Description
Delicious and healthy Chicken Zucchini Poppers made with ground chicken, fresh zucchini, and flavorful herbs, served with a creamy cilantro dipping sauce. Perfect as a snack or appetizer, these patties are cooked on the stovetop until golden brown and juicy inside.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Zucchini Poppers
- 1 pound ground chicken (at least 7% fat recommended)
- 1-2 medium zucchini squash (about 1½ cups shredded)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons oil for cooking
Creamy Cilantro Sauce
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon cottage cheese
- 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the cilantro sauce: Combine cilantro, garlic clove, mayonnaise, cottage cheese, and vinegar in a food processor. Blend until smooth and well combined. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to thicken and allow flavors to meld, or alternatively, finely chop cilantro and mix ingredients by hand. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare the zucchini: Grate the zucchini on a cheese grater into small pieces. Place on a paper towel, sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt, and squeeze out the excess moisture thoroughly.
- Combine the popper ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the shredded zucchini, ground chicken, minced garlic, chopped chives, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Form the mixture into six 3-inch patties.
- Cook the poppers: Heat oil in a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties for 4 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. If the patties are browning too quickly and not yet fully cooked, transfer to a 350 degree oven for 2 minutes to finish cooking.
- Serve: Serve the poppers warm with the creamy cilantro sauce on the side or spoon a little sauce over each popper.
Notes
- If fresh chives are unavailable, substitute with green onion.
- Ground chicken thighs provide more flavor and juiciness than breast meat, but either works well. Aim for 7-7% fat content for best results.
- For a dairy-free, paleo, or Whole30 version of the sauce, omit cottage cheese and increase mayo slightly. Reduce vinegar to 1-2 teaspoons for a milder taste; sauce might be thinner.
- Egg-free mayonnaise options like Aquafaba Mayo can be used if desired.
- Store leftover poppers in the fridge or freeze for long-term storage. Defrost gently before reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty with sauce
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
