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

4.96 from 303 votes
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
4.96 from 303 votes (135 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Tracy
    February 11, 2024

    I made these last week and they are A1! I definitely used the tea towel method of wringing out the excess water and followed the recipe as written. Removing as much water as possible is the key.The only thing I changed was I dipped the patties in panko bread crumbs before frying and I had no problem with sticking. I love to experiment so will be adding shaved apple and corn in next batch.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 11, 2024

      Thanks for sharing, Tracy!

      Reply

  • Anastassiya
    January 31, 2024

    Can I make them without flour? Trying to do a no-sugar, no-carbs diet.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 1, 2024

      Hi Anastassiya! I have not tested this recipe without flour. Several of my readers reported using GF 1:1 flour successfully, but I don’t see any other substitutions mentioned. It may be a good experiment to try something like almond flour but without testing it myself, I can’t say. Let us know if you try an other alternatives.

      Reply

  • Helena
    January 29, 2024

    Definitely I will try again! Great way to get veggies! I squeezed the liquid out zucchini with my hands and the end product was on the soft side. Next time I will try to squeeze the liquid through the cheesecloth and I think will be perfect! Great taste! Another great recipe from Natasha! I need to compliment you how your recipe measurements are always on point! thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 29, 2024

      I’m so glad to hear that, Helena! Thank you for the great feedback.

      Reply

  • Stevi Warkentin
    December 10, 2023

    We have made these fritters several times. They are as good reheated as they are fresh. And we love them for breakfast or picnic lunches too! I am gluten free and the recipe works well with 1:1 gf flour.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 10, 2023

      Nice to know it works when you tried making this recipe gluten free too. Thank you for this review and for sharing!

      Reply

  • Paula Cowars
    November 28, 2023

    I have tried many versions , not one measures up to your recipe , I only use yours Natasha the family love them , as you say eaten as soon as they are cooked . Thank you . I follow a lot of your recipes. Even though I live in Australia I have to google some of the ingredients for Australian equivalent. Have a Happy and safe Christmas

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 28, 2023

      Thanks so much for sharing, Paula. I’m happy and grateful that you aren enjoying my recipes! I hope you’ll enjoy all of the recipes that you will try.

      Reply

  • Alisha D
    September 24, 2023

    My husband and teenage kids loved this! And younger child ate one and he refuses to eat just about any vegetable right now! Thanks so much.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 24, 2023

      Yay great to hear that it was a success!

      Reply

  • JO
    September 15, 2023

    My family loved it! We don’t love a strong onion taste so I used some garlic powder instead of the green onions. Fantastic! Served with rice and salad. Will definitely make it again!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 15, 2023

      That’s great to hear. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  • Bob
    September 13, 2023

    Followed the mixture exactly. Instead of using a pan on the stove, I used my flap top blackstone with Avocado oil on medium high heat about 3-4 minutes per side. Used tzatziki cucumber sauce as garnish. Turned out great!! Next time I’m going to add a little more salt, fresh garlic, and feta cheese. Can’t wait to try that.

    Reply

  • Christine
    September 13, 2023

    Theses are Great! I had a hard time cooking them so they were cooked throughout – any tips? Do I need to make them thinner?
    I ended up slicing them through the middle and doing a butterfly style pan fry to cook them throughout.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 13, 2023

      Hi Christine! It’s possible that they were cut too thick. You can try thinning the slices out a bit next time to see if that’s better.

      Reply

  • Belinda
    September 10, 2023

    Great and easy recipe! The hardest party was squeezing out the water from the zucchini. I added some seasoning like garlic powder, onion powder and some elote. Very tasty

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 10, 2023

      Great to hear that you enjoyed them!

      Reply

  • christina
    September 9, 2023

    These are sooo good. My husband already said I can make them again. Don’t be shy with the pepper. It really compliments the zucchini flavor.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 9, 2023

      That’s wonderful, Christina.

      Reply

      • Raya
        September 18, 2023

        Best recipe. Very yum and easy. Followed the instructions. Added coriander. Delish. Definitely will be making them again!

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          September 18, 2023

          Awesome! Great to hear that you enjoyed it.

          Reply

  • Kim O
    September 9, 2023

    I was surprised at how light and fluffy these were. I made a half batch and my husband and I ate them all right away. Absolutely delicious with just some plain sour cream.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 9, 2023

      That’s great to hear, Kim!

      Reply

  • Nina
    September 6, 2023

    This recipe is so good! I sub’d green onion for onion powder and added garlic powder. I didn’t have enough shredded zucchini so I added about 1/2c of corn. So fluffy, so tasty.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 6, 2023

      So glad you loved it, Nina!

      Reply

  • Rosalyn
    August 27, 2023

    I made these this am and added a little grated Parmesan (as per my neighbor’s suggestion). They were delicious – I halved the recipe to match my zucchini volume – used 1/3 c of flour – nice texture and no need for sauce.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 27, 2023

      That’s wonderful to hear, Rosalyn! Thanks for sharing your experience.

      Reply

  • Ayanna
    August 25, 2023

    These look delicious though I am having trouble finding a serving size.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 25, 2023

      Hi Ayanna! At the top of the recipe card, you’ll see the number of servings. This makes roughly 24 fritters and the nutrition facts listed is per each fritter.

      Reply

  • Mary Ellen
    August 21, 2023

    Soooo good and esy to make… but a whole lot of water in those zucks! Cast iron pan was perfect for crispy edges! Now on my “make always” list!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 21, 2023

      Yes – you don’t realize how much water zucchini holds until you make a recipe like this!

      Reply

  • Linda Jones
    August 18, 2023

    My husband and I made these a couple days ago. They didn’t last long! So delicious! We did add 1 cup of thawed frozen corn to the batter, because we like corn fritters. Your recipe is the best. We will make again and often. You are such a joy to watch! Thank you for your recipes, but more than that, your fun and happy ways you make your videos. You are a pleasure to watch, and you make us want to try your recipes. Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 18, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that wonderful feedback and compliment with me, Linda!

      Reply

  • Joe
    August 15, 2023

    Can I make the fritters ahead of time and freeze before I cook them and then defrost and cook them or should I cook them and then freeze them

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 15, 2023

      Hi Joe! I have not frozen them before cooking. See my notes above for freezing after cooking.

      Reply

  • Katie
    August 10, 2023

    I added a few chopped up Zucchini flowers (my all time favourite summer harvest), decrease the green onion because I only had one and added a clove of crushed garlic. No need for sour cream. Really tasty! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 10, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Katie!

      Reply

  • KTAM
    August 7, 2023

    These were so easy and wonderful. A quick easy side dish to use up zucchini!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 7, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

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