💚🧡 This Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters recipe is lightly crisped on the outside, tender on the inside, and makes use of summer’s most abundant vegetable! Plus, air frying the zucchini fritters keeps them healthier than actual frying without sacrificing taste or texture! It’s perfect as an appetizer, snack, side dish, or healthy main course. Oven baking instructions are also provided.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters Recipe
Every summer, I end up with more zucchini than I know what to do with, using it in recipes like my baked zucchini corn poppers, zucchini brownies, tater-less Parmesan zucchini tots, and these crispy zucchini fritters!
If you’ve never tried a zucchini fritter, prepare to fall in love:
- The fritters are lightly crisped on the outside, tender but not mushy on the inside, and there are carrots and onions for extra flavor.
- I also add a bit of cheddar cheese to make them extra tasty, plus garlic, salt, and pepper, of course.
- Rather than frying them in oil, which isn’t the healthiest option, I air-fried the veggies to achieve a crisp texture without all the oil.
Love Air Fryer Recipes?
Try making my crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts next! They’re tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce that everyone loves.
Ingredients and Notes
To make these crispy zucchini fritters, you’ll need the following easy-to-find common fridge and pantry ingredients including the following:
- Grated zucchini: Look for small to medium-sized zucchini. Large zucchini tends to be more watery and a little bland. There’s no need to peel the skin
- Carrots: If you have tons of extra zucchini on your hands to use, or don’t want to use carrots, simply omit the carrots in this recipe and use all zucchini
- White or yellow onion and garlic
- Salt, pepper, and fresh parsley
- Egg: This acts as a binder, helping the fritters hold their shape. I haven’t tested this recipe with an egg substitute like a flax egg, and I can’t guarantee your results if you do
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese makes a tasty alternative, if preferred. Again, I haven’t tested dairy-free cheese, but I imagine it would work
- All-purpose flour: Use a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour if you want to keep your fritters gluten-free. Or, for extra crispiness, try swapping half the flour for panko breadcrumbs
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
Making air fried zucchini fritters is so easy, and the results are so worth it! Follow these straightforward steps for the best results:
- Grate the zucchini and other veggies with a box grater, add them to a colander, salt them, and let the water drain out. Then, squeeze out as much excess water as possible using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. Don’t skip this, or your fritters will be soggy!
- Add the egg, flour, cheese, parsley, and pepper to the zucchini mixture, and stir to combine.
- Make 2 tablespoon-sized patties using a medium cookie scoop to keep them uniform. You want to make sure that your zucchini fritter batter is on the drier rather than moister side, or your fritters won’t crisp.
- Use your hands to gently flatten the zucchini cakes so they cook evenly and crisp all around. Add the fritters to a preheated air fryer basket sprayed with olive oil cooking spray, arranging them in an even layer, and spray the fritters, too.
- Air fry them for 10 minutes. Flip, spray them again, and air fry for about 3 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce. I like to pair my fritters with tzatziki sauce, sour cream, blue cheese dressing, ranch dressing, or spicy mayo!
No Air Fryer? No Problem!
To make baked zucchini fritters, grate the veggies and combine the batter as usual, portioning it into fritters. Then, arrange them on a greased baking sheet, and bake at 375F until golden brown. See the recipe card below for the complete details!
Or, try pan-frying the fritters for a stovetop option. Simply heat oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the zucchini fritters until golden brown and crisp on both sides.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
Equipment
- 1 large colander
Ingredients
- 3 cups zucchini, grated (about 1 1/2 pounds)
- 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated (or omit and use all zucchini and add 1/2 cup extra zucchini)
- ½ white or yellow onion, peeled and grated
- 2 or 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, or another shredded cheese blend
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, finely minced; optional
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Using the coarsest blade of a box grater (or use the grating attachment of a food processor), grate the zucchini, carrot, and onion and add them to a large colander along with the garlic and set it inside your kitchen sink.
- Add the salt and stir to combine. Wait 1 hour. During this time moisture from the vegetables will begin to release.
- After 1 hour, tightly wring out the vegetable mixture in a clean tea towel or cheesecloth. Tip – Do not use paper towels because even the best ones will shred and rip and you'll be picking out paper shreds from your vegetable mixture.
- Place the wrung out vegetables in a large bowl and add the egg, cheese, flour, optional parsley, pepper, and stir to combine.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375F.* (See Notes for Oven Baking Instructions)
- Using a 2-tablespoon medium cookie scoop for uniformity, scoop out and form the fritters and lightly pat each fritter into a semi-flattened round shape but don't overly flatten.
- Spray the basket of the air fryer with olive oil cooking spray or a similar cooking spray, add the fritters to the basket, and lightly spray them too. Tips – They need a bit of oil to actually "fry" so don't skip this. Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. You will likely need to air fry the fritters in two batches.
- Air fry for 10 minutes.
- Open the air fryer, flip the fritters, lightly spray the top side with cooking spray, and air fry for 3 additional minutes, or until done.
- If desired, serve with sour cream, ranch or blue cheese salad dressing, or try one of these easy Homemade Sauces and Dips.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Hi. I use small sweet pepperes in my fritters with red onions, whole wheat flour and motzerella cheese!
Try it this as well. Eat em up!
Sounds like a great idea!
Made these a real change delicious
Made these a real change delicious
Thanks for the 5 star and glad they were delicious!
great