Easy Zucchini Fritters
Fry up easy zucchini fritters with this simple keto and gluten-free recipe! With perfectly crispy edges and a cheesy center, this is going to be your new favorite recipe for zucchini fritters.
This tasty little fritter recipe is another creation we have thanks to us overplanting zucchini this summer! I had just shredded several pounds of zucchini to meal prep another batch of these zucchini tortillas, but it got me thinking about other things I could make. I always love these corn fritters but can only have them when we’re not watching our carbs, so a crispy, cheesy keto-friendly fritter became my next goal! It turns out, this was much easier than I expected. Picking the right low-carb flour turned these into the perfect light fritter with crunchy little edges! I’ve got a couple tips and tricks to get these to turn out just right.
Why you will love this zucchini fritter recipe:
- It’s gluten-free & keto friendly.
- You can meal prep & freeze these for later.
- They are super versatile & go with everything.
Ingredients for Zucchini Fritters
- Zucchini and Onion – Use yellow onions for a milder flavor or white onions for a more prominent, punchy onion flavor. Make sure to give yourself time to shred and squeeze the zucchini dry.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Eggs – These help bind the fritters together. You could use commercial egg replacers if you prefer.
- Coconut Flour, Baking Powder, and Xanthan Gum – These are the gluten-free and low-carb alternatives to replace regular flour that most fritters use. I do not recommend any substitutions here because you get the best light texture while still providing some structure.
- Garlic powder and Italian seasoning – These mild seasonings bring out the best in zucchini, but feel free to use your favorite all-purpose seasoning blend.
- Oil – You will need enough of your preferred cooking oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Avocado oil, peanut oil, canola oil, and refined coconut oil all have high smoke points great for frying.
How to Shred and Dry Zucchini
For this recipe, you will need to shred zucchini as well as remove the moisture from it. To shred, cut off the ends of your washed zucchini. I use a handheld grater to shred zucchini, but many food processors will make this quicker.
Once you have your shredded zucchini, place it in the center of a thick, clean kitchen towel. Roll up the towel, then begin twisting it tight. This squeezes the moisture out of the zucchini, allowing it to drain out of the towel. Wring out as much moisture as possible, then twist it the opposite direction and repeat. You may need to do this multiple times to get enough moisture out. You will need 3 packed cups of dry zucchini for this recipe.
How do you make Zucchini Fritters?
- Gently mix your dry, shredded zucchini with all of your other ingredients (minus the oil) in a mixing bowl. Once well combined, let this mixture sit for 5-10 minutes so that the coconut flour can absorb the moisture for the perfect texture.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and add enough cooking oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Once it’s hot, use a small cookie scoop to place little heaps of batter into the pan. After they drop into the pan, flatten them slightly so that the center will cook through. Make sure your fritters are not touching so the edges get nice and crisp. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
What to serve with Keto Zucchini Fritters
We love these with a dollop of sour cream & green onions, some remoulade sauce, or chipotle mayo if serving as an appetizer. Here are some proteins & sides you could add to make it a full meal.
- Steak and Eggs (these make a great low-carb alternative to hash browns with any breakfast!)
- Salmon and Jalapeno Lime Butter
- Grilled Chicken Margherita
- Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
- Antipasto Salad
Storage and Reheating
- Fridge: Store in an airtight container (lined with paper towels) up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Cook, cool, then store in freezer bag with a paper towel layer between each. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Bake for 5 minutes or air fry for 3 minutes (both at 350 degrees F). Avoid the microwave as this makes them soggy.
Zucchini Fritters FAQs
No, coconut flour is perfect because it is super absorbent and finely ground. Other flours either made the fritters soggy, super dense, or added a gritty texture.
Yes, these can be cooked up to 5 days ahead of time and stored in the fridge. When ready to serve, warm in an oven (350 degrees F for 5 minutes) or air fryer (350 degrees F for 3 minutes).
You could swap the cheddar for another cheese (pepper jack is delicious!) or stir in 1/4 cup of cooked, crumbled bacon for a little salty crunch. If you have a bunch of yellow summer squash, you could use that instead of zucchini. Use shallots instead of onion if you want a sweeter, milder flavor. Replace Italian seasoning with your favorite Cajun seasoning blend for the perfect side dish for andouille sausage recipes.
More Popular Recipes
- Egg Bites
- Air Fry Zucchini
- Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
- Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
Get the Recipe: Recipe for Zucchini Fritters
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded zucchini, dried and packed
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup onion, chopped
- 3 large eggs
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- **Salt to taste AFTER cooking, if you add salt to the mixture itself it will release more moisture and be soggy.
Equipment
- Ice cream scoop
Instructions
- Shred the zucchini and place in a tea towel, fold the towel up and wring as much water out of the zucchini as you can. I do this at least two times.
- Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Allow the mixture to sit 5 minutes. Coconut flour absorbs a lot of moisture, so it needs a few minutes to soak everything up.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat with just enough oil to cover the bottom nicely. Use a small (1.5 inch cookie scoop) carefully place the batter in the hot oil and flatten slightly. Allow the fritters to cook 2-3 minutes until golden brown, then flip.
- Salt and pepper to taste after cooking, serve with lemon wedges if desired.
What is xanthan gum? I wouldn’t even know where to look in grocery store.
Xanthan gum is a binder and is found in the baking section. Usually, it is near the cornstarch or baking powder.
Thank you for this recipe. I want to try this. I love zucchini.
Please continue to create more appetizing recipes.