Easy Pan Fried Chicken Zucchini Patties

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Here in the South, we love some fritters and fried patties! Sometimes it’s hard to make those with a healthy spin, so today we are going to show you exactly how to do that with our EASY PAN FRIED CHICKEN ZUCCHINI PATTIES. This is a great way to use up some leftover chicken or, if you’re in a pinch and you want to get a rotisserie chicken, you can even do that. There are lots of possibilities with these delicious and healthier patties!

Two cooked vegetable fritters are on a blue patterned plate with a halved lemon. More fritters are on a cooling rack above. A small bowl of creamy dipping sauce topped with chopped green onions is on the left.

This recipe calls for cooked chicken cut into fine chunks, along with some lovely shredded zucchini (squeeze out that water!). Keeping with our “green theme” of the added green peppers and green onions, you’ll be getting a big dose of veggies alongside your proteins! We can’t think of a better way to do that than with the delicious fresh taste of these pan-fried patties. You’ll eat a whole healthy fritter in one big bite! And then perhaps another!

Much like our ITALIAN SAUSAGE STUFED ZUCHINNI BOATS, this recipe is packed with fresh flavor and super-easy to get together and to the table!

Ingredients

This combo of chicken, zucchini, veggies, cheeses and other simple ingredients makes for great taste with very simple prep!

A blue and white plate holds a halved lemon, two zucchini fritters with visible chunks of chicken and herbs, and a whole fritter in the background with a baking tray and cooling rack behind.

What You’ll Need

3 cups shredded zucchini
Salt, pepper, garlic and everything bagel seasoning
Lemon zest and juice
1 & 1/2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
Mozzarella and parmesan cheese
Green bell pepper and green onion
One egg
All purpose flour
Sour Cream
Mayonnaise

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Why You Will Love These Easy Pan Fried Chicken Zucchini Patties

The “green theme” – the extra green peppers and onions get you a healthy mix of veggies and protein in one delicious patty!
Easy small batches – quickly make three or 4 for a small meal, or do a few batches to feed more folks.
A simple dipping sauce – the simple ingredients of our dipping sauce really sings with these patties! Garnish with a few more green onions for even more dipping flavor!

Instructions

You can make the dipping sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge, or just whip it up while your patties are browning. So easy!

A person presses a paper towel over a plate on a wooden counter beside a large bowl of chopped chicken, a knife, a green bell pepper, and two green onions. Part of a stovetop with a skillet is visible on the left.

Finely chop cooked chicken and add to a large bowl.

Overhead view of a person squeezing a cabbage over a patterned bowl. Next to them are a blue bowl with chopped tuna, a knife, a bell pepper, and green onions on a wooden counter beside a stovetop.

Squeeze grated zucchini to remove excess water and add to chicken.

A person slices green onions on a wooden cutting board next to a blue bowl containing chopped tuna and mashed avocado, with a stove and skillet visible to the left.

Chop and add green bell pepper.

A person’s hands chop green onions on a wooden cutting board next to a stove. A blue bowl with chopped vegetables and possibly chicken is nearby, along with a knife and a pepper grinder.

And chop and add green onion.

A person holds a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese above a blue bowl containing chopped chicken, green onions, and shredded zucchini on a wooden countertop beside a knife and green onions.

Mix in grated mozzarella cheese.

A person holds a container of Kraft grated Parmesan cheese over a blue bowl on a wooden countertop with a knife, sliced green pepper, and a black stove visible nearby.

Also, add in grated parmesan.

A person holds a measuring cup of flour over a blue mixing bowl containing shredded cheese, chopped chicken, green onions, and other ingredients on a wooden counter beside a stove. A knife and sliced green onions are nearby.

Mix in all purpose flour.

A person holds a small bowl of beaten eggs above a blue bowl containing chopped vegetables and other ingredients on a wooden countertop next to a stove, knife, pepper mill, and sliced green onions.

And one beaten egg.

A person adds a spoonful of a brown granular ingredient from a small jar to a blue bowl filled with flour, eggs, and vegetables on a wooden countertop beside a stove and a chopping knife.

Season with minced garlic.

A person grates cheese into a blue bowl containing eggs, vegetables, and shredded meat on a wooden countertop. A knife, green pepper slices, and a pepper grinder are nearby. A stove and skillet are visible on the left.

And lemon zest.

A person sprinkles salt from a wooden container into a blue mixing bowl filled with chopped vegetables on a wooden countertop next to a knife, green onions, a pepper grinder, and a stovetop.

Season with salt and pepper and mix well.

A person shapes a mixture in their hands over a wooden counter with a blue bowl, chef’s knife, green onions, and a stove with a skillet nearby. The mixture appears to contain shredded vegetables.

Take spoonfuls and form into a patty. Make sure it stick together and does not fall apart.

A hand uses a spatula to cook a patty in a skillet on a gas stove, while a blue bowl filled with a chunky mixture and a metal scoop sits nearby on a wooden countertop with paper towels.

Heat oil and add patties to the hot oil, pressing them to form an even patty. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

Overhead view of a kitchen counter with a blue bowl containing a mixture and a metal scoop, a cooling rack on a baking sheet, a measuring cup, a small bowl of white sauce, green chili peppers, and a stove with food frying.

To mix the sauce, Add sour cream to a small bowl.

