Parmesan Zucchini Bites – Baked or Fried

Parmesan zucchini bites are where it’s at. These fried parmesan zucchini bites are crispy and delicious with a golden brown batter that can’t be beat. Whether you fry them or try them baked, these little crispy bites make an amazing appetizer or side dish. 

We eat so much zucchini from our garden throughout the growing season that we rarely buy any during the winter months. By the tame fall has come and gone, we are usually on zucchini overload, and we won’t have it again until we start growing it the next season. 

BUT I had a craving for these delicious fried parmesan zucchini bites, and you know what happens when a cook gets a craving. That’s right. Things get cooked! I woke up one day with an absolute raging need to eat some tasty fried zucchini bites, so I went to the store and brought home some zucchini to cook up. 

This is another recipe of mine that’s super easy and so good, so it’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re having a random craving as I did, serving it up as a side dish, an appetizer, or a snack, or you need something quick and easy to bring to your game day bash, holiday get-together, or potluck, these crispy zucchini bites fit the bill to bite-sized perfection. 

These seriously are the ultimate finger food or snack. Their delicious flavor goes well with pretty much any holiday or special occasion, and they’re also easy enough for a crispy, tasty weeknight side dish, too. 

I’m not sure where fried zucchini originates. I have a southern friend who swears they have to come from the south originally, but who knows? It’s probably on Google somewhere, but I’ve never looked it up. I’ve been too busy making them to research them!

No matter where they originated, this crowd-pleasing favorite has spread all across North America, finding its way into kitchens from the deep south to all the way up here in Canada. It’s not hard to see why. They’re delicious, and they take relatively little effort to make, which makes them an instant classic with most cooks. 

Fried Parmesan Zucchini Bites are the Ultimate Appetizer

If you need an appetizer for ANY occasion, you need these little fried bites of heaven. They are the ultimate appetizer for any get-together. Why is that, you say? Well, let’s take a look at them. They check all the boxes for a great appetizer. 

Are they bite-sized? Yes.

Do they get dipped in something? Yes.

Are they fried? Unless you bake them (which is tasty, too) yes. 

Are they easy to make? Double yes! 

And let’s not forget that veggies are perfect for just about anything. So there you have it. These are the perfect appetizer. Just whip up a batch, and you’ll instantly be the star of the food show at any sort of celebration or just your own dinner table. Winner!

Parmesan Zucchini Bites Ingredients

It only takes a few ingredients to make these fried parmesan zucchini bites. All you need is some sliced zucchini, breading ingredients, and oil to fry them or cooking spray if you’re baking them. That’s it. It’s a very limited ingredient recipe that doesn’t take a lot of ingredients or work to make. Here’s what you need. 

• 2 sliced zucchinis
• 1 cup breadcrumbs or panko to taste
• ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated or shredded to taste
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Garlic powder – optional
• Cooking spray if baking
• ½ cup olive or vegetable oil if pan-frying

That’s it. What did I tell you? There aren’t very many ingredients needed to make this tasty appetizer.

Making the Parmesan Zucchini Bites

Making these delicious fried parmesan zucchini bites is a simple affair. Essentially, you slice, dredge, and either fry or bake. That’s all there is to it. You’ll find that it’s one of the easiest recipes you’ve ever made, and it tastes so good, that’s a good thing. Because you’ll find yourself making it quite a bit. Here’s how to make these tasty zucchini bites. 

Prep

1. Slice zucchini into ¼ to ½ inch slices. 
2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
3. Combine panko breading and parmesan cheese in a bowl and set aside. 
4. Add flour to a bowl and set aside. 
5. Beat eggs in a bowl and set aside.
6. Dredge zucchini in flour. 
7. Dip floured zucchini into eggs. 
8. Press flour and egg coated zucchini into panko and parmesan mixture. 
9. Place on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper until ready to cook.

Frying

1. Heat oil over medium to medium-high heat in a large skillet until a drop of water flicked on it dances. 
2. Add zucchini slices to the oil and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes a side until golden brown. 
3. Transfer fried parmesan zucchini bites to a paper towel-lined plate.

