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!
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.
How to make Fried Zucchini Pizza Bites - step by step
First cut the zucchini into ¼ inch thick rounds (photo 1).
Dip the zucchini in flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs until they're all coated in breadcrumbs (photos 2-4).
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).
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?
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.
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.
If you don't have zucchini then I recommend using eggplant (aubergine) it works just as well!
leftover pizza bites will keep well in the fridge for 1-2 days but are best served immediately.
More Italian appetizers you might like
- Bruschetta al Pomodoro
- Easy Marinated Olives - 5 min recipe
- Creamy White Bean Dip
- Sausage Stuffed Olives
- Rosemary Focaccia Bread
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.
📖 Full Recipe
Fried zucchini pizza bites
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini
- 1.5 cup breadcrumbs (130g)
- 2 eggs whisked
- ⅔ cup crushed strained tomatoes (passata) 150g
- 3 heaped tbsp plain flour
- 1 cup mozzarella (125g)
- 1 teaspoon 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 ¼ 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 ¼ 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.
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.
Nutrition
- 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.
This post was first published on April 11 2017 but has since been updated.
Char
Can these be frozen for future the zucchini. Defrost then the rest?
Emily
Hi Char, I haven't tried freezing them but I don't think they would freeze well (the zucchini might go soggy).
Nathan
These were so delicious, great idea!
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon
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. 🙂
Inside the rustic kitchen
So glad you like them, thanks Annemarie ☺️
Luci's Morsels
What a fun and delicious recipe! I love the combination. Yummy! Going to try this one for sure. Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Inside the rustic kitchen
Thanks so much Luci, hope you enjoy!
Deepika
These look tempting. My little one would love these. Will give them a try.
Inside the rustic kitchen
Hope you enjoy them ☺️
Sandi G
What a delicious kid-friendly dinner idea. I know my kids would love this.
Inside the rustic kitchen
Brilliant! Thanks so much Sandi.
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
These are absolutely brilliant ~ fried zucchini is my favorite appetizer ever!
Inside the rustic kitchen
Ah really, they are so good aren't they?