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Easy Zucchini Fritters (VIDEO)

This homemade Zucchini Fritters Recipe is oh-so-easy to make and you’ll get perfectly crispy fritters every time. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is. 

We love zucchini recipes from Crispy Fried Zucchini to Zucchini Casserole. If you are a fan of zucchini recipes, this Zucchini Fritter recipe is a must-try.

Stack of zucchini fritters topped with sour cream and scallions

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Zucchini Fritters Recipe

We love growing squash in the garden, from Yellow Squash to Zucchini and Spaghetti Squash. If you grow your own zucchini, you know they mass produce. We love them fried, baked, grilled, and even in Vegetable Stir Fry. We are always on the lookout for creative zucchini recipes like this one; fun, simple and so tasty!

Zucchini Fritters have been a family favorite for years and a staple in our home all summer long. As soon as our zucchini are ripe, there is a batch of fritters sizzling on the stove. Here’s why you will love this recipe:

  • Kid-friendly – Our children love zucchini fritters which makes me feel so good knowing they are getting a healthy portion of veggies.
  • Great texture – Crispy on the edges, tender in the middle, and never soggy.
  • Versatile – We enjoy them for breakfast as an alternative to hash browns, for lunch, and even as a snack when the craving strikes.

Zucchini Fritters Video Tutorial

Watch Natasha make this easy zucchini fritters recipe. It’s such a simple recipe but worth discovering.

Ingredients

Zucchini fritters have simple ingredients. If you have the zucchini and green onions, everything else is just pantry and refrigerator staples. Scroll down to the print-friendly recipe card for ingredient quantities.

  • Zucchini – While you can use large or medium, I find that medium zucchini is best because the seeds aren’t as big and the skin is a little more tender. This makes a difference if you’re grating by hand.
  • Salt – I prefer cooking with sea salt, but table salt will do.
  • Eggs – Lightly beat these in a small bowl.
  • Green onions – Also known as scallions. You can substitute chives for a milder flavor if you’d like.
  • All-purpose flour – Just enough to hold the fritters together.
  • Baking powder – Key to a nice, light texture.
  • Ground black pepper – For a bolder flavor, you can use fresh, coarsely ground peppercorns.
  • Olive oil – As much as you need for sautéing.
Overhead view of ingredients for zucchini fritters

Pro Tip: The trick to getting these crisp around the edges is to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. You can do this with your hands over a colander or using a cheesecloth. Homegrown zucchini tend to hold even more water, so you may need to toss in an extra zucchini just in case it shrinks down too much after draining.

Shredded zucchini in food processor

How to Make Zucchini Fritters

  1. Prepare the zucchini – Grate zucchini on a box grater or in your food processor, transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss it with a teaspoon of salt.
  2. Drain – After 10 minutes, squeeze the zucchini over the sink or through a cheesecloth to release the excess liquid. You’ll need to measure 3 1/2 to 4 cups of zucchini once it’s drained.
  3. Add egg and green onion – Stir the green onions and eggs into the bowl
  4. Finish the batter – Whisk together the dry ingredients in a small bowl and stir into the zucchini.
  5. Cook the fritters – Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Add a heaping tablespoon of batter to the hot pan for each zucchini fritter. Flatten slightly, then cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy, reducing the heat if needed.
  6. Serve – Plate the fritters and serve them warm with a dollop of sour cream.
6 photos showing process of making zucchini fritters

Pro Tip: I like to use a trigger-release ice cream scoop to easily scoop the mixture and create equal-sized fritters.

Common Questions

What are zucchini fritters?

Zucchini fritters combine shredded zucchini with flour, seasonings, and other ingredients to create crispy little cakes. In American cuisine, zucchini fritters rank up there with corn fritters and apple fritters as the most popular fritter recipes.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes, this zucchini fritter recipe is easily made gluten-free by using a measure-for-measure all-purpose flour substitute.

Can I substitute yellow squash?

Yes, yellow squash is interchangeable with zucchini in most recipes, and it works here, too.

Can I make this in the oven?

While you can make zucchini fritters in the oven, they won’t be as crispy, so I don’t recommend it.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, this recipe can be doubled. To make cooking faster, you can use two skillets for cooking instead of one.

Crispy zucchini fritters in cast iron skillet

To Serve

Our favorite way to serve Zucchini fritters is for breakfast or brunch, paired with:

  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt – dolloped over the fritters
  • Chives – a tasty and pretty garnish
  • Tzatziki Sauce – a great dip or topping
  • Marinara – warmed and served as a dipping sauce
  • Aioli dip – one of our favorite dips
Zucchini fritters on platter with cup of sour cream

Make-Ahead

Here are some tips to help you get a head start on your fritters.

