Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are a healthy side dish with the same satisfying crunch as regular potato fries. They make the perfect appetizer for a gathering or as a side for a burger.
This zucchini fries recipe combines garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese to create a mouthwatering flavor and crunchy texture.
Whether you’re looking for a snack or an appetizer, these fries pair perfectly with our homemade dipping sauce made from only 3 simple ingredients -- mayonnaise, freshly chopped dill, and garlic powder.
If you like cooking with zucchini, you’ll love my beef zucchini boats, zucchini chocolate chip muffins, and these crispy and cheesy zucchini fritters.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe
- Family Friendly: Kids love the crunch of these zucchini fries and it’s an easy way to get their veggies in.
- Bold Flavor: The seasoning works together with the breading to create a delicious alternative to french fries.
- Quick and Easy: You’ll be eating these zucchini air fryer fires in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- Zucchini: A versatile vegetable that can be used in many cooking recipes. It tends to run sweeter and soaks in the seasonings well.
- Flour mixture: The flour acts as a base for the salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and pepper for the first coating before adding the breading.
- Breading: The eggs and breadcrumbs work together to coat the seasoned zucchini. This gives the zucchini its satisfying crunch.
- Sauce: The mayonnaise, dill, and garlic powder create a simple, yet zesty sauce, that compliments the fried zucchini in the air fryer well.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Sauce: You can swap our sauce out for any store-bought alternative like ranch or ketchup. Find your favorite and enjoy! If you're feeling fancy you should give our onion ketchup a try!
- Gluten-free: You can swap the flour and breadcrumbs with gluten-free alternatives to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Spicy: For a spicy kick, add a bit of chili pepper flakes, our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the breading mixture.
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
You’ll want to grab four bowls before you get started. A large bowl for the flour mixture, a large bowl for the breading mixture, a bowl for the eggs, and a small one for the sauce. You will also need a wire rack or a plate for the zucchini sticks in the air fryer after they’re breaded.
Step 1: Cut the zucchini. Cut your zucchini lengthwise in half and then cut each piece in half again. And then cut them in half again. You should have 8 when you are done.
Step 2: Mix the seasonings and flour. Place the flour, salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and pepper into a shallow bowl and mix.
Step 3: Coat the zucchini in flour. Toss the zucchini with the flour to coat the outside.
Step 4: Prepare other mixtures. Put the eggs in a bowl and whisk together. In a separate combine the parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.
Step 5: Dip zucchini in the eggs. Place the floured zucchini one at a time into the egg bowl to fully coat the outside.
Step 6: Bread the zucchini. Now roll the zucchini one at a time in the breaded mixture, coating thoroughly.
Step 7: Set aside. After you coat your zucchini in the eggs and bread it, place it on a wire rack or a plate until ready to put into the air fryer. Repeat steps 5-7 until all the zucchini are coated.
Step 8: Cook. Use a non-stick liner or spray your air fryer with cooking spray. Place the zucchini on a single layer (you’ll likely need to do batches) and cook for 10 minutes at 350.
Step 9: Prepare dipping sauce. Mix the mayonnaise, dill, and the garlic powder. Place in the fridge until ready to eat.
Step 10: Serve. Enjoy your air fryer zucchini fries with dipping sauce!
⭐️ Hint: Since zucchini is naturally moist, you’ll want to pat your zucchini with a paper towel to keep them from getting soggy while you’re cooking them!
If you love air fryer recipes like this one, you may also enjoy these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders With Flour.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use a paper towel along the bottom to help keep moisture away. Leftovers are only good for 2 days so don’t let them sit long!
- Reheating: Break out the air fryer again and set it to 350° F. Heat the fries for 5 minutes or until they are warmed all the way through. Be careful moving them out as they’ll be hot!
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a variety of sauces for dipping like this avocado hot sauce, spicy mayo sauce, and/or marinara sauce.
This air-fried zucchini recipe is perfect as an appetizer! Serve it along with cheesy potato bites, ham pinwheels, and hot honey chicken wings.
They also compliment these turkey and cheese sliders or your favorite burger as a delicious option instead of chips or regular fries.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overload: It can be tempting to cook all of them at once, but doing so causes them to cook unevenly, leaving some with a mushy middle or not so crisp edges.
- Get the block of parmesan: I highly recommend getting a fresh block of parmesan cheese. Grating manually will be worth it, trust me.
- Cut the pieces evenly: Cut the zucchini in equal slices. This ensures that they will all cook evenly in the same amount of time.
Recipe FAQs
No air fryer, no problem! You can make this air-fried zucchini recipe in the oven too. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 425 for 15 minutes. Flip halfway through.
You may have coated the zucchini too much. If the coating is too heavy the heat doesn’t break through the same and leaves you with a mushy middle.
Sure! Follow the instructions to bread your zucchini fries. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place the entire pan into the freezer for an hour. Once they're frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or resealable bag and store for up to two months. Cook them straight from the freezer in your air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 350°F or until warmed throughout.
More Delicious Air Fyer Dishes
Do you like using your air fryer to cook meals? Here are some more air fryer recipes you may also like to try!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large zucchini about 7 inches
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 large eggs beaten
- 2 cups Italian style breadcrumbs
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- Parsley optional garnish
For sauce:
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cut the zucchini. Use a sharp knife to cut your zucchini in half long ways, and then each half in half again. Cut them in half widthwise to make 8 sticks total out of each zucchini that are about 4 inches long and ½ inch thick.
- Season your flour. In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and pepper. Toss the zucchini sticks in the flour mixture until well coated.
- Prepare the breadcrumbs. In a separate large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.
- Bread the zucchini. One by one, coat the floured zucchini sticks in the egg and then roll it into the breadcrumb mixture. Set them aside to a platter or wire rack so that they are all ready to cook.
- Prepare your air fryer. Spray your air fryer with a cooking spray or use a non-stick liner.
- Cook. In batches, cook the zucchini fries in a single layer in your air fryer on 350°F for 10 mins.
- Make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, dill and garlic powder and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve. Serve your zucchini fries warm with dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
- Don’t overload: It can be tempting to cook all of them at once, but doing so causes them to cook unevenly, leaving some with a mushy middle or not so crisp edges.
- Get the block of parmesan: I highly recommend getting a fresh block of parmesan cheese. Grating manually will be worth it, trust me.
- Cut the pieces evenly: Cut the zucchini in equal slices. This ensures that they will all cook evenly in the same amount of time.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in May 2021. It's been updated with new content, images, and an updated recipe.
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