Serve Zucchini Fritters
First of all, I recommend serving them slathered with sour cream and fresh chives. The sour cream adds the perfect amount of creamy tanginess to the situation, and fresh chives should go on everything.
You can also serve with other sauces if you prefer, such as red pepper jelly, chutney, bacon jam, tzatziki, sweet and sour sauce, marinara, ranch, or honey mustard.
As far as what to serve zucchini fritters with, they're hearty enough to be a meal and light enough to be a side or snack, making them the all-around perfect food.
Serve them with other fried favorites like this Southern Pan Fried Catfish, Southern Oven Fried Chicken, or even fried eggs. You can also serve them with grilled or baked pork chops or chicken.
To serve them as the main dish, round out the meal with roasted or grilled veggies, mashed potatoes or cauliflower, rice pilaf, risotto, potato salad, or coleslaw.
Can You Freeze Zucchini Fritters?
Yes! Follow the full recipe, and allow them to cook to room temperature. Then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 to 6 months.
To reheat, air fry or convection bake at 370°F for about 8-10 minutes, or until heated all the way through.
You can also bake them at 350°F in a conventional oven. Lay frozen fritters on a baking sheet, and bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy again.
More Zucchini Recipes You'll Love
- Sauteed Zucchini and Summer Squash - a quick and easy side dish recipe that our family uses every single week in the summer. It really is that good!
- Vegetable Tian - possibly my all-time favorite use for zucchini. It's a little more time-consuming to make, but certainly worth the effort. Sliced vegetables sit elegantly in rows on sautéed onions and garlic and are roasted to perfection and topped with parmesan cheese.
- Zucchini Farfalle Pasta Salad - a quick, simple, and fresh pasta salad that's perfect for summer picnics and potlucks.
- Lemon Zucchini Bread - a classic zucchini bread recipe with a little zing of lemon.
- Creamy Avocado Zoodles - zucchini noodles tossed in a creamy, fresh avocado sauce for a rich, zesty, and even a little spicy vegetarian dish.
Zucchini Fritters
Ingredients
- 1 pound zucchini (about 1 large or 2-3 medium)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives plus more for serving
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- Oil for frying
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Wash zucchini and trim off ends. Grate on the large holes of a box grater or using the grater attachment for the food processor.
- Place zucchini in a large colander over the sink. Toss with salt. Let sit 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, squeeze handfuls of zucchini tightly over the sink to remove extra water. You can also use a tea towel or cheesecloth to wring out the water. You should be left with about 1.5-2 cups dry zucchini.
- Add zucchini, egg, Parmesan, chives, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.
- Add flour and baking powder and stir again to incorporate.
- In a large heavy-bottom skillet over medium high heat, add about 2 tablespoons oil.
- Drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls, flattening with back of the spoon. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until crisp and golden. If they brown too quickly, reduce the heat.
- Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream and chives for garnish.
Notes
- Oil: Since these are pan fried, your oil doesn't have to have a super high smoke point. Feel free to use any you'd like. I personally stick with butter (which can brown a bit during frying), ghee, or olive oil, and stay away from avocado oil in particular, as it has a strong over-powering flavor.
- Zucchini: If you have an extra large garden zucchini, cut it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds before grating to prevent sogginess.
- Cook only a couple fritters at a time. Over-crowding your pan will drop the temperature, and make for soggy fritters. Cut your cook time by using 2 skillets instead of one.
- Using a cookie scoop to scoop batter can be easier since it will help pop it out of the spoon for you.
- For some heat, add a few dashes of Louisiana-style hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the batter. You can also consider adding it to the sour cream for serving, if you want some heat, but you have littles who may not.
- Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
- Freezer Directions: After frying, allow to cool completely, then transfer to a baking sheet and freeze flat. When fritters are fully frozen, transfer to a freezer container, and freeze for up to 3-6 months. When ready to use, preheat oven to 350°F. Lay frozen fritters on a baking sheet, and bake for about 10 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy again.
Nutrition
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Claire says
These were delicious. I appreciated the tip on how to avoid them going soggy as this has happened in the past. Very helpful!
Sue says
Perfect recipe for all that summer zucchini ~ love your tips for keeping them crispy 🙂
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
My family is going to love this! Thank you for this amazing recipe.
Dannii says
This is my favourite way to use up zucchini when we have a lot from growing it.
Toni says
These are so perfect!! My kids loved it! Such a great way to have them eat veggies!
Tayler says
My garden is bursting with zucchini, so I can’t wait to try making these fritters! They look amazing
Claudia Lamascolo says
Perfect timing my zucchini needs to be cooked and I am tired of the bread recipes this is perfect making today!
Suja MD says
This was a such a delicious and easy recipe! I went perfect with my dinner meal. So good!
Jacqueline says
Oh yes please! Perfect to use up a glut of homegrown courgettes
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed these with dinner last night and they did not disappoint! I love how versatile zucchini is, and this was no exception; easily, a new favorite recipe!
Mirlene says
My kids suprisingly loved these fritters! I try to get them to eat their veggies and this was the one they love the most!
Heather says
Super easy and delicious! Loved the chives...great way to use up summer zucchini!
Tayler says
I’ve made these fritters a couple of times and they always turn out perfectly! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Toni says
These are really perfect side dish!! Everyone at my house really loved it!
Tara says
Oooh such an easy and delicious use for summertime zucchini! The flavors sound amazing, especially paired with that crispy texture.
Rosemary says
Thank you for your tips on how to make the zucchini less soggy. There is nothing like the excess water ruining the taste. I can't wait to make fritters with my leftover zucchini. Love your simple step by step instructions. Cheers.
Carrie Robinson says
Perfect way to use up all of that end of summer zucchini! 🙂 I will have to try this recipe soon.
Renee | The Good Hearted Woman says
These are such a great way to use up those monster zukes that keep hiding in the back of the garden.
Dana Sandonato says
Absolutely loved these zucchini fritters! Bookmarked for future snacking. Great way to use up the summer bounty!