Fried Zucchini Pizza Bites

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. fun and good!

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

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, we 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 before your guests arrive.

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

Ingredients you need

The ingredients are 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 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).

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 – We 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 we make these low carb?

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

Can we 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 we use other vegetables to make pizza bites?

If you don't have zucchini then we recommend using eggplant (aubergine) it works 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.

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

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

Ingredients

Makes 12 Servings

• 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)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).

2. Arrange the flour, breadcrumbs and eggs into seperate dishes and add a pinch of salt to each of them.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Bake in the oven for around 15 minutes until the mozzarella is bubbling and melted. Serve warm.

Kitchen notes

• Breading We 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.