Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are crispy on the outside and tender inside with a garlic Parmesan panko coating. They cook in the air fryer until golden for an easy appetizer or side dish.
Fresh zucchini is one of my favorite things to use during the summer, especially when there’s plenty coming from the garden. Turning it into crispy fries is an easy way to use it up that everyone enjoys.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Crispy: Panko gives them a crunchy coating.
- Garlic Parmesan: Plenty of flavor in every bite.
- Air Fryer Easy: No deep frying needed.
- Great for Garden Zucchini: Perfect when zucchini is plentiful.
About the Ingredients ⭐
- Zucchini: One large zucchini cut into fry-sized pieces.
- Eggs: Help the breading stick to the zucchini.
- Flour: Creates the first layer of the crispy coating.
- Garlic Powder: Adds garlic flavor to the breading.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Give the zucchini fries their crispy crunch.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds cheesy flavor to the coating.
- Oil Spray: Helps the breading turn golden and crispy in the air fryer.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Cut the Zucchini: Cut the zucchini into fry-sized strips about 1 inch thick.
Prepare the Breading: Whisk the eggs in one bowl. Combine the flour and garlic powder in another, then mix the panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in a third bowl.
Coat the Zucchini: Dip each zucchini fry into the flour, followed by the egg, and then the Parmesan panko mixture until completely coated.
Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and lightly spray the basket with oil. Arrange the zucchini fries in a single layer and cook for 15 minutes, flipping during cooking, until golden and crispy.
Oven Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly spray with oil. Arrange the breaded zucchini fries in a single layer and bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
Tips I Found Helpful 💙
- Cut Even Pieces: Keep the zucchini fries similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Coat Them Well: Press the panko mixture gently onto the zucchini to help it stick.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Arrange the fries in a single layer so they get crispy.
- Use Oil Spray: A light coating helps the breading turn golden and crisp.
Questions Readers Ask Most
More Zucchini Recipes I Love
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are coated in garlic, Parmesan, and crispy panko breadcrumbs, then air fried until golden and crunchy.
Ingredients
- 1 large zucchini
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Oil spray
Instructions
- Cut the zucchini lengthwise in half.
- Halve each zucchini piece again.
- Slice the zucchini halves into fry strips approximately 1 inch long and 1 inch thick. Set aside.
- Whisk two eggs in a small bowl.
- Place one cup of flour mixed with garlic powder on a small plate or bowl.
- Place panko bread crumbs in another dish and mix in parmesan cheese.
- Working in batches, coat each zucchini fry first in flour, then in the egg, and finally in the panko bread crumbs.
- Preheat your Air Fryer to 375°F.
- Lightly spray the Air Fryer basket with cooking oil, such as olive oil.
- Arrange the coated zucchini fries in a single layer in the Air Fryer basket.
- Cook for 15 minutes, flipping the fries once halfway through cooking (after 7 minutes), until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve hot and enjoy your crispy Curly Zucchini Fries!
Oven Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Arrange the coated zucchini fries in a single layer on a parchment-lined or lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.
Notes
Cut the zucchini into evenly sized pieces and don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. A light spray of oil helps the coating get extra crispy.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 450Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 611mgCarbohydrates: 75gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 18g
Wow those look so good. The photos make me want to just inhale them and eat a huge plate full. Will definitely have to try making these.
You could also try dipping them in Tzatziki (Greek yoghurt, cucumber and garlic dip) or Raita (Indian dip similar to Taztziki. Avocado dip sounds really good though.
I made these and they were delicious! Although I ended up reducing the amount of time in my Ninja Foodi for each batch. I found that 12 minutes was best. We used Yum Yum sauce and we thought it was the perfect sauce for these. Thank you for this recipe.
I just made these in my Ninja. 12 minutes on air fry at 375 was perfect. They are crispy and delish!
Something went wrong. To dip it’s Dry, wet, dry? Didn’t work for me. Ended up making broccoli as my side.
@Alex, it’s impt that the cut zucchini fries are dry. I pat mine with a towel first, then dip dry, wet, dry. It’s messy, but the dry first helps the egg to stick and makes for a crunchier finished product. How that helps.
@Alex, brócoli boi
@Alex, You are correct. It’s a common method used on fried foods, especially fried chicken. You may want to let them rest after dusting with flour first.
This was super easy to make and so tasty! Definitely kid approved!
This worked pretty well for me, but the proportions were a little off. For 3/4 of a huge arm-sized zucchini (seeds removed, and peeled because the flour didn’t stick to the skin), I ended up needing 4 eggs, 3 cups of bread crumbs, and at least 3/4 cup of parmesan. After going through that I still had barely used half of my seasoned flour (to which I added salt and pepper after my trial batch, along with the garlic powder). I would start with half a cup of flour at the most next time, even if I was planning to double all the rest of the ingredients like I did this time.
Once breaded the sticks cooked perfectly in my air fryer, even with the ends of some resting on others so I could get more than four sticks at a time in the tiny basket. Very crunchy with the panko coating, and I think even regular bread crumbs would have crisped up nicely.
For dipping I recommend Trader Joe’s jalapeno sauce or, if you’re not making these with calorie reduction in mind, middle eastern garlic sauce.
These are delicious. I had a huge garden zucchini so I needed an extra egg and about 1/4 c more panko/parm. It made 38 fries.
I would recommend halving the flour mixture as I has at least half if not more left over. I’ll be making these every time I have huge zucchini.
Can these be frozen? After being cooked
Thank you 🙂
Yes
These are my new favorite of everything I have ever made in the Air Fryer! Absolutely delicious! I used 2 small zucchini and scraped the seeds out before I cut and prepped. They were so crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth tender on the inside. Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
This recipe is so easy and unbelievably delicious! My whole family loved it.
We dipped ours in low fat sour cream, sprinkled with paprika. Amazing!
Made this as written in air fryer and it was delicious! Nice crunch and very tasty. Served with garlic aioli for dipping.
Have no idea why but this was an epic fail. Hubby and I followed the recipe with a home grown zucchini. Couldn’t get the breading to stick. Floured, egg then breadcrumbs but no luck. Any advice?
Not sure why it wouldn’t stick sometimes you can dip them in milk first then flour