These healthy Zucchini “Meatballs” are delicious served with marinara sauce and pasta. You’ll love this meatless 30 minute meal!

pasta with zucchini meatballs and sauce on a white plate

If you’re looking for a meatless “meatball” recipe, you’ve come to the right place! These zucchini meatballs are packed with zucchini, cheese and seasonings. They make a crowd-pleasing appetizer with marinara sauce for dipping. They’re also delicious served with pasta for dinner.

dipping a zucchini meatball in marinara sauce from a tray of meatballs

With fresh zucchini at its best right now, it’s the perfect time to try lots of zucchini recipes. Zucchini muffins, baked zucchini and lasagna zucchini boats are more favorite summer squash recipes.

It took me a few tries to get these zucchini balls just right, and I’m happy to say that I finally got the perfect balance of ingredients. I hope you’ll love them as much as we do!

I used a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses in this recipe. The cheese (along with an egg and panko breadcrumbs) helps to hold the meatballs together. It also makes these zucchini meatballs more appealing to little mouths. Cheese makes everything better, doesn’t it?

Watch how easy it is to make these Zucchini “Meatballs” (and then read my helpful tips below):

To make these zucchini meatballs a 30 minute dinner, first start some water boiling for your pasta. Then prep your “meatballs” and bake them in the oven. While the meatballs bake, cook your pasta and heat up a jar of your favorite marinara. Then dinner is served!

closeup of baked zucchini meatballs

I’m going to give you fair warning – it’s way too easy to eat these zucchini meatballs straight from the pan. Especially if you have a little bowl of marinara nearby for dipping. 😉

fork holding a bite of zucchini meatball over a plate of pasta with zucchini meatballs and marinara sauce

Tips for making these zucchini meatballs:

  • I use a box grater to grate the zucchini. Sometimes I run a knife through the grated zucchini a few times to cut any large zucchini strands smaller (this makes the meatballs a little more kid-friendly).
  • Rather than trying to roll the zucchini mixture into balls, I find that gently squeezing it into a ball shape with my hands works best. (See the recipe video above for a visual.)
  • Lining the pan with parchment paper keeps the zucchini meatballs from sticking to the pan.

More Delicious Meatball Recipes:

These healthy Zucchini "Meatballs" are an easy 30 minute dinner recipe. Serve them over pasta or as an appetizer with marinara sauce for dipping! | www.kristineskitchenblog.com
5 from 2 ratings

Zucchini "Meatballs"

Servings: 5 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
These healthy Zucchini "Meatballs" are delicious served with marinara sauce and pasta. You'll love this meatless 30 minute meal!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups packed grated zucchini, about 2 large zucchini
  • ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • marinara sauce and whole wheat pasta, for serving

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F with a rack in the upper third of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Place the grated zucchini in a clean kitchen towel. Wrap up and squeeze out the excess moisture over a bowl or sink.
  • Transfer zucchini to a large bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs, mozzarella, Parmesan, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir with a fork until well combined. Using your hands, shape the mixture into 1 ½-inch balls and place on the parchment-lined baking sheet. (Rather than rolling, I find that gently squeezing the mixture into a ball shape works best.)
  • Bake for 14-16 minutes, until lightly golden on top. Serve with marinara sauce and whole wheat pasta, if desired.
Serving: 3meatballs, Calories: 114kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 73mg, Sodium: 326mg, Potassium: 288mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 355IU, Vitamin C: 17.3mg, Calcium: 143mg, Iron: 1.1mg
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Cuisine: Italian
Course: Main Course
Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

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