Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters are crispy on the outside and tender inside, made with shredded zucchini, cheddar cheese, eggs, and a little flour. They cook right in the air fryer for an easy appetizer or side dish.
When zucchini is plentiful in the garden, these fritters are a great way to use it up. The cheddar adds plenty of flavor, and they’re especially good while they’re warm and crispy.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
About the Ingredients ⭐
- Zucchini: Use two medium zucchini, shredded for the fritters.
- Cheddar Cheese: Adds cheesy flavor and helps hold the fritters together.
- Egg: Binds the ingredients together.
- All-Purpose Flour: Helps the fritters keep their shape.
- Chives: Add a mild onion flavor.
- Salt & Pepper: Season to taste.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Zucchini Fritters
Prepare the Zucchini: Shred the zucchini using a box grater or food processor. Place it in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
Mix the Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the shredded zucchini, cheddar cheese, egg, flour, chopped chives, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.
Shape the Fritters: Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and shape into patties. If needed, freeze for 5–10 minutes to help them hold their shape.
Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Arrange the fritters in a single layer, leaving space between them. Cook for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 5–10 minutes until golden and crispy.
Tips I Found Helpful 💙
- Remove Excess Moisture: Squeeze the shredded zucchini really well to keep the fritters from getting soggy.
- Don’t Skip the Cheese: Shredded cheddar adds flavor and helps the fritters hold together.
- Keep Them Even: Make the patties similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Leave space between the fritters in the air fryer so the edges get crispy.
- Chill if Needed: If the mixture feels too soft, freeze the patties for 5–10 minutes before cooking.
How to Store Zucchini Fritters
Store leftover zucchini fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until heated through and crispy again.
More Zucchini Recipes I Love
The Best Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini Fritters are crispy on the outside and tender inside, made with shredded zucchini, cheddar cheese, and chives.
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini, shredded
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
Air Fryer
1. Shred the zucchini using a box grater or food processor.
2. Place the shredded zucchini in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
3. In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, cheddar cheese, egg, flour, chives, salt, and pepper.
4. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and shape into patties.
5. If needed, freeze the patties for 5–10 minutes to help them hold their shape.
6. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
7. Arrange the fritters in a single layer, leaving space between each one.
8. Air fry for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for another 5–10 minutes until golden and crispy.
Oven Method
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Arrange the fritters on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden.
Stovetop Method
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the fritters in batches for 3–4 minutes per side, until golden. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Notes
Squeeze as much moisture as possible from the shredded zucchini before mixing. If the patties feel too soft, freeze them for 5–10 minutes before cooking.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 110Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 105mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 6g
It is an awesome recipe. I like oily food. Can I add here a little bit more oil in this recipe?
Spray the fritters with olive oil before, during & after air frying for a bit more of a traditional fried fritter.
So good! I only had one zucchini , so I minced onion, grated carrot and some red pepper. Served with a salsa from last years garden, delish! Come on summer and a bumper crop of zucchini- this’s recipe is a winner!
Do you mix the cheese in the mix or put on afterwards? There’s no instructions for the cheese.
These are amazing! Like them way more than oil fried ones
There’s no mention of the cheddar cheese in the method. Assume it’s all mixed together. Doing now, will let you know.
I used 1/2 flour and 1/2 almond flour to cut down on carbs and Tony’s seasoning instead of salt for a bit of spice. These were fantastic!!
These were amazing, even with using reduced-fat cheese and egg beaters. I also used a bit less flour. But really delicious, thanks!
Excellent – held together well, nice combination of flavors, except quite heavy on the pepper. Also, I substituted almond flour and they still held up. Next time I’m spraying so they stick less, and I’m trying with 1/4 tsp or less. This is a new late summer/early fall favorite!
Your recipe calls for cheddar cheese but you instructions don’t tell when to include it and if you should add the cheese at the end or mix it with all the other ingredients.
Mix with the other ingredients and thanks I will fix
Any suggestion for a dairy free version – what might be substituted for the cheese?
All my zucchini are different sizes when I grow my own. Can you tell me how many cups of shredded zucchini this recipe calls for?
How long do they need to cook if frozen?
Hey! Excited to try this. There’s no info in the recipe on how to place the patties in the fryer. Are they just stacked on top of each other? Wouldn’t they stick and not cook that way? Are they done in batches? Do you have special equipment that allows you to raise each layer from the one below? Inquiring minds want to know 🙂
Thanks!
I did them in batches