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These healthy air fryer zucchini fries are the ultimate crispy, crunchy appetizer or snack. These zucchini sticks are made in the air fryer for maximum crispiness without all the fat of being fried. They’re coated with crunchy crushed cornflakes, Parmesan cheese, herbs, and spices for the perfect crunch. Air-fried to perfection, these zucchini fries are a 10/10! Dip them in our homemade marinara sauce, buffalo ranch sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
For more crispy air fryer recipes, try our air fryer carrot chips and air fryer sweet potato wedges next!
Table of Contents
- 🔎 Quick Look: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How To Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- How Long to Cook Zucchini Fries in the Air Fryer
- Shawna’s Expert Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries FAQs
- More Air Fryer Recipes to Try!
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Recipe
🔎 Quick Look: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 6-10 minutes
- 🕒 Total Time: ~20 minutes
- 🍽 Calories: ~117kcal per serving
- 👥 Servings: 4 servings
- 🥣 Key Ingredients: Zucchini, eggs, cornflakes, Parmesan cheese, seasonings
- 📖 Dietary Information: Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian
- 👩🍳 Cook Method: Air Fryer
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Super Crispy: Air frying makes these zucchini fries incredibly crispy and crunchy. There’s no deep frying required!
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and easy steps, these come together in no time.
- Perfect For Dipping: They’re delicious with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Packed with Flavor: The crushed cornflakes and Parmesan coating add incredible crunch and flavor in every bite.
- Healthy & Lightened Up: You only need a light spray of oil, so you get all the crunch without the fat of deep frying.
Key Ingredients
- Zucchini: Use one large zucchini for this recipe and cut it into sticks. For more zucchini recipes, try our healthy banana zucchini muffins and healthy chocolate zucchini muffins next!
- Eggs: Whisk two eggs. Dredge the zucchini sticks in the whisked eggs so the cornflake coating sticks.
- Cornflakes: Finely crush the crispy cornflakes for the coating. For more recipes with cornflakes, try our homemade onion rings, healthy eggplant parmesan, and oven-fried cornflake chicken tenders next!
- Parmesan Cheese: Mix the Parmesan cheese with the crushed cornflakes to add flavor.
- Seasonings: Season the cornflake mixture with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano.
- Olive Oil: Lightly spray the coated zucchini sticks with oil before air frying them.
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Cornflakes Substitution: We love finely crushing cornflakes because they make these zucchini fries super crispy and crunchy once air-fried. However, if you don’t have cornflakes, you can substitute them for panko breadcrumbs.
- What Oil to Use: All you need is a light spray of oil over the zucchini fries once they are coated, so they become crispy in the air fryer. You can lightly spray olive oil or avocado oil.
- Gluten-Free Option: To make these zucchini fries gluten-free, use gluten-free cornflakes.
- Bake Them Instead: No air fryer? No problem! Place the zucchini fries on a sheet pan, lightly spray them with oil, and bake at 400°F for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even crisping. They’ll take a bit longer than the air fryer, but they turn out just as crispy!
How To Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Cut the ends off the zucchini, then cut it in half down the middle and in half again lengthwise. From there, cut it lengthwise into 1/2-inch sticks.
- Add the cornflakes to a large Ziploc bag, seal it, and crush them into a fine consistency with the back of a measuring cup or a rolling pin. Then, add the crushed cornflakes to a shallow bowl.
- Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano to the bowl and mix well.
- Whisk two eggs in a separate shallow bowl.
- Dip the zucchini sticks in the egg, then press them into the cornflake mixture, using your fingers to help the coating stick.
- Add the zucchini sticks to the air fryer in a single layer, lightly spray with oil, and air fry in batches so you don’t overcrowd the basket.
- Air fry the zucchini fries, shaking the basket a few times so they cook evenly. You’ll know they’re done when they’re crispy and golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batches, then enjoy warm with your favorite dipping sauce!
How Long to Cook Zucchini Fries in the Air Fryer
Air fry these zucchini fries for 6-10 minutes at 400°F, tossing the basket a few times so they cook evenly and don’t burn. Just don’t overcrowd the basket. You may need to cook them in batches. The exact time will vary depending on your air fryer and the size of your zucchini sticks. You’ll know they’re done when they’re crispy and golden brown.
Shawna’s Expert Tips
- Evenly Cut the Zucchini: Make sure to cut the zucchini into even sticks. Even-sized pieces will ensure the zucchini fries cook at the same rate in the air fryer.
- Lightly Spray with Oil: Lightly spray the coated zucchini fries with oil before air frying or baking them. This helps make them crispy.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Instead, air fry the zucchini fries in batches. Make sure there is enough room between the zucchini fries and they are not stacked.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these air fryer zucchini fries after air frying them. Let them slightly cool, carefully remove them from the air fryer, and enjoy them warm. We don’t recommend storing these zucchini fries, and they will lose their crunch if they sit out. Enjoy them with our healthy homemade marinara sauce, buffalo ranch sauce, cottage cheese ranch dip, healthy ranch dressing, or your favorite dipping sauce. They also make a great side for our chipotle black bean burgers and spinach and feta turkey burgers!
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries FAQs
Are Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Healthy?
These zucchini fries are a lightened-up option! They are air-fried instead of deep-fried in oil. This makes them much healthier, while the air fryer makes them super crispy.
How do you Make Zucchini Fries Crispy in the Air Fryer?
The secret is in the coating and the technique! Coating the zucchini sticks in crushed cornflakes and Parmesan cheese creates that signature crunch once air-fried. A light spray of oil helps them crisp up beautifully without deep frying. Just make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, giving the fries enough space lets hot air circulate so every side gets crispy, not steamed.
Are Air Fryer Zucchini Fries Gluten-Free?
These air fryer zucchini fries can easily be made gluten-free. Not all brands of cornflakes are gluten-free, so make sure to use cornflakes that are. Some brands that sell gluten-free cornflakes are Barbara’s and The Real Cereal Company. Or, you can substitute the cornflakes for gluten-free breadcrumbs.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try!
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Air Fryer Carrots
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating, ★★★★★, letting us know how it turns out for you.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large zucchini or 3 medium
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 2 cups cornflakes or panko
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 light spray of oil
Instructions
- Cut the ends off the zucchini, then cut it in half down the middle and in half again lengthwise. From there, cut it lengthwise into 1/2-inch sticks.
- Add the cornflakes to a large Ziploc bag, seal it, and crush them into a fine consistency with the back of a measuring cup or a rolling pin. Add the crushed cornflakes to a shallow bowl.
- Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano to the bowl and mix well.
- Whisk two eggs in a separate shallow bowl.
- Dip the zucchini sticks in the egg, then press them into the cornflake mixture, using your fingers to help the coating stick.
- Add the zucchini sticks to the air fryer in a single layer, lightly spray with oil, and air fry in batches so you don’t overcrowd the basket.
- Air fry at 400°F for 6-10 minutes, shaking the basket a few times so they cook evenly. You’ll know they’re done when they’re crispy and golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batches, then enjoy warm with your favorite dipping sauce!
Video
Notes
- Baking Option: Place the zucchini fries on a baking sheet and lightly spray them with oil. Then, bake them at 400°F for 18-22 minutes. Make sure to check on them so they don’t burn and you can carefully move them around a few times with a spatula to ensure they cook evenly.
- Cut Evenly: Make sure to cut the zucchini into even sticks. Even-sized pieces will ensure the zucchini fries cook at the same rate.
- Cornflakes: If you don’t have cornflakes, substitute them for panko breadcrumbs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries come out perfectly crispy every time, making them an easy and crowd-pleasing appetizer.