Last Updated on November 24, 2023
These healthy chocolate chip muffins are so good you won’t realize they aren’t packed with sugar! Shredded zucchini makes these muffins moist and delicious with just the right amount of sweetness.

Jump to:
- HOW DO YOU MAKE A HEALTHY MUFFIN?
- INGREDIENTS FOR HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
- HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
- STEP ONE: PREPARE PAN
- STEP TWO: START BATTER
- STEP THREE: ADD IN DRY INGREDIENTS
- STEP FOUR: ADD ZUCCHINI
- STEP FIVE: ADD TO MUFFIN PAN
- STEP SIX: ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS
- STEP SEVEN: BAKE
- ๐ Recipe
HOW DO YOU MAKE A HEALTHY MUFFIN?
The word healthy is very relative and it depends on what someone’s eating regimens and goals are as to whether they feel a food is healthy. When I am able to adapt a recipe to include less sugar and more whole type foods I feel I have made it healthier for my family’s needs.
One easy substitution is to use whole wheat flour in baked goods. The whole wheat flour is a better source of fiber and other nutrients then bleached white flour.
Another way to make a healthier muffin is to reduce the oil in the recipe. Most muffins and baked goods call for quite a bit of oil. This adds so many calories!
It amazes me that I can swap out the oil for ingredients like applesauce and nonfat Greek yogurt and get great results.
The last way to make muffins healthier is to reduce the sugar content. In this recipe, I have done that by replacing some of the sugar with applesauce. I have also reduced the number of chocolate chips I use! The taste is still super and the calories are much friendlier to my waistline!
INGREDIENTS FOR HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
This recipe calls for many basic muffin ingredients with a few hidden surprises! The end result will delight you I know! My kids love how these always turned out perfectly!
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Brown sugar
- Egg
- Plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- Vanilla extract
- Whole wheat flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Zucchini, shredded
- Chocolate Chips

HOW TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
Some people call these zucchini muffins, but I will be honest. My kids eat them better when I call them healthy chocolate chip muffins, LOL. It is all in the delivery, right? ๐
Muffins are a standby at our house, like my Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Muffins. We eat them for breakfast, desserts, in school lunches and as after school snacks. They are also great to take in a basket to someone in the neighborhood.
STEP ONE: PREPARE PAN
Start off by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grab your regular sized muffin pan and grease the muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray or add muffin liners to the pan. I personally love my silicone muffin cup liners!
STEP TWO: START BATTER
In a large bowl combine the unsweetened applesauce, brown sugar, egg, plain nonfat Greek yogurt, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined.

STEP THREE: ADD IN DRY INGREDIENTS
Now add the following ingredients to your bowl of batter: whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Stir these dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until they are combined.

STEP FOUR: ADD ZUCCHINI
If you haven’t already peeled and shredded your medium zucchini you can do that now.
Add the shredded zucchini to the bowl and stir to combine.

STEP FIVE: ADD TO MUFFIN PAN
Now spoon the muffin batter into the muffin cups until they are about 2/3 of the way full.

STEP SIX: ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS
It is time to add the chocolate chips. You will put 3 chocolate chips on top of the batter in each muffin cup. You will be surprised that it only takes 3 chocolate chips to add that flavor!

STEP SEVEN: BAKE
Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until they are completely cooked in the center. You can check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the muffin and see if it comes out clean.
When the muffins are done baking remove the pan from the oven and leave the muffins to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Remove the muffins from the pan after 10 minutes and place them on a wire rack to finish cooling completely.

I am sure you will want to print this recipe to keep in your kitchen binder! It is an easy go-to muffin recipe we use all the time. You can print off the complete ingredients and instructions via the recipe card below.
๐ Recipe

Healthy Chocolate Chip Muffins
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Ingredients
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ยฝ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ยฝ cups whole wheat flour
- ยฝ teaspoon baking powder
- ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 medium zucchini shredded
- 2 tablespoons chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a muffin pan by greasing the cups with nonstick cooking spray or lining each cup with paper liners.
- Combine the unsweetened applesauce, brown sugar, egg, Greek yogurt and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Whisk to mix.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until just combined.
- Add the zucchini and stir to mix.
- Spoon the batter into the muffin tin, filling each cup 2/3 of the way full. Top each muffin with three chocolate chips.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the muffin. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove muffins to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
If you loved this healthy chocolate chip muffin recipe be sure to check out these other great healthy recipes:
- Healthy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 31 Day Menu of Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
- Healthy Pumpkin Pie Dip
- Easy Healthy Smoothie Recipes
- Healthy Breakfast Muffins
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