Baking

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. 
2. Place zucchini slices on a baking sheet lined with tin foil that’s been lightly coated with cooking spray. 
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. 

That’s all there is to it. Making these zucchini bites is an easy process that doesn’t take a lot of time. The bulk of the prep work is really just slicing the zucchini. After that, it’s just dredging a couple of times and cooking them up. Super easy. 

Tips

As easy as this recipe is, there are one or two things to watch out for when making them. They might seem small, but they can drastically change the outcome of your fried zucchini. 

Don’t Slice Your Zucchini too Thickly

It’s important that you slice your zucchini NO thicker than ½ inch thick. Zucchini has a lot of water in it, and if you slice it too thickly, all that water will release, leaving you with soggy zucchini bites rather than crispy ones. 

Don’t Slice your Zucchini too Thinly

On the other side of things is slicing your zucchini too thinly. Zucchini slices that are too thick lead to a soggy coating. Slices that are too thin lead to a mushy interior. If you slice your zucchini anywhere from ¼ to ½ inch thick, you’ll be in the sweet spot for a perfectly cooked slice of zucchini wrapped up in an equally perfectly cooked coating.

Don’t Overcook It

You’ll also need to be careful about overcooking these little bites. When you fry or bake these fried parmesan zucchini bites, you’re mainly just trying to get the coating cooked and crispy. Zucchini takes very little time to cook, so don’t keep your bites in the oil or the oven after they start to become golden. It’s easy to burn these guys, so take them out immediately to ensure a coating that is crispy and delicious and NOT burned. 

Creamy Sauce Works Best

Creamy sauces for dipping are what you want for this recipe. They just work so well with the golden coating and zucchini center. Of course, you can use any sauce, but I’ve found that creamy sauces are the bee’s knees for this one. That being said if you want to bathe your zucchini bites in BBQ sauce, have at it. You do you!

Serving Fried Parmesan Zucchini Bites

Serving these delicious little fried – or baked, depending on your preference – bites are as easy as making them. They’re perfect as a side to any meal or as an appetizer or game day treat. If you’re serving them as an appetizer or game day grub, I recommend pairing them with a dipping sauce. Ranch, tzatziki sauce, or another creamy sauce are my three go-to’s when serving these bites with a dipping sauce. The creamy sauce pairs perfectly with the crispy coating on these zucchini bites. 

Storing Fried Parmesan Zucchini Bites

These fried parmesan zucchini bites are best enjoyed the same day they’re cooked. They CAN be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days, however, they will lose that crispness that makes them so good. 

If you want to prepare to make these ahead of time, you can freeze them after you’ve coated them but before cooking them. Prepare your zucchini just as you would if you were going to cook it. After the slices have been coated with flour, egg, and the panko and parmesan mixture, lay them out on a baking sheet and freeze them. Then, transfer them to an air-tight freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag for storage. When you’re ready, simply take them out and cook them up!

FAQ

This will be an extremely short FAQ. There’s not very much that you need to remember when it comes to making these delicious fried parmesan zucchini bites. 

Q: Why did my zucchini bites come out soggy?
A: You probably cut them too thickly. If your zucchini slices are too thick, the moisture from the zucchini will leech into the batter and make it soggy. 

Q: My batter came out great, but my zucchini is all mushy. Why?
A: You sliced your zucchini too thinly. If your zucchini slices are too thin, the cooking process will turn them into pure mush. 

Q: What can I serve these zucchini bites with?
A: These zucchini bites make a great appetizer or side dish. If you’re serving them as an appetizer, pair them with ranch, tzatziki, or another creamy sauce. Yum. 

Q: How long will these zucchini bites last?
A: They’ll keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days. That being said, after the first day, they’ll start to get soggy, so it’s better to eat them immediately. 

Try These Fried Parmesan Zucchini Bites for Yourself

These fried parmesan zucchini bites are delicious and exceedingly easy to make. It only takes a few minutes of slicing and dredging, and they’re ready to be cooked. Give them a try. They take next to no time to make, and they’re always a crowd-pleaser. That combination means that you’ll probably be making these tasty fried treats all the time. That’s a good thing because everyone loves them!