Description
Delicious and healthy Chicken Zucchini Poppers made with ground chicken, fresh zucchini, and herbs, served with a creamy cilantro dipping sauce. Perfect as a snack or appetizer, these poppers are easy to prepare and cook quickly on the stovetop, offering a flavorful and moist bite without being greasy.
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 Sauce: Combine cilantro, garlic clove, mayonnaise, cottage cheese, and distilled white vinegar in a food processor and blend until smooth. Refrigerate the sauce for at least 30 minutes to thicken and let flavors combine. Alternatively, finely chop the cilantro and mix everything by hand. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prep the Zucchini: Grate the zucchini using a cheese grater and place the shredded zucchini on a paper towel. Sprinkle with a small pinch of kosher salt and squeeze to remove excess moisture.
- Mix the Poppers: In a large bowl, combine the drained zucchini, ground chicken, minced garlic, chopped chives, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and fresh black pepper. Mix thoroughly and form the mixture into six 3-inch patties.
- Cook the Poppers: Heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken patties for 4 minutes on each side, until they are browned and cooked through. If the patties are browning too quickly and not cooked through, transfer them to a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 2 minutes.
- Serve: Serve the zucchini poppers warm, with the creamy cilantro dipping sauce either on the side or spooned on top.
Notes
- If fresh chives are unavailable, substitute with green onion for a similar flavor.
- Ground chicken thighs are preferred for juiciness and flavor, but ground chicken breast with some fat (such as 93/7) also works well.
- To make the sauce dairy free, paleo, or Whole30 compliant, omit the cottage cheese and increase mayonnaise slightly; reduce the vinegar to 1-2 teaspoons to taste, noting the sauce may be thinner.
- For egg-free mayonnaise, try aquafaba mayo recipes as a substitute.
- Store the poppers and sauce in the refrigerator or freeze for long-term storage. Defrost thoroughly before reheating and serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty with sauce
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
