Zucchini burgers are a delicious change from meat-based burgers. After all, you can never have too many zucchini recipes during the summer squash season.
Combine grated zucchini, diced bell pepper, Panko breadcrumbs, and a nice hit of Sriracha sauce. Top with some crispy grilled pancetta and garnish to your perfection.
A delicious zucchini burger recipe with simple ingredients. Great for summer BBQ cooking.
You can easily make these vegan burgers, just leave off the pancetta. Instead, top them with some pickled zucchini ribbons. Need a great side? How about this Mediterranean Couscous Salad? The perfect party salad.
Very soon we will be right in the heart of “zucchini season”. Do you grow your own in the garden? I am not a gardener, but I do visit the Farmers Market on a regular basis from June to October.
I have yet to try stuffed zucchini flowers. I need to hunt some zucchini blossoms down this year for sure.
Zucchini Burgers Are Easy To Make
Honestly, these burgers have very few ingredients:
- grated zucchini
- diced bell pepper
- Sriracha sauce (adds some nice spicy heat)
- Panko breadcrumbs
- salt and pepper
- pancetta (because bacon always makes things delicious)
With a little grating and dicing, you will be ready to cook these in no time. In fact, you can make them ahead of time and keep them in the fridge until ready to use.
The most important part of making this burger recipe is preparing the zucchini.
- Grate the zucchini (you do not need to peel it). You can use a box grater, food processor, or mandolin.
- Place a metal sieve (preferably over the sink) and sprinkle it with salt.
- Let it sit and drain for about 25 minutes.
- Rinse with cold water.
- Squeeze to remove excess moisture ( I like to roll it in a kitchen towel).
Now you are ready to make the patties. Place all the ingredients in a bowl (not the pancetta), mix, form and you are ready to cook. Full instructions are in the recipe card.
- You can always add more or less Sriracha, or even replace it with something else if you wish.
- Pancetta can be optional, but I highly recommend it. You can use regular bacon or even turkey bacon.
- If you don’t have Panko breadcrumbs, any kind of breadcrumbs will work.
- I like to chill them before cooking. It prevents them from falling apart.
Grated zucchini blends well with lots of great options too. Try adding ground turkey, black beans, quinoa, or even rice. Believe me, you will not run out of burger variations.
Cooking Zucchini Patties
We cooked these on the grill. BBQ season is upon us (thank goodness).
- Heat the grill to medium-high.
- Grill for about 5-6 minutes per side.
These do tend to stick to the grates, so I would suggest that you use a grill mat for the best results.
Alternatively, you and always cook these on the stovetop.
- Use a non-stick pan with a touch of oil.
- Heat to medium-high.
- Cook for about 5-6 minutes per side.
What To Do With All The Garden Fresh Zucchini
Courgette is the BRITISH name for this delicious squash. Did you know that? No wonder Jamie Oliver always refers to it as courgette. I’m not sure which name I like best.
You can use it in so many recipes, and I can find a way to incorporate into delicious meals from breakfast to dessert. YES, you can eat zucchini raw!
- Use it in soup. Zucchini gazpacho is perfect for a hot summer day. This is made in the blender in minutes.
- How about a zucchini noodle recipe for dinner tonight. This quick and easy stir fry is sure to please your family.
- Perfect used in salads (yup eat it raw). This Greek zoodle salad contains creamy goat cheese as the dressing. Love Caesar salad? Give this Zucchini Caesar a try!
- Of course, you can never go wrong with baking. These Nutella zucchini muffins contain chocolate chips.
- Use it in recipes like these Grilled chicken skewers.
Not into veggie burgers? Give this salmon burger recipe a try instead. In fact, check out this burger roundup for lots of great suggestions. Don’t forget flavoured mayo, the perfect condiment.
Zucchini Burger Patties
Ingredients
- 10 ounces grated zucchini (skin on)
- 3 ounces bell pepper (diced, any colour)
- 1 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
- 1 egg
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- 3 ounces pancetta (optional)
Instructions
Make the Zucchini Patties:
- Grate the zucchini and place in a metal sieve. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt and let drain for 25 minutes.Rinse with water to remove salt, and squeeze out excess liquid.
- Place drain zucchini in a mixing bowl.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Form into 2 balls, giving a squeeze to remove any remaining liquid.
- Form into 2 patties approximately ¾ inch thick and 4 inches in diameter.
- Place on wax paper. You can place these in the fridge until ready to use (even overnight).
Grill the Zucchini Burgers:
- Heat the grill to medium-high. Use a grill mat to cook the patties on for best results
- Grill burgers approximately 5-6 minutes per side.
- While burgers are cooking, you can grill your pancetta at the other end of the mat.
- Remove cooker burgers and place on buns. Top with pancetta. Garnish with your desired ingredients.
Pan Fry the Burgers:
- Heat a non-stick skillet with about 1 tbsp. of oil.
- Cook burgers about 5-6 minutes per side.
- Remove from heat. Place on buns and enjoy.
Katie
I had a zucchini slider when I was in Philadelphia a couple weeks ago and loved it! I was hoping to find a recipe just like this so thank you! Do you think it would work to sub in almond flour for the breadcrumbs? Or to at least use a gluten free option?
Homemade & Yummy
Absolutely….sub in whatever you like. ENJOY!!
Tina Dawson
This is totally happening in my house this week! I would skip the pancetta and egg and find a way to make it all plant-based but i absolutely love the idea of a zucchini patty!
Homemade & Yummy
Feel free to adapt it to your dietary needs. ENJOY!!
krish recipes
A very unique and different way of using zuchini
Chef G
Yes I do agree…and delicious.
Florentina
Oh how i love zucchini! you make me wanna fire up that grill right now !
Chef G
Yes me too.
Censie Sawyer
What an interesting concept! I need to try this when our zucchninis are grown! Yummy! Great spring burger!
Chef G
Thanks so much.
Heather
You had me at Sriracha and Pancetta!!! Excellent recipe and such a creative use of zucchini!
Chef G
We rather like them a lot!!
Trish
Oh my gosh YUM! I love homemade veggie burgs! I am always looking for ways to use up zucchini in the Summer. Great idea!
Chef G
Thanks they really are great!
Rebecca Bryant
WOW what a healthy way to have a burger. I must try this one adn see how it taste. Bet my clean eating class would love it to.
Chef G
Hope you give them a try.
A Geek Daddy
This was a really creative use for zucchini and I’m going to try it out. My neighbor always brings me over zucchini from her garden and I don’t know what to make with it. I’ll enjoy cooking these up on the grill.
Chef G
Yes zucchini seems to come from no where during the growing season…always need to use it up in something.
Tiffany
This looks really good! Never thought I would say that about a veggie burger. 🙂 My husband loves sriracha too.
Chef G
HAHA….well give them a try!!
Jennifer B
This sounds sooo good! Is there any way to make these without using the egg? I am going to be trying these very soon!
Chef G
Hope you like them as much as we do.
Melissa
Wow! These look delicious! Would these also make good fritters? Covered in Sriracha! YES!
Chef G
Yes they would make great fritters.
Bella B (xoxoBella)
I have never seen a zucchini burger but now I need to try them. I think I would love something like this.
Chef G
Hope you give them a try…ENJOY!!
Kate @ VeggieDesserts
Lovely recipe. Zucchini burgers sound great and I love that they’re zinged up with sriracha.
Chef G
Yes love the sriracha!!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Allergy Friendly Eats
This is genius! Love all th veggies in here!
Chef G
Thanks so much!!