These cheesy zucchini tots are a low-carb twist on popular Tater Tots made with russet potatoes. They're made with with grated zucchini, onion, Panko bread crumbs, cheese, and herbs and baked in the oven for an easy vegetable side dish or party appetizer.
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I make a lot of zucchini recipes during the summer. It's a vegetable that's so versatile and is one of my favorite vegetables to cook with. Some of my favorites areย Zucchini Fritters,ย Bakedย Zucchini Fries,ย thisย Quinoa Zucchini Sautรฉ, and aย Zucchini Cobblerย filled with tomatoes, corn, and yellow beans and topped with cornbread.ย And it might sound a little crazy, but these lemony zucchini cookies are like little bites of English tea cakes with a burst of lemon.
These veggie tots are a new favorite, and are all about fresh zucchini and cheese. They are easy to make and make a great side dish all summer long. Below are also tips for success to make sure you make your best zucchini tots the first time and every time.
โค๏ธ Why you'll love this recipe
- Kid-friendly.ย Great way to get kids to eat more veggies!
- Easy. Easy side dish.
- Great idea for zucchini. New way to use up all the zucchini you might have in your garden.ย
- Healthier. Low carb dish compared to traditional potato-based Tater Tots. And they're baked instead of fried.
๐ง Ingredients + Notes
The secret to many dishes often lies in the ingredients. For example, some ingredients make a huge difference to the flavor and/or texture of the finished recipe. And purchasing the right ingredients can save you valuable time in the kitchen.
This list only covers ingredients that require some notes. For all of the ingredients, measurements, and directions, go to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post.
- Zucchiniย - choose small or medium zucchini, as they hold less water than the large ones.
- Eggย - this is the binder that holds the zucchini tots together. I always purchase pastured eggs as they're healthier than other eggs.
- ย Asiago cheeseย - Parmesan cheese is fine here too. If you prefer a more melty cheese, use mozzarella cheese, Pepperjack, or cheddar cheese.
- Panko breadcrumbs - or use Gremolata Breadcrumbs for a more flavorful twist.
- Dried herbs and spicesย - I use a combination of dried oregano, basil, garlic powder, and salt. But feel free to use any Italian seasoning mix that you and your family like best.
- Lemon zestย - A little lemon zest sharpens the flavors, but if you don't have any fresh lemons, you can eliminate this ingredient.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products and foods I use in my kitchen. This means that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. To view my entire storefront of recommended kitchen tools and equipment, check out my shop on Amazon.
๐ช Recommended Equipment
Having the right equipment for recipes makes prepping much easier. If you want more fuss-free prepping and cooking, check out my updated list ofย favorite kitchen tools and equipment.
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Box graterย - for grating the zucchini and cheese.
- Clean dish towel and / or paper towels
- Large bowl
- Chef's knifeย
๐ Instructions Overview
Detailed instructions for making these zucchini tots are in the recipe card below, but here's an overview!
Step 1ย
Shred the zucchini.ย Use the large holes on a box grater to shred the zucchini. Roll the grated zucchini in a clean dish towel or paper towels and squeeze out the excess liquid. There's a lot of moisture in zucchini.
Step 2ย
Grate the cheese.ย Use the small holes in a cheese grater to grate the Asiago or Parmesan cheese. If you use mozzarella or cheddar cheese, use the medium-sized holes.
Step 3ย
Mix. Combine all of the zucchini tot ingredients into a large bowl and mix well.
Step 4ย
Form the tots.ย Form oval-shaped tots using a soup spoon. Arrange them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet if baking them in the oven.
Alternate cooking methods are covered in the below section.
Step 5
Bake.ย Bake for 10 minutes at 400ห F, gently flip over, and bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden brown.ย
๐ฅ Other Cooking Methods for Making Zucchini Tots
- Toaster oven. Instead of using a conventional oven, use a toaster oven if you're making a small batch. The oven heats up much more quickly, which is important on hot summer evenings or when you're in a hurry.
- Air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400หF and air fry for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Air fry a couple of additional minutes for crispier edges.
- Sautรฉ. Add olive oil to a skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Arrange the zucchini tots in the pan. Sautรฉ until the bottoms become crispy, and gently turn over. Sautรฉ another 2 minutes.
- Mini-muffin tin. Bake in silicon mini muffins molds to prevent them from sticking to a muffin pan. If using a metal tin, be sure to spray it well with a cooking oil.
๐ฉโ๐ณ Tips for Success
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray the tray for an air fryer with cooking spray to prevent the zucchini tots from sticking and falling apart.
