My air fryer zucchini fries only need 8 simple ingredients and are an easy way to turn zucchini into a lighter summer side dish. The trick is the panko AND parmesan in the breading for an extra crispiness, and then the air fryer does the rest!

My Trick to Get Zucchini Fries in the Air Fryer to taste Deep Fried

Let’s be real. Every summer I have a ton of zucchini on my counter that I have no idea what to do with. It’s like the garden produces 5x the amount of zucchini I anticipate… every year. Well, I’ve been testing myself with air fryer veggies and I am so glad I did because these air fryer zucchini fries are incredible.

The combination of panko and Parmesan bring that super crispy and crunchy texture on the outside. And, I use a special trick to spritz the breading with a little oil halfway through air frying that make them taste like they were legit deep fried.

My daughter Leah has even loved them. I’m still not sure she knows it’s zucchini or even a vegetable, but I will take it!

I can confidently say I’ve tested this recipe at least 20 times now because I constantly air fry zucchini to use the extras from my garden, and I always have a ton.

I made my air fryer zucchini fries to be super simple, but still get that super crispy breading. It takes just 8 ingredients and I don’t even peel the zucchini!

I use both panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in the breading to get a light and airy breading while giving it more flavor. And, honestly, cheese makes everything taste better.

Plus, the use of Italian seasonings brings a whole ton of herb flavors all in one ingredient. I absolutely love this seasoning blend and use it in my air fryer baby carrots because of how easy it is to use!

If you’re still drowning in zucchini like me all summer long, try my air fryer zucchini and squash where I chop up the zucchini and squash together and air fry them. It’s absolutely delicious!

Key Ingredients and How They Help

• Zucchini – I use two or three small to medium ones and slice them into even sticks to get that fry-like shape. 
• Eggs – Eggs help the coating stick to each piece of zucchini and create a nice base for the breading.
• Panko breadcrumbs – Panko is my go-to for that light, crispy crunch. Regular breadcrumbs work, but I prefer the texture with panko.
• Parmesan cheese – I mix grated Parmesan right into the breadcrumbs for extra flavor and a crispy, slightly salty finish.
• Italian seasoning – This adds a boost of flavor, and I love that I don’t have to measure out a bunch of individual dried herbs.
• All-purpose flour – I use a light coating of flour as the base layer on the zucchini sticks to add multiple levels of crunch.
• Salt and pepper – Brings out all the flavors and helps balance the coating.

How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 370F. 

STEP TWO: Rinse and dry the zucchini. Trim the ends, then cut each zucchini in half. Slice each piece in half lengthwise, then quarter each in as needed to create skinny “fries.”

STEP THREE: In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning. In a third bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and pepper. 

STEP FOUR: Start by dredging each piece of zucchini in flour, then shaking off the excess. Next, dip into the egg, then finally, roll through the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to coat.

STEP FIVE: Place the zucchini fries in an air fryer basket in one single layer not touching. Work in batches if there is more zucchini than what will fit in your air fryer. Then spritz the zucchini lightly with an oil sprayer. 

STEP SIX: Air fry the zucchini for 14-16 minutes, spritzing them with oil again and flipping them halfway through the cooking time. They are done when they’re tender crisp when poked with a fork and golden brown.

Recipe Tips

• Use smaller zucchini when possible. Smaller zucchini has more flavor and less water, making them easier to get crispier. Medium and large zucchini will still work great though!
• Cut the zucchini sticks into the same size. This helps the air fryer zucchini fries all cook at the same speed so some of it doesn’t turn out mushy and overcooked.
• Pat the zucchini dry with a paper towel after cutting. Some zucchini has more moisture in them than others (ahem, those larger ones!), so getting as much out of the zucchini is a must so it doesn’t get soggy.
• Press the panko coating in with your hands. If it’s just sprinkled on, it can fall off in the air fryer and no one wants half breaded air fryer zucchini fries (and a mess in the basket).
• Spritz the zucchini with oil twice. Do not skip this! Just a little oil each time goes a long way to make sure the breading doesn’t dry out. I use this method in my air fryer fried green tomatoes and it’s why so many people love them!

Variations to Try

• Cut the zucchini into slices instead of sticks. It’s the same type of flavor, but thinner and cook faster. I do this in my crispy air fryer zucchini chips on the site.
• Use other summer veggies! Air fryer veggies of all kinds taste amazing with the same breading. The panko-and-parm coating works for my air fryer onion rings recipe, air fryer fried pickles, and air fryer eggplant parmesan (my personal favorite).
• Make them gluten free. Swap the panko breadcrumbs for pork rinds and flour for a gluten free flour. The pork rinds makes the breading still get super crispy. For more swaps, my gluten free air fryer recipes list has a ton.

Can I Make Zucchini Fries in the Oven?

Yes! The air fryer is great at making foods crispier in a faster amount of time, but you can get a similar result with a little more patience in the oven.

Just bake them in the oven at 425 degrees F for 15-20 minutes, then let them broil for a minute or two at the end to help achieve the same crispy bite the air fryer does in this recipe!

What to Serve with Zucchini Fries

If I’m doing a burger night, I love serving air fryer zucchini fries with my air fryer hamburgers since they feel like a fun upgrade from regular fries.

And my kids love when I pair them with my chicken tenders in the air fryer. They’re unbreaded, but heavily seasoned for a ton of flavor.

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries FAQs

Dipping sauce options

• Garlic parmesan sauce: The breading already has parmesan in it, so dunking the fries into more garlic and parm just doubles down on that flavor. Such an easy match.
• Marinara sauce or pizza sauce. The perfect classic dipping sauce. If I want to amplify that flavor, I dip them in my pizza dip too!
• Easy tzatziki sauce: Cool and creamy with a little tang. It cuts through the crispy breading and the cucumber goes great with the zucchini flavor.
• Buffalo sauce: My husband Ben is a Buffalo native, so of course we dip everything into buffalo sauce with a side of blue cheese. It gives the zucchini a nice kick!
• Honey sriracha sauce: This is my personal favorite for dipping air fryer zucchini fries. It’s a sweet and sticky sauce that pairs with the zucchini perfectly.
• Spinach artichoke dip: Hear me out. These are amazing as dippers in this sauce because they’re so sturdy and crispy.

What can I do if my zucchini fries are soggy?

When my air fryer zucchini fries turn out soggy, it’s almost always because I forgot to pat the zucchini dry after washing or I overcrowded the basket. If they seem soggy when the air frying time is up, I’ll remove some zucchini fries from the basket and cook the remaining ones for a few extra minutes so the hot air can hopefully circulate better and crisp them up.

How do I store leftover zucchini fries?

I let my leftover zucchini fries fully cool to room temperature, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh for up to four days.

How to reheat zucchini fries in the air fryer

I reheat my zucchini fries right in the air fryer because it’s the best way to bring back some of that crispy texture! I preheat the air fryer to 370 F, spread the fries out in a single layer, and air fry them for 6-8 minutes until they’re crispy and heated through.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air fryer eggplant fries
• Green beans in the air fryer
• Air fryer carrot fries
• How to make sweet potatoes in the air fryer
• 17 more air fryer fries recipes

If you’ve made these air fryer zucchini fries, I would love to know what you think! Leaving a comment and rating helps others find this recipe too. Thank you!