Des

Hey! I'm Des!

Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

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Mozzarella Stuffed Zucchini Bites

If you’ve spent some time on this blog, you know that I have an obsession with mozzarella. If you have no idea what I am talking about check out my recipe for Baked Mozzarella, to see the dish that started it all. With that said, while I was in the kitchen last week writing some recipes down, my mind started to drift, I got a little hungry and I realized I needed a snack. Of course mozzarella sounded great and I knew I had some fresh vacuum packed mozzarella in the fridge and I also had a zucchini, so I thought I would experiment. What were my results? Imagine biting into a crisp zucchini bite to reveal, hot, melted mozzarella cheese. Doesn’t experimenting sound delicious?

There are a couple of really nice things about this snack. First, the coating of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs crisps up nicely in the oven so you don’t have to fry them. Second, you can prepare a little plate for yourself or a huge plate for you and some friends.

sliced zucchini stuffed with mozzarella on white plate.

Mozzarella Stuffed Zucchini Bites

Zucchini bites stuffed with mozzarella, coated in panko and baked until golden.
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Easy Appetizer Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 2 large zucchini cut into 3/4 inch slices
  • about 1/3 cup pieces mozzarella You don't have to be precise here, I just tore pieces off of my ball of mozzarella
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper
  • Olive oil for drizzling
  • non stick spray

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Using the top of a vegetable peeler, carve out a small hole in the zucchini slices, about 3/4 of the way through. You don't want to go all the way through, you want to make a little bowl for the mozzarella.
  • Season the cavity of the zucchini with a little salt and pepper. Firmly press a couple of pieces of the mozzarella inside each piece of zucchini, it will fill the hole.
  • Combine the Parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs in a bowl.
  • Dip each piece of stuffed zucchini in the egg then press into the cheese and bread crumbs mixture to coat. (Note: Don't get nervous if the bread crumbs don't adhere to the sides, it's more important that they are on the top and the bottom.)
  • Spray a baking sheet lightly with non-stick spray. Place coated zucchini on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Bake on middle oven rack for 15 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil 3-5 minutes until golden brown.

Notes

Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!
Keywords: appetizer, Food, fresh mozzarella, mozzarella cheese, panko, parmesan, Recipe, salty snack, snack, zucchini

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Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    Rachel (teacher-chef)
    July 20, 2012 at 9:46 am

    YUM – I have family coming over next week and tons of zucchini rolling in from the CSA, I know this will be a hit, thanks for experimenting!!

  • Reply
    allie grow
    July 10, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    Made these last night. Good fresh out of the oven, but the mozz got chewy when reheated the following day. Next time making simple zucchini bites. Love the panko/parm crust! Looking for a pasta salad recipe to use all the itty-bitty zucchini balls.

  • Reply
    Katie
    July 31, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    I just had these at a friend’s house & loved these. I just found the recipe through foodgawker. I can’t wait to make them myself.

  • Reply
    BAKING is my ZeN
    June 25, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    Great blog! And the recipes look yummy too!
    Carmen

  • Reply
    zoe
    April 27, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    This looks great! Did you use fresh mozerella (like the kind in water) or the regular kind?

    • Reply
      Deseree
      April 27, 2009 at 2:04 pm

      Zoe: Thanks! I didn’t use the fresh mozzarella in the water only because I find that it gets too watery for things like this. I used the vacuum packed ball of fresh mozzarella that I find in the deli section of my grocery store. It still has the great taste of fresh mozzarella without the water.

  • Reply
    theCook
    March 24, 2009 at 1:55 am

    I love these! No deep-fry? Got to try them!

    • Reply
      Deseree
      March 24, 2009 at 9:52 am

      theCook: that is the best part about them! You still get that crunchy texture but no fryer to be found :)

  • Reply
    finsmom
    March 22, 2009 at 11:45 am

    Wow! These sound to die for! Thanks for sharing! I will be making these very soon! I LOVE zuchinni!

    • Reply
      Deseree
      March 22, 2009 at 9:04 pm

      You’re welcome finsmom! I too am a zucchini fanatic. I hope you enjoy them :)

  • Reply
    Sara
    March 20, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    Mozzarella stuffed zucchini sound delicious.

    • Reply
      Deseree
      March 20, 2009 at 2:42 pm

      Thanks Sara! It is ;-)

  • Reply
    Kevin
    March 19, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    These sound good!

    • Reply
      Deseree
      March 19, 2009 at 5:51 pm

      Thanks Kevin!

  • Reply
    Deseree
    March 18, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Rita: Thanks! If I can bake instead of fry I like to. Not only is it better for you but the clean up is a lot easier too. :-)
    The Craving Chronicles: Cheese and cheese are my favorite ingredients too! How can they not be ;-)
    NAOmni: Thanks!
    Maria: Thanks! I am glad to hear that you like my blog!
    Michelle: Thanks Michelle, you’re welcome!

  • Reply
    Michelle
    March 18, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Oh my gosh – these look and sound totally delicious. I am definitely going to try this. Thanks for sharing your recipe and gorgeous photos.
    http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/

  • Reply
    Maria
    March 18, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Just found your blog. I am loving it! I love zucchini esp. with cheese:)

  • Reply
    NAOmni
    March 18, 2009 at 8:38 am

    That looks amazing!

    NAOmni

  • Reply
    The Craving Chronicles
    March 18, 2009 at 6:48 am

    Ok, this is ANOTHER one of your recipes I will have to try! It has all my favorite ingredients (cheese and cheese). I really wish I had some zucchini at home now!

  • Reply
    Rita
    March 17, 2009 at 6:40 pm

    This sounds so good, and it’s so different, I never thought about it. I love that you used the oven instead of frying.

  • Reply
    Mrs. L
    March 17, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    OMG these sound wonderful! Dang, I just cooked the zucchini I had in the fridge or I’d make these this week! This sounds really good.

    • Reply
      Deseree
      March 17, 2009 at 5:21 pm

      Thanks Mrs. L! Hopefully you can get some zucchini soon!

    Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

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