If you've ever grown zucchini, you know that by early September, you are practically begging people to take it off your hands! These Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters are my favorite way to use up that late-summer garden bounty while keeping things light, healthy, and Weight Watchers-friendly!
While typical zucchini fritters are fried in oil, my version uses the air fryer to achieve that irresistible crispy exterior with just a fraction of the fat. They are perfect as an appetizer, a light summer lunch, or a side dish for your next BBQ. This recipe was inspired by my Air Fryer Shredded Potato Pancakes and pairs perfectly with my Healthy Tzatziki Sauce,
Recipe Overview:
- Ready in: 20 minutes
- Serves: 4 patties (easily doubled!)
- Calories: 98 kcal per patty
- Main Ingredients: Zucchini, Feta, Egg, Flour, Fresh Herbs.
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian, Low Calorie, High Protein.
- Weight Watchers Points: 1 WW Point per patty.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Why You'll Love It: It's a "no-fry" recipe that actually stays crispy, making it a guilt-free way to enjoy comfort food. It's the ultimate "End-of-Summer" harvest recipe.
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- Recipe Overview:
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- 🥘Ingredient Notes
- 📖 Variations & Substitutions
- 🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
- Expert Recipe Tips
- 🌡️Storage
- 👪 Serving Size
- 🔢WW Points
- 🥗 What to Serve with Air Fryer Zucchini Patties
- ❔Recipe FAQ's
- Didn't find the answer you're looking for?
- More Air Fryer Recipes
- Mediterranean Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters Recipe
If you are looking for more healthy and savory shredded zucchini recipes, check out my Healthy Zucchini Potato Soup and my Shredded Zucchini Sauté.
🥘Ingredient Notes
- Zucchini: Use medium zucchinis; they have fewer seeds and less water than the "giant" ones.
- Feta Cheese: I recommend a firm Greek feta. It holds its shape better than the pre-crumbled variety and provides those salty "pockets" of flavor.
- Fresh Chives: Don't skip the fresh chives!
- Dill: You can use dried dill (which is what I used) or fresh dill. If you use fresh, you'll need twice the amount.
- Lemon Zest: This adds a bright, citrusy note that cuts through the richness of the cheese.
*Please see recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Gluten-Free: Swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend or almond flour (though almond flour will increase the WW points slightly).
- Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or finely diced jalapeño to the batter for a kick.
- Cheese Swaps: If you aren't a fan of Feta, use sharp white cheddar or goat cheese.
- Vegan: Use a flax egg and a vegan feta alternative.
🔪Step-by-Step: How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
- Step 1: Toss your shredded zucchini with the ½ teaspoon of salt and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Squeeze it through a sieve, pushing out as much liquid as you possibly can. * If you don't have a sieve, a clean kitchen towel works even better for wringing out every last drop.
- Step 3: Mix in all the other ingredients.*The mixture should be thick enough to hold its shape on a spoon. If it's runny, add 1 more tablespoon of flour.
- Step 4: Form the mixture into 4 small, flat patties (about 3 inches wide). * These will be loose and a bit gooey, but don't worry, they will fry up perfectly crispy!
- Step 5: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) (if you have the type that needs preheating). Lightly spray the basket with non-stick spray. Spray the air fryer basket or drawer with a non-propellant spray (such as Avocado). Very gently, place the fritters in the basket or drawer (don't let them touch). Spray the tops with a little oil.
- Step 6: Air fry for 7 minutes, then flip over and lightly spray your zucchini fritters with non- propellant oil one more time (this helps them brown and crisp up).
- Step 7: Fry for about another 6-8 minutes or until they are no longer gooey inside. Serve warm with a dollop of Light Tzatziki Sauce (you can make this or buy it pre-made at most grocery stores).
Expert Recipe Tips
- The "Salt & Sit" Secret: Don't just squeeze the zucchini immediately. After shredding, toss it with the salt and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. The salt draws the moisture out of the cells, allowing you to get it much drier than squeezing alone.
- Don't Overcrowd: Ensure there is space between the patties in the air fryer basket. Air circulation is what makes them crispy; if they touch, they will steam instead of fry.
- The Flour Balance: If your zucchini was particularly juicy and the batter feels like "soup," add 1 extra tablespoon of flour. It should be the consistency of a thick muffin batter.
- The "No-Propellant" Rule: To protect the life of your air fryer, avoid using aerosol cooking sprays (like Pam) that contain propellants or soy lecithin. Over time, these chemicals can create a gummy residue that is nearly impossible to remove and can cause the non-stick coating of your basket to peel and flake off. Instead, use a pump-style oil mister or a non-propellant spray (like Avocado or Olive oil spray)-just check the label to ensure "oil" is the only ingredient!
