These crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are the perfect guilt-free alternative to traditional french fries. With just 165 calories per serving and packed with vitamins, they deliver that satisfying crunch you crave without the excess oil.
Ready in just 20 minutes, these golden-brown beauties offer a delicious way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet. Whether you’re serving them as a side dish or a healthy snack, their crispy exterior and tender interior will have everyone reaching for seconds.
Ingredient Section
- Zucchini: 1-2 large, cut into ½-inch sticks for perfect fry shape
- Coating Mix: ½ cup flour (any kind, including gluten-free)
- Egg Wash: 2 beaten eggs for optimal coating adhesion
- Breadcrumb Mixture: ½ cup breadcrumbs (any type, gluten-free optional)
- Seasonings: ½ tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- Additional: Salt and pepper to taste, spray oil for crispiness
Instructions Section
- Prep Work: Clean and cut zucchini into ½-inch sticks, ensuring uniform size for even cooking
- Station Setup: Arrange three bowls – first with flour, second with beaten eggs, third with seasoned breadcrumbs
- Seasoning Mix: Combine garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning with breadcrumbs in the third bowl
- Coating Process: Gently coat each zucchini stick in flour, then egg wash, finally in seasoned breadcrumbs
- Air Frying: Place coated sticks in air fryer basket, spray with oil, cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes
- Finishing Touch: Flip halfway through cooking, spray again with oil for extra crispiness
- Serving: Present hot with marinara sauce for a delightful appetizer experience
Coating Tips for Extra-Crispy Results
Want super crispy zucchini fries? Keep one hand for dry ingredients and one for wet during the coating process. This prevents those dreaded clumpy fingers! Pat the breadcrumbs gently but firmly onto each zucchini stick – this extra love helps the coating stick better. If your coating starts getting clumpy, just start fresh with a new batch of breadcrumbs.
Easy Substitutions
No worries if you need to switch things up! Try panko instead of regular breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Making these gluten-free? Just swap in your favorite GF flour and breadcrumbs. The Italian seasoning can be replaced with any herbs you love – dried basil and oregano work great. You can even skip the eggs and use milk or plant-based milk for a vegan version.
Serving Ideas
These crispy fries are amazing with more than just marinara! Try them with:
- Ranch dressing for a classic combo
- Garlic aioli for fancy finger food
- Greek yogurt mixed with herbs for a healthy dip
- Honey mustard for a sweet-tangy kick They’re perfect as a snack, side dish, or even as party appetizers!
Storage & Reheating
Keep your leftover zucchini fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To bring back their crunch, pop them in the air fryer at 375°F for 2-3 minutes. Skip the microwave – it’ll make them soggy. These fries taste best fresh, but reheating in the air fryer works great when needed!
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs Any type (gf optional)
- 1/2 cup flour all purpose of any kind including GF
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1-2 large zucchini cut into ½-inch sticks
- Spray oil
Instructions
- Wash and dry the zucchini. Cut the zucchini into ½-inch sticks. Set aside.
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk them. Set aside. Pour the flour into a second, ideally shallow, bowl. Set aside. In a third bowl, combine spices and bread crumbs. Set aside.
- Coat the zucchini: Dredge the zucchini sticks through the flour, then the egg, then through the bread crumb mixture. Be gentle with the zucchini and pat the bread crumbs on all sides.
- Put the zucchini pieces into the air fryer basket and generously spray with oil. Air fry at 400 degrees F or 200 degrees C for 10 to 12 minutes. Flip halfway through cook time and spray again with oil.
- Serve with marinara dipping sauce and enjoy!
