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.
Aditi
Hey. This is looks so appetising. Am a big fan of healthy burgers and this sounds so fresh. Am surely making this next. Saving this recipe till then
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….this really is super easy and delicious.
Heather
WOW!! These are gorgeous and I can already taste them. Very creative using zucchini to make a burger and with all that flavor, who needs anything else? Perfect!!
Homemade & Yummy
I know we will be having a few (MANY) more of these this season.
Saima
Zucchini is not at the top of my favourite vegetables list, but your burger looks so good that I’m tempted to try it. Especially because I’m sick of all the one million variations of the meat burger… I really like the idea of trying a veggie burger instead. Thanks for posting this refreshingly different burger recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
Well maybe making burgers out of zucchini you will like it more. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Jessica Knott
Our garden is in full bloom and I’ve been busy making my favorite recipes this week. We have so much extra zucchini and this is a great way to make a flavorful meal for the family.!
Homemade & Yummy
I know, you can never have too many zucchini recipes during growing season.
Sam
I have never thought of using zucchini in a veggie burger!! This looks pretty amazing and I am looking forward to trying this flavour combo!
Homemade & Yummy
These are super easy and delicious. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Anne Murphy
I’ve made zucchini fritters and patties, but never took them the next step to make a burger! I bet that’s delicious! (Though I think I will use a fry pan, not a grill.. LOL)
Homemade & Yummy
By all means, these will work in a pan too. ENJOY!
Cathleen
Out of the vegetarian burgers, I have only ever tried black bean or quinoa. I am always amazed at how versatile zucchini is!
Homemade & Yummy
Well both those burgers are excellent choices too. ENJOY this super easy recipe.
Anne Lawton
these look so good. A combination of burger and fritter. I’m going to make this when my garden starts to overflow with zucchini!
Homemade & Yummy
Well you know how fast they grow. ENJOY!
lauren
So good! I love having new ways to use up zucchini. I’m always falling back on my standard of grilling or noodles. This will be a great way to mix it up. The sriracha and pancetta are calling my name!
Homemade & Yummy
Yup you can never have too many zucchini recipes that is for sure. ENJOY!!
Renee Gardner
I love a good zucchini fritter, but never thought to make jumbo ones and grill them as burgers! I’m adding this to my meatless Monday rotation.
Homemade & Yummy
YES….so good in a burger. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Kat Jeter
Wow you can just look at this burger and tell how much flavor it has! I’m always looking for ways to use up all of my summer zucchini so I’ll be making this all summer long!
Homemade & Yummy
You can never have too many zucchini recipes….and my freezer still seems to have lots of bags of frozen zucchini too.
Elaine
I feel like I can never get too much zucchini! Both hubby and I love it! Now, you have given me a new and delicious way to eat it! The addition of sriracha and pancetta has gotten my salivary glands working in overtime!! 🙂 Can’t wait to try it!
Homemade & Yummy
Sriracha and pancetta really do add flavour to this humble burger. ENJOY!
Liz Della Croce
These look amazing! Love the flavors in it and can’t wait to try!
Homemade & Yummy
Great way to use up all the garden fresh zucchini!!
Amanda
I am always looking for new zucchini recipes! It’s in abundance at our farm market all summer and I can never resist buying them by the basketful. I absolutely love that you’ve topped these burgers with grilled pancetta. What a great addition, and that kick from the sriracha must give this burger the perfect finish!
Homemade & Yummy
These are great….and even are perfect for brunch on the weekend too. Hope you give this recipe a try….and you need LOTS of zucchini recipes for sure.
Donna
Now this is my kind of burger!! With burger season upon us my hubby is all about grilling and hamburgers at least once a week, as the only person in my family thats not a big red meat fan I am always on the lookout for a veggie option that still has some flavor. Not only does this pack a punch of flavor BUT it also gives me a use for the masses of zucchini I have growing in the garden right now. Can’t wait for the next bbq to enjoy these again 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
Well I sure hope you give these burgers a try….always a great way to use zucchini.