Air Fryer Zucchini Fries could not be easier to make. And they are a tasty way to get some veg into your diet.
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GREETINGS 👋
Let me guess. You are here because you have a boatload of zucchini that you don't know what to do with. Trust me, it's that time of year. Your neighbor has just offloaded some of her bumper crop and you are trying to figure out how to make zucchini edible. I've been there.
And I am here to help.
Why not whip up a batch of Air Fried Zucchini Fries?
This is the quintessential way to cook zucchini. It's an easy appetizer that you can whip up in 15 minutes. And because it's cooked in the air fryer, you'll use a fraction of the cooking oil that you normally would. Zucchini is good and good for you.
It's delicious and nutritious.
🥚 Just 5 Ingredients
- zucchini
- panko bread crumbs or crushed pork rinds if Keto
- parmesan cheese
- eggs
- cooking oil
🥣 Plus the Yum Yum Sauce
- mayonnaise
- sugar or Swerve if Keto
- ground paprika
- melted butter
- tomato paste
- ground cayenne pepper
- water
🐖 Keto and Gluten-Free Substitution
For the gluten-free and Keto option, we look to our old friend the pork rind. It might sound like a funny thing to use for breading, but it's the low carb dieter's secret weapon. Just pulse the pork rinds a few times in a food processor or high-powered blender to make them the right consistency.
It's a crispy alternative to panko breading that will satisfy your carb cravings.
📖 Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the zucchini. With a sharp chef's knife, cut it in half, then make ½-inch thick sticks by 3-inch long.
- Combine the breadcrumbs with parmesan, a pinch of salt and pepper in a shallow bowl, and the beaten egg into another bowl of the same size.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400ºF.
- Dip the zucchini fries in the egg wash, then transfer the pieces with a fork to the breadcrumbs bowl and toss to coat. Gently press the breadcrumbs and transfer them to a clean plate.
- In batches, lay the zucchini sticks on a single layer onto the Air Fryer basket, and spray with cooking oil. Air fry for 10 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- In a medium bowl, mix all of the dipping sauce ingredients well and serve along with the zucchini fries.
❄️ Storage
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries will stay fresh for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Store in an airtight container. You can rewarm the zucchini fries in the oven at 375 degrees F on a baking sheet coated with nonstick spray. Or you can reheat these zucchini fries in your air fryer set to 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
Do not attempt to reheat fries in the microwave, or they will become a mushy mess.
🤓 Fun Facts
Follow these instructions, and you've got no worries. But if you are someone who wants to go the extra mile vis a vis zucchini, you can use salt to sweat out some excess liquid. Put the zucchini slices in a colander over a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let it drain for 1 hour and then rinse off the salt, dry, and continue with the recipe. But like I said, this is not mandatory.
Yes, zucchini is lower in carbohydrates than potatoes and has more nutritional value. Zucchini also has more fiber, which is a definite plus.
Sure. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and put a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet. Place the breaded zucchini sticks on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-22 minutes until golden and crispy.
If you like this Air Fryer Zucchini Fries recipe, then you might like my recipes for Air Fried Pickles or Air Fried Fishsticks.
And that's about it for Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.
This recipe takes a zucchini, which is, let's face it, not a top-shelf vegetable, and elevates it to a savory and crispy app. This is no small feat! And it's all thanks to the miraculous machine: the air fryer. So next time your nosy neighbor turns up with an armload of zucchinis...
You'll smile and say thank you.
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries could not be easier to make. And they are a tasty way to get some veg into your diet.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Zucchini Fries:
- 2 zucchinis, medium-size
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, or crushed pork rinds if Keto
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Cooking oil spray
Dipping Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon sugar or sugar-free Swerve Granular
- ¼ teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon tomato paste
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons water as needed to thin the sauce
Instructions
1. Wash and pat dry the zucchini. With a sharp chef's knife, cut it in half, then make ½-inch thick sticks by 3-inch long.
2. Combine the breadcrumbs with parmesan, a pinch of salt and pepper in a shallow bowl, and the beaten egg into another bowl of the same size.
3. Preheat the Air Fryer to 400ºF.
4. Dip the zucchini fries in the egg wash, then transfer the pieces with a fork to the breadcrumbs bowl and toss to coat. Gently press the breadcrumbs and transfer them to a clean plate.
4. In batches, lay the zucchini sticks on a single layer onto the Air Fryer basket and spray with cooking oil. Air fry for 10 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
5. In a medium-sized bowl, mix all of the dipping sauce ingredients well and serve along with the zucchini fries.
Notes
Breading option: For a low carb/Keto version of this dish, simply replace the panko breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds using the same quantity.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ of a batch
- Calories: 157
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 11
Keywords: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, Air Fried Zucchini, Breaded Zucchini, Fried Zucchini
Cora says
Loved this recipe. Using pork rinds for breading is so creative!
★★★★★
Emily Krill says
Oh, it's not my original idea, but glad you like the recipe.