Zucchini bites are one of those recipes I come back to again and again because they’re simple, reliable, and actually get eaten. They’re a healthy, veggie-packed snack that works for toddlers, baby-led weaning, lunchboxes, and busy family meal prep. If you’re trying to add more vegetables into your kids’ meals without turning dinner into a battle, this is a great place to start.
What I like most about this recipe is that it doesn’t try to hide the zucchini. Kids can see it, taste it, and get used to it. Repeated exposure is how children learn to accept vegetables long term, and recipes like this make that process feel manageable. The texture is soft in the middle with just a light crisp on the outside, which makes them easy for little hands to hold and bite. They’re perfect for self-feeding and work well for baby-led weaning when prepared safely.
These bites are also practical. The ingredients are simple, the prep is quick, and they store well, which matters on busy weeks. I often batch cook them and pack them into lunchboxes or reheat them for snacks. Having go-to recipes like this reduces the daily mental load of feeding kids. That’s one reason I rely so much on the BLW Meals app. It has over 650 recipes designed for real families, and it takes the guesswork out of what to cook next.
This is one of those foods that both of my sons genuinely enjoy, and I do too. It feels good serving something that’s nutritious, easy, and familiar, while helping them build a real comfort with vegetables like zucchini over time. Recipes don’t have to be complicated to work. They just need to fit into real life.
Ingredients for Zucchini Bites:
- 2 eggs*
- 2 zucchinis (~320g total)
- 3/4 cup (90 g) breadcrumbs (or Panko), for dough
- 1/2 cup (60 g) breadcrumbs (or Panko), for rolling
- 1/2 cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese (12 months +) or any low sodium cheese of your choice for baby 6 months + (low sodium cheeses mozzarella or ricotta)
- 1 small clove of garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder)**
- 1/4 teaspoon Paprika, or to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- A pinch of salt (from 12 months +)
Directions for Making Zucchini Bites:
- Preheat the oven to 350ºC (180ºC)
- Grease a baking sheet with olive oil or line with parchment paper/baking mat.
- Grate the zucchinis into a clean dish towel using the thick side of the grater.
- Squeeze as much of the liquid out of the grated zucchinis as possible.
- Then mix all the ingredients together in a bowl (zucchini, eggs, 3/4 cup breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, paprika, black pepper and salt).
- Place the rest of the breadcrumbs (1/2 cup) in a bowl.
- Using a medium cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons), take a scoopful of dough and form into desired shape. Roll them in breadcrumbs and place balls on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
* Eggs can be substituted for 1/4 cup plain mashed potatoes or 1/4 cup aquafaba.
** If your family likes garlic, feel free to add 2 cloves
Servings: Makes about ~15 balls, amount may vary depending on how you shape them.
Storage: Can be kept for 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. To reheat after the freezer, from frozen you can use a toaster oven or regular oven at 350°F for 5 minutes at a time until heated through.
Suitable from: 6 months + as long as salt is omitted and allergens (eggs, dairy and wheat) have been introduced.
How to offer: With palmar grasp (around 6-8 months), offer bites whole or cut in half for baby to easily hold on to.
With pincer grasp (around 9 months +), offer whole, in half or cut into bite-size pieces for them to pick up.
Keep in mind that the amount babies eat will vary, so start small with 1-2 tablespoons of food and advance as you learn your baby’s hunger/fullness cues.
Prep time: 20 min.
Cook time: 30 min.
Ready in: 50 min.
Nutrition Note: This is a great way to offer veggies to baby, it’s easy for baby to hold and chew! It can be a full meal offering multiple nutrients at once!
You can find this recipe and 650 more in BLW Meals app. Download it today for your 14-day new user free trial.