- Squeeze out as much water as possible from the grated zucchini before mixing it with the other ingredients. If the grated zucchini is too wet, the tots won't crisp up.ย
- Grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese is coated with an anti-caking cellulose coating which mutes the cheese flavors and inhibits their melting characteristics.
๐ซ Best Ways to Store Zucchini Tots
Refrigerator: Store leftover veggie tots in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
They will lose their crispness, so it's best to rewarm in the oven, toaster oven, or a skillet with a little olive oil. You can also rewarm in a microwave oven if you don't need them to be crisp.
Freezer: Flash freeze cooked zucchini tots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and store in zipped freezer bags in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Thaw in the refrigerator and rewarm in the oven, air fryer, or microwave oven.
๐ฝ๏ธ Serving ideas
The following dipping sauces are a great way to serve these tots whether as a side dish or an appetizer.ย
- Your favorite Marinara Sauceย
- Taztziki sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Sour Cream
- Lemony Basil Pesto
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Healthy Baked Cheesy Zucchini Tots
Equipment
- box grater
- baking sheet (if baking in the oven)
Ingredients
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- 1 large egg
- ยผ cup small-diced yellow onion
- โ cup grated Asiago Cheese see the Ingredient Notes in the post for more cheese ideas
- ยผ cup Panko breadcrumbs or regular bread crumbs
- ยฝ teaspoon dried oregano
- ยฝ teaspoon dried basil
- ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ยผ teaspoon garlic powder
- Zest from ยฝ lemon
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 400ห F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Foil is not a good option in this recipe.If using an air fryer, preheat to 400หF and spray the air fryer tray with oil.
- Shred the zucchini. Slice off the top and bottom of the zucchini. Use the large holes on a box grater to shred the zucchini. Roll the grated zucchini in paper towels or a clean dish towel, and squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible. There's a lot of moisture in zucchini. Transfer to a large bowl.Pro tip: If the zucchini is too moist, it will not be able to crisp up while the tots bake.
- Grate the cheese. Use the small holes in a cheese grater to grate the Asiago or Parmesan cheese. If you use a softer cheese such as mozzarella, Pepperjack, or cheddar cheese, use the medium-sized holes.Add the the bowl with the zucchini.
- Combine. Whisk the egg in a small bowl and add to the bowl along with the remaining ingredients. Mix well using a large metal spoon.
- Form the tots. Using a soup spoon, scoop the zucchini mixture into mounds, and gently shape using your fingers. Arrange on the parchment lined baking sheet or prepared air fryer tray. Each tot will measure about 2 tablespoons, and you should end up with 10 tots.
- Bake (oven). Bake for 10 minutes, gently flip over, and bake for another 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.Air fry. Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping over the tots halfway through cooking.
- Serve. Serve warm with dipping sauces recommended in the post.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Tots! We love tots! Such a great idea here, perfectly timed for the glut of zukes.
SallyBR
I once managed to stitch a button on a shirt, seemed like a simple thing to do. Well, it would not GO into its hole. Apparently you can stitch it too tightly. Yes, the things I do amaze myself sometimes
but zucchini tots, those I think I would have no issues with! Great pick....
Sid
And yet another reason to load up on the Zucchini when i go shopping. Those look wonderful and tasty.
Bakingfanatic
Oh I could eat a plateful of these with no difficulty whatsoever.
Nicole
Oooo these look SOOOOO good!! I love how summery these are and how easy they appear to be! Your photos are gorgeous!
Amanda
I'm also feeling summer squash right now and love the idea of turning them into tots.
Anna
These look really good. I tried another recipe for zucchini tots a while back, but they didn't turn out as well as I hoped. This recipe has me wanting to try again. I think I'll follow your advice and double the recipe right up front.
karen
With so much abundant zucchini this time of year, this recipe is perfect. You get your veggies aaaand a decadent side dish at the same time!
Sarah
I love the number of zucchini ideas I'm picking up this month!! J would love these. I need to make them soon!
[emailย protected]
ZUCCHINI TOTS recipe is incredible! Thank you so much
Emily @ Life on Food
I am sourcing zucchini recipes left and right these days. This one is quite the find. I cannot wait to try it out.
laura@motherwouldknow
I love these adorable tots! This time of year, I'm always on the hunt for a new (and more scrumptious) way to eat zucchini - and this is definitely going on my "must make" list. So much fun to meet you last week.
The Wimpy Vegetarian
I so enjoyed meeting you too! Hope you had safe travels back home ๐