Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe

I am always on the lookout for new side dish ideas for my dinner parties. This one afternoon, I was experimenting with ways to make zucchini the hero ingredient of my side dish, which is what gave birth to the idea of Air Fryer Zucchini. This zucchini recipe is not only quick and easy to make but also quite nutritious. The best part of this recipe is the amazing crust that gets formed when the zucchini is cooked in the air fryer.

There are ways to accomplish the same using a traditional oven too, but the results with an air fryer are far superior. What’s better is that it is a low-calorie, low-carb, and keto-friendly dish, which makes it a great option for anyone on a paleo diet.

In the following sections, I will provide you with a comprehensive guide on making this delectable zucchini side dish. I will also cover some great tips and tricks for taking this air fryer zucchini to the next level. So without further ado, let’s get (air) fry-in...

Air Fryer Zucchini. What’s it all about?

Zucchini might seem like a boring vegetable at first, but this zucchini air fryer recipe will certainly change how you view this vegetable. The air fryer not only makes it crispier but also makes it significantly easier than roasting it in the oven. There are two reasons for this:

The air fryer allows you to cook in smaller portions, so you can easily get two to four servings in one go.
The cooking is done much faster in the air fryer since there is little to no preheating involved.

Because of the simplicity of this recipe, this crispy yet tender air fryer zucchini ends up on my dinner table at least twice a month. Packed full of flavor, air fryer zucchini goes perfect with a salmon dish, a potato casserole, or any other dish for that matter. It is an easy and healthy accompaniment for dinner.

If you are looking to enjoy some summer-fresh vegetables without warming up your kitchen, zucchini in the air fryer can be a great option. Whether you get the zucchini from the grocery store, the farmer’s market, from your backyard, or from a friend, I hope this recipe becomes a frequent addition to your meals.

What can you expect from air fryer zucchini?

This air-fried zucchini is…

Crispy
Surprisingly delicious
Flavorful
Fresh
Clean
Vegan
Keto
Gluten-free
A light appetizer
A versatile side dish
A great way to enjoy veggies

Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8-20 minutes

Ingredients that you will need

The ingredient list for the air fryer zucchini is fairly short since the hero of this dish is going to be the zucchini. The rest of the ingredients in this recipe help complement and highlight the natural flavors of this summer vegetable.

6-7 cups of zucchinis (approx. 660g)
1 tbsp Olive Oil: Go with extra virgin olive oil, preferable as it adds a distinct flavor to the dish. However, you can also go with regular olive oil.
Lemon juice (juice from 2 lemon slices or 1.5 teaspoons of lemon juice)
Garlic powder: ½ teaspoon.
Salt (to taste)
Black pepper (to taste)

Which zucchinis would be best for this dish?

For making fantastic air fryer zucchinis, you should ideally go with a dark green fresh zucchini that has smooth skin. The fresher the vegetable, the better. Besides this, you should look for small zucchinis as they have a better flavor profile and are more tender. Large or medium-sized zucchinis would work just as well if they are fresh and tender.

Tools needed for making crunchy air fryer zucchini

You do not need a great many tools for making this dish either. All you require is –

Chef knife
Cutting board
Measuring spoons
Silicone spatula
Large mixing bowl
Air fryer

Making the delectable air fryer zucchinis

Making the zucchini in an air fryer with no breading is fairly simple, easy, and does not involve many steps.

Step 1. The first thing you need to do is preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 4-5 minutes. However, you can skip the preheating process if you want to make this recipe quickly.

Step 2. Trim the ends of the zucchini. Chop the zucchini into 1/4 inch thick coins or thin slices (lengthwise). If you are cutting lengthwise, make sure that it is able to fit the air fryer basket.

Step 3. Toss the zucchinis with 1 tablespoon of olive in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle some salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Make sure the zucchinis are evenly coated with the olive oil and the rest of the ingredients.

Step 4. Place the zucchinis in the air fryer tray and set them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 8 to 14 minutes. Make sure to toss them around after every 4 minutes so they are evenly cooked. You can even cook them for longer if you don’t feel they are crispy enough for you. I usually like to cook mine for 15 to 20 minutes until they form a golden-brown crust on the outside and remain tender inside.

