Zucchini Potato Pancakes (2024)

Zucchini potato pancakes are made with grated zucchini, potatoes, and onions, mixed into a batter and pan fried until golden brown and crispy. A great way to use up that extra garden zucchini!

You'll love this twist on classic potato pancakes. It's a great way to use up extra zucchini you have on hand and adds fiber, vitamin A, and antioxidants.

Grated zucchini, potato, and onion are mixed into a batter and pan fried in a skillet on the stove top. They turn out golden and crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside.

Serve zucchini potato pancakes with breakfast - they're great paired with bacon and eggs. Or, serve them as a side dish with your favorite main dishes, like grilled chicken, pulled pork, or beef roast.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Potatoes - You'll need about two medium potatoes, grated on the large side of a box grater. Russet potatoes or yukon gold potatoes work well.
• Zucchini - You'll need about 1 medium zucchini for this recipe, grated on the large side of a box grater.
• Onion -Onion adds flavor to your potato pancakes. If you need to omit the onion, I suggest adding a few herbs to your potato pancakes to make up for the lost flavor.
• Flour - Flour helps bind the ingredients together and creates a batter along with the egg.
• Egg - The egg binds the ingredients together and prevents your patties from falling apart while cooking.
• Seasoning - Garlic powder, salt, and pepper add flavor to your potato pancakes. Herbs like thyme, oregano, or basil also make great additions.
• Oil - Any neutral cooking oil you have on hand works here. You may not use all of the oil listed in the recipe card.

Tips for crispy potato pancakes

Want to ensure your zucchini potato pancakes cook up golden brown and crispy? Here are a few tips:

• Squeeze out as much moisture as possible from your vegetables before mixing the batter. Excess moisture in the batter makes it wet and soggy.
• Make sure your pan is preheated and oil is hot before adding your pancake mixture. To test the oil, drop a single shred of potato batter into the pan. When it sizzles right away, your oil is ready. If the oil isn't hot enough, your pancakes will turn out soggy and greasy.
• Don't skip the oil - your pancakes will stick and create a mess. Adding oil to the pan not only prevents your patties from sticking to the pan, but helps create that crispy, golden brown crust.
• Medium heat is best. High heat cooks the outsides quickly, but leaves the insides soggy and uncooked. If your pancakes are browning too quickly, turn the heat down slightly.
• Don't flip your pancakes until they're ready. If they're sticking to the pan, resist the urge to poke at them and/or scrape them off the pan. Once they're golden brown on the bottom, they'll release from the pan and flip easily.
• Transfer cooked potato pancakes onto a paper towel (or tea towel) lined plate. This helps soak up excess grease and prevents sweating and moisture from forming on the plate, which makes your pancakes soggy.

How to keep potato pancakes from falling apart

Potato pancakes are held together by a batter made with egg and flour, along with your well-squeezed vegetables.

Excess moisture in your potatoes, zucchini, and onion makes the batter too wet. Make sure you're squeezing out as much excess moisture as you can before mixing your batter.

Egg and flour are necessary to create a batter that holds your pancakes together. Omitting either ingredient can cause your potato pancakes to fall apart. If your batter still looks too wet after mixing, add a little more flour to help it come together.

What to serve with potato pancakes

Potato pancakes make a great side dish for your next meal, whether for breakfast or dinner.

• Bacon
• Sausage
• Scrambled eggs
• Side salad
• Roasted chicken
• Pulled pork
• Applesauce
• Pork chops
• Salmon

📖 Recipe

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