Yummy and easy to make, these Zucchini Cheese Bites are perfect for an appetizer or hearty snack! Made with crescent roll dough and stuffed with healthy veggies, this is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
You can also add crispy bacon as an optional ingredient, or leave it out for a vegetarian option. These incredible zucchini appetizers are just as fun to eat as they are tasty!
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🩵 About This Recipe
With only 5 easy ingredients, these simple cheesy zucchini bites are the perfect snack or appetizer! Great for feeding a crowd, they utilize crescent roll dough for a fluffy and flaky exterior.
The combination of bacon and cheese with healthy zucchini creates a balance of savory flavors. You can add ingredients or leave out whatever you prefer to customize these to your liking.
And if you have leftover zucchini, make this One Pot Zucchini Mushroom Pasta or a batch of Air Fryer Zucchini Fries!
🧂 Gather Your Ingredients
- zucchini - healthy and mild in flavor, zucchini is the perfect vegetable to act as a nutritious base for these appetizers.
- onion - adds a nice savory flavor that pairs well with the zucchini.
- bacon - for some smoky flavor.
- crescent roll dough - an easy way to wrap your cheesy zucchini bites in a light and buttery layer of dough.
- shredded cheese - I like to use monterey jack cheese for this recipe, but feel free to use a different kind or a blend of your favorites.
🔪 Let's Make Zucchini Cheese Bites!
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Dice Zucchini
Chop your zucchini into bite sized pieces.
Cook Veggies
Add some olive oil to a large skillet and saute the onion for a minute. Toss in the zucchini and cook until softened.
Add Bacon
If using, add the bacon and cook for another minute.
Distribute Ingredients
Place a spoonful of the filling on the wider end of each crescent roll triangle, then add cheese.
Wrap in Dough
Carefully roll the dough, pinching the sides to seal as you go.
Bake
Bake in the oven for 9-10 minutes until the dough is golden brown.
For some extra flavor and fun presentation, brush the unbaked rollups with some melted butter and add Parmesan cheese and parsley flakes!
❔ FAQs
This is a versatile type of yeasted pastry that's common to be baked and served as dinner rolls. It can also be used in a wide variety of desserts, appetizers, and other recipes as a shortcut instead of making a dough from scratch!
Absolutely, this variety of squash is packed with vitamins and minerals, and can also aid in digestion and even help lower the risk of heart disease.
Nope, you can leave the skin on! This makes it so you don't have to peel the zucchini and take extra time with prep, and there's some additional nutrients in the skin of the squash as well.
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💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Purchase pre-chopped zucchini and onions at the grocery store for even easier prep.
- Pre-cooked bacon is also a good idea, or you can bake your bacon in the oven while you're working on prepping the veggies.
- Start preheating the oven before anything so it can come up to temp while you prepare the ingredients and make the zucchini bites.
- For easier cleanup and to prevent sticking, line the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
Super easy to make thanks to store bought crescent roll dough, these zucchini cheese bites will please guests of all ages!
📝 Substitutions and Variations
- Use other kinds of cheese like cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack for different flavors.
- For more nutrition, add more veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach.
- You can also bump up the flavor by seasoning the veggies with paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, or other spices and herbs you like.
- Give these zucchini cheese bites an even more filling quality by adding cooked chicken or turkey, or add some beans or tofu for a vegetarian version.
What readers are saying...
My kids love them… Great way to get veggies into picky eaters!
- Cindy
🥡 Storage and Reheating
I recommend eating these fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic. Let your zucchini cheese bites cool before storing them to prevent them from getting soggy.
Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F until they're golden and crispy again.
🍴 What To Serve With This Dish
Serve these zucchini appetizers with some marinara sauce for a delicious party snack, pair them with a Berry Salad or Strawberry Smoothie Bowl for a fun breakfast treat, or serve alongside a Caesar Salad and Roasted Red Pepper Soup for a tasty dinner!
😋 More Appetizer Recipes You'll Love
- Easy Mini Caprese Pizza - With refreshing Italian flavors, these personal mini pizzas are perfect for summer snacking.
- Turkey Burger Sliders - You'll love these handheld sandwiches that are great for serving a crowd!
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus - Great to serve with all of your favorite dippers like chips and pretzels.
- Loaded Baked Potato Bites - This recipe from Cocktails and Appetizers takes the classic comfort food and turns it into a handheld treat!
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Cheesy Zucchini Bites
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📋 Recipe Card
Zucchini Cheese Bites (With Crescent Roll Dough)
Ingredients
- 1 medium zucchini
- ½ cup diced onion
- 6 slices cooked bacon, chopped (optional)
- 1 tube crescent roll dough
- 1 cup shredded cheese (monterey jack works well)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Chop the zucchini into bite-sized pieces. Make them fairly chunky so they won't get mushy too quickly when cooking.1 medium zucchini
- Add a little olive oil into a large skillet and heat on medium high. Add the onion and saute for a minute.½ cup diced onion
- Add chopped zucchini and cook until softened, about 6-8 minutes. Add the bacon (if using) and cook for one more minute.6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
- Separate each crescent roll along score lines so that you have 8 triangles and lay them out on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.1 tube crescent roll dough
- Distribute the zucchini mixture amongst the 8 triangles towards the side opposite the smallest angle, then top with about 2 tablespoons of the shredded cheese.1 cup shredded cheese
- Roll up the crescent roll dough from the side with the zucchini mixture to the point created by the smallest angle, pinching the sides as you go to seal it.
- OPTIONAL STEP: Brush each crescent roll with a little melted butter and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese and dried parsley flakes so a pretty effect.
- Back about 9 minutes until rolls are golden brown.
Notes
- Use pre-chopped zucchini and onions available in grocery stores to save time.
- Opt for pre-cooked bacon slices if you're short on time. Or, if you need to cook the bacon yourself, cook the bacon in the oven while prepping the vegetables.
- While the oven is preheating, start cooking the onions and zucchini to streamline the process.
- Use parchment paper or a silicone mat on your baking sheet to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Substitute Monterey Jack with cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend of your favorite cheeses for different flavor profiles.
- Add other vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach to the zucchini mixture for added nutrition and flavor.
- Experiment with spices like garlic powder, paprika, or Italian seasoning, and herbs like thyme or rosemary to enhance the taste.
- Add cooked chicken or turkey for a heartier option. If you prefer vegetarian, use beans or tofu.
- You can also trying using puff pastry or pizza dough for a different texture and flavor.
- Serve the crescent rolls for a savory breakfast or brunch alongside scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad.
- Pair the rolls with a side salad or soup for a fun dinner.
- Serve with a dipping sauce like marinara, ranch, or a spicy aioli to add an extra layer of flavor.
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in September 2014, and was republished with tips, step by step photos, and a recipe change in July 2024.
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Happy cooking!
Erik
Loved how easy this was to make! Wonderful flavors that everyone just loved.
Gianne
The combination of the buttery, flaky dough with the savory zucchini and gooey cheese was a perfect match. Not only were they super easy to prepare, but they also made for a fantastic appetizer that everyone loved.