Easy Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters Recipe

Name: Easy Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 cups shredded zucchini (2 medium size zucchini); 2 large eggs; 1/4 cup chives (chopped); 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs; 1/2 cup Parmesan (grated); 1/2 cup mozzarella (shredded); 1/8 th teaspoon garlic powder; salt; Serve with sour cream (yogurt, marinara or eat plain)

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These Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters are the perfect side dish or snack for any occasion. Made with fresh zucchini and pantry staples, they are easy to make and delicious to eat. Whether you’re looking for a healthy option for a snack or appetizer, or just want a tasty side dish, these fritters will satisfy your cravings.

Do you love zucchini? Be sure to try these Crunchy Baked Zucchini Sticks too!

A stack of three zucchini fritters topped with sour cream on a brown plate.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This is family-approved! My aunt shared a version of this recipe, and I couldn’t stop playing with it. It can be easily adjusted to include different spices and cheese variations based on what you have on hand.
With a handful of basic ingredients, you will have a crunchy and healthy snack in no time.
It’s a great way to use up all the summer garden zucchini.
These freeze beautifully. Store in the freezer and grab a snack any time of year.
By using the air fryer these have a lot less fat than the traditional zucchini fritter. There will be no messy oil spatter to deal with.

If you are looking for more delicious and easy zucchini recipes next time try this Baked Zucchini Squash recipe or this Low Sugar Zucchini Bread recipe.

Ingredients Needed

You only need a few simple ingredients to help you make this crispy zucchini fritters recipe. One of the best things about this recipe is that most of these ingredients are pantry staples so you may not even need to make a trip to the grocery store.

shredded zucchini – you’ll need two cups of zucchini. One large or two small zucchinis will give you the amount needed once it is shredded.
large eggs
chives – chives are mild tasting. If you want a bolder onion, then you can use scallions.
panko bread crumbs – panko is light and airy. You can also use plain bread crumbs or for a low-carb option use pork rinds.
Parmesan
shredded mozzarella
garlic powder
salt
favorite dipping sauce – so many delicious options! When I can’t decide on the flavors I want to use I top fritters with sour cream. A dollop of crema fresca tastes fantastic too.

Ingredients needed to make zucchini fritters.

How to Make These Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters

Making these zucchini fritters is so easy, Just follow these step-by-step instructions or look for the full recipe in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Shred the zucchini and remove as much liquid as possible.

Shred the zucchini using the small size grater hole. Place zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let the excess moisture drain out of the zucchini for 15-30 minutes.

Grated zucchini in a white colander draining excess water.

Step 2: Dry the grated zucchini.

With paper towels or a clean kitchen towel, blot excess water from the zucchini.

Step 3: Make the fritter mixture.

In a medium size mixing bowl whisk the eggs. Add the shredded zucchini, panko, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and garlic powder. Mix with a rubber spatula until well combined.

Ingredients in a mixing bowl for zucchini fritters.

Step 4: Shape the zucchini cakes.

Scoop 1/4 -1/3 cup of zucchini mix and with your hands form patties. Place the fritters on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes to firm up. Pictured are 6, but you should get 8 patties.

Shaped zucchini fritters placed on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Step 5: Air fry the patties.

Lightly grease the bottom of the air fryer insert with oil or cooking spray. Place the zucchini patty on the insert turn the heat to 375°F-380°F and air fry for 10 minutes or until golden. Serve with sour cream, yogurt, or marinara sauce.

Air fried zucchini fritters in the insert of an air fryer.

How To Bake Zucchini Fritters In The Oven

No air fryer? No problem! You can oven-bake zucchini fritters for a healthier option without shallow-pan or deep frying. Follow steps 1-4 above, then place the fritters on a baking sheet topped with a greased cooling rack. This helps the heat circulate under the fritter. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until golden.

What To Serve With This Dish

These air fryer zucchini fritters make a great side dish or appetizer for the whole family. I love to pair them with a dipping sauce such as Keto Ranch Dressing, Blue Cheese Sauce, Avocado Cream Sauce, or even Homemade Pizza Sauce. No matter what you choose to dip them in, they will be a crowd favorite.

Substitutions and Additions

One great thing about this air fryer zucchini fritters recipe is that it’s easy to customize to suit your tastes. This is a few of my favorite tried and true swaps for this recipe:

For a low-carb option use crushed pork rinds instead of the panko crumbs.
For additional flavor in your fritters, you can add Italian seasoning, black pepper, onion powder, or your favorite fresh herbs to the mixture.
The cheese mix options are endless. Switch the cheese to your favorite variety. Sharp cheddar cheese mixed with mozzarella cheese is a tasty option.
Want a touch of heat in your fritters? Try adding a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the mixture.

Overhead view of zucchini fritters on a white serving plate with sour cream in the center.

How To Store

Store leftover fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in an air fryer or oven until warmed through and crispy again. These fritters also freeze well, just place them on a baking sheet and freeze for about an hour before transferring to a freezer-safe container. They can be reheated directly from frozen in the air fryer or oven.

Sandra’s Pro Tips

Here are a few tips that you can use to ensure that these fritters turn out perfectly for you when you make them.

You can use paper towels, a clean dish towel, or even cheesecloth to remove the excess liquid from the zucchini. This will help your fritters have a crispy texture.
I like to use medium-sized zucchini instead of large ones because I find that they are more tender.
So that the fritters crisp up nicely make sure that you place them in a single layer in your air fryer basket, the air needs to move freely around them.
To prevent the fritters from sticking to your air fryer basket you can spray it with a little olive oil spray or nonstick cooking spray.
I don’t recommend using basket liners for this recipe. The air will not circulate and the underside of the fritters will not brown.

Healthy zucchini fritters air fried on a white serving dish topped with chopped chives.

FAQs

Do you have questions about this air fryer zucchini patties recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.

Can I freeze zucchini fritters?

Yes, you can freeze cooked leftover zucchini fritters. However, they may not be as crispy when thawed and reheated. You can also freeze the fritters before air frying.

Why are my zucchini fritters soggy?

If your fritters are soggy that most likely means there was too much water left in the zucchini. Try to get as much water out as possible.

What is the best dipping sauce to pair with zucchini fritters?

I like to dip them in ranch, sour cream, or marinara sauce but the options are endless.

Air fryer zucchini fritters on a brown dish topped with sour cream ready to eat.

Other Delicious Air Fryer Recipes You May Enjoy

Air Fryer Deviled Hard Boiled Eggs – This deviled egg recipe takes no time when using the air fryer.
Air Fryer Mashed Potato Balls – Tasty side dish or appetizer using leftover mashed potatoes.
Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs – The no-fuss meatballs are flavorful and can be served with a dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Ravioli – a crispy appetizer for a crowd without any messy oil.