Oven-Baked Zucchini Carrot Tots

These zucchini carrot tots are a fun take on traditional potato tots. They are a great way of incorporating more veggies into your little one’s meals!

I make cauliflower tots for the boys pretty often and wanted to try to make another variation of them with a different vegetable as the base. Zucchini and carrots are vegetables that are so nutrient-dense and pair so well together when incorporated into foods. I removed the moisture from them before adding them to the mixture, but don’t throw out those juices! The amazing juices are packed with nutrients and antioxidants and can be used in other food items like soups and smoothies. 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Here is what you’ll need to make these zucchini carrot tots:

• Zucchini: You can remove the skin if you’d like, but I incorporated the skin into the mixture for all the more nutrients!
• Carrots: Finely grate the carrots so that they merge well into the tots.
• Breadcrumbs: I like to use plain flavored panko breadcrumbs.
• Egg: Used as a binder to help the tots hold their shape.
• Shredded Cheese: Used to add flavor to these veggie tots. I used 4-cheese Mexican blend for added flavor, but you may use any type of cheese.
• Garlic/Onion Powder:  For added flavor.
• Salt: Optional ingredient for a little added flavor. You can make a batch without salt for a younger baby and add salt to the rest for everyone else!

PROCESS

1. Shred the zucchini and carrots 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 in the tots, use a larger-sized hole on the grater. You will want to have about 1 cup of packed grated zucchini and ½ cup of packed grated carrots.
2. Use your hands or a towel to squeeze out as much moisture from the zucchini and carrots as possible. Once you remove the moisture, you should end up with about 1 cup of the packed mixed veggie mixture.
3. Add the zucchini and carrots to a bowl along with the other ingredients. Mix well until combined.
4. Scoop out heaping tablespoon-sized portions and shape them into small tots. Place the tots on a parchment paper-lined pan.
5. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes, or until the edges begin to slightly brown. Shake the pan halfway through for even browning.

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Once cooled, store the zucchini carrot tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bake the tots at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or microwave for 15-20 seconds or until warmed through. To freeze, place the cooled tots in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag 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, adding 10-second increments as needed. You may also reheat these tots in the air fryer using your air fryer’s reheat function.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Zucchini/Carrots: The zucchini and carrots may be replaced with cauliflower. Check out this recipe for cauliflower tots!
• 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 and carrots as possible. Excess moisture will result in an overmoist mixture that will cause the tots to be soggy. You can use your hands or a towel, but I find that using a nut milk bag is the easiest to remove the most moisture.
• This recipe makes about 15 tablespoon-sized tots. You can make smaller-sized tots by scooping out ½ tablespoon-sized portions of the mixture. You may also make larger-sized bites.
• I used 4-cheese Mexican blend cheese in this recipe for added flavor. Mozzarella cheese is a good low-sodium alternative.
• Add salt and other seasonings for a bit more flavor if serving to adults. I usually make a batch for my baby and add salt and a little spice to a batch for everyone else!

Here are some other veggie-based recipes that you may like!

• Broccoli and Cheese Bites
• Savory Vegetable Muffins
• Cheesy Carrot Bites