This Air Fryer Zucchini is a delicious mix of crispy outsides and tender insides. Seasoned with simple spices, this dish is super easy and so flavorful.
If you love air fryer vegetables, then you should try these delicious Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts and Air Fryer Potato Wedges.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I love this Air Fryer Zucchini recipe because it’s tasty enough that even kids love it. The texture and flavor of this dish really make this vegetable shine.
- TASTE: These zucchini chips are seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic. The mild flavor of the zucchini is perfect to showcase your favorite spices.
- TEXTURE: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the air fryer gives this sliced zucchini amazing texture.
- TIME: This recipe only takes 20 minutes.
- EASE: This dish is so easy and only uses 5 ingredients. You’ll have no trouble following these simple instructions to make perfectly delicious air fried zucchini.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Zucchini- Choose good-quality zucchini that is about 6-8 inches in size and feels heavy for its size. The skin should be dark green and smooth. These will have the best flavor.
- Olive oil- Using an air fryer means a much healthier cooking option. This tiny bit of oil is used to adhere the seasonings to the zucchini and to help it crisp up.
- Seasonings- You can use any you like, but salt, pepper, and garlic powder keep it simple and delicious.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Use other vegetables- Besides zucchini, you can use yellow squash, pickles, broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, potatoes, or green beans.
- Add different spices- Some other tasty ways to season these zucchini chips are with paprika, cumin, curry, onion powder, Creole seasoning, or lemon pepper.
- Marinate the zucchini- You can infuse the zucchini with more flavor by marinating it in spices and oil overnight, or using some soy sauce, vinegar, or lemon juice.
- Bread them- Layering the zucchini chips with egg and then seasoned breadcrumbs will give this Air Fryer Zucchini extra flavor and crispiness.
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini
- Combine oil and spices. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Slice and season the zucchini. Now slice the zucchini into 1/2 inch slices and toss them in a large bowl. Add the olive oil and spice mixture on top and toss to coat the zucchini slices evenly.
Pro Tip: Cutting them to 1/2 inch thickness will give you a balance of outer browning with tender centers. But if you like them crispy, then just slice them thinner!
- Bake. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. Then bake the seasoned zucchini chips in a single layer, in batches, for about 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t salt the zucchini too far in advance- Because salt draws moisture out of the zucchini, don’t salt too soon or the water will repel the oil, causing your spices to slide off.
- Preheat the air fryer- Let the air fryer come to temp before adding the zucchini. They will cook more quickly and also crisp on the outside when it’s preheated.
- Lay the zucchini in one layer- Make sure you don’t overlap any zucchini to ensure even airflow and cooking. You will likely need to cook them in batches since they won’t all fit in the air fryer basket at once.
- Don’t flip them- This is an unnecessary step and will reduce the temperature in the air fryer if you stop to flip the zucchini chips. They really don’t need it.
FAQs
Some people like to soak zucchini in cold water for about 20 minutes before scrubbing to help get rid of any grit. This is a personal preference so it’s not necessary, but it’s always advisable to wash off vegetables before cooking or eating them.
If your zucchini is grated, you can easily squeeze out excess water with clean hands. For larger pieces, you can salt them and let them sit for about 15-20 minutes. Then drain out the moisture that has been released.
Serving Suggestions
This Air Fryer Zucchini is perfect as a snack or used as a side dish to meats, sandwiches, or salads. Here are some fabulous ways to enjoy it.
- Sauces: Dip these zucchini chips into Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, Homemade BBQ Sauce, and Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce.
- Meats: Serve this Air Fryer Zucchini with Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops (VIDEO), Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, or Garlic Butter Steak Bites.
- Salad: Add this air fryer veggie on top of a Chicken Salad With Grapes, Avocado Corn Salad, or The BEST Tuna Pasta Salad.
- Sandwiches: Instead of French Fries, plate this crispy zucchini next to a Classic BLT Sandwich, Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Sandwich, or Spicy Chipotle Burger with Avocado Sauce.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: You can slice the zucchini and store the chips in a ziplock bag in the fridge a day or so ahead. You can also make the oil-spice mix and cover it, leaving it at room temperature until you’re ready to air fry the zucchini.
Storing: Store any leftover Air Fryer Zucchini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can reheat it in the air fryer for a few minutes at 350 degrees until crispy again.
Freeze: Allow the zucchini chips to completely cook, then place them on a baking sheet to freeze for 1-2 hours. Transfer the frozen zucchini to a freezer container or ziplock bag and it will last for up to 6 months.
More Tasty Air Fryer Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Air Fryer Zucchini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine 1 Tbsp olive oil, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder.
- Now slice up 4 medium zucchini into 1/2 inch slices. This thickness will give you a balance of outer browning along with tender centers. If you want them crispy, you will need to slice them very thin. This is a personal choice.
- Place the sliced zucchini into a large bowl and add the olive oil and spice mixture on top. Toss to coat the zucchini slices evenly.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes. Then air fryer the seasoned zucchini chips in batches for about 10 minutes. No need to flip them. Tip: make sure not to overlap any zucchini to ensure even airflow and cooking.
Notes
- Don’t salt the zucchini too far in advance- Because salt draws moisture out of the zucchini, don’t salt too soon or the water will repel the oil, causing your spices to slide off.
- Preheat the air fryer- Let the air fryer come to temp before adding the zucchini. They will cook more quickly and also crisp on the outside when it’s preheated.
- Lay the zucchini in one layer- Make sure you don’t overlap any zucchini to ensure even airflow and cooking. You will likely need to cook them in batches since they won’t all fit in the air fryer basket at once.
- Don’t flip them- This is an unnecessary step and will reduce the temperature in the air fryer if you stop to flip the zucchini chips. They really don’t need it.
Nutrition
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