Baked Zucchini Rounds Appetizers With Goat Cheese

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Inside: Recipe for light, vegetarian-friendly baked zucchini rounds appetizers topped with creamy goat cheese. It’s an elegant party food idea to make when you want to serve something a bit more special.

These baked zucchini rounds appetizers with goat cheese are delicious, bite-sized party snacks perfect for spring gatherings, summer picnics, or cocktail parties any time of the year.

They look really elegant and impressive, yet are so easy to make!

The baked zucchini rounds are topped with a creamy goat cheese and Greek yogurt spread and finished with toasted pine nuts and chives for some seriously exciting flavors.

Baked Zucchini Rounds Appetizers With Goat Cheese - oven-baked zucchini rounds topped with a creamy goat cheese-Greek yogurt spread, toasted pine nuts, and fresh chives

This recipe makes 12–15 pieces, making these zucchini appetizers the perfect addition to any snack board as a light finger food or veggie-rich bite.

How To Make These Baked Zucchini Rounds

Ingredients You’ll Need For This Recipe

  • 2 medium zucchinis
  • 2 oz goat cheese
  • 2–3 tablespoons Greek yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Oil, for brushing
  • 3–4 sprigs fresh chives, chopped
  • Handful of pine nuts

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Slice the zucchinis into thick rounds. About ¾ of an inch is perfect for this recipe.

2. Place the zucchini rounds on a paper towel, sprinkle with salt, and let them rest for 20 minutes to draw out excess water.

3. After 20 minutes, pat them dry with another paper towel.

4. Preheat your oven to 350°F.

5. Arrange the zucchini slices on a baking sheet and brush lightly with oil.

6. Bake the rounds for 10–15 minutes, just until slightly softened but still holding their shape. They’ll taste the best when they are still a bit crunchy!

7. Cut the goat cheese into smaller pieces and put them in a food processor together with 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt, salt, and pepper.

8. Blend the mix for a few minutes, then check for consistency – add a bit more Greek yogurt if the cheese mix still looks too thick, plus add the dried thyme here as well.

9. Continue blending until the mix has turned smooth and creamy. You will have to scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times to get everything evenly mixed.

10. In a dry pan over medium heat, toast the pine nuts for a few minutes until they turn golden. Keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly!

11. If needed, pat the zucchini rounds dry again.

12. Spoon or pipe about 1 teaspoon of the goat cheese mixture onto each zucchini round.

13. Transfer them to a serving platter and top everything with toasted pine nuts and some chopped chives.

14. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving.

Baked Zucchini Rounds Appetizers With Goat Cheese - oven-baked zucchini rounds topped with a creamy goat cheese-Greek yogurt spread, toasted pine nuts, and fresh chives

Important Recipe Notes

  • The zucchini rounds need to be quite thick for this recipe (about ¾ inch), as thicker slices make the base sturdy enough to hold the topping without turning mushy.
  • You also don’t want to overbake the zucchini rounds! You want the zucchini to have a bit of bite and crunch, not be overly soft.
  • Since pine nuts are so small, they’ll burn fast, so you need to keep a close eye on them. The best way to toast the pine nuts is to start your pan on medium-high heat, add the nuts, then turn off the heat as soon as they start to brown. Keep stirring for another minute or two in the hot pan, then transfer the nuts to a small bowl.
  • In my experience, the zucchini rounds will hold up perfectly for up to four hours in the fridge. Any longer than that, and the base will start to soften too much.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • You get a ton of yummy flavors in just one bite – the creamy goat cheese works perfectly with the baked zucchini, and the toasted pine nuts and fresh chives add another layer of deliciousness.
  • Although made with really simple ingredients, they look really cute and elegant, so they are perfect for when you want to impress your guests with something pretty.
  • It’s a great veggie appetizer that your vegetarian friends will love!
  • Although they’re pretty light in terms of calories, the zucchini bites are still really rich in flavor.
  • The zucchini rounds are perfect for serving on special occasions like baby showers, bridal showers, or cocktail parties.

📌 Baked Zucchini Rounds Appetizers With Goat Cheese (Recipe Card)

Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchinis
  • 2 oz goat cheese
  • 2–3 tbsp Greek yogurt
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • Salt and pepper
  • Oil, for brushing
  • 3–4 sprigs chives, chopped
  • Handful of pine nuts

Instructions

  • Cut zucchinis into ¾-inch rounds. Salt and rest on a paper towel for 20 mins, then pat dry.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush rounds with oil and bake 10–15 mins, just until slightly soft.
  • Blend goat cheese, yogurt, salt, pepper, and thyme until smooth. Add more yogurt if needed.
  • Toast pine nuts in a dry pan over medium heat until golden. Remove from heat and stir.
  • Pat zucchini dry if needed. Top each round with 1 tsp goat cheese mix.
  • Garnish with pine nuts and chives. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 4 hours.

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