These healthy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are so crispy and tasty. If you’re looking for a healthy snack, then these non-greasy fries will feed your craving and give you a serving of veggies, too.
You should also try these air fryer french fries, and then dip them in our yummy 3-ingredient chick-fil-a sauce.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
Sometimes you just want something fried, am I right? And these delicious Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are just the thing to satisfy your craving without any of the guilt.
- TASTE: Salty and cheesy from the Parmesan, these zucchini fries are so yummy. Pair them with a tasty sauce for the perfect combo.
- TEXTURE: You’ll love how crispy these fries are, and not the least bit soggy. The Panko bread crumbs gives them the best crunch.
- TIME: This recipe takes just 8 minutes!
- EASE: Making these Air Fryer Zucchini Fries is a snap. This can be your new go-to for delicious, healthy snacking.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Zucchini– Look for ones that are unblemished and firm, with no nicks or cuts to the skin. You can cut them into strips for fries or rounds if you prefer chips.
- Dredge– Panko bread crumbs, Plain bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese create the outer layer and add a great cheesy flavor. Panko especially gives it that yummy crunchiness.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Make them paleo/low carb- Substitute coconut or almond flour for the bread crumbs in the dredge to make this recipe paleo-friendly and low carb. Ground pork rinds are another low carb possibility.
- Add seasonings- You can change up the flavor profile of these fries by adding paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, curry, onion powder, or turmeric and black pepper to the dredge.
- Use gluten-free ingredients- Almond, coconut, or rice flour are great gluten-free options to replace the bread crumbs in these air fryer zucchini fries. Panko also comes gluten-free.
- Substitute other vegetables- Instead of zucchini, you can try this with yellow squash, eggplant rounds, potatoes, or sweet potatoes.
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Make the dip. Combine the egg, salt, and garlic. Whisk them together with a fork.
- Cut and dip the zucchini. Slice the zucchini into strips and then dip each one into the egg mixture.
- Make the dredge. Combine the panko, bread crumbs, Parmesan, and salt in a bowl.
- Dredge the zucchini sticks. Dip each zucchini stick into the bread mixture, making sure it is coated on all sides.
Pro Tip: When dipping and dredging, designate one hand for the wet and one for the dry. Otherwise, you land up layering your hands over and over with egg and bread crumbs as well as the zucchini!
- Oil the basket and fries. Spray cooking spray on the air fryer basket and then place your zucchini sticks inside. Spray the tops and sides of the zucchini with the cooking spray.
- Bake. Bake your zucchini fries in the air fryer for about 8 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve.
Recipe Tips
- Release excess moisture- Because zucchini has a lot of moisture, you can release some by sprinkling them with salt and laying them on a paper towel for 20 minutes before breading and baking them.
- Preheat the air fryer– When you preheat the air fryer, it gets hot enough to cook the fries right away at a high temperature. Heating them at too low a temp will make them soggy.
- Make them extra crunchy- You can add a little more Panko to the breading mixture and bake them for a few extra minutes in the air fryer to get an extra crispy exterior.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket- The best way to get even cooking is by spacing out the fries in the basket in a single layer to allow the circulation of hot air to hit all sides.
FAQs
Yes, you can! Just allow them to fully cool before layering them on a baking sheet to freeze. After an hour or two, transfer the frozen zucchini fries to a freezer bag. This way you can take out as many as you like to reheat in the air fryer until they are hot and crispy again.
If you want to prep these Air Fryer Zucchini Fries ahead or just need to preserve the zucchini before it spoils, you can freeze the raw zucchini sticks ahead of time. But you will need to blanch them first so they are not soggy when you thaw and bread them.
Serving Suggestions
These Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are a delicious and healthy side dish or snack that goes well with everything. Here are some yummy ways to enjoy them.
- Proteins: Make these the side for a Ribeye Steak, Juicy Air Fryer Pork Chops (VIDEO), Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, or Panko Crusted Salmon.
- Sauces: Dip these awesome fries in ketchup, Homemade BBQ Sauce, Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce, Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, or Yum Yum Sauce.
- Sandwiches: Plate them with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Turkey Croissant Sandwich, Spicy Chipotle Burger with Avocado Sauce, or Classic BLT Sandwich.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: These zucchini fries are easy to reheat, so you can make them ahead and then just warm them up before serving. The best way to reheat them so they keep their crispy texture is to put them back in the air fryer and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 3-4 minutes.
Storing: Store any leftover Air Fryer Zucchini Fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for about 4 days, but as the zucchini sits, more moisture will leak out. To avoid soggy fries, eat within a day or two, or freeze.
Freeze: Place your cooled fries in a ziplock freezer bag and you can store them in the freezer for up to 4 months. Flash freezing them in a single layer before putting them in the bag will make it easier to take out some when you want a quick snack.
More Tasty Air Fryer Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Healthy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Ingredients
- 1 medium zucchini
Breading
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Dredging
- 1 large egg
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 tsp salt divided
Instructions
- Combine the egg with salt, 1/4 tsp salt, and pressed garlic.
- Then slice the zucchini into strips and dip them in the egg mixture.
- Now combine panko bread crumbs, plain bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, and salt in a bowl.
- Then dredge the zucchini fries into the breading mixture.
- Spray the bottom of your air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the breaded fries on top. Then spray the top and sides of the fries with cooking spray as well.
- Ai fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 minutes.
Notes
- Release excess moisture- Because zucchini has a lot of moisture, you can release some by sprinkling them with salt and laying them on a paper towel for 20 minutes before breading and baking them.
- Preheat the air fryer– When you preheat the air fryer, it gets hot enough to cook the fries right away at a high temperature. Heating them at too low a temp will make them soggy.
- Make them extra crunchy- You can add a little more Panko to the breading mixture and bake them for a few extra minutes in the air fryer to get an extra crispy exterior.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket- The best way to get even cooking is by spacing out the fries in the basket in a single layer to allow the circulation of hot air to hit all sides.
Nutrition
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Beth W. says
Delicious! I used gluten free panko and bread crumbs. My panko was a little too chunky so I may try the food processor next time to make it a bit finer. My husband said he could easily skip the main course and just eat just these zucchini fries for dinner 🙂
Dina says
Wow Beth thats incredible! I am so thrilled to hear that you all enjoyed these so much!
Gail C. says
I made the recipe and it was amazing! Follow the directions and you’ll have the BEST air fryer zucchini fries! I made a wasabi mayo dip (reminiscent of Bon Chon’s) to go with it and it was *chefs kiss* thank you so much for this recipe!
Dina says
Wow Gail, I am so glad you loved this recipe! Thank you for taking the time to write your kind feedback!
Melissa Ebersole says
What sauce do you use for dipping?
Dina says
Hi Melissa, I used my copycat Chick-fil-a sauce recipe for these zucchini fries 🙂 Click HERE for the recipe.
Sandra says
Do you use fresh Parmesan cheese or the kind in the plastic container that is already grated?
Dina says
I use the freshly grated one that’s in the refrigerated section next to the high-end cheese. I prefer not to use the grated parmesan that’s on the shelves.
Suzanne says
Excellent recipe for zucchini fries
Dina says
Thank you so much, Suzanne! Glad to hear you loved these air fryer zucchini fries! I hope you find more recipes to enjoy on my food blog! 🙂