High Protein Chicken Zucchini Poppers
These chicken zucchini poppers offer a flavorful, high-protein snack or light meal option. Made with lean ground chicken, fresh zucchini, and cheese, they are moist, healthy, and easy to prepare.
Equipment
- 1 oven preheated to 400°F (200°C)
- 1 baking sheet lined with parchment paper or greased
- 1 mixing bowl for combining ingredients
- 1 cookie scoop optional for shaping poppers uniformly
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken breast
- 1 medium zucchini grated and moisture squeezed out
- 1/2 cup low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/4 cup almond flour or whole wheat breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning or mixed herbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Olive oil spray or 1-2 tbsp olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with olive oil.
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, grated zucchini (moisture removed), shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, chopped onion, almond flour or breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Form the mixture into small balls or patties, spacing them evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly spray or brush the poppers with olive oil to promote browning.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the poppers are golden brown with melted cheese.
- For extra crispiness, broil the poppers for 1 to 2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Let the poppers cool slightly, then serve warm with your choice of dipping sauces.
Notes
- Squeeze out all moisture from zucchini to avoid soggy poppers.
- Use a cookie scoop for evenly sized poppers.
- Try substituting ground turkey or beef for variation.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer for best texture.