Zucchini Burgers are a delicious change to 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.
You can easily make these vegan burgers, just leave off the pancetta. Instead topped them with some pickled zucchini ribbons.
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.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for these grilled zucchini burgers can be found at the bottom of this post.
Zucchini Patties 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 thing 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.
Recipe Tips
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 a 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.
- 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 The Burger 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 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 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.
- 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.
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Zucchini Burger Patties
Ingredients
- 10 ounces grated zucchini (skin on)
- 3 ounces bell pepper (diced, any colour)
- 1 tbsp 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 3/4 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.
Nicole
Yum, I love this take on a veggie burger. I love zucchini fritters, this is taking it to the next level. And you can’t go wrong with sriracha and pancetta 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
These really are good. We love the sriracha in this recipe.
Claudia Lamascolo
I am all vegetarian and do not eat meat so you can just imagine how excited I am to see this one! I have 3 zucchini in my fridge and lots of peppers. I will make two batches one for me and then my husband will love the addition of Pancetta! Love this!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHHA…well I am so glad you are able to make everyone happy.
Denise
Not only do those sound great, they look so pretty! The will be great with our garden zucchini this summer. I wonder if you could freeze these? They would make a really nice lunch too just pan fried I think.
Homemade & Yummy
I would experiment and see how it goes. You might want to add a bit more breadcrumbs …. and cook from FROZEN!!
Sarah
A friend gave me two zucchini plants this spring, and I’ve never grown it before! This is such a great idea- I need to try it! I can’t wait to go zucchini crazy 😀
Homemade & Yummy
Well they grow faster than weeds….have fun!!
Lisa
When the zucchini comes in — you better have an arsenal of zucchini recipes ready and this one is genius! I’ve never heard of a straight up zucchini burger. I usually add shredded, sauteed zucchini to my turkey meatballs to keep them moist while adding in veg, but you’ve gone ALL THE WAY! And yes, everything is better with bacon, or pancetta in this case. We need to make this one ASAP!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHA….I know zucchinis grow faster than weeds. Hope you give this recipe a try. Even us meat lovers LOVE this one.
Danielle
Never thought of putting zucchini in a burger. These will be great when my zucchini start producing in the garden!
Homemade & Yummy
It works so well….hope you try this super simple recipe.
rebecca
great use of zucchini! I’ll definitely be trying this out with all my garden zucchini
Homemade & Yummy
You can never have too many zucchini recipes….and this one is a keeper. Hope you give it a try.
Chrissy
I’m so intrigued by these veggie burgers! I feel like normally when I try to make veggie burgers they fall apart easily but these look like the egg and panko hold everything together quite well. Can’t wait to make them asap!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes for sure, veggie burgers can be a bit of a pain. The GRILL MAT is a MUST!!
Linda
Wow! Now that’s a healthy burger! You answered my question when you said cook it on a grill mat because my first thought was how do I hold them together. Great idea! I love adding zucchini to regular beef burgers too as it makes them a little healthier and much moister. Love the sound of this burger and the addition of bacon was the perfect touch!
Homemade & Yummy
I know…the GRILL MAT is a must. Hope you give this a try soon.
Shanika
I always love a good veggie burger and using zucchini makes it perfect! Yum!
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….we sure do.
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!!