CHEESY GARLIC ZUCCHINI BITES

Have you ever seen three grown men get excited over zucchini? Because I have to say that was definitely a new experience for me.

Don’t get me wrong– there’s a lot to love about these Cheesy Garlic Zucchini Bites. They’re tender inside and crispy outside, kind of like what you’d expect out of a great tater tot. They’ve got a ton of cheddar cheese mixed in for that ooey-gooey factor. They’ve got garlic powder, fresh dill, and green onion to make ’em even tastier. And all of that zucchini? It’s mild in flavor so it doesn’t overpower any of the other ingredients (as evidenced by the aforementioned grown men being excited by these things), but makes the bites tender and, of course, loaded with vegetables.

We could even say that the zucchini makes them healthy, right?

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups shredded and patted dry zucchini (from about 2 medium-sized zucchini)
• 1 1/4 cup plain panko bread crumbs
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped dill
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Ranch, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the zucchini, panko bread crumbs, cheddar cheese, egg, green onion, dill, and seasonings until well-combined.
3. One tablespoon at a time, press the zucchini mixture into small balls. Place onto the baking sheet and repeat until all of the zucchini mixture has been used up.
4. Bake until browned and crisp, about 30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
5. Serve warm with ranch, for dipping, if desired.

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