Description
Chicken Zucchini Poppers are savory and juicy chicken patties mixed with fresh zucchini and herbs, served with a creamy cilantro dipping sauce. This easy stovetop recipe is perfect for a light dinner or appetizer and combines the freshness of zucchini with flavorful ground chicken, complemented by a tangy and herbaceous sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken 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 vinegar in a food processor. Blend until smooth and well combined. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken. Alternatively, finely chop the cilantro and mix all ingredients by hand, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare the Zucchini: Grate the zucchini using a cheese grater into small pieces. Place the grated zucchini on a paper towel, sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, then squeeze to remove excess moisture.
- Mix the Chicken Patty Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the drained zucchini with the ground chicken, minced garlic, chopped chives, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and a sprinkle of fresh black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
- Form Patties: Shape the mixture into six 3-inch patties.
- Cook Patties: Heat oil in a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken patties 4 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. If the patties brown too quickly but are not fully cooked, transfer them to a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for about 2 minutes to finish cooking.
- Serve: Serve the warm chicken zucchini poppers with the creamy cilantro sauce either as a dipping sauce or spoon a little on top of each patty.
Notes
- If fresh chives are unavailable, substitute with green onions.
- Ground chicken thighs are preferred for juiciness and flavor, but chicken breast with some fat (about 93/7) also works well.
- For a dairy-free, paleo, or Whole30 version of the sauce, omit the cottage cheese and adjust mayonnaise and vinegar quantities accordingly to maintain consistency and flavor.
- For an egg-free mayonnaise option, consider using aquafaba mayo.
- Store the chicken poppers in the refrigerator for short-term or freeze for long-term storage. Defrost thoroughly before reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty with sauce
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
