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These cheesy zucchini fritters are soft, tender, and perfect for babies and toddlers. They are loaded with nutrients from the zucchini and make a great, mess-free lunch!

I love cooking with zucchini, but it can be pretty bland on its own. These zucchini fritters are a flavorful way to enjoy the vitamin-packed veggie!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Here is what you’ll need to make these cheesy zucchini fritters:

• Zucchini: The main star ingredient for these cheesy fritters.
• Breadcrumbs: I like to use plain flavored panko breadcrumbs.
• Egg: Used as a binder to help hold these fritters together.
• Shredded Cheese: Used to add flavor to these fritters/bites. I used 4-cheese Mexican blend for added flavor, but you may use any type of cheese.
• Onions: Used to add extra flavor and subtle natural sweetness to these fritters/bites. Finely chop the onions so that there aren’t too many large chunks.
• Garlic Powder: For added flavor.

PROCESS

1. Shred the zucchini using a cheese grater. I used the smallest sized holes on my box grater to get the mixture to be as smooth as possible, but if you prefer larger chunks of zucchini in the fritters/bites, use a larger sized hole on the grater. You should end up with about 1.5 cups of packed shredded zucchini.
2. Use your hands or a towel to squeeze out as much moisture from the zucchini as possible. You may also place the zucchini over a sieve and use the back of a spoon to press down on it to remove the moisture. Once you remove the moisture, you should end up with about 1 cup of packed shredded zucchini.
3. Add the zucchini to a bowl along with the other ingredients. Mix well until combined.
4. Scoop out heaping tablespoon-sized portions onto a parchment paper-lined pan. Press down to shape the portions into small fritters.
5. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges begin to slightly brown. If you are making zucchini bites, pack tablespoon-sized portions into a mini muffin pan and bake for around 25 minutes.

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Once cooled, store the zucchini fritters/bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bake the fritters at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or microwave for 15-20 seconds or until warmed through. To freeze, place the cooled fritters in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag with parchment paper lined between each one and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature before reheating, or quickly reheat on high in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Zucchini: I made a similar version of these fritters/bites with broccoli. Check out these broccoli and cheese bites!
• Eggs: For an egg-free version, substitute the egg with a flax egg by mixing one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water and letting it sit in the fridge for 15 minutes to set and thicken.
• Breadcrumbs: I use panko breadcrumbs in this recipe, but for a gluten-free version, replace the breadcrumbs with almond flour.
• Cheese: For a dairy-free version, substitute the cheese for dairy-free shredded cheese.

RECIPE NOTES

• It is extremely important to remove as much moisture from the zucchini as possible. Excess moisture will result in an overmoist mixture that will cause the bites to be soggy. You can use your hands or a towel, but I find that using a nut milk bag is the easiest way to remove the most moisture.
• This recipe makes about 12 small fritters or 16 mini bites.
• When making bites, I like to use a silicone muffin pan to bake them as they pop out easily without any sticking. If using a regular mini muffin pan, be sure to coat with a cooking spray beforehand. Avoid using paper liners as these bites tend to stick. 
• Finely chop the onions as small as possible so that there aren’t too many large chunks.
• I used 4-cheese Mexican blend as the cheese in this recipe for added flavor and cheddar cheese also works well. Mozzarella cheese is a good low-sodium alternative.
• Add salt and other seasonings for a bit more flavor if serving to adults.

You may also like:

• Broccoli and Cheese Bites
• Cauliflower Tots
• Air Fryer Green Beans