I’m always looking for new ways to make vegetables feel a little more exciting, especially when my ever-growing garden is exploding, and these air fryer zucchini fries have quickly become a favorite in my kitchen. They’re crispy and golden on the outside, tender on the inside, and so easy to make that they’re perfect for a quick snack, side dish, or even a fun appetizer when you’re craving something crunchy without all the fuss of deep frying. Even my kids will happily devour a plate of them! I prefer to make them in the air fryer for maximum crispiness, but you could cook them in the oven for equally delicious and crunchy results.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love These Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- They are crispy on the outside and tender in the middle, the perfect combination of contrasting textures.
- A fun way to use up zucchini that the whole family will enjoy!
- While many zucchini fries are deep fried, these are healthier thanks to only a small spray of oil and being cooked in the air fryer.
- They have simple ingredients, minimal fuss, and very little clean-up.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Fresh Zucchini: I used two medium zucchinis, but you can use one large zucchini or three small ones.
- Eggs: You can use whole eggs or just egg white for a lower-calorie option. I have egg-free suggestions below.
- Arrowroot Powder: This will help give you crunchy zucchini fries on the outside. You can also use tapioca starch or cornstarch.
- Parmesan Cheese: I recommend using finely grated Parmesan. You could use the Parmesan in a tub if that’s what you have on hand.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: You can also use regular breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs to give you the ultimate crispy edge.
- Spices and Herbs: I used a combination of onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and dried oregano. You can play around with the spices and add in chili powder, thyme, Italian seasoning or dried parsley.
- Cooking spray: You’ll use the cooking spray before air frying them to give them a delicious golden brown crust. I prefer an olive oil spray for health benefits and flavor.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Air Fryer
- Cutting Board
- Sharp Knife
- Large Bowl
- 2 Shallow Bowls
- Tongs
Tips For The Best Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Excess moisture makes the coating slip off, so blot slices with a paper towel before breading.
- Slice the zucchini into uniform sticks so they cook at the same rate and crisp evenly.
- Make sure the zucchini fries are spaced slightly apart and not touching to ensure they become crispy when cooking rather than mushy.
How to Make These Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F for 10 minutes. Cut the zucchini into sticks and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add the arrowroot powder and toss the zucchini sticks to coat well.
- Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and whisk. In a separate shallow bowl, stir together the cheese, breadcrumbs, and spices.
- Preheat the air fryer.
- Working in batches, dip the zucchini fries in the egg, and then transfer to the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture, tossing to ensure all sides are coated. Transfer to a plate and repeat.
- Generously spray the basket with cooking oil, arrange the zucchini sticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and then generously spray with more cooking spray.
- Cook for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a touch more salt before serving with tzatziki or your favorite sauce.
How to Modify
- Give it a spicy kick and add cayenne, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, or red chili flakes to the coating.
- An herb-crusted coating would be amazing with added basil, rosemary, or Italian seasoning into the breadcrumbs.
- Want extra crunch? Use crushed cornflakes or pretzels instead of breadcrumbs.
- Go for a Mediterranean-style and add za’atar or sumac and serve with tzatziki.
- Make air fryer zucchini chips for a fun spin on the shape.
Dietary Customizations
- Low Carb: Use almond flour instead of breadcrumbs.
- Gluten-Free: Swap in gluten-free panko or breadcrumbs, or finely crush rice crackers for the coating.
- Vegan: To make this vegan-friendly, skip the egg and use plant-based milk, egg replacer, or a flax egg for binding and swap the grated parmesan for breadcrumbs
- Dairy-Free: Skip the Parmesan and double the breadcrumbs, or use dairy-free Parmesan cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Besides being a great side dish with chicken, steak, or seafood, these are great as a healthy snack with an amazing dipping sauce. Some of my favorite options, besides a classic marinara sauce and ranch dressing, are:
Common Questions
Yes! Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 425°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway. You can place them under the broiler right at the end for a couple of minutes to make them extra crispy.
No, for best results, you will want to leave the skin on for extra nutrients and for structure. The tender zucchini will be a hot mess without the skin.
They’re best fresh, but you can prep the zucchini sticks and coating in advance, then air fry just before serving.
Pat the zucchini dry with paper towels before breading, and be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket for deliciously crispy zucchini fries.
These fries are best eaten fresh, but you can save leftovers for up to 2 days when stored in an airtight container. Just know they’ll lose some crispness, so to reheat, skip the microwave so they aren’t soggy, and pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–5 minutes until warm and crispy again.
More Zucchini Recipes You Will Love
- Zucchini Fritters
- Sauteed Corn and Zucchini
- Shaved Zucchini Salad
- Balsamic Zucchini and Pepper Crostini
- Creamy Tomato Sauce with Zucchini Noodles
If you make these Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, let me know in the comments section below. I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram. I love seeing your photos!
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini
- 2 eggs whisked
- ⅓ cup arrowroot powder or corn starch
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan
- 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Cut the zucchini into ½ inch x 3 inch long sticks and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add the arrowroot powder and use your hands to toss the zucchini sticks ensuring that they are all coated in the arrowroot.
- Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and whisk
- In a separate shallow bowl stir together the finely grated parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, paprika and salt
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 for 5 minutes
- Working in batches dip the zucchini fries in the egg, use a fork to flip them so all sides are coated in the egg and then transfer to the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture, toss to ensure all sides are coated and use your fingers to gently press on the breadcrumbs so they stick to the zucchini sticks.Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining zucchini sticks until all are well coated.
- Once the air fryer has preheated, generously spray the basket with cooking oil, arrange the zucchini sticks in the air fryer basket ensuring they aren’t touching each other and then generously spray with more cooking spray.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle with a touch more salt before serving with the tzatziki
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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