This tasty zucchini garlic bites recipe combines shredded zucchini with garlic, Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and is served with a marinara dipping sauce for an Italian inspired twist.
Ah, zucchini…Its the crop that just keeps on giving throughout the growing season. This recipe is one more way to transform it into a scrumptious bite that can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or even a kid’s meal.
This time of year has the kitchen busy with preserving the harvest. Right now, the counters are filled with tomatoes and zucchini harvested from the garden. Both are in heavy rotation as I turn the ripe tomatoes into sauce or salsa, and the zucchini into zucchini lasagna, zucchini bread, or preserve for later. Once the counter is cleared, I have only a short moment of satisfaction before it begins filling up once again with newly picked fruit.
With football season approaching, I wanted to add something different to our weekly finger food spread. Since weekends spent preserving the harvest usually stretches well into fall, it had to be something tasty but easy to throw together.
Faced with a counter full of newly harvested zucchini, and the aroma of tomato sauce filling the kitchen as it simmered on the stove, it was then that I remembered one of those cooking videos on Facebook. It was some sort of shredded zucchini combination to resemble tater tots. I wanted to try something similar but with an Italian inspired twist.
I began chopping up some fresh parsley, oregano, and basil. I thought about adding minced onion and garlic, but worried about the texture since they wouldn’t have time to soften. Instead, I added chopped chives for a mild onion flavor and grated the garlic that infused into the mixture. A little Parmesan cheese added a slight nutty flavor.
Cooking Tip: How to Make Dried Bread Crumbs
How to Make Baked Zucchini Garlic Bites
Key to the success of this recipe is to squeeze out as much moisture as you can from the shredded zucchini. This will result in a bite that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Shred your zucchini by sliding across the large holes of a box grater. Place the grated zucchini in a clean kitchen towel and twist the towel to wring out moisture. Grate the garlic using the small holes on the box grater and combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl.
Shape the zucchini mixture into small balls, and place on your prepared baking sheets. Bake until golden and serve warm with a tomato dipping sauce.
- 1 cup zucchini grated and drained well
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated fine
- 1 clove garlic grated fine
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh basil chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano chopped
- pinch of salt and pepper
- tomato sauce for dipping
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Preheat oven to 400˚F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil or non-stick spray. Set aside.
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Use a box grater to grate the zucchini into a clean towel. Roll up the towel and twist to wring out the moisture. Grate the garlic using the small holes on the box grater.
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In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients and mix well.
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Shape a tablespoon of the mixture into your hands, pat into small balls, and place on the baking sheet.
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Bake for 15-18 minutes in the preheated oven until golden. Serve warm with marinara sauce. Recipe makes about 16 bites.
Serve with warm marinara sauce:
Crockpot Tomato Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes
Seasoned Tomato Sauce for Home Canning
You May Also Like:
- Crockpot Tomato Sauce Recipe
- Seasoned Tomato Sauce for Home Canning
- Grilled Tomato Salsa Recipe
- Garden Fresh Zucchini Lasagna Recipe
- 3 Easy Ways to Preserve Zucchini
- How to Grow Zucchini and Summer Squash Vertically
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Maureen says
What if you do not have fresh herbs, how much dry would you use.
©Rachel Arsenault says
Maureen, Dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor than fresh. For this recipe, I would substitute half dried for the fresh: 1 tablespoons dried chives, 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, and 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano. It doesn’t have to be exact.
JavaQueen says
Delicious! I had all the fresh herbs in my garden as well as the zucchini. The only problem is I should have tripled the recipe. So Good! Served it with salsa.
Daniel says
Just made some in the air fryer. I used some grated and some shaved Parmesan. Also added some cheddar cheese.
Nikki says
What temperature and for how long in the air fryer? I hate turning my oven on in the summer. Thanks ahead of time for your response
©Rachel Arsenault says
Nikki, I don’t know if Daniel will see this, but I will test the recipe using an air fryer this summer once my zucchini start producing. I will update here once I do.
Brea says
These last less than 10 minutes between my three year old & husband. Made the recipe with vegan parm & egg substitute. Definitely we be a popular summer treat around my house!
Beth says
Can these be frozen and baked the day of the party, or should I bake them then re-heat them?
©Rachel Arsenault says
Beth, You can bake and reheat the zucchini garlic bites the following day. If you want to freeze them, I suggest baking before freezing, and then place the frozen zucchini garlic bites on a baking sheet and bake until heated through and crispy on the outside.
Emily says
If I was going to make this for the Keto diet, would almond flour work in place of bread crumbs?
©Rachel Arsenault says
Emily, I don’t know. Please let me know if you try it.
Jenna says
Made this a x3 batch as I have so much zucchini, and then presed it into a 9×13 pan cut out triangles to save time shaping the balls, and easier for kids to pick up. I ran out of Parm and used Feta in place, tasted great.
Nicole says
This is a great idea!!
Nat says
I’m going to be making these as an appetizer on Easter. Since I’ll be in church in the morning I won’t have too much time. Would you recommend preparing them the night before and baking them the following afternoon or baking them the night before and just reheating? I want it to taste as fresh as possible.
©Rachel Arsenault says
Nat, Baking the night before and re-heating in the oven would work better. I am not sure how the mixture will hold up overnight since I have not tried it.
Sandy says
Just made some and enjoyed them. How are you storing them?
Mafe says
Great recipe° Thank you!