Zucchini slice is one of those ‘hidden secret’ sorts of foods, so quick and easy to make with just a few simple pantry ingredients and leftovers. Is it a quiche? Is it a frittata? It’s neither, but make it once and it’ll become one of your healthy go-tos for lunch boxes, picnics, parties, snacks and more.

So what’s a zucchini slice?

This classic Australian recipe is genius.

It might look like a quiche. But it isn’t. Not quite. The texture reminds me a bit of cornbread, a savory muffin, or even a fluffy pancake. You could call it a bacon and egg slice (with healthy zucchini!) or even impossible pie, since it’s impossible to mess up!

You can make it in several different ways, some of which make it taste almost the same as a crustless quiche or vegetable frittata. But if you make it the way I suggest here, it will be something quite different.

The main difference is that it’s firmer than a classic quiche (= perfect finger food!). It’s also healthier and easier to make since you don’t have to mess around making a crust.

You make zucchini slice in a big rectangular baking pan so that you can easily cut it into lots of square or rectangular portions. Perfect for parties, lunch boxes and snacks, or to throw into the freezer for another time.

Doesn’t it sound delicious? It’s perfect easy comfort food!

Zucchini slice is great hot or cold. This makes it absolutely PERFECT for lunch boxes, picnics, parties, even simple dinners – perhaps destined to become a family favourite.

Why the BEST zucchini slice

I don’t claim that a recipe is the best very often, but when I truly believe it is I’m not shy about saying so! Here are the reasons why I think this is the best easy zucchini slice (or courgette slice if you’re in the UK):

• It’s a simple egg-based 7-ingredient recipe – plus salt and pepper of course and extra cheeses if you like. NO MILK NECESSARY!

• The texture is firm, not watery. But the overall effect is light. Imagine a cross between a pancake and a quiche!

• As it holds together well, it’s perfect finger food for children – or anyone, really!

• It’s packed full of goodness including 6 eggs, onions, and loads of grated zucchini/courgette.

• It’s also packed full of flavour: yummy bacon, sweet onions, plenty of salt and pepper (this is key!) and 3 different tasty cheeses.

• It makes a nice big pan of slices with enough for 10 to 20 servings.

What ingredients you need

If you have a medium to large zucchini, you probably have most if not all the other ingredients you need to make this.

Eggs: You need 6. I always use the best quality I can find, since eggs are the basis of the recipe. 6 eggs might sound like a lot, but you get a big pan of slices.

Flour: A whole cup. I use self-raising flour so that the mixture puffs up a little. The flour binds everything together and helps create a kind of thick batter.

Oil: Some zucchini slice recipes add a lot of oil. I do like to add just a few tablespoons of olive oil to the batter. It adds to the yummy flavours and helps the slice bake into something almost like a savoury cake or muffin.

Pan-fried onion and bacon: Some zucchini slice recipes skip the pan-frying. I’ve tried this and don’t recommend it. Yes it’s faster, but the raw onions add too much moisture. The cooking process also brings out extra flavour!

Zucchini/Courgette: You need just 1 medium to large zucchini – grated. The key is to ‘blot’ it with kitchen paper to take out some of the moisture. If you don’t do this your slice will still be delicious, but it might end up a bit watery.

By the way, feel free to use a food processor to grate the zucchini. I usually just grate it with a hand held grater because I really don’t enjoy cleaning my processor!

Cheeses: I like to add a full cup of tasty cheddar cheese. I also like to sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top for extra seasoning. Dotting some ricotta cheese over too makes it taste extra delicious, like a gourmet zucchini slice!

However, feel free to use just one type of cheese if you prefer.

You can even make zucchini slice without cheese altogether if you like, since there will still be plenty of flavour in it from the bacon and other ingredients.

Seasoning: Seasoning the mixture well is key. I grind salt and pepper into it before I spread it into to pan, and again over the top before it goes into the oven.

How to make zucchini slice

The step-by-step guide below should help you make the recipe perfectly first time. Scroll down to the end for the full recipe including ingredient amounts.

This tasty egg slice is so easy to make. The ‘hardest’ (and messiest!) part is grating the zucchini. Once that’s done the process is a breeze.

I’d say it takes around 15 minutes to get the slice in the oven. Bake it for around 30 minutes and you have a delicious slice that goes a really long way.

