Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

See my guide on how to use an Air Fryer.

These Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are crispy, perfectly seasoned, and so easy to make. The air fryer is the best way to make zucchini fries!

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (1)

I love using my air fryer because it makes food deliciously crispy with very little oil. Our favorite air fryer recipes include Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer Cauliflower, and these Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.

When you have an abundance of fresh zucchini and you’ve had your fill of Roasted Zucchini and Zucchini Bread, these zucchini fries are the perfect zucchini recipe to satisfy your cravings!

The air fryer makes the best zucchini fries. Since air circulates around the fries as they cook, they turn out so crispy! In this recipe I’ve combined a few simple seasonings and Parmesan cheese with a crispy breadcrumb coating to give these zucchini fries the best texture and flavor. You are going to love them!

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (2)

Enjoy this air fryer zucchini as an appetizer, side dish or snack. Zucchini fries are delicious on their own, or serve them with a dipping sauce. Try them with marinara sauce, ranch dressing or aioli.

Ingredients

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (3)

  • Zucchini: Choose fresh zucchini that are deep green in color with skin that is free of blemishes.
  • All-Purpose Flour: The flour helps the egg to stick to the zucchini.
  • Eggs: The eggs are the “glue” that helps the seasoned breadcrumb coating to stick to the zucchini.
  • Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko makes the crispiest coating!
  • Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan adds delicious flavor to this air fryer zucchini recipe.
  • Seasonings: A combination of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper adds lots of flavor.
  • Olive Oil Spray: Lightly spraying the zucchini fries before cooking helps to make them extra crispy. I prefer olive oil spray, but you can another oil spray such as canola oil or coconut oil.

How to Make Zucchini Fries in an Air Fryer

Here is an overview of how to make air fryer zucchini fries, with some tips for success. Find the full recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below.

If you know how to make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders or Baked Chicken Tenders, the steps for breading zucchini fries are very similar.

  1. Trim the ends off of the zucchini. Cut each zucchini crosswise into two pieces. Then cut into 1/2-inch sticks. I’ve found that it’s best to not pat the zucchini dry. A little moisture will help the flour to stick.
  2. Working with a few zucchini fries at a time, first coat the zucchini in flour. Gently tap off any excess flour. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (4)
  3. Dip in the beaten eggs, making sure to fully coat all sides of the zucchini with the egg. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (5)
  4. Coat the fries in the breadcrumb, Parmesan and seasoning mixture. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (6)
  5. Place the fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Leave a little space between each zucchini piece so that the air can circulate around as they cook. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (7)
  6. Spray the tops of the fries with oil spray.
  7. Air fry for 10-12 minutes until the outsides are browned and crispy and the fries are tender when pierced with a fork.

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (8)

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Recipe Tips:

  • Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Arrange the zucchini fries in a single layer with a little space between them. This allows the air to circulate around them, crisping the edges. You will probably need to cook the fries in batches.
  • You do not need to flip the fries. Both sides will crisp without flipping and the less you handle the zucchini fries, the less likely you’ll lose some of the crispy coating.
  • To make this recipe dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese.
  • Different air fryer models may cook differently, so adjust the cook time as needed.

Can I use regular breadcrumbs?

I have tested this recipe with both Panko breadcrumbs and regular breadcrumbs. You can use regular breadcrumbs, but the fries won’t be quite as crispy as they are with Panko. The larger pieces of Panko breadcrumbs make for a crispier breading. Either way, the fries are delicious!

Can I bake these in the oven?

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the zucchini fries in the oven. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the breaded zucchini fries on the parchment-lined baking sheet and spray lightly with oil spray.
  3. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway through the cook time, until fries are browned and tender when pierced with a fork.

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (9)

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (10)

4.64 from 11 ratings

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

Servings: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 11 minutes mins

Total Time: 26 minutes mins

These Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are crispy, perfectly seasoned, and easy to make. Enjoy them as an appetizer, snack or side dish. Serve these healthy fries with marinara sauce, ranch dressing or aioli for dipping.

