Fried Zucchini Pizza Bites

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Looking for a fun party snack or appetizer? These Fried Zucchini Pizza Bites are sure to impress! Coated in crispy and crunchy breadcrumbs then topped with tomato sauce and bubbling mozzarella cheese. Super fun and delicious!

An overhead shot of zucchini pizza bites on a marble cutting board
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Checkboxes

These zucchini pizza bites are so much fun for parties, I mean everyone loves pizza-inspired appetizers and these are so delicious!

Fresh zucchini with a crispy breadcrumb coating and topped with rich tomato and creamy, melted mozzarella cheese. So much fun and completely veggie!

You can get creative with different toppings, I personally love adding some gorgonzola cheese on top and they can even be prepared in advance so all you need to do is pop them in the oven just before your guests arrive.

Looking for more delicious ideas? Check out our Italian appetizers and antipasti recipes!

Ingredients you need

The ingredients are super simple, all you need is; breadcrumbs (panko breadcrumbs work great), zucchini, eggs, flour, crushed strained tomatoes (passata), mozzarella, oregano and olive oil.

An overhead shot of all the ingredients you need to make zucchini pizza bites

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It
Never Miss a Recipe!
Get all the latest recipes and Italian content sent straight to your inbox (plus our top 10 Italian cooking secrets!)
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

How to make Fried Zucchini Pizza Bites – step by step

First cut the zucchini into 1/4 inch thick rounds (photo 1).

Dip the zucchini in flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs until they’re all coated in breadcrumbs (photos 2-4).

Step by step photos showing how to bread rounds of zucchini

Shallow fry the zucchini in olive oil until golden brown and crispy on both sides, drain on kitchen paper (photos 5 & 6).

Arrange the fried zucchini bites on a baking tray and spoon a small amount of tomato passata (crushed strained tomatoes) on top of each one (photo 7).

Step by step photos showing how to cook zucchini pizza bites

Finally, top each piece of zucchini with mozzarella and bake until melted, golden and bubbling (photo 8).

Top tips and recipe FAQs

  • Breading – I recommend using a fork to dip the zucchini in egg and breadcrumbs, it’s less messy.
  • Toppings – you can get creative with the toppings why not try different cheese or salami?
Can I make these low carb?

To make these zucchini pizza bites low carb simply skip the breading and frying. Instead top each piece of zucchini with tomato and cheese and bake.

Can I bake them instead of fry?

Yes, you can bake the breaded zucchini instead but you’ll need to spray them with oil so they’re crispy and golden. Turn half way through baking to crispy up the other side before adding toppings.

Can I use other vegetables to make pizza bites?

If you don’t have zucchini then I recommend using eggplant (aubergine) it works just as well!

How long do they last?

leftover pizza bites will keep well in the fridge for 1-2 days but are best served immediately.

A close up of a zucchini pizza bite

More Italian appetizers you might like

If you’ve tried these Zucchini Pizza Bites or any other recipe on the blog please let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

Step By Step Photos Above

Most of our recipes come with step by step photos, helpful tips and tricks to make it perfectly first time and even video!

Fried zucchini pizza bites

5 from 1 vote

By Emily

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 12 Servings
Looking for a fun party snack or appetizer? These Fried Zucchini Pizza Bites are sure to impress! Coated in crispy and crunchy breadcrumbs then topped with tomato sauce and bubbling mozzarella cheese. Super fun and delicious!
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Checkboxes

Ingredients

  • 2 zucchini
  • 1.5 cup breadcrumbs, (130g)
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 2/3 cup crushed strained tomatoes, (passata) 150g
  • 3 heaped tbsp plain flour
  • 1 cup mozzarella, (125g)
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • salt and pepper, to season
  • olive oil, for frying

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  • Arrange the flour, breadcrumbs and eggs into seperate dishes and add a pinch of salt to each of them.
  • Slice the zucchini into rounds about 1/4 inch thick and toss them in the flour, shake to remove any excess then dip the slices one by one in the egg and then roll in breadcrumbs until completely covered.
  • Add around 1/4 inch of olive oil to a frying pan under a medium heat and fry the zucchini slices in batches until golden brown on each side. Set aside on kitchen paper for a minute to drain.
  • Add the oregano, tomatoes and a pinch of salt and pepper to a bowl, mix together. Place the zucchini slices on a lined baking tray and top each slice with equal amounts of tomato and then mozzarella.
  • Bake in the oven for around 15 minutes until the mozzarella is bubbling and melted. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

  • Breading – I recommend using a fork to dip the zucchini in egg and breadcrumbs, it’s less messy.
  • Toppings – you can get creative with the toppings why not try different cheese or salami?
  • leftovers – leftover pizza bites will keep well in the fridge for 1-2 days but are best served immediately.

Helpful Info for All Recipes

  • I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
  • When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
  • All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
  • All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
  • Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
  • Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
  • You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 239IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment below!

This post was first published on April 11 2017 but has since been updated.

5 from 1 vote

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

13 Comments

  1. Char says:

    Can these be frozen for future the zucchini. Defrost then the rest?

    1. Emily says:

      Hi Char, I haven’t tried freezing them but I don’t think they would freeze well (the zucchini might go soggy).

  2. Nathan says:

    These were so delicious, great idea!5 stars

  3. Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon says:

    So tasty looking! I love the idea of using a zucchini slice as the base of the pizza! I would definitely enjoy them with a nice glass prosecco. ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Inside the rustic kitchen says:

      So glad you like them, thanks Annemarie โ˜บ๏ธ

    1. Inside the rustic kitchen says:

      Thanks so much Luci, hope you enjoy!

  4. Deepika says:

    These look tempting. My little one would love these. Will give them a try.

    1. Inside the rustic kitchen says:

      Hope you enjoy them โ˜บ๏ธ

  5. Sandi G says:

    What a delicious kid-friendly dinner idea. I know my kids would love this.

    1. Inside the rustic kitchen says:

      Brilliant! Thanks so much Sandi.

  6. sue | theviewfromgreatisland says:

    These are absolutely brilliant ~ fried zucchini is my favorite appetizer ever!

    1. Inside the rustic kitchen says:

      Ah really, they are so good aren’t they?