  • To Refrigerate: You can grate the zucchini ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a day. The finished zucchini fritters can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Freezing: Freeze zucchini fritters in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months.
  • To Reheat: Reheat your fritters in a 350ºF oven until they’re warmed through, in a skillet over medium heat, or in the microwave.
Closeup of zucchini fritters in skillet

These zucchini fritters are a great way to use up a bumper crop of zucchini from your garden. They are easy to make, perfectly crispy, and even kids love them.

More Zucchini Recipes to try

If you love this zucchini fritters recipe, then you won’t want to miss these zucchini recipes.

Zucchini Fritters Recipe

4.95 from 268 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
zucchini fritters served with sour cream
Zucchini Fritters have been a family favorite for years and are a staple in our home all summer long. We love the crisp edges, tender centers and how easy they are to make.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 24 minutes
Total Time: 39 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 6 people (makes 24 fritters)
  • 2 lb zucchini, about 2 large or 5 medium
  • 1 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, divided
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • olive oil for sautéing
  • sour cream, to serve

Instructions

  • Wash zucchini and trim off ends. Grate on the large holes of a box grater or use the grater attachment for the food processor. Place zucchini in a large mixing bowl, stir in 1 tsp salt, and set aside for 10 minutes.
  • After 10 minutes, squeeze handfuls of zucchini tightly over the sink to remove extra water. It helps to wring it out in a cheesecloth if you have one. It is impressive how much water comes out! You should end up with 3 1/2 to 4 cups of squeezed dry zucchini. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  • Add 1/2 cups chopped green onion and 2 lightly beaten eggs.
  • In a small bowl, stir together 3/4 cup flour with 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, or season to taste. Add flour mixture into zucchini mixture and stir until well combined.
  • Place a large heavy-bottomed cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium heat* and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the zucchini mixture a heaping tablespoon at a time** and flatten out the tops slightly to make them pancake-shaped. Sauté for 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown. If they brown too quickly, reduce the heat. Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream.

Notes

*Cooking the fritters in 2 separate skillets will cut the cooking time in half.
**Use a trigger-release ice cream scoop to easily scoop the mixture and create equal-sized fritters.

Nutrition Per Serving

107kcal Calories18g Carbs5g Protein2g Fat1g Saturated Fat0.5g Polyunsaturated Fat1g Monounsaturated Fat0.01g Trans Fat55mg Cholesterol617mg Sodium524mg Potassium2g Fiber4g Sugar466IU Vitamin A29mg Vitamin C71mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Zucchini Fritters Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
107
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
2
g
3
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.5
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
55
mg
18
%
Sodium
 
617
mg
27
%
Potassium
 
524
mg
15
%
Carbohydrates
 
18
g
6
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
466
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
 
29
mg
35
%
Calcium
 
71
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Appetizer, Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Zucchini Fritters, zucchini pancakes
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 107
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

4.95 from 268 votes (135 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Stephanie
    October 9, 2024

    I guess we add the egg mixture to the flour mixture?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 9, 2024

      Hi Stephanie! It’s exactly in step 3.

      Reply

  • Pixie
    September 23, 2024

    Delicious, nutritious, and easy to make gluten free! Pairs well with a homemade tzatziki

    Reply

    • Manon B.
      October 9, 2024

      Perfect way to eat zucchini! I often go to your blog when I need something reliably good to eat. Thank you Natasha!

      Reply

  • Playing in the Kitchen!
    September 22, 2024

    Such a great base recipe, it holds itself on it’s own and served it with a fresh lemon dill sauce! We also had fun playing! So many herb and cheese variations. We made this with things like fresh Tarragon, Lemon Zest, and Parm. Jalapenos and Cheddar. Even grated red potatoes and bacon served with a sriracha aioli! Key is removing that water. If you find it too liquidly (as we did when we place it in the fridge for a couple hours) we just dabbed around the outside with a paper towel and then added another absorbent like parmesan cheese or Italian bread crumbs. We also 3/4 cooked some and then threw them in the freezer for a quick grab and go re-fry later. The garlic infused olive oil from TJ’s was a great addition to use for frying that added an additional kick. Thank you Natasha!

    Reply

  • NW Ont
    September 21, 2024

    Make this with 1 large zucchini which left me with 1 cup after squeezing water out; decreased other ingrediants by 73% used 1 egg and was excellent. Will make again

    Reply

  • Carla
    September 18, 2024

    I have one blade on my food processor and it’s chop so I chopped the zucchini and used white onion. I added one extra egg and an extra 1/2 cup of flour and doubled the seasoning. They turned out great!

    Reply

  • Lindarains
    September 13, 2024

    Can I add some parmesan cheese to this recipe?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 13, 2024

      Hi! I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe

      Reply

    • Leah
      September 24, 2024

      I added about 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese (the powdered kind), and they were great!

      Reply

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