FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Healthy Zucchini Muffins Recipe: Why You’ll Love It
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Healthy Zucchini Muffins
• Notes About These Zucchini Muffins
• Storage Instructions
• More Healthy Muffin Recipes
• Tools For This Zucchini Muffin Recipe
• Healthy Zucchini Muffins (Chocolate Chip) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

Every year when zucchini come in season, these healthy zucchini muffins make an appearance at my house. this chocolate chip zucchini muffin recipe is sweet, moist, refined-sugar-free, and studded with melty chocolate. It’s the perfect balance of health and indulgence. Plus, they are the ideal complement to a brunch spread featuring a breakfast casserole , a refreshing fruit salad , classic easy peel eggs , and a steaming pot of freshly brewed coffee .

Zucchini is the perfect way to sneak veggies into recipes! I love mixing it into a batch of almond flour zucchini bread or fudgy zucchini brownies . It also offers so much flavor in savory dishes, like parmesan zucchini fries , hearty zucchini lasagna , and crispy zucchini chips , too. These zucchini muffins are just one more way to feed my obsession!

Healthy Zucchini Muffins Recipe: Why You’ll Love It

• Moist and tender texture
• Lightly sweet taste with a hint of cinnamon
• Melty chocolate chips
• No butter, oil, or refined sugar
• Naturally low carb, dairy-free, paleo, gluten-free, and grain-free
• Perfect for kids, breakfast , snacking, and meal prep

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for zucchini chocolate chip muffins, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour – This is the brand I used to test this healthy zucchini muffin recipe, and it’s organic. Keep in mind that the moisture, consistency, and density of your coconut flour can greatly impact the outcome, because it’s so absorbent, so other brands might need more or less.
• Baking Powder – For optimal rising, use the freshest baking powder. Don’t confuse this with baking soda, which is not the same thing.
• Sea Salt
• Cinnamon – Adds a spiced flavor. You can also add a dash of nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom if you like.
• Honey – I used Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Honey , but regular honey or even maple syrup works just as well.
• Eggs – I have not tested this recipe with any egg substitutes . It has a lot of eggs, which makes substitutions challenging, but it’s possible that flax eggs might work.
• Vanilla Extract – Use high quality vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Almond Milk – Make your own homemade almond milk , or use unsweetened store-bought milk. You can also use other types of milk, such as coconut milk beverage or regular dairy milk if it fits your lifestyle.
• Zucchini – Use medium zucchini with firm skin. Use a box grater or food processor to shred it finely. You’ll need 2 cups of shreds, which is about 3 medium zucchini.
• Chocolate Chips – To keep these muffins healthier, I use sugar free chocolate chips instead of regular, but any kind will work.

VARIATION: Add other mix-ins!

To customize your muffins, feel free to omit chocolate chips, and add chopped nuts, seeds, or even dried cranberries instead. However, be mindful to only include add-ins that are either very concentrated or dry pieces to avoid altering the batter consistency.

How To Make Healthy Zucchini Muffins

This section shows how to make zucchini muffins, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Prep. Preheat the oven and line a muffin pan with parchment paper liners .
2. Whisk the dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together honey, eggs, vanilla and almond milk.
4. Combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and whisk or stir just until combined.

1. Add the zucchini. Fold in the grated zucchini and chocolate chips. Transfer the batter to the prepared muffin tins. Fill to the top.

1. Bake. Place the healthy zucchini muffins in the oven. Bake until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
2. Cool. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack before serving.

Notes About These Zucchini Muffins

These healthy zucchini muffins are pretty easy to make, but here are some surprising aspects to making them:

• You don’t need to squeeze zucchini. Because these muffins are made with coconut flour, which is very absorbent, there is no need to squeeze the shredded zucchini. If the zucchini feels wet, gently pat with paper towels.
• The batter will look a little dry. Although I’ve increased the liquid in this recipe, coconut flour is strange in that it makes the batter look drier than it actually is. Resist the urge to add more liquid, or the muffins will be wet.
• Fill the batter to the top. Zucchini muffins with coconut flour don’t rise very much, so you need to fill the muffin liners pretty full.

Storage Instructions

• Store: You can keep chocolate chip zucchini muffins on the counter for a couple days, or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
• Reheat: If you like your healthy chocolate zucchini muffins warm when you eat them, simply heat them in the microwave for 15-30 seconds. You can also warm them up in the oven at 325 degrees F for a few minutes.
• Freeze: Cool muffins completely, then place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Some people prefer to let them freeze in the muffin tin first, then transfer to a bag when solid, to ensure they don’t get crushed. Thaw on the counter or in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven or microwave.

More Healthy Muffin Recipes

I love customizing the flavor in muffins — without the extra junk. Try some of my favorite recipes:

Healthy Banana Muffins

Chocolate Protein Muffins

Coconut Flour Blueberry Muffins

Keto Blueberry Muffins

Tools For This Zucchini Muffin Recipe

• Muffin Tin – Featuring a unique corrugated surface design, allowing for even baking and easy release.
• Muffin Liners – Nothing sticks to these!

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 3/4 cup Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour ▢
• 2 tsp Baking powder ▢
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon ▢
• 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Honey Substitute (or regular honey) ▢
• 6 large Eggs ▢
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract ▢
• 1/4 cup Unsweetened almond milk ▢
• 8 oz Zucchini (shredded/grated, about 2 cups) ▢
• 1/2 cup Sugar-free dark chocolate chips ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and line a muffin tin with parchment paper liners .
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the honey, eggs, vanilla and almond milk.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined.
5. Fold in the shredded zucchini and chocolate chips.
6. Transfer the batter to the prepared muffin tins. Fill all the way to the top.
7. Bake zucchini muffins for 28-30 minutes , until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
8. Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes before serving.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 muffin

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Healthy Zucchini Muffins

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Healthy Zucchini Muffins (Chocolate Chip)

Sneak veggies into your breakfast with this healthy zucchini chocolate chip muffins recipe. They’re perfectly moist with melty chocolate!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/chocolate-chip-zucchini-muffins-recipe/

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Wholesome Yum Coconut Flour
• 2 tsp Baking powder
• 1/4 tsp Sea salt
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/2 cup Wholesome Yum Zero Sugar Honey Substitute (or regular honey)
• 6 large Eggs
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Unsweetened almond milk
• 8 oz Zucchini (shredded/grated, about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup Sugar-free dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and line a muffin tin with parchment paper liners .
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
3. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the honey, eggs, vanilla and almond milk.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined.
5. Fold in the shredded zucchini and chocolate chips.
6. Transfer the batter to the prepared muffin tins. Fill all the way to the top.
7. Bake zucchini muffins for 28-30 minutes , until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.
8. Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes before serving.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 muffin

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)