Air Fryer Zucchini

This crispy Air Fryer Zucchini is full of delicious cheesy, garlicky flavor! Ready in just minutes, it’s an easy veggie side dish the whole family is sure to love!

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe

• Quick & Easy: With a handful of basic ingredients, minimal prep time, and just 10 minutes of cooking time, making zucchini in the air fryer is a breeze! 
• Perfect for Various Diets: This fried zucchini in air fryer recipe is a great option for a variety of dietary preferences including vegetarian, low-carb, and keto diets.
• Nutritious: Zucchini is a low-calorie vegetable that’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Plus, using an air fryer requires less oil than deep frying, making it a healthier option when it comes to frying veggies. 
• A Favorite Among Kids & Adults: The cheesy, garlicky flavor combination is a surefire winner for both adults and kids alike. Even picky eaters will love it! These are also great dipped in some spicy mayo!
• Great Way to Use up Zucchini: Whether you’ve got an abundance from your home garden or you stocked up while at your local farmers market or grocery store, this recipe is the perfect way to use up your summer zucchini.

If you’re looking for more ideas to use up your zucchini, be sure to check out our Pesto Zucchini Noodles, Zucchini Bars, and Zucchini Bread next. 

Ingredients

Here’s a look at the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this zucchini air fryer recipe. 

• Zucchini: Fresh, in-season zucchini will provide the best flavor. If you’ve got yellow squash on hand instead of green zucchini, feel free to use it!
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds a cheesy flavor and gives the air-fried zucchini a crispy texture. Freshly grated is best! We love grating our own straight from the block, but you can also pick up a pre-grated container from the cheese department at your local grocery store. Avoid the commercially processed shelf-stable versions for best results.
• Garlic Salt & Sea Salt: Add a combination of garlicky and salty flavors which complement and enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
• Cooking Spray: Helps the parmesan coating to stick to the zucchini slices and promotes browning and crisping of the cheese. We used avocado oil spray, but feel free to use your favorite non-stick cooking oil spray such as olive oil.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.

Variations

• Air Fryer Breaded Zucchini: For a breaded version, replace half of the parmesan cheese for breadcrumbs. You can also use 1-2 beaten eggs to help the breading stick better. First, dip the sliced zucchini into the egg and then the breadcrumb-cheese mixture to coat. Then spray the coated zucchini slices with cooking spray and air fry until the breading is golden-brown.
• Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan: After air frying, top each piece of zucchini with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. Then air fry for another 1-2 minutes or until the cheese melts. Note that you’ll want to slice your zucchini into circles for best results.
• Add More Seasoning: Add some fresh or dried herbs such as parsley or Italian seasoning to the garlic salt and cheese mixture to change up the flavor.

How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini

To get started making this zucchini air fryer dish, you’ll need to first wash and slice your zucchini.

• Step 1: Make the Coating. Add the parmesan cheese, garlic salt, and sea salt to a bowl and mix until well-combined.
• Step 2: Spray the Zucchini. Spray the sliced zucchini with cooking spray. 

• Step 3: Coat the Zucchini. Dredge the zucchini slices in the parmesan cheese mixture to coat.
• Step 4: Cook. Place the zucchini in air fryer in an even layer and cook for 8-10 minutes or until crispy.

Expert Tips

• Slicing the Zucchini: Feel free to slice the zucchini any way you’d like. We sliced ours into sticks or spears for the photos but have also tried slicing it into rounds. Whichever way you slice it, be sure to cut the zucchini into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking. There’s no need to peel the zucchini before slicing.
• Placing the Zucchini in the Air Fryer: Be sure to place the zucchini in an even layer so that none of the pieces are overlapping. You’ll also want to allow a little room between each slice so that the air can circulate properly, ensuring the zucchini comes out perfectly crispy. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Storing and Reheating: Store leftover zucchini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat leftovers in the air fryer or in the oven until warmed throughout and crispy.

Recipe FAQs

More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes

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