Zucchini tots are similar to traditional tater tots, only made with shredded zucchini. A great after-school snack and sneak in some veggies!
If you’re looking for amazing recipes that turn fresh zucchini into a great side dish or snack for the whole family, these cheesy zucchini tots are the perfect fit. With a handful of simple ingredients like parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, and shredded zucchini, they’re crispy, flavorful, and easy to make in your air fryer or toaster oven.
Any other parents out there who have to hide vegetables to get their kids to eat them? I know I can’t be the only mom who does this. And I’m pretty sure my parents did it to me, too. That’s where these zucchini tots come in handy!
My boys take after their momma, and I take after mine. None of us really eats many vegetables. But I do try. I will put quite a few vegetables in my chicken fried rice, and make smoothies with fruit and vegetables, and I’ve been eating a salad a lot lately. I know it’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
Tyler and Ryan are a bit better at eating vegetables than I am. Their only problem is that once they’ve decided they aren’t going to like something, they won’t change their minds. Especially Tyler.
But what kid doesn’t like tater tots? I remember chowing down on the school lunch tater tots when I was a kid.
Traditional tater tots are made with shredded potatoes. I wanted something healthier to try for the boys. We also had a zucchini in the refrigerator that wasn’t going to be used for anything. So I decided to make some zucchini tots.
It was also a great chance for me to use the shredder attachment for my stand mixer. I got it years ago, but I rarely use it. Honestly, I forget about it most of the time! The attachment shredded the zucchini with ease. If you don’t have a stand mixer or the piece for it, you can use a regular box shredder, too.
How to Prepare Zucchini Tots: Removing Excess Moisture
One of the most important steps in making crispy zucchini tater tots is getting rid of excess moisture from the grated zucchini. Here’s a great tip:
- Use a nut milk bag or a clean kitchen towel/clean dish towel to squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
- Alternatively, wrap your shredded zucchini in a clean dish towel and press to remove excess liquid.
This step is key to avoiding soggy tots and achieving that perfect golden brown finish.
Cooking Methods: Air Fryer, Toaster Oven, or Oven-Baked
These veggie tots cook best until golden brown and crispy. Here are your options:
- Air fryer: Cook for about 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Toaster oven: Bake on a prepared baking sheet at 400°F until crispy.
- A traditional oven works well, too.
Great Ideas for Serving and Pairing
These zucchini fritters (or cauliflower tots for another veggie twist) are a great way to sneak in some extra veggies for picky eaters, including the picky toddler crowd.
Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce like sour cream, ranch, or even ketchup — perfect for a big game day snack or a weekday meal side.
Why You’ll Love This Zucchini Recipe
- Uses fresh zucchini and a handful of ingredients you likely already have.
- A healthier version of traditional fried tots or fries.
- A great low carb alternative to potato-based snacks like russet potatoes fries.
- It can be made in a double batch and stored for later.
- Suitable for those watching their calorie diet or looking for creative ways to add veggies.
Full Information and Tips
- Use a box grater or cheese grater for shredding.
- Be sure to dry zucchini with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to remove much water.
- Experiment with different cheese blends to customize the flavor.
- For less mess, bake on parchment paper or a prepared baking sheet.
- Sprinkle a little black pepper or garlic powder to boost flavor.
Zucchini Tots Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- marinara sauce (to dip)
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400F. If you are using a baking stone, leave it in the oven to preheat. If you are using a baking sheet, line it with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Shred the zucchini.
Then drain it of as much liquid as possible. I used a piece of cheesecloth and wrapped it around the zucchini. Then I continued to twist it tighter to release the liquid.
Place the zucchini in a large mixing bowl and add the eggs, panko, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cheese. We used sharp cheddar cheese because we all like that and it was what we had. You could also try them with white cheddar or mozzarella for a slightly different flavor.
Whisk all of the ingredients together until they are well combined.
Scoop out the zucchini mixture by the tablespoon and place them on your prepared baking sheet.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping and enjoy!
Zucchini Tots Leftovers
Storage: After cooking, let your cheesy zucchini tots cool completely before storing. Place them in an airtight container or a safe container to keep them fresh. Stored properly in the refrigerator, they will stay good for 3-5 days. Using a container that seals well helps maintain the crispy texture as much as possible and prevents any moisture buildup that could make them soggy.
Reheating: To enjoy your leftover zucchini tots, reheating is best done in an air fryer or toaster oven to help restore their golden brown crispiness. Heat them for about 10-15 minutes at 375°F, checking halfway through to avoid burning. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it tends to make the tots soft and less appetizing. Using parchment paper on your baking tray or air fryer basket helps prevent sticking during reheating.