A bowl of mixed ingredients and an ice cream scoop sit on a wooden counter next to a yellow measuring cup, a wire rack with food, a stove with patties cooking, and a hand holding a bottle of avocado oil mayo over a small bowl.

Mix in mayonnaise.

A person squeezes a lemon into a clear glass with a yellow juicer next to a blue bowl of tuna mixture, a metal scoop, a cooling rack, and a pan with a patty on a stovetop.

Lemon juice.

A person holds a jar of everything bagel sesame seasoning above a wooden counter with a mixing bowl, metal scoop, wire rack, and various food ingredients visible.

And everything bagel seasoning.

Overhead view of a kitchen scene with a blue bowl of vegetable mixture, a metal scoop, a cooling rack on a tray, a skillet with a patty cooking, a bowl of sauce with chopped green onions, and a hand reaching to grab ingredients.

Top with some green onions.

Two vegetable fritters on a blue patterned plate with a halved lemon beside them. A wire rack with more fritters and a bowl of dipping sauce are in the background on a wooden surface.

Allow the patties to rest and cool slightly. Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy!

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

Save a little time and make your favorite dip ahead of time and pop it in the fridge. You can even get your chicken cooked up 24 hours ahead of time and stow it in there as well, if you’re really feeling like working ahead! Even if you’re truly pressed for time, this one is easy to get together and quickly pan-fry for a quick delicious meal!

A blue and white plate holds two browned fritters and a lemon half. In the background, more fritters cool on a wire rack, and a glass bowl contains a creamy dip with green herbs.

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Substitutions

I can think of many customizations and I know you will as well. Here are a few to get you started.

Onions – green onions are milder in flavor, but you can use regular onions as well.
Cooking Oil – we love avocado oil because of its healthiness and higher smoke point, but you can also use vegetable oil.
Chicken – this is a great way to use up your leftover chicken, but you can always use a nice rotisserie chicken.

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

Three browned vegetable fritters are on a blue and white plate with a lemon half. A cooling rack with more fritters and a bowl of creamy dip topped with chopped green onions are nearby on a wooden surface.

Storage Tips

The patties will keep well in the fridge for around 3 days. You can also freeze them, if you aren’t going to eat them up quickly! Stick them in a freezer bag after cooking and cooling, and they shouldn’t stick together. If you’re worried about that, just place a little wax paper between each one before bagging and freezing.
You can prepare your chicken ahead of time. Just store it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge for no more than 24 hours.

⭐ LOVE THIS RECIPE? It would mean so very much to me if you would take a moment to rate this recipe and leave me a sweet comment in the recipe card below! ❤️❤️We hope you love all of the Southern and healthy recipes we share here at The Buttered Home and would love to see you back here often!

**DON’T MISS OUR TIPS AND TRICKS BELOW THE RECIPE CARD!

Two vegetable fritters on a blue plate with a lemon wedge, a bowl of creamy dipping sauce with green onions, and additional fritters on a cooling rack on a wooden surface.

Easy Pan Fried Chicken Zucchini Patties

We love some fritters and fried patties! Our pan fried chicken zucchini patties offer a healthier spin on things! They are quick and easy to make, and are a delicious way to get both veggies and protein in one bite!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Total Time 10

Serving Size

Ingredients

For the patties

3 cups zucchini grated, drained and squeezed
salt and pepper to taste
1.5 cups cooked chicken chopped
1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
1/2 cup green bell pepper chopped
1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 egg beaten
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 cup green onion chopped
2 tablespoons garlic minced
1/4 cup avocado oil

For the Dipping Sauce

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning
2 tablespoon green onion chopped, for garnish

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Instructions

For the Patties

Grate the zucchini. If time allows, sprinkle with salt in a colander and allow to drain. Squeeze out all of the excess moisture with a tea towel. Chop cooked chicken and add with zucchini to a large bowl.
3 cups zucchini, 1.5 cups cooked chicken
Add chopped onion and bell pepper. Season with lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper. Add in both cheeses and mix in all purpose flour and egg. Mix to combine.
salt and pepper, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup green bell pepper, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1/4 cup green onion, 2 tablespoons garlic, 1 egg
Heat avocado oil in a skillet and form spoonfuls of mixture into balls or patties. Place in hot oil and press with a spatula to even them out. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Drain.
1/4 cup avocado oil

For the Dipping Sauce

In a small bowl, combine sour cream and mayonnaise.
1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayonnaise
Mix in lemon juice and everything bagel seasoning. Stir to combine. Garnish with chopped green onion.
1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning, 2 tablespoon green onion

See How To Make It!

Notes

*Pro Tip

If your mixture is too dry, add a bit of the zucchini water in to moisten. If it is too wet, add in a little more flour.

A close-up of a blue patterned plate with vegetable fritters, a lemon wedge, and a small bowl of dip. More fritters are visible on a cooling rack in the background. The fritters appear crispy and browned.

🍴 PRO TIP!

Waste not, want not! Be sure to set the zucchini water that you squeeze or press out to the side. If your mix is too dry and the patty crumbles when you check it, just add in a little water until it holds together. Also, if you find things are a little too wet, you can add in a little more flour until things get to the right consistency. And if you use a rotisserie chicken, be sure to put your skin and bones in a freezer bag and save it for making some homemade broth, like in our TikTok video!