This air fryer zucchini uses tender, seasoned zucchini chunks tossed in a light mixture of bread crumbs and cheese. It's just the right balance of flavor and crunch!
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Zucchini is one of those vegetables that everyone seems to have more than they know what to do with by the end of the summer. While I can never get enough vegan zucchini muffins or vegan zucchini brownies, sometimes you just need a straight up vegetable side dish.
What makes this the best air fryer zucchini
A hint of lemon juice really brings this side dish to life. Zucchini doesn't have much flavor on it's own, so the combination of seasonings is also really important.
This recipe is also ready in just minutes, giving you more time to finish the rest of your meal and get eating.
Ingredients
- Zucchini
- Olive oil
- Parmesan cheese
- Bread crumbs
- Lemon juice
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Oregano
- Salt
- Pepper
How to make air fried zucchini
- Heat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- In a large bowl, combine zucchini and olive oil.
- Add the cheese, bread crumbs, and spices and stir until completely coated.
- Add the zucchini to the air fryer in two or more batches. Cook 5 minutes or until the zucchini is lightly browned.
Top tips
The best air fryer
I've had the Ninja Foodi (affiliate link) which has functions for air frying, grilling, baking, and dehydrating. It works really well but is a bit bulky for a kitchen appliance.
If you prefer a more affordable appliance that only air fries, I would recommend Ninja's 4qt Air Fryer or this Corosi Air Fryer. Keep in mind that all appliances vary, and you may need to adjust your cooking temperature or time.
Cooking in the air fryer
The air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food. Because of this, make sure you aren't crowding your air fryer basket.
Instead, work in batches as needed to allow your zucchini to become crispy. The zucchini will still have a little bit of a bite to it and will not be completely soft to prevent it from becoming soggy.
How to cut zucchini for the air fryer
I like cutting my zucchini into cubes when cooking in the air fryer. I do this by cutting the zucchini in half the long way, then in half again (also the long way), before cutting them into little cubes about the size of the end of your thumb.
You could also cut them into rounds like chips, or sticks like fries, but may need to adjust the cooking time.
What kind of bread crumbs to use
I prefer to use panko bread crumbs for breading foods like this because they have lots of crunch. You can find regular or whole wheat panko bread crumbs in a variety of places in the grocery store including the baking, pasta, grains, or international aisles.
Storage tips
You can refrigerate fried zucchini in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The zucchini chunks are pretty delicate, and I don't think they would freeze and thaw very well.
To reheat, pop them in the microwave for a few seconds or add to the air fryer again until warmed through.
Tips for customizing air fryer zucchini
- Skip the bread crumbs or use a gluten-free variety to make these gluten-free
- Adjust the spices to your taste, or consider adding cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes for spice
- Slice the zucchini into fry shapes instead of cubes if you prefer to make zucchini fries, or chips if you want zucchini chips, adjusting the cooking time as needed
- Omit the cheese to make this vegan
FAQ
It sounds a little counterintuitive, but if you overcook your zucchini it may become soggy. This is because zucchini has a lot of moisture in it. It could also be that you overcrowded your air fryer basket, not allowing enough air to circulate as it cooked.
Small or medium sized zucchini will work in this recipe as long as you cut them all to a similar size. I do not recommend using large zucchini because they can become tough, flavorless, and watery.
Most Parmesan cheese is not vegetarian because it is made with animal rennet. If this is important to you, skip it or look for parmesan cheese made with vegetable rennet.
More air fryer recipes
- Air Fried Corn on the Cob
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Frozen Curly Fries in the Air Fryer
- Loaded Air Fryer Waffle Fries
- Air Fryer Shoestring Fries
- Air Fryer Home Fries
More vegetable side dishes
- Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Oven Roasted Vegetables
- Oven Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Carrots with Thyme
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Air Fryer Zucchini
Ingredients
- 2-3 medium zucchini, cut into bite sized chunks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
- In a large bowl, toss zucchini cubes with olive oil until completely coated.
- Add the cheese, bread crumbs, lemon juice, and spices. Stir to combine.
- Working in 2-3 batches, add zucchini to the air fryer and cook 5 minutes or until the zucchini is still a little bit firm but tender and is starting to turn brown.
- Serve warm or at room temperature garnished with fresh parsley or oregano if desired.
Notes
Tips for customizing air fryer zucchini
- Skip the bread crumbs or use a gluten-free variety to make these gluten-free
- Adjust the spices to your taste, or consider adding cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes for spice
- Slice the zucchini into fry shapes instead of cubes if you prefer to make zucchini fries, or chips if you want zucchini chips, adjusting the cooking time as needed
- Omit the cheese to make this vegan
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