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Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchini
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs*
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • olive oil spray, or other oil spray such as canola or coconut oil

Instructions

  • Trim off the ends of the zucchini. Cut each zucchini in half crosswise. Then slice zucchini into ½-inch thick fries. (You do not need to peel the zucchini.)

  • To prepare the zucchini fries you will need 3 wide, shallow bowls, dishes or pie plates. In one dish, place the flour. In the second dish, lightly beat the eggs. In the third dish, stir together the Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

  • Working with a few zucchini fries at a time, coat each one first in the flour, and gently tap off any excess flour. Then coat in the egg, making sure to fully coat all sides. Finally, coat each piece with the breadcrumb mixture.

  • Arrange fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space in between each fry for the air to circulate. (Cook in batches as needed.) Spray the tops of the fries with oil spray.

  • Air fry at 400° F for 10-12 minutes, until the outsides are browned and crispy and the insides are tender when pierced with a fork. You do not need to flip the fries. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Regular breadcrumbs may also be used, but the zucchini fries will be slightly less crispy.

Calories: 227kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 93mg, Sodium: 632mg, Potassium: 383mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 445IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 218mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: American

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Kristine's Kitchen!

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries - Easy Recipe! - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep zucchini from getting soggy when frying? ›

Yes, you should always salt your zucchini before frying — especially if you're aiming to achieve a crispy texture. Salting your zucchini helps remove the excess moisture stuck in the zucchini that would otherwise make frying a challenge.

Why soak fries before air frying? ›

Soaking the potatoes does something magical with the starches—it helps achieve the coveted French fry crispiness and prevents the fries from sticking together. This is what I did for the air fryer, too. I soaked these potatoes for about an hour or so, but I've also soaked them for up to 24 hours with no ill effect.

How to crispy air fry? ›

However, a small amount of oil is usually necessary to achieve a crispy texture. A drizzle or a quick oil spray is all you need for restaurant-quality fries and golden brown fried chicken, while other foods don't need any oil, like pizza or leftovers you might reheat.

How do you cook zucchini so it doesn't get mushy? ›

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven. Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

Why do you soak zucchini before cooking? ›

The main problem that confronts the cook when preparing zucchini is its wateriness. Zucchini is 95 percent water (among vegetables, only lettuce contains more water) and will become soupy if it is just thrown into a hot pan.

Why aren t fries crispy in air fryer? ›

If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches. When I use 2 russet potatoes, I cook 3 batches of fries.

Why are my fries soggy after air frying? ›

There are a few reasons why your French fries may have ended up soggy when cooking them in the air fryer.
  • Too much oil will cause fries to become soggy when air frying. Just use enough to lightly coat them.
  • They were overcrowded. Make sure to add them in a single layer.
  • They weren't tossed halfway through.
Mar 13, 2023

What happens if you don't soak fries before frying? ›

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

How do you crisp fries in an air fryer? ›

Using an air fryer is an excellent and easy way to give your fries that fresh-from-the-fryer crunch. Simply set your air fryer to 350 degrees, then place your leftover fries in a single layer in the fryer basket. Heat them for three to five minutes or until they reach your desired crispiness.

What cannot be cooked in an air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  1. Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  2. Cheesy Items. ...
  3. Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  4. Baked Goods. ...
  5. Greens. ...
  6. Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  7. Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

What is the common problem of an air fryer? ›

Overfilling the Basket or Tray

Overfilling can cause sogginess, uneven cooking, or much longer cooking times. To avoid this air fryer mistake, cook your recipe in two or more batches if needed to allow for breathing room between pieces.

How to sauté zucchini without making it soggy? ›

Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

Why is my sauteed zucchini soggy? ›

If zucchini is overcooked, it will have a mushy, soft texture. In certain recipes, the author may recommend that zucchini be patted dry or salted and drained before cooking. Although the author may not explain why these steps are important, they shouldn't be skipped.

How do you keep spiralized zucchini from getting soggy? ›

Cooking is what really makes zucchini release moisture. However, sometimes even uncooked zucchini can get a little limp after it's cut. In this case, to reduce excess moisture, simply pat the spiralized noodles dry with paper towels or a thin kitchen rag.

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