Breaded Air Fryer Zucchini Chips are a quick and easy recipe for the best low-carb appetizer or side dish. Simply slice a zucchini, coat it in breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning, then air fry them to crispy goodness. Pair these chips with marinara or your favorite sauce and you have a healthy and kid-approved snack!
It’s no secret that I LOVE air fried veggies. When summer rolls around and squash is abundant, what better to do than make Air Fryer Zucchini?!?
(You might also want to check out this Air Fryer Asparagus, Air Fryer Cauliflower, Air Fryer Broccoli, and Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts!)
Instead of just plopping the sliced zucchini into the basket as-is, I made sure to double-down on my efforts to get that crunchy bite.
Lightly coating them in an Italian breadcrumb mixture did the trick, along with a spritz of non-stick cooking spray just before air frying. These Zucchini Chips came out ultra crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and were SO packed with flavor.
After eating quite a few on their own, I poured some marinara sauce to use as a dip. Voila!!… the dish was complete! This is one of the best air fryer recipes yet.
Whether you need a quick and easy side dish that your kiddos will devour, or you want a fun low-carb snack or appetizer for a party – you’re going to fall in LOVE with this air fried zucchini recipe!
(And if you like this one, then you’ll LOVE these Air Fryer Zucchini Fries!)
Ingredients
The simple ingredients needed to make air fried zucchini chips include:
- Zucchini. Two fresh medium-sized zucchinis are needed. It should equate to about 1 ½ pounds.
- Breadcrumbs. Take an easy shortcut and use Italian-style crumbs. You can use a gluten-free brand if needed (like Aleia’s!). Or, mix up regular breadcrumbs with some Italian Seasoning.
- Egg Wash. This is made with a combo of milk and an egg. It acts as the binder to hold the crust on.
- Parmesan. The dry and salty cheese melts slightly when air fried and helps the coating stick to the zucchini. You can also substitute for a dairy-free Parmesan.
- Non-stick cooking spray. An absolute must! It gives that golden texture and helps crisp up the chips. Find either an olive oil or butter based one.
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
These are the simple steps to follow to make this Air Fryer Zucchini Chips Recipe:
Slice Zucchini
Making zucchini chips is a super similar process to making these Air Fryer Pickles!
Cut the zucchini into ¼-inch thick pieces. Try to make them as close to the same thickness as possible. If the slices are not the same size, they won’t cook consistently.
Egg Wash
The first layer before popping these chips in the air fryer is an egg wash. Add egg and milk into a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined.
Go one slice at a time. Carefully set a piece of zucchini in the bowl. Use a fork to pick up and dredge each slice, letting the excess drip off.
Coat in Breadcrumbs
In a second medium-sized bowl, add breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.
Transfer the egg-covered chips to the breadcrumb coating. Using a separate fork, press the mixture into the zucchini to really get it to stick.
Cook in Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spritz the tray with non-stick spray before cooking.
Line the dredged chips in a single layer and then spritz the chips with additional non-stick spray. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Use a spatula to carefully flip the chips over halfway through.
Sauces to Serve with Zucchini Chips
Serve up these zucchini chips along with dipping sauce for an extra flavorful snack! Marinara is a great option. You can quickly whip up your own with ½-cup tomato sauce and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.
Or, try these other tasty dips:
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Remoulade Sauce
- Special Sauce
- Sriracha Mayo
- Chick-fil-a Sauce
- Secret Sauce
- Avocado Ranch
Dietary Modifications
The recipe you’ll find below is already vegetarian as written. Here are some adjustments and substitutions you can make to help it fit your other dietary requirements:
- Dairy-Free: Substitute the Parmesan with a vegan “cheese”.
- Gluten-Free: Find gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.
- Low-Carb: Use low-carb breadcrumbs.
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Prep-Ahead: Slice the zucchini in advance to save time. You can also completely make the chips and save for later.
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Freeze: This is not recommended. Zucchini will become watery upon thawing.
- To Reheat: Pop them back in the Air Fryer at 350° for 2-3 minutes.
FAQ
You certainly can! Just use the same recipe but cut the zucchini into 3-4 inch long strips. You may need to cook them for a few minutes more.
Yes, but there will be a slightly different taste and texture.
Make sure to use a breadcrumb coating and spritz the chips with non-stick spray before cooking.
When zucchini chips are deep-fried, no, they are not. However, they are much healthier when cooked in an air fryer.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Slice ’em thin. If you cut the zucchini too thick the outside will burn before the inside gets tender.
- Save a step. Keep it simple by using Italian-style breadcrumbs.
- Two bowls, two forks. These work great to shake off any excess egg or coating. Make sure to use a separate fork for each bowl.
- Press it in. Apply pressure when breading to get the coating to stick.
- Don’t forget to spritz. This gives the chips the golden color and helps them crisp up.
More Zucchini Recipes
Still swimming in zucchini? Here are some recipes to try:
- Zucchini Fritters
- Cream of Zucchini Soup
- Sautéed Zucchini and Squash
- Zucchini Lasagna
- Zucchini Noodles
- Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Air Fryer Zucchini
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
You can also always Freeze Zucchini to use year-round!
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips Recipe
Breaded Air Fryer Zucchini Chips are a quick and easy recipe for the best low-carb appetizer or side dish. Simply slice a zucchini, coat it in breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning, then air fry them to crispy goodness.
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini medium-sized
- 1 egg large
- 1 Tbsp. milk oat, cashew, or soy
- ½ cup breadcrumbs Italian seasoned*
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- ½ – ¾ tsp. salt to taste
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
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Cut zucchini into ¼-inch slices, discarding the ends.
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In two separate shallow bowls mix together the following:
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Bowl 1: Add egg and milk. Whisk until well combined.
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Bowl 2: Add breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Toss until combined.
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Dip one zucchini slice in the egg wash, letting any excess drip off. Then coat it with the breadcrumbs, pressing firmly into the zucchini so it sticks. Repeat this process with the remaining zucchini slices.
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Place half of the coated zucchini in a single layer in a 6-quart Air Fryer basket. Spray with non-stick cooking spray.
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Air Fry at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Flip the zucchini halfway through cooking. Repeat with the remaining zucchini slices.
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Serve air fried zucchini with Marinara Sauce, Ranch Dressing, or Special Sauce. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Serving size is about 6 zucchini chips.
- Gluten-free or low-carb bread crumbs may be used.
- You can also use ½ cup of regular breadcrumbs and add 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- To Store: Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Chris craig says
Turned out great. I did add a lil garlic powder just because I like it. Thank you for the recipe.
London Brazil says
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Chris! That sounds great. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
KRISTAN says
Delicious recipe just as you have it written. Soooo much easier and cleaner than pan frying and baking in the oven.
Thanks!
London Brazil says
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Kristan! I love how easy the air fryer is. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Westieluv says
Add one teaspoon of garlic powder and one tablespoon of chives to the breading mix and this is a fantastic air fryer zucchini recipe!
London Brazil says
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! That sounds delicious. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rating!
Anonymous says
Um,you didn’t mention flour in your recipe. First flour then eggwash.also you didn’t mention salt or pepper, but it was in the picture.no mention of mixing parmesan cheese with breadcrumbs. Otherwise sounds great.
London Brazil says
Hi! There’s an entire recipe card at the bottom of the post that gives you more detailed instructions. You can also click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top to easily navigate to it. Hope this helps!
Anthony says
Wow these look good! Super crispy and a great summer air fryer recipe. I’ve made this with zucchini fries before but haven’t tried doing it as a chip.
London Brazil says
Oh they’re so good, Anthony! Can’t wait to hear what you think 🙂