Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Dipping Sauce

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Lemon Tarragon Aioli are perfect for snacking. Strips of zucchini, coated in panko cook up perfectly crispy in the air fryer. Dip them in an easy-to-prepare creamy aioli flavored with tarragon and lemon.

Growing up, I have fond memories of our mom making us zucchini fries. They were crispy, salty and so good dipped in marinara sauce. Mom would deep fry hers, but I have a long standing fear of deep frying things. There’s just something about a massive pot of boiling oil that totally freaks me out.

So, as soon as I got my air fryer, I knew that zucchini fries were one of the first things I’d be making in it. Second only to my other childhood snacking obsession – Buffalo Wings.

I love my air fryer. 

• I love that it makes fried foods healthier.
• I love that there’s no preheating.
• I love that it is small and portable.
• I love how it makes things extra crispy.

And, although I grew up eating these zucchini fries with marinara sauce, I went a little fancy with this version and served them with a lemon tarragon aioli. It’s super simple to prepare this aioli using your blender or food processor. A word of knowledge though… once the aioli is emulsified, hand whisk in the olive oil. I learned the hard way that olive oil turns super bitter when it’s processed through a high power blender…

If you’ve never had tarragon before, it tastes a bit like black licorice. I love its distinctive flavor and it pairs really nicely with the lemon zest. This aioli is also amazing as a dipping sauce for steamed artichokes. However, if you’re not into the flavor, you could leave the tarragon out entirely, or substitute it with another fresh herb. Basil would be amazing in this aioli too.

How to make crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries:

• The breading trio. I dip my fries first in flour, then eggs, then a panko-bread crumb mixture that’s seasoned with smoky cumin and nutty parmesan cheese. The
• Single layer cooking. Be sure that you cook these in a single layer in your air fryer basket. You’ll need to work in batches, but while the first batch is cooking, you can be dredging more zucchini fries. Cooking in a single layer ensures that the air has room to move around the fries.
• High temperature. I cook these at 400 degrees and they crisp up right around the 8 minute mark.

Can I make Zucchini Fries in the oven?

• Yes! You can also bake these in a 425-degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

How To Reheat Zucchini Fries:

• You can reheat these zucchini fries right in your air fryer set to 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes.

If you loved these Air Fryer Zucchini Fries I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer, zucchini fries

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 433 kcal

Author: Erin

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Lemon Tarragon Aioli are perfect for snacking. Strips of zucchini, coated in panko cook up perfectly crispy in the air fryer. Dip them in an easy-to-prepare creamy aioli flavored with tarragon and lemon. 

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Ingredients

Zucchini Fries

• 2 medium zucchini
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 eggs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin

Lemon Tarragon Aioli

• 1 egg
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 3 teaspoons lemon juice plus 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves

Instructions

Zucchini Fries:

1. Cut the zucchini into sticks no more than 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long.
2. Add the flour to a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl whisk the egg and season with salt and pepper. In a third shallow bowl, combine the panko, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, olive oil and cumin.
3. Dredge zucchini in flour, then eggs, then Panko mixture.
4. Heat air fryer to 400 degrees.
5. Working in batches, place the zucchini fries in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until crispy. Season with kosher salt while warm.

Lemon Tarragon Aioli:

1. While the fries cooking, prepare the aioli.
2. Combine egg, garlic, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the canola oil until emulsified.
3. Transfer to a medium bowl. Whisk the aioli while slowly drizzling in the olive oil. Fold in the tarragon leaves and lemon zest and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Recipe Notes

Zucchini Fries can be reheated in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 3 minutes. 

Lemon Tarragon Aioli can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

Amount Per Serving

Calories 433 Calories from Fat 315

% Daily Value*

Fat 35g54%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Cholesterol 112mg37%

Sodium 285mg12%

Potassium 261mg7%

Carbohydrates 21g7%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 340IU7%

Vitamin C 13.3mg16%

Calcium 108mg11%

Iron 2.3mg13%

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

Tools used for making Air Fryer Zucchini Fries:

• Air Fryer
• Tongs – Perfect for grabbing those hot fries out of the basket.

Air Fryer Recipes: 

Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce