Name: Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1-1 ¼ lbs. zucchini (3 medium-sized); 1 Tbsp. oil (olive or avocado); ¾ tsp. salt (to taste); ¼ tsp. black pepper (to taste); ¼ tsp. garlic powder; ¼ tsp. each of dried basil and oregano; ¼ tsp. paprika; Parsley (fresh, optional)

This quick and easy Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe is the perfect, low-carb side dish. No breading is needed, simply toss zucchini with oil and herbs and pop in the air fryer for crispy, roasted, and healthy veggies. Dinner just got a lot tastier with this simple vegetarian side.

A fork pierces a piece of air fried zucchini.

It wasn’t until last year that I discovered the magic of cooking zucchini in the air fryer.

I coated up some slices in breadcrumbs, popped them in the air fryer, and then had the most incredible Air Fryer Zucchini Chips ready to enjoy!

Recently I wanted to cook up a bunch of this summer squash, but in a healthier, low-carb kind of way.

So I skipped the Parmesan crumb coating, tossed some pieces in just a hint of oil and dried herbs, and waited to see what would happen.

Much like the assortment of Air Fryer recipes on the site, it turned out INCREDIBLE. Like the best kind of oven-roasted zucchini kind of incredible.

Crispy and a bit crunchy with a tender middle.

And since every inch was exposed to the hot air, it cooked up in almost HALF the time that it would take in the oven!

You can whip this up as a healthy dish for a holiday meal, or serve it on any weeknight when you need a quick side.

Ingredients

The simple ingredients you need to make this Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe include:

Zucchini. Also sometimes called courgettes, you will need about 2-4 depending on the size. Towards the end of summer, these guys can get pretty big! You don’t want more than about 1 ¼ pounds so it can all comfortably fit in the basket. Otherwise, you will have to do more than one batch.
Oil. Typically, you want to use a high smoke point oil when air frying and cooking at higher heats. Avocado oil is my go-to since it has a mild flavor and is readily available. You can also use safflower or sunflower. Olive oil can be used if that’s what you have available, but it will smoke more.
Garlic powder. This is easier to evenly distribute over all of the squash pieces than fresh. But, you can always switch this out for minced garlic instead. Pro tip: sauté the finely minced garlic in oil to infuse it with extra flavor.
Herbs. You need a mix of dried herbs for the most flavor. The best options are oregano and basil. But, you can easily switch it up with parsley, rosemary, and thyme!
Paprika. This gives some depth to round out the brightness of the herbs.
Salt and pepper. Add some at first and then adjust to taste after cooking, if preferred.

Expert Tip: feel free to switch up the seasoning blends with whatever you have – will need 1 teaspoon in place of the herbs, garlic powder, and paprika! Italian Seasoning, Greek Seasoning, etc.

How to Air Fry Zucchini

Below are the steps to follow to make this Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe:

Cut Zucchini

First, you will need to cut up the zucchini. Small, evenly sliced pieces will yield perfectly crisp and delicious bites.

Remove the ends first. Cut the squash in half lengthwise.

A sharp knife slices the end of a zucchini on a cutting board. — Slice the end off.

Showing how to slice a zucchini in half. — Slice the end off.

Then, slice into quarters

Finally, chop the zucchini into ½-inch pieces.

A knife slices a zucchini in quarters on a cutting board. — Divide into quarters.

Showing how to slice a zucchini into pieces on a wooden cutting board. — Divide into quarters.

Coat the Pieces

Next, add all of the pieces into a large bowl. Drizzle oil over the squash.

Sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic powder, and herbs over everything. Gently stir. Do not to overwork the squash as that can break down the meat.

Be sure each zucchini slice is fully coated with oil and seasonings, so every bite is perfection.

A spatula stirs sliced zucchini in a glass bowl. — Drizzle oil on the zucchini pieces and stir.

Salt, pepper, and seasonings sprinkled onto sliced zucchini. — Drizzle oil on the zucchini pieces and stir.

Cook in Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 380℉ for at least 3 minutes. This step is important to ensure a crispy texture.

Add the coated zucchini to the basket. The pieces need to be in a single layer and not touching so they crisp evenly.

Cook for 9-10 minutes. About halfway through air frying, gently toss the basket so all sides get even heat.

An air fryer basket with a single layer of zucchini pieces. — Lay out the zucchini in a single layer.

A close up of air fryer zucchini in the basket before cooking. — Lay out the zucchini in a single layer.

Meal Prep and Storage

To Prep-Ahead: You can easily mix up your seasoning blend before cooking. You can also slice up your zucchini a couple of hours before air frying.
To Store: If you have leftover zucchini, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.
To Freeze: Freezing is not recommended as the texture will become mushy and soggy after thawing.
To Reheat: Simply pop leftovers back into the air fryer for a couple of minutes to warm them up.

An overhead shot of a delicious bowl of Air Fryer Zucchini.

FAQs

How do I make air fried zucchini crispy?

Slicing zucchini into smaller pieces and coating them in oil before cooking should result in a crispy texture.

How do you keep zucchini from getting soggy?

Zucchini has a high water content when raw. Before cooking, it is helpful to allow some moisture to seep out. Simply sprinkle salt on cut zucchini and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Dry the pieces off with a paper towel.

Is air fried zucchini healthy?

Air fried zucchini when baked with oil and herbs is very healthy! It is high in nutrients and low in carbohydrates. If you add eggs, flour, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese before cooking, then it will affect the nutritional information.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Make it even. Cut the squash as consistently as possible.
Keep it fresh. Using zucchini from your own garden or from a farmer’s market will give you delicious flavor.
No touching. You want enough room so the squash isn’t touching. Cook them in more than one batch, if necessary.
Heat it up. Preheat the air fryer before adding in the zucchini.
Leave the peel. This adds color, texture, and extra nutrients.

A close up view of perfectly cooked zucchini to serve as a healthy side dish.

Other Air Fryer Side Dish Recipes

Once you see how easy cooking vegetables in the air fryer is, try one of these options next:

More Zucchini Recipes

If you’re looking for ways to use up zucchini, cook up one of these recipes next:

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