Description
Zucchini tots make weeknight snacking super easy and totally delicious. Crispy on the outside and packed with cheesy goodness, these little bites will become your new favorite way to get more veggies into your meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups zucchini, grated
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
Seasonings:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Ketchup or dipping sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Grate 2 cups of zucchini using a box grater, then firmly press with a clean kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.
- Grab a mixing bowl and combine the drained zucchini with 1 large egg, ½ cup cheddar cheese, ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Thoroughly mix the ingredients until they form a cohesive mixture that holds together easily.
- Scoop roughly 1 tablespoon of the mixture and shape it into small oval tots with your hands.
- Repeat the shaping process until all the mixture is used, creating approximately 20-24 tots.
- Arrange the shaped tots on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a small space between each one for even browning.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping the tots halfway through to ensure crispy edges on all sides.
- Remove from the oven when the tots are golden brown and crisp to the touch.
- Let them cool for 2-3 minutes before serving with ketchup or your preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
- Squeeze zucchini thoroughly to remove as much moisture as possible, which helps ensure your tots stay crisp and hold their shape during baking.
- Use a box grater with medium-sized holes for the best texture and consistent tot size that will cook evenly.
- Experiment with different cheeses like parmesan or sharp cheddar to customize the flavor profile and add extra depth to your tots.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs for almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs without changing the overall recipe structure.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 130 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg