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HomeHealthy FoodEasy & Extra Crispy {Video}Two Purple Figs

Easy & Extra Crispy {Video}Two Purple Figs


Zucchini Fries are one of the healthiest alternatives to french fries, and one of the TASTIEST ways to love zucchini! Even haters love this zucchini recipe! The crunch on the outside is impeccable, flavorful and perfect. The zucchini fries below can be baked or air fried, both instructions with videos included. 

A hand holding one crunchy zucchini on a plate of zucchini fries surrounded by parmesan dip

Here’s our guarantee to you: these zucchini fries will beat any other you’ve ever had! Like, serious. Whether you bake them, or make them air fryer zucchini fries, as you can see below, they come out perfect.

 

Why You’ll LOVE Our Zucchini Fries

A plate of zucchini fries looking crisp, golden and perfect surrounded by lemon slices and a garlic parmesan dip

  • The crisp. OMG that crisp. Simply perfect. Panko bread crumbs add an impeccable texture, and parmesan cheese adds flavor, along with spices. 
  • You’ll have a bite to the zucchini, not a mush. You’ll have a wonderful contrast of al dente zucchini and a perfect crisp.
  • The fries are flavored to the next level! Forget boring bland zucchini and think spiced up seasoned.
  • It makes the perfect side dish or appetizer, dipped in our one and only Garlic Parmesan Sauce
  • Kids and adults approved!
  • You can easily bake or air fry the zucchini fries, you’ll get the same results. We do however prefer air frying for ease.
  • This recipe produces crisp fries without a fraction of the oil you would use for frying. 
  • It’s a GREAT way to use up summer zucchini!

Ingredients You’ll Need

A board with a plentiful of zucchini

Flour Coating

Flour coating ingredients on a board including a plate of flour, some garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and oregano in separate bowls

Panko Coating

The best crisp coating ingredients for zucchini fries including a plate of panko bread crumbs, a bowl of parmesan cheese, and small bowls of garlic powder, oregano, paprika, onion powder and seasoning

  • Panko.
  • Parmesan Cheese.
  • Seasoning.

How to Make Zucchini Fries : Baked / Air Fried

  1. Prepare the Zucchini

A zucchini cut in half on a wooden board using a sharp knife

  • To make the perfect cut shape of fries out of the humble zucchini, you’ll start bu cutting each in half. 
    Zucchini cut into fries shape on a wooden board
  • Then you’ll cut each half into three wedges or fries shape.
  • You’ll then take those cut up zucchini fries  and place them on a kitchen towel or paper towel to slightly absorb any water. This step will help them be crispy and avoid any sagging of the crust. You’ll basically need to keep them for 15 mins or so, which is enough time to prepare the breading station.

2. Breading the Zucchini Fries

The breading station ready on a wooden board including the flour coating with the spices mixed in in a plate, the eggs beaten in a bowl and the panko coating with the spices and parmesan cheese mixed in a shallow plate

Baked Zucchini Fries

  • Similar to the BEST Fish Fingers recipe, you’ll arrange the zucchini fries on a cooling rack over a baking sheet. 
  • Spray them with avocado oil spray or drizzle some olive oil on top and then bake them at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes.
  • It will be golden and perfectly crisp. Ready to enjoy!

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

coated zucchini fries in a single layer in an air fryer basket

Best Zucchini Fries Tips and FAQ

  1. To start off, you wanna make sure to cut the zucchini into equal size pieces. This way you can ensure they will cook evenly. 
  2. Pat drying the zucchini removes any bits of moisture on the zucchini which can cause soggy fries. 
  3. Use quality parmesan cheese as it’s the main flavor of the outer coating.
  4. When air frying, make sure to have the zucchini fries in a single layer only. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
  5. If you’re making these gluten free, use almond flour instead of regular flour. 
  6. These are BEST served fresh right out of the air fryer. But the good news is that they can be reheated back in the air fryer.

A hand dipping one zucchini fries into a garlic parmesan sauce

What to Serve with Zucchini Fries?

We LOVE a variety of sauces and dips such as:

Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Blue Cheese Dressing
Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
Garlic Butter Sauce
Tahini Sauce
Garlic Sauce
Hot Honey Recipe

How to Store and reheat Leftover Zucchini Fries?

Leftovers are best stored in the fridge in an airtight container up to 5 days. To Reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer basket at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes. This recipe is not freezer friendly as the texture changes dramatically. 

Prepare in Advance Option

To make this recipe in advance, prepare and bread the zucchini one day in advance. Air fry them right before serving.

A hand holding a bitten air fryer zucchini fries showing the crunch coated and perfectly cooked zucchini

Is fried Zucchini better than French Fries?

Ok seriously and honestly , NO. But it’s a completely different category, taste and texture. So I won’t compare, bit I’ll say that it’s a healthier option for a crunchy fries like. If you’re looking for fries, here’s a guide on Air Fryer Frozen French Fries. And our favorite Nacho Fries and Carne Asada Fries.

How to avoid soggy zucchini fries?

We find that pat drying the zucchini after it has been cut is a great step to avoid them getting soggy. And using the air fryer is a game changer for crispiness!

Do you need to peel the zucchini?

We found that there was no need to peel the zucchini. 

The final plate of zucchini fries served with dipping sauce, lemon slices and ready to eat

Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Sweet Potato Fries
Air Fryer Mushrooms
Juicy Chicken Breast
 Best Hot Dogs
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Fool Proof Meatballs

Zucchini Fries

Zucchini Fries are one of the healthiest alternatives to french fries, and one of the TASTIEST ways to love zucchini! Even haters love this zucchini recipe! The crunch on the outside is impeccable, flavorful and perfect.

Ingredients

Flour Mix

  • 1
    cup
    Flour
    All purpose flour
  • 2
    teaspoons
    oregano
  • 2
    teaspoons
    paprika
    add in chilli flakes if you want a spice
  • 1
    teaspoon
    garlic powder
  • 1/2
    teaspoon
    salt and pepper

Egg Mixture

  • 1/2
    teaspoon
    salt and pepper

Parmesan Panko Coating

  • 1
    cup
    parmesan cheese
    grated
  • 1
    cup
    Panko bread crumbs
  • 1
    Tablespoon
    paprika
    mixed with Aleppo pepper or chili flakes
  • 2
    teaspoons
    oregano
  • 1/2
    tablespoon
    onion powder
  • 1
    teaspoon
    garlic powder
  • 1
    teaspoon
    salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. To make the perfect cut shape of fries out of the humble zucchini, you’ll start bu cutting each in half.

  2. Then you’ll cut each half into three wedges or fries shape.

  3. You’ll then take those cut up zucchini fries  and place them on a kitchen towel or paper towel to slightly absorb any water. This step will help them be crispy and avoid any sagging of the crust. You’ll basically need to keep them for 15 mins or so, which is enough time to prepare the breading station.

  4. Prepare your station by mixing the flour along with the spices above in a shallow plate. Then mix the panko, parmesan and spice mixture above in another shallow plate. And separately beat the eggs with salt and pepper in a bowl.

  5. Start the breading by taking the cut up zucchini fries one by one.

  6. Begin by coating the fries in the flour mixture, one at a time. Roll the zucchini to coat evenly and then shake off any excess.

  7. Then take the flour coated zucchini and dip it in the egg mixture, coating evenly.

  8. Now place the zucchini into the final plate of parmesan and panko and coat evenly while pressing down.

  9. Make sure you press down the panko coating, and keep the excess here–unlike with the previous steps of coating.

  10. At the point you’re ready to bake or air fry the zucchini fries. Follow below for instructions to each.

  11. Baked Zucchini Fries

  12. Similar to the BEST Fish Fingers recipe, you’ll arrange the zucchini fries on a cooling rack over a baking sheet.

  13. Spray them with avocado oil spray or drizzle some olive oil on top and then bake them at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes.

  14. It will be golden and perfectly crisp. Ready to enjoy!

  15. Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

  16. Layer the coated zucchini fries in a SINGLE layer in the basket of your air fryer. Make sure you have the capacity for this, or make this a two step phase.

  17. Spray the fries with avocado oil spray or drizzle with olive oil.

  18. Air fry at 400 degrees F, shaking them half way for 12-14 minutes.

  19. They will come out looking golden and absolutely PERFECT.

Recipe Notes

Best Zucchini Fries Tips and FAQ

  1. To start off, you wanna make sure to cut the zucchini into equal size pieces. This way you can ensure they will cook evenly. 
  2. Pat drying the zucchini removes any bits of moisture on the zucchini which can cause soggy fries. 
  3. Use quality parmesan cheese as it’s the main flavor of the outer coating.
  4. When air frying, make sure to have the zucchini fries in a single layer only. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
  5. If you’re making these gluten free, use almond flour instead of regular flour. 
  6. These are BEST served fresh right out of the air fryer. But the good news is that they can be reheated back in the air fryer.

What to Serve with Zucchini Fries?

We LOVE a variety of sauces and dips such as:

Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Blue Cheese Dressing
Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
Garlic Butter Sauce
Tahini Sauce
Garlic Sauce
Hot Honey Recipe

How to Store and reheat Leftover Zucchini Fries?

Leftovers are best stored in the fridge in an airtight container up to 5 days. To Reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer basket at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes. This recipe is not freezer friendly as the texture changes dramatically. 

Prepare in Advance Option

To make this recipe in advance, prepare and bread the zucchini one day in advance. Air fry them right before serving.

Is fried Zucchini better than French Fries?

Ok seriously and honestly , NO. But it’s a completely different category, taste and texture. So I won’t compare, bit I’ll say that it’s a healthier option for a crunchy fries like. If you’re looking for fries, here’s a guide on Air Fryer Frozen French Fries. And our favorite Nacho Fries and Carne Asada Fries.

How to avoid soggy zucchini fries?

We find that pat drying the zucchini after it has been cut is a great step to avoid them getting soggy. And using the air fryer is a game changer for crispiness!

Do you need to peel the zucchini?

We found that there was no need to peel the zucchini. 

 

Nutrition Facts

Zucchini Fries

Amount Per Serving

Calories 239
Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 1g

Cholesterol 11mg4%

Sodium 1139mg50%

Potassium 816mg23%

Carbohydrates 35g12%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 13g26%

Vitamin A 1579IU32%

Vitamin C 47mg57%

Calcium 290mg29%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

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