The exact cook time can vary. Read below for our tips!
Want a light and crispy snack that is also somewhat healthy? Air fryer zucchini fries are definitely for you!
Made from freshly cut zucchini and breaded in a classic flour-egg-breadcrumbs combination, these tasty zucchini sticks are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Recipe Tips/Substitutions
Before you make zucchini fries in the air fryer, have a quick read through these recipe tips and substitutions:
- Make sure to cut the zucchini fries into roughly the same size so that they will be done cooking at the same time.
- We use unseasoned breadcrumbs for this recipe. If you prefer panko, you can also use those – or use half unseasoned breadcrumbs and half panko.
- You can add some finely grated parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs – or skip it if you don’t like the taste. If you do add Parmesan cheese and it is quite salty, you can reduce the amount of actual salt you put in the breading mix.
- For a little extra crispiness, you can lightly spray the zucchini fries with avocado cooking spray before cooking them in the air fryer.
Step by Step Instructions
If you’ve never made zucchini in the air fryer, you can check out the step-by-step visuals in this section to better undertstand this recipe.
If you’re confident cutting cutting and breading zucchini, than you can skip to the bottom of this post for the recipe card!
First, wash the zucchini and pat them dry. Then, cut off the ends and cut them in half width-wise.
Now cut these pieces in half lengthwise and then cut again lengthwise into thirds/quarters (depending on the size of the zucchini) to give them their fry shape (see photo above).
Try to cut the zucchini sticks roughly the same size so that they will be done cooking at the same time.
Prepare the “breading station” by placing flour on one plate, cracked and whisked eggs on another, and breadcrumbs on the third plate.
Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to the plate with the breadcrumbs and mix until well combined. You can also mix in finely grated parmesan cheese if desired.
Take one zucchini fry and roll it in the flour until it is fully covered on all sides.
Then lift the fry, place it in the egg wash, and turn it around until coated in egg on all sides. Allow the extra egg to drip off.
Next place the zucchini fry into the plate with the breadcrumbs. Press the zucchini fry down lightly, then turn the fry until the zucchini is fully coated with breadcrumbs. Don’t forget to coat the ends!
Place the zucchini fry onto a clean, dry plate and repeat these steps until all the zucchini pieces are breaded.
When you’re breading the zucchini fries, it can be easier to use a fork to coat the zucchini in the egg and breadcrumbs. This helps to avoid messy fingertips!
Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. While you are waiting, lightly spray the breaded zucchini fries with avocado oil spray if you want them to get extra crispy (optional).
Once hot, place approximately half of the zucchini fries into the air fryer. There should be some space between them so that they can cook and crisp up evenly.
Our air fryer is a 6-quart capacity so we cook this amount of zucchini fries in two batches.
Cook the zucchini fries for 6 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 6 minutes or until golden brown (so the total cooking time is approximately 12 minutes).
Since every air fryer is slightly different, your cooking time can vary.
Remove the fries from the air fryer tray and cook the rest of the zucchini fries. Serve the fries with your favorite dipping sauce.
Storage Tips
To be honest, air fryer zucchini sticks taste best when they are hot and fresh out of the air fryer.
Once they cool off, they tend to get soggy because the zucchini has moisture locked inside. You can definitely still eat them but they won’t be as fresh.
Furthermore, when you try to heat them up again – e.g. in the microwave – they will just get mushier. So keep that in mind when deciding how many zucchini fries to make!
Related Recipes
For more great air fryer vegetables recipes – some of which are also fries – check out these delicious creations:
- Breaded Air Fried Avocado Fries
- Air Fried Eggplant Fries
- Parsnip Fries Air Fried
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fried Asparagus Fries
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized zucchinis
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs, unseasoned
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated (optional)
- avocado oil cooking spray, optional
Instructions
- Wash the zucchini and pat them dry. Cut off the ends, then cut them in half width-wise. Now cut these pieces in half lengthwise and then cut again lengthwise into thirds/quarters (depending on the size of the zucchini) to give them their fry shape (see photo for reference).
- Prepare the "breading station" by placing flour on one plate, cracked and whisked eggs on another, and breadcrumbs on the third plate.
- Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to the plate with the breadcrumbs and mix until well combined. You can also mix in finely grated parmesan cheese if desired.
- Take one zucchini fry and roll it in the flour until it is fully covered on all sides. Then lift the fry, place it in the egg wash, and turn it around until coated in egg on all sides. Allow the extra egg to drip off. Next place the zucchini fry into the plate with the breadcrumbs. Press the zucchini fry down lightly, then turn the fry until the zucchini is fully coated with breadcrumbs. Don’t forget to coat the ends! Place the zucchini fry onto a clean, dry plate and repeat these steps until all the zucchini pieces are breaded.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit. While you are waiting, lightly spray the breaded zucchini fries with avocado oil spray if you want them to get extra crispy (optional).
- Once hot, place approximately half of the zucchini fries into the air fryer. There should be some space between them so that they can cook and crisp up evenly. Our air fryer is a 6-quart capacity so we cook this amount of zucchini fries in two batches.
- Cook the zucchini fries for 6 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 6 minutes or until golden brown (so the total cooking time is approximately 12 minutes). Since every air fryer is slightly different, your cooking time can vary.
- Remove the fries from the air fryer tray and cook the rest of the zucchini fries. Serve the fries with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- If you’re using parmesan cheese and it is very salty, feel free to reduce the amount of salt you add to the breadcrumbs.
- When you are breading the fries, it helps to clean and dry your hands every few fries, or else the egg and breadcrumbs build up on your fingertips. One way to reduce the mess is to use forks to roll the zucchini fries in the egg and breadcrumbs.
Nutrition
This nutritional information has been estimated by an online nutrition calculator. It should only be seen as a rough calculation and not a replacement for professional dietary advice.
