These zucchini corn fritters are a delicious way to enjoy two iconic summer vegetables! They are super easy to make and perfect as an appetizer, snack, or side dish.
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Kid-friendly Zucchini Fritters
You have come to the right place if you have a ton of fresh zucchini and corn. And a double bonus is that these are kid friendly and make for a great way to get more vegetables into your child's diet!
And if you have more zucchini than you know what to do with, you MUST make these zucchini cookies (baby-friendly) and carrot zucchini muffins. I will also link more zucchini recipes at the bottom of the post!
Ingredients
I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.
- Fresh zucchini - shredded and squeezed
- Corn - You can use fresh sweet corn or frozen corn. Be sure to thaw if using the latter and pat dry.
- Cheese - cheddar cheese will be most delicious but you can use whatever you wish.
- Flour - you can use all purpose, whole grain, or 1:1 gluten free baking flour. Chickpea flour also works well too.
- Spices - I like to use a combination of cumin and oregano but feel free to use whatever you wish! You can also add in som fresh herbs!
- Lemon juice - adds a lovely brightness.
How to Prep Zucchini and Corn
Use a food processor with a grating attachment or a box grater to shred the zucchini. If using the latter, be sure to use the side with the larger round holes to get coarsely shredded zucchini.
Pro tip: While you are at it, grate extra to easily add to any of these quick breakfast and lunch ideas.
Next, you need to squeeze out as much excess water as you can from the zucchini.
- Place shredded zucchini in the center of a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.
- Wrap the towel around it to look like a coin purse shape.
- Place a bowl underneath and using your hands, squeeze the water out.
- And save this juice to add to smoothies, sauces
As for the corn, if you are using frozen, first be sure to thaw completely. Then pat dry to remove any moisture.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine until well-incorporated.
- Cook the fritters - Heat oil in a skillet. Drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the skillet, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Flatten slightly with the back of a spoon.
- Flip and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Be sure to squeeze out as much excess liquid from the zucchini as possible.
- Don't overcrowd the pan.
- Don't flip too early. Wait until the fritter is cooked completely through on the bottom.
- Lower the heat If the fritters get too dark. You are looking for a golden brown color.
Serving Suggestions
These are delicious by themselves as a simple snack or as a side.
You can top with yogurt, ricotta, sour cream, pizza sauce, or even hummus.
You can also serve alongside these foods to round out the meal.
- Scrambled eggs
- Cooked vegetables like broccoli, carrots, beets
- Beans
- Chicken (learn how to cook it perfectly every time!)
- Tofu
These zucchini fritters pack well for lunch boxes too. I actually add them straight from the fridge without reheating. They won't be crispy, but your child may enjoy the softer texture, like my toddler.
Corn kernels are a choking hazard for babies so I would hold off on serving these fritters until after 1 year of age.
Storage
Let the cooked fritters cool completely. Then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To freeze: Once the fritters are cooled completely, place them in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Freeze for a couple of hours until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat, you can cook in a skillet over medium heat, in the toaster oven at 350°F, or the air fryer. I do not recommend microwaving as the fritters will get too soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is too much moisture. Be sure to remove as much juice from the zucchini as possible and pat the thawed corn.
Absolutely! Drop a heaping tablespoon of the batter onto a lined baking pan (I love this parchment paper and silicone baking mat) and bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes on each side.
More Zucchini Recipes to try
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
Zucchini and Corn Fritters
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup grated zucchini (120g weighed after squeezed)
- 1 cup corn (150g)
- ¼ cup cheese (25g)
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour (40g)
- 1 egg, beaten
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Heat oil in a cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Working in batches, drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the skillet. Flatten slightly with the back of a spoon.
- Cook about 2 minutes on each side, until golden. Gently press down to help the mixture to bind.
Notes
- Be sure to squeeze out as much excess liquid from the zucchini as possible.
- Don't overcrowd the pan.
- Don't flip too early. Wait until the fritter is cooked completely through on the bottom.
- Lower the heat If the fritters get too dark. You are looking for a golden brown color.
- For best storage suggestion, refer to the "storage" section above.
Dana says
I was a little worried serving these to my 21 month old as she won't eat straight zucchini. However, she gobbled up half the batch!! I used frozen roasted corn from Trader Joe's which gave it an extra dimension.
Min says
Woohoo!! And i will definitely need to try with roasted corn!
Bora Wong says
This is a great and quick recipe! I didn’t have time to shred zucchini but I had frozen mashed cauliflower from Trader Joe’s and it worked great and tasted very good! This will work great with leftover veggies from dinner.
Jaimee says
Delicious and nutritious! These fritters are a great way to add veggies to your little ones diet. My toddler loved them. The consistency was perfect to hold by hand and take bites. I used canned corn and squeezed out the excess liquid like the zucchini and they came out perfect. Next time I want to try baking them!
Min says
Oh it makes me SO happy to hear that this recipe was a hit!! THanks for sharing!
Maddison says
Probably one of the best zucchini and corn fritter recipes I’ve come across. I used feta instead of normal cheese and was just as tasty 😋
Min says
Thank you so much for sharing! I will def need to try with feta next time 😉
Kiran says
Hey, I tried these today. Missed adding baking powder still it turned out to be great and my 18 months olds loved it. They are turning to be picky now a days definitely something I am hoping to be sent as part of lunch to their day care. Just wondering if baking powder would have made them more fluffy?
Anne says
So my kids are really picky with new things soooo... I was expecting I would be the one to finish children's left overs as usual... but.... they absolutely devoured it! I substituted gluten free flour and apple sauce for the apf & egg because my kids are both egg and wheat allergic and they turned out Aaahh...mazzing! Thanks for this one and all the ones!!
Min says
OH this makes me so happy! I will have ot try with apple sauce next time. Thank you for the suggestion!
Tara says
I made these and YUM! I did need to make a sub - my youngest has egg allergy (if not baked) so I used a chickpea based egg replacer. It probably wasn't the best so next time I will try to use egg and bake these. The crunch on those fried pieces though was so delicious. I am totally inspired for more zucchini based on this recipe!
Min says
Yay to more zucchini recipes! Perhaps you may want to try my zucchini cookies 😉
Maddi says
Great easy recipe! I used feta cheese in the recipe and it was great!
Min says
Ooh that sounds yummy I'll have to try adding it next time!
Victoria says
These were delicious and so easy to make! I subbed the zucchini with carrots, and cumin with coriander (because we didn’t have any!), and it still turned out great!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe! Your website is my go-to when searching for healthy, wholesome and yummy foods for my toddler!
God bless 🙂
Min says
Aww thank you for such encouraging words! Thank you for being here ;).
Sheewa says
It was very delish. My one year old loved it.
Min says
I'm so glad!! Thank you for taking the time to share!
Toddler and a nb says
We didn’t have zucchini at home, so we made this with carrots instead. My toddler absolutely loved it!! Thank you for the recipe ❤️
Min says
Carrot fritters! I love it ;). My pleasure!
Andrea says
This was actually so easy to make ahead for meal prep. If our kids don't eat them all, then the adults will! Thanks for a great recipe!
Min says
Aww love it! Thanks for sharing!!