If you have a few fresh zucchini, then you will love this air fryer zucchini fries side dish. These crispy zucchini fries are sure to become a new favorite air fryer side dish!
Fried zucchini has been a popular restaurant menu item for years now. You can often find an offering of fried zucchini fries or fried zucchini chips on the appetizer menu of casual sit-down restaurants that offer fried food. Whip up a batch of our parmesan fried zucchini sticks and see if yours measure up to your favorite restaurant version!
These delicious zucchini fries are the perfect appetizer for any party. And because these easy air fryer zucchini fries are made with just six common ingredients, you’ll be able to whip up this impressive appetizer in a jiffy!
Ingredient Notes
- All-Purpose Flour—Unbleached or bleached.
- Eggs—Beaten to adhere the breading to your pickles.
- Panko Breadcrumbs—To give the pickles their crunchy exterior.
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
- Parmesan Cheese—Either prepackaged or freshly grated.
- Zucchini—Fresh and trimmed
- Olive Oil Spray—To spritz
How to make Air Fryer Zucchini
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
- In a small bowl, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, the parmesan cheese and the spices. Set aside.
- Slice zucchini into half, lengthwise. Then slice each half into six strips.
- Pat the sliced zucchini dry with paper towels. Set aside.
- Crack and whisk the eggs together. Set aside.
- Dip each zucchini slice in the egg, then roll in the flour, and then dip in the eggs a second time.
- Next, coat the zucchini fries with the parmesan-Panko mixture. Be sure that each piece of zucchini has a thick coating.
- Place the zucchini strips into the air fryer basket without overlap.
- Spray with a little cooking spray.
- Cook for 9-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Frequently Asked Questions
When is zucchini in season?
Zucchini in in season in the summer months – specifically June through August in most areas.
Why are my air fried zucchini soggy?
Soggy fried zucchini can often be attributed to being overcrowded in the air fryer basket. When the zucchini is overcrowded, hot air cannot circulate and fully cook all the zucchini evenly. You can also be sure to dry the zucchini with paper towels after slicing – though more moisture is released during the cooking process.
Can you make these air fried zucchini gluten-free?
Absolutely! You can find gluten-free panko breadcrumbs at most major grocery stores. Combine this with your favorite gluten-free flour for a delicious, allergy-friendly side dish!
How to Store and Serve Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Serve the air fryer zucchini fries hot with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
If you have any leftovers, you can store them for up to three days in the refrigerator. Simply allow them to cool completely on the counter before placing them in an airtight container. Line your container with a paper towel to soak up excess oil and prevent the parmesan air fried zucchini from getting soggy.
Heat leftover fried zucchini in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350 degrees.
Recipe Variations
If you are a fan of all things spicy, you can add a teaspoon of cayenne chili powder or red pepper flakes to the flour. You can also add a few drops of tabasco sauce to the whisked eggs.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Place the cooked zucchini on paper towels or a cooling rack to drain off any excess oil and to prevent the cooked zucchini from sticking to each other and pulling loose the breading.
- Make sure that the zucchini are completely dry and coated with flour before dipping them in the eggs and breadcrumbs.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Try to avoid overlap so each zucchini slice gets an even amount of hot air during the cooking process.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Parmesan
Equipment
- 1 air fryer2
Ingredients
- 2 Zucchini
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan shredded
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black pepper
- ½ tsp Cayenne pepper
- 2 Eggs beaten
- ¼ cup All purpose flour
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise. Then, slice each half into six pieces lengthwise (to resemble French fries).
- Combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and spices.
- Dip the zucchini into the beaten eggs.
- Roll in flour and then re-dip in the eggs a second time.
- Coat with breadcrumbs mixture.
- Place the breaded zucchini onto the air fryer basket, careful not to overcrowd.
- Lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Air fry for 9-10 minutes or until the zucchini fries are golden brown.
- Serve warm with ranch dressing.
Nutrition
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Air Fryer Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
Frozen Waffles in the Air Fryer
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