Name: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 large zucchini; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs; 1/4 cup aquafaba; 2 tablespon italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 tablsepoon cooking spray; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder (optional)

My Air Fryer Zucchini Fries (courgette fries) are super crispy outside and tender inside. They’re a tasty snack made with minimal oil and no egg.

This vegan appetizer or side can be ready in less than 20 minutes. Great with this Sour Cream and Chive Dip.

A plate full of air fryer zucchini fries served with two dips

You can make the best zucchini fries in your air fryer! They are super crispy and crunchy and are (almost) good enough to rival potato chips.

There, I said it. Because when you think of courgette, you don’t really think of it as a fun, exciting vegetable. But in this recipe … wow! Breading and then air frying makes them really crispy outside and allows the flesh to sweeten as it cooks.

I’ve made these on a couple of occasions as a snack when I’ve had friends over. The first time I made them, I only did 1 coating of the batter and breadcrumbs. They were tasty but lacked crisp factor. To combat that, I now do 2 coats of the batter. This ensures these are ultra crispy and irresistible! So good as a snack with a dip like this tzatziki with greek yogurt and dill or as a side for sundried tomato chickpea cakes.

Use leftover zucchini in Indian Zucchini Curry or Ribbon Zucchini Salad with green beans.

I love using the air fryer to make all kinds of crispy snacks!

My favourites are Air Fryer Avocado Fries without egg, Air Fryer Garlic Fries and Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli.

Air fryer zucchini fries recipe plate placed on a wooden serving board

Ingredients

Full ingredients with measurements are available in the recipe card below at the end of this post

Zucchini aka courgette

Panko bread crumbs – I like using panko as they give a crispier coating. I’ve also tried ground cornflakes which work pretty well too, and they’ll make this recipe gluten-free.

Aquafaba – this is my go-to vegan replacement to an egg wash which will bind the coating to the fries. I like that it doesn’t impart its own flavour. I usually then use the chickpeas to make a dip like this roasted red pepper hummus using jarred roasted peppers. Alternatively, you make a simple batter with water and flour but I find that you can taste the batter more.

Seasoning – I’ve gone for Italian seasoning.

Cooking oil spray – I used a canola oil spray but others such as avocado oil or olive oil spray work too

vegan air fried zucchini fries ingredients are placed on a kitchen worktop

How to make Fried Zucchini in Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes.

Wash the zucchinis and pat dry with a paper towel. For best results, ensure the zucchini is fully dry. Moisture will lead to steaming in the air fryer.

Next cut them into strips of zucchini in the same size to ensure even cooking

Slice off the ends of the zucchini and and cut them into thin fry-like strips. Make sure they are of similar size to ensure even cooking.

To make the breading mixture, in a shallow bowl or plate, combine the panko breadcrumbs, italian seasoning, salt and black pepper.

Cut Zucchini strips on the wooden chopping board

panko breadcrumbs placed in a bowl next to cut zucchini to make air fryer zucchini fries no egg

A female hand is holding a breaded zucchini fries

Breaded zucchini fries in the air fryer basket

Dip each zucchini strip into the aquafaba, making sure it is coated on all sides.

Roll the coated zucchini strip in the panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere the crumbs to the zucchini. Repeat this process with all the zucchini strips.

To get my zucchini fries extra crispy, I do a double coating of batter, breadcrumbs, batter again and breadcrumbs again. This takes a little longer to cook in the air fryer though!

Lightly grease the air fryer tray with cooking spray or brush with a small amount of oil to prevent sticking. Alternatively place a layer of parchment paper

Place the breaded zucchini slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.

You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Cook the zucchini fries in the air fryer at 360 degrees F (180°C) for about 6-8 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The zucchini chips should have a golden brown crust. You may have to adjust the time and temperature based on your appliance

Once cooked, transfer the zucchini fries to a serving plate and serve them immediately. You can enjoy them on their own or serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Note: Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the size and power of your air fryer, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. Adjust the cooking time accordingly if needed.

Cooked air fryer zucchini fries in the air fryer basket on a kitchen worktop

One zucchini fry dipped in the tomato sauce in the plate

Storage

For the best flavour, enjoy them immediately after cooking – this is when they are at their crispiest.

However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and placed in the fridge. They can be reheated in the air fryer or oven with little oil.

A female hand is dipping air fryer courgette fries in tomato sauce

Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Air fryer Corn on the Cob

Air fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Diced Potatoes in Air fryer

Air fryer Baked Sweet Potato

Air fryer Onion Bhaji

As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

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