Crispy on the outside, tender and creamy on the inside, these easy Potato Fritters with zucchini and cheddar cheese are the perfect comfort food addition to any meal!
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5 Star Review
“I’ve made these several times now and I (and everyone else) absolutely LOVE them.”
— Kelly —
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Potato Fritters Recipe
- Perfect Texture. Only crispy potatoes and zucchini will do! These potato fritters are delightfully crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
- Healthy. Unlike restaurant potato fritters, these are cooked on the stovetop instead of in a deep fryer. And they have an extra heaping serving of nutritious zucchini hidden inside (like these Zucchini Enchiladas).
- Versatile. These potato fritters are a delicious addition to a meal any time of day! Serve them as a side dish with dinner (maybe instead of fries for Fish and Chips?), beneath a poached egg for breakfast (like these Leftover Stuffing Cakes), or as a cozy snack.
How to Make Potato Fritters
The Ingredients
- Potatoes. Soft, tender Yukon golds are the BEST potatoes for fritters (and Potato Cheese Soup). They crisp up nicely when pan-fried but also become ultra-tender and creamy on the inside.
- Zucchini. Truth time, a major ingredient in these potato fritters is actually zucchini. However, its mild flavor is almost imperceptible, making this zucchini potato fritter recipe (and these Zucchini Carrot Muffins) ideal for picky eaters.
- Cheddar Cheese. A generous handful of sharp cheddar cheese adds a little extra indulgence to these “healthy” zucchini and potato fritters. I love the way the cheese gets golden and crispy on the outside but stays nice and gooey on the inside.
- Eggs. Help bind the fritters together so they hold their shape.
- Flour + Breadcrumbs. For gluten-free potato fritters, swap the wheat flour and breadcrumbs for a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour alternative and your favorite gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Onion + Garlic Powder. For added moisture, some mild zip, and sweetness.
- Toppings. I like to serve these fritters with a big dollop of Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and chives sprinkled on top. Applesauce is another favorite topping in our house.
The Directions
- Prep the Veggies. Remove as much liquid as possible. That’s how you get the fritters crispy!
- Mix the Batter. Make sure it’s completely combined.
- Add Batter to the Skillet. Flatten the fritters in the pan. (Grab a nonstick pan to ensure you end up with crispy, beautiful fritters!)
- Cook. Flip once halfway through. Make sure you allow your fritters enough time crisp up and turn golden brown on each side. If you flip them too early, they’re more likely to stick too.
- Serve. Add desired toppings and ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- No Zucchini Potato Fritters. Omit the zucchini and make this recipe with just potatoes.
- Zucchini Fritters. For those who want a crispy fritter made with zucchini only.
- Potato Fritters with Herbs. Add chopped fresh herbs to this recipe (like parsley, basil, dill, or any other herb you enjoy).
- Spicy Potato Fritters. Add some heat with spices like red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. Just a pinch of either one will add spice.
- Sweet Potato Fritters. I haven’t tried making this recipe with sweet potatoes, but my Sweet Potato Hash Browns recipe is very similar and incredibly delicious!
Leftover Ideas
Serve leftover fritters for breakfast with Egg Muffins and Air Fryer Bacon as an alternative to hash browns.
What to Serve with Potato Fritters
- Chicken. Whether you serve these crispy potato fritters with a Chicken Tenders Recipe or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, the pairing will be delicious!
- Salad. Both Spinach Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing and Greek Salad would be tasty options.
- Seafood. Try Air Fryer Shrimp or Grilled Salmon.
- Sandwich. Pair these fritters with a Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Turkey Burgers, or a Vegan Burger.
- Applesauce. A classic pairing that will always hit the spot! You can use the applesauce almost like a dipping sauce. Try my Instant Pot Applesauce or Crockpot Applesauce.
Potato Fritters
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 14 small pancakes
An easy recipe for potato fritters with zucchini and cheddar cheese. They're perfectly crispy, perfectly cheesy, and ultra-delicious.
