Air Fryer Zucchini

What Are Air-Fried Zucchini?

Air Fryer Zucchinis is a way to cook breaded zucchinis in just a few minutes and with less oil by using an air fryer.

It’s the best way to use the late summer zucchinis you still have after trying all my other zucchini recipes!

How To Cook Zucchini In The Air Fryer

There’s not only one way to make air fryer zucchini. You can play with the spices and toppings, but my favorite is a combination of the ingredients below.

It has a slight crisp from the breadcrumb, savory and cheesy flavors from Parmesan, and all the Mediterranean flavors of oregano and olive oil.

Ingredients

Below are the main ingredients you need to make zucchini in the air fryer:

• Zucchini – Trim the ends and don’t peel the zucchini to keep their texture and fiber, then cut them into thick slices. I found that 1/2-inch slices (1.3 cm) are the best to keep some texture without turning the zucchini into dry chips.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – I prefer to use locally-sourced olive oil.
• Garlic Powder
• Whole Wheat Breadcrumb – You can also use alternatives like Panko crumbs or almond meal for a low-carb, gluten-free option.
• Parmesan Cheese – You need a hard cheese variety for this recipe. Don’t replace it with softer cheese like cheddar.
• Oregano
• Paprika
• Cumin
• Salt and Pepper

Preparation

Depending on how much zucchini you intend to air fry, you may want to preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).

This allows you to keep the first batches of air-fried zucchini warm and crunchy while the other batches are cooking.

If you don’t have an oven, you can air fry all zucchinis batches and store each batch on a wire rack and cover them with foil to keep them warm.

Once all your zucchinis have been air-fried, bring them back to the warm air fryer basket.

Many zucchini slices will overlap, but that’s ok because they are already air fried. They will rewarm and get their crispiness back within 2 to 3 minutes.

Coating The Zucchinis

First, trim and slice the zucchinis keeping their skin on for extra firmness and texture.

Cut each zucchini into thick 0.5-inch slices (1.3cm). Place the zucchini slices into a large bowl, drizzle the olive oil on top and stir to evenly coat each slice with the oil.

In another mixing bowl, stir the dry ingredients: breadcrumb, garlic powder, salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, and cumin.

Pour the dry ingredients on top of the oiled zucchini slices and stir to coat the zucchinis with the dry ingredients.

Cooking Zucchini In The Air Fryer

The timing to make the best air fryer zucchini slices is between 12 and 15 minutes. The timing pretty much depends on two main factors:

• Size of the zucchini slices – that’s why I recommend sticking to the 1/2-inch thickness, or they can be very dry.
• Air fryer temperature – if you preheated the air fryer, the air frying time can decrease by 1 to 3 minutes.

How Do You Know Zucchinis Are Ready?

It’s pretty visual since a cooked air-fried zucchini is golden brown on the outside but still tender in the center if you insert a toothpick or knife blade.

Serving

These zucchini air fryer recipe is the perfect side dish for any grilled meat, seafood, or some of the following meals:

• Cast Iron Chicken Breast
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders
• Almond Flour Chicken Tenders
• Keto Nuggets
• Baked Pork Chops

You can serve the plain zucchini slices straight out of the air fryer or add some of the following toppings just before serving:

• Fresh Chopped Basil or Italian Parsley
• Sesame Seeds
• Lemon Juice

Storage Instructions

These Zucchini Slices can be stored for up to 3 days in a sealed container in the fridge.

You can rewarm the zucchini in an air fryer preheated to 325°F (160°C).

Place the slices in a single layer and air fry for 3 to 5 minutes until warm.

You can also rewarm them in a microwave, but the breadcrumbs get mushy and soft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use This Recipe In My Oven?

Yes, you can use this recipe to make baked zucchini slices.

Line a baking tray with lightly oiled parchment paper.

Arrange the zucchini slices in a single layer and bake them at 375°F (200°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping them halfway.

Can I Cut The Zucchinis Into Different Shapes?

Yes, you can cut the zucchini in half moons or long boats as soon as the thickness is about 0.5 inches it won’t change the air frying time.

Can I Air Fry Yellow Squash?

Yes, you can use the same recipe to air fry yellow squash, the timing will be similar.