Step 5: After they have been cooked, squeeze some lemon juice over the crispy air-fried zucchini. You can also add some extra salt and garlic powder if needed.

Et voila! Your crispy and crunchy air fryer zucchinis are done. Serve them hot.=

Air fryer tips for taking this recipe to the next level

I love a good dipping sauce. Don’t overthink this one. I serve my air fryer zucchini with this easy packet homemade ranch recipe. It only adds a few mixtures and I promise you it takes this snack to the next level!
How you cut the zucchini will determine its cooking time and the final texture. It is always best to cut the vegetable into evenly sliced pieces so that they can cook evenly. If you are using a small zucchini, you can cut 1/8 inch thick coins, and if it is a large zucchini, you can cut 1/8 inch thick half-coins. This will provide a great balance to the dish when it is cooked. The slices will be crispy and brown on both sides and tender inside (without being soft and mushy). If you cut them in the form of strips, they will require a longer cooking time.
Preheating the air fryer for 5 minutes will help you get a better crispy crust on the zucchini.
Before you add the vegetable to the air fryer basket, make sure that it is evenly coated with oil and other seasonings.
Tossing the zucchinis in the air fryer after every four minutes will make sure that they cook evenly. It will also affect the crust formation of the zucchini.

Air Fryer Zucchini – Nutritional Information

Total calories: 36kcal
Carbohydrates: 7g
Protein: 2g
Sodium: 16mg
Fat: 1g
Saturated fat: 1g
Sugar: 5g
Fiber: 2g
Vitamin C: 35.1mg
Vitamin A: 390IU
Iron: 0.7mg
Calcium: 31mg
Potassium: 512mg

FAQs - Air Fryer Zucchini

FAQ #1: Are there any recipe substitutions for air fryer zucchinis?

Lemons: If you don’t have lemons for the final garnish, you can use white wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar to drizzle on your air-fried zucchinis at the end. These two substitutions will add a similar degree of tartness to the dish.

Olive Oil: Instead of olive oil, you can also use refined coconut oil or avocado oil to make this dish.

FAQ#2: How to best serve the air fryer zucchinis?

You can serve this dish as both an appetizer and a side dish. When you are serving it as an appetizer, you can pair it with the following delicious dips –

Spinach artichoke dip
Chipotle or avocado ranch dressing
Green goddess salad dressing
Greek salad dressing
Curry hummus
Miso vinaigrette

As a side dish, air-fried zucchini can be paired with –

Baked or smoked salmon
Grilled fish
Grilled chicken
Veggie burgers
Sloppy Joes
Baked potatoes
Stuffed sweet potatoes
Steak

FAQ#3: Which other seasonings can be added to this dish?

Besides salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, you can also add some other seasonings and spices to your zucchinis before air frying, like –

Italian seasoning
Greek seasoning
All-purpose spices
Herbs de Provence

FAQ#4: How many servings are made with this recipe?

When you start out with six to seven cups of raw zucchini, it will cook down in the air fryer to yield around 2-3 cups of air-fried zucchinis. Thus, you can make around four 1/2 cup servings with this recipe. You can also double or triple the recipe to make more servings. However, it is important that each batch is cooked separately, as overcrowding the air fryer will not result in crispy zucchinis.

FAQ#5: Is this recipe gluten-free, paleo, and keto-friendly?

This recipe is not only gluten-free, paleo and keto-friendly but also vegan and low in carbohydrates. Since it is only made from olive oil, zucchinis, a sprinkle of salt, seasonings, and lemon juice, you can certainly make this a healthy and clean addition to your diet.

FAQ#6: Can we also bake or roast the zucchini in a traditional oven?

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can certainly bake or roast the zucchini with the same recipe. The only downside will be that they will not be as crispy. For roasting/baking the dish, all you have to do is place them in the oven (at 425 degrees) for 18 to 22 minutes. Flip the zucchinis halfway through the cooking process until they are golden brown on all sides.

Wrapping it Up

Filled with antioxidants and vitamins, zucchinis can be a great addition to your meals. With this air fryer zucchini recipe, you can enjoy this flavorful summer vegetable in a unique way. It is not only easy to make but also guilt-free. Try out the air fryer zucchinis yourself and let me know about your experience.

You can also try out some other great air fryer recipes like –