So here’s how you make it:

Step 1: Make a very simple batter out of 6 eggs, a cup of flour and a bit of olive oil.

Step 2: Stir grated (and blotted!) zucchini, pan-fried onions and bacon, grated cheese and plenty of salt and pepper through the batter.

Step 3: Pour the batter into a deep-sided baking tray, baking dish or roasting pan. Spread it out evenly.

Step 4: This part is optional, but I highly recommend it! Dot with ricotta cheese and sprinkle with parmesan. Grind over some more salt and pepper.

Step 5: Bake for about half an hour. Let cool a little then slice into 10 large slices or 20 smaller squares.

Pro tip: Get all the ingredients ready to go before you start. I usually start by grating (and blotting) the zucchini, pan frying the bacon and onions, measuring out the cheeses and whisking together the eggs and flour. Then all you have to do is stir everything together and add the finishing touches!

How to serve it

Pack chilled in lunch boxes, take on picnics, serve at parties or freeze for later!

It even makes a great easy meal for the whole family. Make a quick salad or a couple of easy sides to go with it and dinner is served! Try sweet potato fries, Greek yogurt brussels sprouts coleslaw or (wild card option!) this 30-minute pressure cooker tomato soup (you can also make it on the stovetop!) to go on the side.

Zucchini slice variations

I’ve made a vegetarian zucchini slice without bacon before. I have to admit it isn’t quite as tasty as the zucchini bacon slice, but it’s still very delicious.

I’ve also added a grated carrot as well as the zucchini.

There are other ways to make it your own.

You could add:

• sundried tomatoes

• sliced olives

• lightly fried chorizo or cooked sausage instead of bacon

• a different kind of grated cheese or chunks of feta instead of ricotta

• peas or chopped asparagus (I’d cook them first to avoid making your slice watery)

• fresh or dried herbs

To be honest, you can throw in literally any leftovers or bits and bobs you have lying around your fridge!

Make it gluten free: For a gluten free zucchini slice, it’s no problem to make it with your favourite gluten free flour. You can even skip the flour altogether if you like. This will make it more like a frittata or a crustless zucchini quiche (with bacon!) but it will still be a super tasty zucchini slice.

Try making zucchini slice muffins: These are particularly great for little ones’ lunch boxes and snacks! Simply spray a muffin tin with a little oil to prevent sticking, then pour the batter in. Bake for a little less time, or until the tops are slightly browned and a skewer comes out clean.

Freezing and reheating instructions

Baked zucchini slice keeps well in the fridge for a few days, but it’s also absolutely perfect for freezing.

I like to wrap individual slices in aluminium foil, then pile them all in a freezer bag for freezing. I usually freeze some larger slices for myself and Mr. Scrummy, and some smaller square slices for our little boy.

They’re perfect for grabbing in the morning for quick breakfasts or lunch boxes.

You can freeze the slices for up to 3 months.

I usually let my slices thaw (if they’ve been frozen), then reheat in my air fryer for about 5 minutes at 170C/340F. If you don’t have an air fryer you can easily reheat in the oven on a low-ish heat (20 minutes at 160C/320F is about right).

You can even just microwave for a minute or two if you don’t mind your slice not being crisp on the top.

More things to know (FAQ)

Making this for a picnic? Why not go even more Australian and make some of these delicious and easy Anzac biscuits and this yummy hedgehog slice as well?

More easy egg recipes

• This is the best crustless quiche – with a ‘magic’ crust! Use whatever you have, and bakes in just 30 minutes.

• If you prefer a quiche with a proper crust but you still want it to be quick and easy, try this red pepper and feta quiche or this delicious Mary Berry quiche lorraine instead.

• Got eggs and potatoes? Try this easy Spanish frittata recipe with just 5 simple pantry ingredients.
• For something a little different, you just have to try this ‘strapatsada’, or Greek egg scramble recipe.

• If you’re a traditionalist at heart, but you don’t want to spend ages making a classic quiche lorraine, try these 6 ingredient mini quiches instead. They’re SO easy to make, and are great for parties or small tummies. Freeze perfectly, too!

More zucchini recipes

• Try the best easy zucchini fries with a light and crispy tempura batter.

• This pistachio, lime and zucchini loaf cake is one for impressing your friends and neighbours.

• If you’re looking for an interesting make-ahead lunch option, throw your leftover zucchini into this yummy pesto penne pasta.

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