- Invest in some silicone tongs. They won't damage the inside of your air fryer like metal ones will.
🌡️Storage
Store: Keep leftover fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: These freeze beautifully! Flash-freeze them on a baking sheet for 1 hour before transferring to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Reheat: To maintain that crunch, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes. Avoid the microwave, as it will make them soggy!
👪 Serving Size
This zucchini fritters recipe makes 4 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢WW Points
This Zucchini Fritter recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 1 WW point each!
🥗 What to Serve with Air Fryer Zucchini Patties
These are a Labor Day classic in the making! I love serving them:
- Weekend BBQ or Cookout Spread: Serve them as a side dish to your grilled burgers or my Grilled Greek Ribs (shown below).
- Back-to-School Lunch: These hold up surprisingly well in a lunchbox! Pack them cold with a side of hummus or tzatziki for a healthy school or work lunch.
- The Meze Platter: Pair them with my Healthy Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad for a fusion-style summer feast.
- Topped with a poached egg for a high-protein, low-point breakfast.
❔Recipe FAQ's
Yes! Thaw it completely first. Frozen zucchini releases even more water than fresh, so you will need to squeeze it even more aggressively using a cheesecloth or sturdy kitchen towel.
This usually happens if the zucchini was still too wet. Make sure the mixture is thick, and the basket is hot (IF you have an air fryer that needs preheating) before adding the patties.
You can! Bake at 400°F (200°C) on a parchment-lined sheet for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. However, they won't be quite as crispy as the air fryer version.
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Whether you are looking for a clever way to hide vegetables from the kids or a sophisticated, low-point appetizer for a Greek-themed dinner party, these Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters are a total game-changer. They prove that you don't need a deep fryer to get that golden, salty crunch we all crave. Give them a try this summer and let me know how they turned out in the comments!
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Mediterranean Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Shredded Zucchini Squeezed bone-dry!
- 1 Large Egg
- ⅓ cup All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ cup Feta Cheese crumbled
- 2 tablespoon Finely Grated Parmesan.
- 3 tablespoon Fresh Chives chopped
- 2 cloves Fresh Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest (about ½ of a large lemon)
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Toss your shredded zucchini with the ½ teaspoon of salt and let it sit for 5 minutes.2 cups Shredded Zucchini, ½ tsp Salt
- Squeeze it through a seive, pushing out as much liquid as you possibly can.
- Mix in all the other ingredients. *The mixture should be thick enough to hold its shape on a spoon. If it's runny, add 1 more tablespoon of flour.1 Large Egg, ⅓ cup All-Purpose Flour, ¼ cup Feta Cheese, 2 tbsp Finely Grated Parmesan., 3 tbsp Fresh Chives, 2 cloves Fresh Garlic, 1 tsp Lemon Zest, ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- Form the mixture into 4 small, flat patties (about 3 inches wide) * These will be loose and a bit gooey but don't worry, they will fry up perfectly!
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) (if it's the type that needs preheating). Lightly spray the basket with non-stick spray. Spray the air fryer basket or drawer with a non-propellant spray (such as Avocado).
- Very gently, place the fritters in the basket or drawer (don't let them touch). Spray the tops with a little oil. Air fry for 7 minutes,
- Fry for about another 6-8 minutes or until they are no longer gooey inside.
- Serve warm with a dollop of Light Tzatziki Sauce.
Notes
- The "Salt & Sit" Secret: Don't just squeeze the zucchini immediately. After shredding, toss it with the salt and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. The salt draws the moisture out of the cells, allowing you to get it much drier than squeezing alone.
- Don't Overcrowd: Ensure there is space between the patties in the air fryer basket. Air circulation is what makes them crispy; if they touch, they will steam instead of fry.
- The Flour Balance: If your zucchini was particularly juicy and the batter feels like "soup," add 1 extra tablespoon of flour. It should be the consistency of a thick muffin batter.
- The "No-Propellant" Rule: To protect the life of your air fryer, avoid using aerosol cooking sprays (like Pam) that contain propellants or soy lecithin. Over time, these chemicals can create a gummy residue that is nearly impossible to remove and can cause the non-stick coating of your basket to peel and flake off. Instead, use a pump-style oil mister or a non-propellant spray (like Avocado or Olive oil spray)-just check the label to ensure "oil" is the only ingredient!
- Invest in some silicone tongs. They won't damage the inside of your air fryer like metal ones will
- Gluten-Free: Swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend or almond flour (though almond flour will increase the WW points slightly).
- Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or finely diced jalapeño to the batter for a kick.
- Cheese Swaps: If you aren't a fan of Feta, use sharp white cheddar or goat cheese.
- Vegan: Use a flax egg and a vegan feta alternative.
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