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Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded zucchini about 13 ounces or 2 medium
- 2 cups shredded Yukon gold potatoes about 12 ounces or 2 small/medium, scrubbed and peeled
- ½ medium medium yellow onion shredded
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- ½ cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup white whole wheat flour or substitute all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional to season
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil for frying
- Plain nonfat Greek Yogurt for serving
- Chopped fresh chives for serving
Instructions
- If you'd like to keep the fritters warm between batches, preheat your oven to 200°F. Spread the shredded zucchini, potatoes, and onion onto a clean kitchen towel and press out as much moisture as possible, changing the towel once or twice as needed.
- Place the shredded vegetables in a large bowl, then add the eggs, breadcrumbs, flour, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and baking soda. Mix until completely combined, using your fingers if needed to make sure all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Fold in the shredded cheese.
- In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Scoop a scant 1/4-cup portion of the fritter batter onto the frying pan and flatten into an even layer, using either the back of the measuring spoon or the bottom of a drinking glass.
- Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until golden on the first side, then flip and continue cooking until the second side is golden as well. Depending upon your skillet, you may need to adjust the heat as you go to ensure the pancakes cook all the way through but still get crisp on the outside.
- Repeat with the remaining pancakes, keeping batches warm in the oven as desired. If excess liquid collects in the bottom of the bowl, discard it. Serve warm, topped with Greek yogurt and fresh chives.
Notes
- TIP: Be sure to measure the shredded zucchini and potatoes. If you use a different amount than called for in the recipe, the fritters may not hold together.
- GLUTEN-FREE: I have not tried this recipe gluten free, but I believe you could swap oat flour for the whole wheat flour and gluten free bread crumbs, plus a pinch of extra salt and pepper for the seasoned breadcrumbs.
- TO STORE: Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- TO REHEAT: Reheat gently on the stovetop with a bit of olive oil to crisp them back up and to prevent sticking.
- TO FREEZE: Store cooked fritters flat and separated with sheets of parchment paper in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as directed above.
Nutrition
Serving: 1(of 14), without toppingsCalories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 4gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 311mgPotassium: 242mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 153IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 1mg
Could you use frozen potatoes (hash browns)?
Hi Dawn, you could experiment with frozen potatoes (completely thawed, then put on the towel with the zucchini and onion for removing moisture), but I worry that they would still turn out mushy. I would recommend sticking with the recipe as written to make sure the fritters are as crisp as possible.
Love this recipe. We made 2 batches and have some vacuum-sealed in the freezer. Taste-tested the first one and decided to add some seasoned salt and fresh parsley to some of them. Can’t wait to try other variations – thanks for the inspiration!
I’m so happy to hear you loved this recipe too, Michelle! If you do make other variations, I’d love to hear how they turn out!
Oh, forgot to ask…they did turn out a little mushy inside…any suggestions?
Hm, I’d just turn up the heat a little more next time—it’s a fine balance between cooking them all the way through and getting the outsides crispy. If you reheat them in a bit of oil on the stove, they should recrisp nicely!
Can you make batter the day before. Making them for mothers day.
Hi Carol! I actually wouldn’t recommend this, as I think the batter would get pretty watery and discolor. I’d suggest making them all the way through, then rewarming just before serving. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Hi Carol, I’ve just posted my review which addresses your question. I’ve found you can keep the batter in the fridge for 1-3 days and they fry up just fine! Just stir the batter well before frying to re-incorporate the egg. Yum!
I made these tonight for my husband and I, we are trying to eat more vegetables and less meat. They were super easy to make and very good, nice and light. I will add more seasoning next time for extra flavor. I used seasoned Italian breadcrumbs as that is what I had available; the fritters tasted a little too much of the breadcrumbs for my taste, but that may be due to my measurements – I made 3/4 of a recipe. I loved that they didn’t fall apart during cooking, most of my attempts at fritters end badly for that reason. I plated the fritters on a bed of spinach sautéed in olive oil and garlic and added a fried egg on top, with some hot sauce. Great easy, light, vegetable-filled dinner! Thank you!
Jenny, your dinner sounds delicious! Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try and taking the time to leave this great feedback!
Can these be baked instead?
Hi Gaby! I’ve never tried, but I do fear they would dry out and you’d be missing the crust. I promise the stovetop is worth it!
Green potato pancakes for St. Patty’s Day! Good idea, but where will you get fresh, zucchini in March??? Are you suggesting using frozen from the previous season?
