American
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Zucchini sticks get egg and breadcrumbs, then air fry until the coating browns and the inside is tender. They are a side, and they only stay crisp if you do not crowd the basket or sauce them early.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 27 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
Why you’ll love it
- Breadcrumbs brown in the basket without a pot of oil.
- Parmesan in the crumbs is the flavor.
- You flip once so both sides crust.
- Salt the zucchini first so it is not watery inside the coating.
Ingredients
Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.
Rough grocery estimate for the full recipe: about $5–$8 at a typical US supermarket. Prices vary by store, region, and season.
Check the ingredients you still need, then add them. If nothing is checked, the full list is added. Saved on this device.
Instructions
- 1
Toss the zucchini with the salt and let it sit 10 minutes. Pat it dry.
- 2
Beat the egg in a shallow bowl. Stir the panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, and paprika in another bowl.
- 3
Dip each stick in egg, then crumbs, and set them on a rack.
- 4
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes. Spray the basket lightly.
- 5
Lay the sticks in a single layer. Spray the tops lightly with oil. Cook in batches.
- 6
Air fry 6 minutes, flip, spray the second side, and air fry 4 to 6 minutes more, until the coating is browned and the zucchini is tender.
Pro tips
- Skipping the salt-and-dry step leaves water under the crumbs and the coating slips off.
- Oil spray is what browns panko. A dry coating stays pale.
- Serve the sauce on the side. Tossing them in sauce kills the crust.
Easy substitutions
- Panko
- Regular breadcrumbs, and expect a finer crust
- Parmesan
- An extra 1/4 cup panko and 1/4 tsp salt, and then it can be dairy-free
- Zucchini
- Eggplant sticks, same method
Storage and reheating
Storage
Best the hour you cook them. Refrigerate up to 1 day.
Reheating
Air fry at 375°F for 3 to 4 minutes. They will be softer than the first serve.
Nutrition
Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.
- Calories
- 140
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
Budget friendly · Air Fryer · Vegetarian
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From the kitchen
Kitchen tools we love
Practical tools these recipes actually use. This is not a review roundup, and these are not paid placements. If affiliate links are added later, they will be labeled and disclosed.
A heavy 12-inch skillet
Most of the chicken and steak recipes are written for one pan that holds heat. Stainless or cast iron both work.
An air fryer with a real basket
The air-fryer recipes expect a single layer. A crowded basket steams instead of browning.
A half-sheet pan
Drumsticks, potatoes, sausage, and carrots all use one. A dark pan browns faster than a very shiny one.
A sharp chef’s knife
These recipes do not need a specialty blade. A sharp 8-inch knife is faster and safer than a dull one.
A large cutting board
Big enough that the onion and the raw chicken are not sharing the same puddle.
Dry cups and a liquid cup
Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.
An instant-read thermometer
Use it for poultry, pork chops, and meatloaf. Color is a weak guide.
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