With just a few ingredients like seasoned breadcrumbs, garlic, and delicious herbs these little zucchini balls are going to be the most asked-for recipe in your collection.
We occasionally even add some other suggestions you'll find below that are also a delicious addition to this recipe appetizer.
With the addition of delicious Italian herbs, cheese, and spices these are totally loaded with flavor plus warm bite size easy eat plain or serve with mozzarella and marinara sauce to dip them in.
A nice alternative for a meatless snack and look just like a meatball!.
For our printable recipe scroll down to the end of the post to the recipe card, we also have additional suggestions to add to these before baking and serving ideas.
Easy Step by Step Baked Zucchini Garlic Balls
- preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare a baking sheet with parchment or grease it
- grate zucchini and blot dry
- mix all the ingredients together then shape them into balls
- bake and serve with warm marinara and top with more cheese
- Note: see the recipe card for Stovetop Fried or Air Frying Zucchini Balls at the bottom of our page
Meat and Vegetable Lover Additions (add 1/4 cup)
- cooked Italian sweet or hot sausage
- chopped pepperoni
- chopped capicola(hot ham)
- prosciutto or crispy bacon
- more vegetable suggestions:
- finely minced artichoke hearts
- finely mince shallots
- grated carrots
- finely chopped green or black olives
- substitute cheddar for cheeses
- finely minced celery
- use eggplant instead of zucchini as a substitute
- chopped peppers
- minced asparagus
- minced mushrooms
- try our 14 kinds of other Dipping Sauce Recipes
Ingredients You Will Need to make these Baked Zucchini Garlic Balls
- zucchini grated and patted dry with paper towels
- eggs
- Parmesan Pecorino Romano blend
- fresh parsley and basil
- shredded mozzarella
- breadcrumbs seasoned
- granulated garlic or fresh minced garlic
- salt, pepper, red pepper flakes
- olive oil cooking spray or use regularly for brushing on the balls before baking
- Optional:
- shredded mozzarella, shredded provolone cheese
- warmed marinara, alfredo sauce is optional
Tips for Making Baked Zucchini Garlic Balls
- always blot the zucchini dry
- for a diabetic-friendly substitute ground pork rinds for breadcrumbs
- dried herbs can be used in place of fresh
- to serve as an appetizer place plastic party picks in each zucchini ball on a serving plate with a small cup of marinara sauce or alfredo sauce
- you can also set up a serving bar with various deli types of meat to go alongside of your zucchini balls
Pin for later Baked Zucchini Garlic Balls
More Zucchini Recipes We Love
Zucchini Pizza Crust
Zucchini Rollatini
Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini Cranberry Muffins
Baked Zucchini Garlic Balls
Yield: 30
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 18 MinTotal time: 23 Min
Small zucchini balls baked with cheese and garlic then served with shredded mozzarella and marinara sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 cups zucchini grated and blotted dry
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 2/3 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan/Pecorino Romano blended cheese (you can also use Parmesano Reggiano cheese shredded) plus more for serving
- 4 cloves of finely minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh basil chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- add salt and pepper to taste (and red pepper flakes or cayenne powder if you like a little heat)
- olive oil spray or use to brush on the zucchini balls before baking
- Optional: Marinara Sauce for dipping or Alfredo Sauce, shredded provolone, top with mozzarella after they are baked
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease a baking deep-style cookie sheet.
- Grate the zucchini and blot dry with paper towels then add to a bowl.
- Place all the ingredients in the bowl and mix until blended.
- Shape into small balls using a melon ball scoop or larger-sized scoop (or of course, you can roll by hand).
- Spray with a mist of olive oil cooking spray or brush it on.
- Bake until golden brown around 15 minutes.
- While hot sprinkle top with shredded mozzarella and more grated cheese, and marinara sauce warmed
- Note: Air Frying Method: air fry on an oil spray basket at 375 degrees for 7 to 8 minutes
- Fried on the Stovetop: Place around 1/4 cup of olive oil in a cast iron pan. Heat and fry the zucchini balls for around 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels.
Notes
Meat and Vegetable Lover Additions (add 1/4 cup)
- cooked Italian sweet or hot sausage
- chopped pepperoni
- chopped capicola(hot ham)
- prosciutto or crispy bacon
- more vegetable suggestions:
- finely minced artichoke hearts
- finely mince shallots
- grated carrots
- finely chopped green or black olives
- substitute cheddar for cheeses
- finely minced celery
- use eggplant instead of zucchini as a substitute
- chopped peppers
- minced asparagus
- minced mushrooms
Tips for Making Baked Zucchini Garlic Balls
- always blot the zucchini dry
- for a diabetic-friendly substitute ground pork rinds for breadcrumbs
- dried herbs can be used in place of fresh
- to serve as an appetizer place plastic party picks in each zucchini ball on a serving plate with a small cup of marinara sauce or alfredo sauce
- you can also set up a serving bar with various deli types of meat to go alongside your zucchini balls
Pin for later Baked Zucchini Garlic Balls
More Zucchini Recipes To Try
Zucchini Pizza Crust
Zucchini Rollatini
Zucchini Fritters
Zucchini Cranberry Muffins
Zucchini Christmas Bread
Zucchini Tips and Tricks
Stuffed Zucchini
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2017. It was edited and re-published in 2022.
