Description
These crispy and delicious Zucchini Tots are a healthy and tasty twist on the classic tater tots. Made with grated zucchini, cheddar cheese, and seasoned panko breadcrumbs, they bake to golden perfection and make a perfect snack or side dish. Serve them warm with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 cups zucchini (grated, about 2 medium zucchinis)
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Ketchup for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the tots from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Zucchini: Place the grated zucchini into a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible. This step is crucial to avoid soggy tots. Discard the extracted liquid and measure out 1 cup of the packed zucchini.
- Mix Ingredients: Transfer the dried zucchini to a medium mixing bowl. Add the egg, shredded cheddar cheese, panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and onion powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything together until the mixture holds together when pressed.
- Shape Tots: Using a tablespoon, scoop the mixture and form small oval shapes resembling traditional tater tots. You should be able to make approximately 16 zucchini tots from this mixture.
- Bake: Place the zucchini tots on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning, until they are golden and crispy.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly. Serve the zucchini tots warm with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce for the best taste experience.
Notes
- Be sure to squeeze out as much moisture from the zucchini as possible to ensure crispy tots.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- You can add fresh herbs like parsley or basil for extra flavor.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven to retain crispiness.
- These tots can also be frozen before baking; bake them directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
