Description
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, these zucchini garlic bites are a healthy, cheesy, and flavorful snack or appetizer. Perfect for kids, parties, or meal prep, and easily adapted for gluten-free or keto diets.
Ingredients
1 cup shredded zucchini, drained well
1 clove garlic, finely grated
1/3 cup breadcrumbs (or gluten-free alternative)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (or 1 tablespoon dried)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (or 1/2 tablespoon dried)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
Pinch of salt and pepper
Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Grate the zucchini using a box grater and place in a clean towel. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
In a mixing bowl, combine shredded zucchini, garlic, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
Scoop one tablespoon of mixture and roll into a ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
Serve warm with marinara dipping sauce.
Notes
For an air fryer version, cook at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, shaking halfway.
For vegan bites, use a flax egg and vegan cheese.
For gluten-free bites, use almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best crispiness.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking, Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bite
- Calories: 26
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 54 mg
- Fat: 1.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.2 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1.9 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
Keywords: zucchini garlic bites, baked zucchini bites, healthy zucchini snack, zucchini appetizer recipe