Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are perfect for snacking. Strips of zucchini, coated in panko cook up perfectly tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
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.
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.
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love them
These air fryer zucchini sticks are a healthy alternative to french fries and I’d have to say they’re equally as delicious! Whether you serve them as an appetizer, a snack, or a side dish, they’re guaranteed to be a hit!
I grew up eating these zucchini fries with marinara sauce.
But today, I went a little fancy and served them with a lemon tarragon aioli. If you’re not into the flavor of tarragon (licorice-like), you can leave it out entirely. Or, substitute it with another fresh herb. Basil would be amazing in this garlic aioli too.
Or, dip them in this homemade ranch dressing, chipotle crema, remoulade sauce or cilantro lime crema.
Ingredients needed
- Zucchini – I used two medium zucchini for this recipe.
- Flour + Eggs – Used to help the breadcrumb mixture adhere to the zucchini fries.
- Panko + Italian Bread Crumbs – Or, you can use just panko or just breadcrumbs.
- Parmesan Cheese
- Salt + Pepper
Tools used
- Air Fryer – You likely already have an air fryer since you are reading this post. But in case you’re in the market to buy a new one, here are my TOP 5 Favorite Air Fryers! Or, see below for instructions to make them in the oven.
- Tongs – Perfect for grabbing those hot fries out of the basket.
How to make them
- The breading trio. I dip my fries first in flour, then eggs, then a panko-bread crumb mixture that’s seasoned with nutty parmesan cheese.
- 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 and gives them that perfect, crispy texture.
- High temperature. I air fry these at 400 degrees and they crisp up right around the 8 minute mark.
Making them 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.
FAQs
To ensure crispy zucchini fries, you want to be sure to cook them at a high temperature and in a single layer. Work in batches to be sure your zucchini fries don’t overlap, and cook them at 400-degrees.
If you would like to draw excess water out of your zucchini, you can salt the zucchini generously with salt and let them sit in a colander for 30 minutes. Then, rinse off the salt and follow the directions below.
Dipping sauce ideas
- More → 35+ Sauces for Fries
More zucchini recipes
- More → 37+ BEST Zucchini Recipes
More air fryer recipes
- More → 40+ Air Fryer Appetizers
Did you make these zucchini fries in the air fryer?
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Full Recipe
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Equipment
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
Lemon Tarragon Aioli
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice (plus 1 teaspoon lemon zest)
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons minced fresh tarragon leaves
Instructions
Zucchini Fries:
- Cut the zucchini into sticks no more than 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long.
- 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 and olive oil.
- Dredge zucchini in flour, then eggs, then Panko mixture.
- Heat air fryer to 400 degrees.
- 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:
- While the fries cooking, prepare the aioli.
- Combine egg, garlic, and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the canola oil until emulsified.
- Fold in the tarragon leaves and lemon zest and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2018. It was updated in 2025 to add new information. The air fryer courgette fries recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
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