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Zucchini Appetizer Roll Ups with Cream Cheese and Proscuitto

Are you looking for a delicious and healthy zucchini appetizer to impress your guests? These zucchini roll ups are both healthy and festive. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply want to add some excitement to your next meal, zucchini roll ups are the perfect choice. They’re so easy to make and great as either an appetizer or side dish.

Zucchini roll ups are a fantastic appetizer option that combines the freshness of zucchini with flavorful fillings. These bite-sized treats are not only visually appealing but also incredibly versatile. You can customize them to suit your taste preferences and dietary restrictions, making them suitable for everyone at your gathering. This zucchini appetizer is gluten-free and can easily be made vegetarian by leaving out the prosciutto. Looking for a vegan version? Replace the cream cheese with nut cheese. Another great variation for a roll up appetizer is to use salmon in the filling and cucumber instead of zucchini.

The beauty of zucchini roll ups lies in their simplicity. All you need is thinly sliced zucchini and a delicious filling of your choice. Although you can accomplish this with a sharp knife, a mandoline is a much better choice. The zucchini acts as a perfect vessel, providing a refreshing crunch while allowing the flavors of the filling to shine through.

Zucchini Appetizer

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How to Make Zucchini Appetizer Roll Ups


To prepare the zucchini, lay out the slices on a baking sheet and add salt.  The salt draws out the extra moisture and makes the zucchini slices more flexible. Once the water comes out, dry the zucchini slices with paper towels.

Next, it’s time to fill the zucchini. Spread your cream cheese mixture evenly onto each slice of zucchini. Be generous but make sure not to overstuff them; you want to be able to easily roll up each slice without any spillage. Place the pepper sticks on top of then cheese, then place a length of prosciutto over the cheese and peppers. Once all the slices have been filled, carefully roll them up from one end to create neat little bundles.

Serve these tasty zucchini roll ups chilled as an elegant starter or finger food at parties, gatherings, or even as part of a light lunch or dinner menu. Your guests will love how fresh and vibrant they look,  not to mention how incredible they taste! 

Zucchini Appetizer with Cream Cheese and Proscuitto

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Assembly: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 20 roll ups

Ingredients  

  • 2 large zucchini, sliced thin, lengthwise
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • 3 tablespoons green onion, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped capers
  • 3 ounces proscuitto
  • 4 small sweet peppers, cut in to sticks

Instructions

  • Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut the zucchini into thin lengthwise slices.
  • Place the zucchini on a baking sheet and lightly salt on each side and let sit until water comes out of the zucchini, about 10 minutes.
  • In the meantime, mix together the cream cheese, basil, green onion and capers.
  • Pat zucchini dry.
  • Spread cream cheese on each of the zucchini slices and place about 3 sticks of bell pepper on top of the cheese with the pepper partially hanging over the edge, spreading them out evenly.
  • Place a strip of proscuitto over the cheese and peppers.
  • Roll each zucchini so that the peppers stick out of the top and place standing up on a serving tray.
  • Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 47kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 304mgPotassium: 135mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gCalcium: 13mgIron: 0.2mgNet Carbohydrates: 1g

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Author

  • Cheryl McColgan

    Cheryl McColgan is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Heal Nourish Grow, where she has published evidence-based health and nutrition content since 2018.

    With over 30 years of experience in fitness, nutrition, and healthy living, and nearly 20 years of professional editorial and journalism experience, she brings both subject-matter depth and trained editorial judgment to everything on the site.

    Cheryl holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Addictions Studies, completed graduate training in Clinical Psychology, and is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and E-RYT Certified Yoga Instructor and trained in Yoga Therapy.

    She is the author of 21 Day Fat Loss Kickstart, Make Keto Easy, Take Diet Breaks and Still Lose Weight, The Grain Free Cookbook for Beginners, and Easy Weeknight Keto.

    Read more about Cheryl and the journey that created Heal Nourish Grow on the about page.

    Cheryl McColgan is the founder of Heal Nourish Grow, where she writes about protein, body composition, healthy aging, and evidence-based nutrition and wellness along with the everyday habits that actually make those things work in real life.

    With a background in psychology and graduate training in clinical psychology, plus nearly 20 years of experience in editorial and publishing, Cheryl approaches health from both a research and real-world perspective. She’s also been immersed in fitness and nutrition for more than 25 years, which gives her a practical lens most purely academic content tends to miss.

    Her work today focuses heavily on protein intake (especially for women), muscle retention, metabolic health, and sustainable fat loss, along with topics like sleep, wellness, recovery, and wearable health tech. You’ll also find a mix of high-protein, low-carb recipes designed to make hitting those goals easier without overcomplicating things.

    Cheryl’s interest in health and nutrition became more personal after navigating her own health challenges, which pushed her to dig deeper into how lifestyle, diet and daily habits impact long-term health. That experience continues to shape how she approaches everything on this site: practical, realistic, and focused on what actually works over time.

    What Cheryl Covers

    Most of the content here falls into a few core areas:

    Protein & Muscle Health: how much you actually need, especially for women and how to use protein to support strength, body composition, and aging
    Fat Loss & Metabolic Health: sustainable approaches that prioritize muscle retention and long-term results
    Healthy Habits & Lifestyle: sleep, movement, strength training, consistency, and the small things that compound over time
    Wearables & Recovery: real-world testing and comparisons of tools like Oura, Whoop and others
    High-Protein & Low-Carb Recipes: simple, realistic meals that support your goals without feeling restrictive
    Travel & Lifestyle: wellness-focused travel, outdoor experiences, and a slightly more elevated take on healthy living

    If you're new, here are a few good places to begin:

    30 Day Healthy Habits Challenge

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    High Protein Recipes

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