Freezing: If you’ve made a double batch or want to save some for later, zucchini tots freeze very well. Arrange the tots in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze until solid, about an hour. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. When ready to eat, cook the frozen tots straight from the freezer in the air fryer or oven, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time to ensure they get crispy and heated through without losing their texture.
Recipe
Originally Published On: October 15, 2018
Last Updated On: May 30, 2025
Zucchini Tots
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
- marinara sauce (to dip)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F
- Prepare a baking sheet by leaving a stone in the oven or lining a sheet with parchment paper
- Shred the zucchini
- Place in a mesh strainer or use a cheesecloth to squeeze out as much liquid as possible
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the marinara sauce
- Scoop by the tablespoon and place on the prepared baking dish
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the tots are golden brown
- Serve warm with marinara sauce to dip
Notes
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Other Recipes with Hidden Veggies
- Zucchini Bread: A Sweet Way to Eat Your Veggies
- Simple Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Recipe with Hidden Carrots
- Zucchini Tots
- Red Lentil Soup
- Creamy Artichoke Soup
- Tomato Soup (Vegan and Dairy-Free)
- Vegetable Fritters: A Sneaky Way to Eat Your Vegetables
Marinara Sauce
- Meaty Marinara Sauce in the Slow Cooker
- Super Easy Homemade Fried Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
- Sesame Pull-Apart Rolls
- Homemade Pizza Burgers: The Best Combo of Two Recipes
- Zucchini Tots
- Herbed Tortellini (or Ravioli)
- Easy Chicken Parmesan
- Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Stromboli Ring
- Classic Stuffed Shells
- Crispy Fried Mozzarella Cakes Recipe with Fresh Cheese
I’ve never heard of tots before but they look yummy! I’ve been very lucky in that my daughter has always loved veg so I’ve never had to hide it like so many of my friends did!
Oh man, you are lucky! I have such a hard time getting my boys to eat most veggies.
Hmmm, interesting recipe! I haven’t found a way to start eating zucchini yet, so this may be the ticket.
This is a great way. You get just a bit of the taste of zucchini in there without too much at once.
never heard of it before, but they look delicious!!
xx
lau
We used to have tater tots made with potatoes, but this is a healthier version of that.
I just saw a frozen version of these at the grocery store but I’m sure your recipe is way healthier and SO much tastier! Plus, I love that these are baked instead of fried- yum!
Oh really? I had no idea they had them in the frozen section. I’ve never seen them here but never really looked, either.
I love seeing your kids helpin the kitchen! My kids are much more likely to eat something they have a hand in preparing. I’m definitely going to try these. I’m lucky that (so far) my kids eat their vegetables, but it’s always great to change up what I serve.
They love helping in the kitchen, especially my oldest son. And yes, when they help make something they are more likely to at least give it a try.
This is awesome. I love seeing creative ways of doing healthy meals that kids will like too. It’s also fun to make these with a kids.
Sometimes you have to get creative to get kids to try things like this.
THESE ARE SO CLEVER!!! My girls will eat zucchini many other ways, but for some reason as soon as I shred/spiralize it, they refuse to touch it (except in bread/muffins). Will have to try this on them sometime!
That’s so strange! Kids can be so funny sometimes.
I have months where all I eat is veggies and then other months where I don’t eat any! This would be a good way to help balance that!
I’ve done that before, too. We go through stages of making a lot then times when we don’t make any.
These is such a great idea! I don’t have kids yet but I know how to trick them into eating vegetables haha! I hope I won’t have too though! These look so yummy I’m a cheese lover
They are great for tricking adults into eating veggies, too 😉
I love zucchini – so these would be so awesome. I need to give these a try and sneak some veggies in on my kiddos.
It’s a great way to sneak them in since you can’t see the veggies, they don’t know they are eating them!
This looks like such a delicious way to get some more veggies into a diet. I wonder if my daughter would be interested in it. It and a good dipping sauce is awesome.
Having something to dip it in tends to make a difference for kids. It’s more fun that way!
These tots sound delicious! Luckily I don’t have to hide zucchini from my children, these are one of their favourite vegetables. But I will try your recipe with other vegetables and see what happens!
Oh man, I even have to hide zucchini from myself 😉 That’s awesome that they are so willing to eat zucchini!
Zucchini is one if my favs!!!!! I so love it baked. I cant wait to try it this way. It look amazing
These are a great way to make it into an easy snack.