Zucchini Tots
Loaded with zucchini and carrots, these tots do not even taste healthy! It’s the perfect way to sneak in veggies, and it’s just so good!
I love tater tots just as much as the next person. I’ll make them from scratch or I’ll wrap it in bacon, coated in brown sugar. Yes, that’s a heart attack waiting to happen. I know.
So these zucchini carrot tots come in real handy when you need to load up on your veggies, or when you need to balance out all 20 bacon wrapped tater tots you had the night before. No judgment, please.
Now these tots are loaded with freshly grated zucchini, carrots, cheddar cheese and Parmesan, although you can easily swap out the cheddar for your favorite kind of cheese, like jalapeno Monterey Jack for a kick of heat.
Just be sure to wring out as much water as you can from the shredded zucchini – that’s the secret to getting these babies nice and crisp.
When ready to serve, all you need is a dollop of a ketchup. The pickiest of eaters don’t even have to know that these are loaded with veggies.
I promise – they’ll devour all of them before you know it.
Zucchini Tots
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini, shredded
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 carrots, peeled and shredded
- ½ cup Panko*
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Pinch of cajun seasoning
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.
- Place grated zucchini in a colander over the sink. Add salt and gently toss to combine; let sit for 10 minutes. Using a clean dish towel or cheese cloth, drain zucchini completely, removing as much water as possible.
- Transfer zucchini to a large bowl. Stir in carrots, Panko, eggs, cheeses, basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder and cajun seasoning; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Form zucchini into tots and place onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Place into oven and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 16-18 minutes, flipping during the last 10 minutes of cooking time.
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.*
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
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I followed the recipe (mostly).
I didn’t use salt, but just rolled up the grated zucchini between clean dish towels and squeezed.
I substituted pepper jack (finely grated) for cheddar. I used Mrs Dash Southwest seasoning instead of Cajun, since that’s what I had on hand.
I mixed up all the ingredients, except for the eggs, then lastly added the whisked eggs and thoroughly mixed.
Since I am lazy, I made my tots palmed-sized (I got 18 out of the batch).
Cook 8 min, turn, 8 min. Beautiful and delicious! Thank you!
So good! It has renewed my faith in zucchini. I use oats instead of panko because I never have pablo. I’ve made it with carrots, but tonight I replaced carrots with a handful of kale, and it was delightfully green and delicious!
Been making these for years – they’re delicious! I don’t love zucchini and my husband full-on dislikes it, but we both LOVE these tots. I don’t like cheese so I omit it and add a bit more egg if the mixture doesn’t hold together well. Everything else I add in exactly as written. We always make at least 2 batches of these because they don’t last long in our house!
one of my all time favorite snickety snacks!!
How much is 2 zucchini shredded? I already shredded a bunch :/
I would estimate about 2-3 cups.
So good, I added a little brown rice flour, made pattys and tots, very good, thank you
Good modification Lori! So glad you enjoyed it.
Made these today and while I loved the flavor, they came out more like a mini muffin vs a crispy tator tot. I am thinking the zucchini had too much moisture in it despite my attempt to squeeze out as much as possible.
Can I use grated white potatoes or sweet potato instead of carrot?.. I rarely have carrot in the house but we always have white or sweet potatoes
I’d like to use this recipe but honestly the amount of zucchini to use is so vague! I have frozen shredded zucchini to use up, and I’m surprised that the amount of zucchini isn’t listed in cups instead of zucchini (because zucchini can grow to any size really and the variety is huge). What would 2 shredded zucchini equal–4 cups?
They look so delicious!! (:
They are!
We LOVE these! Never leftovers. Every time we have made them, they are just so perfect. We have served them to friends and everyone has gobbled them up.
That’s so great to hear Lizzie!
My husband loves most anything cooked with zucchini but he did not like these muffins. Maybe it was the combination of the different ingredients?
Oh no – were they made into muffins or were they made into tots?
My garden is in zucchini overdrive (NZ summer) – tried these tonight, in a word- fabulous. Thank you 🙂
This looks amazing. Adding to my list. Thanks for sharing!
If I prepare the tots in advance of baking, can they sit in the fridge for an hour or so before I bake them?
Yes.
Just made these – they are GREAT! So easy, and they almost make you feel like you’re cheating. Thumbs up!
these were so good. we love bacon so i added some 🙂 i just wanted to check regarding freezing do i freeze before cooking or after?
The addition of bacon sounds amazing! You can also freeze after baking.
what can you use in place of the cheese. Can’t have it.
Unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment.
Beautiful looking Zucchini tots Chugnah.. Lovely space, visit me when you get a chance
You can use pork rinds. Put in a plastic bag and smash them to resemble panko crumbs.
I follow damndelicious religiously. I have tried several of her recipes and I haven’t been disappointed once. These tots are no exception! My daughter, husband and I gobbled these up! I had to turn up my oven towards the end to 450 because my peeps like things a bit more brown and crunchy. Thank you damndelicious for keeping my families tummies full and happy.
I have shredded, baked, grilled, roasted, dehydrated, given away and noodled zucchini. Have made them into your fries and cookies. So I am making these for dinner tonight, because I still have 9 zucchini on my counter, and a couple more still in the garden. I wonder how these would hold up in tator tot casserole? Love all your recipes that I have made so far.