We still have zucchini around here in March! Otherwise, you could use more potatoes or shredded carrots.
That was fan, friggin, tactic! Throw a W on the scoreboard because this game is over. Two words: Flavor. Country. We just made these. And me and my wife loved them. and shes a quinessentail coinessauer of all things culinary. So I’m writing this while we gulp down 2 more fritters. We’re indian, so we threw some coriander chutney on these bad boys and promptly devoured them with gusto. A+. A++. A+++. If you had a news magazine, you could sign us up. Well done Erin. Well done.
This is quite possibly one of my favorite comments ever!!! I am glowing. THANK YOU!
I made these today and I’m in love!! So delicious!! Thank you for sharing! :)
YAY Boutina!! So so happy to hear it! Thanks for trying the recipe and reporting back!
No worries! I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS!
packed with so much flavor and stayed super fluffy! this recipe is for keeps!
I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the recipe, Alice! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Hi Erin, I’ve made these several times now and I (and everyone else) absolutely LOVE them. For game day I use a teaspoon measure to make the perfect bite-sized treats. I’ve used bigger ones for dinner platters and even had a leftover one with a poached egg on top! Delicious! I’m highly gluten-sensitive, and so sub GF bread crumbs and Caputo GF flour (which is my go-to). Of note, I wouldn’t suggest using oat flour as I think it would make them heavy. There are a number of good 1 for 1 all-purpose GF flours available on the market now. Also, I noted someone asked about making the batter ahead; I’ve kept left-over batter in the fridge (most recently up to 3 days) and made fresh fritters with it and they come out perfectly! Just give the batter a good stir to re-incorporate the egg and you’re good to go (I wouldn’t recommend longer than three days though because of the egg). Thank you for a fabulous recipe!
I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed the recipe, Kelly! Thank you for sharing this wonderful review!
Delicious, easy, and low fat!
Hi Beth! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I didn’t use zucchini and substituted frozen store shredded hash browns. Other than that followed the recipe. I made mine a little thicker because we like them that way and oh my!! These are so delicious. It’s my new favorite way to have hash browns. Thank you!
Hi Raechel! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and feedback on substitutions!
Zucchini potato fritters are my new go to! Although I had to improvise a little because I’m Diabetic. I only used a small potato and substituted mushrooms and grated carrots. Absolutely delicious with Greek Yogurt with dill weed. I will make this dish often. Keep the great recipes coming.
Doris
Hi Doris! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These were very flouryand not very tasty. I thought the amount of egg was quite high but haven’t used crumbs in fritters before so I gave it a go but the batter to veg ratio is wrong, far too high, unfortunately
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, Eve. The recipe has worked well for myself (and others) but I know how frustrating it can be to try a new recipe and not have it work out, so I really wish you would’ve enjoyed it!
hi erin
thanks for the recipe. i grew a lot of zucchinis this year and though i’ve convinced myself that all those cakes breads and cookies i filled the freezers up with, are healthy since they have zucchini in them, deep down i know all the sugar and flour and other things really bring that health status way down. i tried these last week and they are great. and the ratio of veggies to bad things is much more favorable. i also like that this recipe calls for cups of zuc. not number of them (one persons idea of a small or medium zuc can be way different than the next persons). thanks again.
brad
Hi Brad! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These are the first zucchini fritters my children have eaten without complaints! I made them fairly thick and larger than recommended – 8 fritters per one recipe; but they turned out great. They were crispy outside and soft, but not mushy inside. I will definitely make a double recipe next time!
Hi Stacy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
You can easily make these vegan and gluten free by subbing chickpea flour for the flour and eggs. I make them this way frequently. Cheers!
Great to hear, thank you HS!
These fritters were fun to make with my daughter who shredded the veg. She loved pressing out the liquid, and she loved eating them even more! We dipped them in applesauce as a side and it worked surprisingly well. Not something I’d make every week, but definitely a keeper recipe.
So glad to hear, Suzanne! Thank you!
These reminded me of something you’d eat growing up, but slightly healthier. I liked that they weren’t greasy and didn’t leave that heavy feeling afterward. I added a bit of extra zucchini and onions because I had some extra on hand. Very forgiving recipe. Thanks
So glad to hear, Deborah! Thank you!