Air Fryer Zucchini (Healthy & Crispy Courgette Fries)

Air fryer zucchini is one of the easiest ways to turn fresh courgettes into a quick, healthy side dish with a lightly crisp exterior and tender centre. It cooks in minutes, uses very little oil, and works just as well as a snack or alongside a main meal. Once you learn how to air fry zucchini, it’s an easy go-to whenever you need a fast vegetable side to pair with my Tender Pepper Steak Recipe.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Air frying zucchini is a quick way to get a crispy texture without deep frying, making it a lighter alternative to traditional fried vegetables. Here’s why you’ll love it:

• Healthy: Since these air fryer zucchini fries are not deep-fried, they only require a small amount of rapeseed or olive oil, making them quite healthy.
• Fast: You only need about 15 minutes for this delicious zucchini in air fryer recipe. It’s almost as easy as my 5-minute Smoked Mackerel Pâté.
• Crispy: Using the air fryer and panko breadcrumbs, you’ll get crispy, golden-brown zucchini sticks in the air fryer oven every time!
• Customizable: I’ve kept the seasoning pretty simple for these zucchini air fryer fries, making it easy to adjust the flavour to your liking by using the spices and herbs of your choosing. You could even try this Homemade Nando’s Seasoning on them.

Love fries? You’ll need to try these recipes: The Crispiest Halloumi Fries, Airfryer Frozen Fries, or Air Fryer Green Beans.

Ingredients

• Courgettes: The courgettes are the star in this air fryer zucchini recipe. You can also use aubergine (eggplant), carrots, or even beets to create fries. The seasoning in the recipe card works well with all of these veggies. You’ll just need to adjust the cook time.
• Panko breadcrumbs: These breadcrumbs help create a crispy exterior on the air fried zucchini. You can use other breadcrumbs if you wish, but the air fryer zucchini may not come out as crispy. I use panko for this Quick & Easy Boom Boom Shrimp and it makes such a difference!!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities. 

Variations/ Adaptations

Here are a few ways to adapt this air fryer zucchini recipe to your preferences.

• Different cuts: Instead of zucchini spears, consider cutting the courgettes into slices or chunks.
• Gluten-free: You can also make this zucchini in air fryer recipe gluten-free by adding no breading. Just include the seasoning and some freshly shredded parmesan cheese (or any cheese you like). Make it a full GF meal with The Easiest Oven Baked Fish Recipe.
• Use other veggies: Instead of using zucchini, make these fries with yellow summer squash.
• Other seasonings: You can always switch up the seasoning you use in this recipe. For example, Italian seasoning tastes great on these zucchini fries with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and paired with Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables.

How to make air fryer zucchini fries

Preheat the airfryer to 390°F  (200°C)

Combine the breadcrumbs and optional chilli powder on a plate. On a separate plate, add the onion powder, garlic powder, pepper and cornflour, using a fork to combine. 

1. Start by slicing the courgettes in half and into 1.5 cm width fries (Image 1).
2. Place the zucchini fries onto the plate with the cornflour mix and use a fork to incorporate (Image 2).

3. Next, individually dredge the zucchini in the egg (Image 3).

4. Once covered dredge in the breadcrumbs.  Set aside on a plate (Image 4). 

5. Keep up the dredging conveyor belt until all the fries are coated (Image 5).

6. Set them aside ready on plate (Image 6).

7. Once finished, coat the base of the airfryer with 1 tbsp of oil, then place the zucchini fries into the airfryer basket and ensure that they are evenly spaced for maximum crispiness. Depending on the size of your airfryer basket, you may need to fry in two batches. 

Add the remaining oil to coat the top of the fries, then cook at 370°F  (190°C) for 5 minutes. Rotate and cook again for a further 5 minutes (at the same temp), or until golden and crispy (Image 7).

8. Season with salt immediately when you remove them from the airfryer. This helps the salt bind to the batter. Serve with a dip of choice and enjoy! (Image 8).

If you have leftover zucchini/courgette, consider making one of these yummy recipes; Sun-dried Tomato & Olive Courgette Pizza, Courgette Soup or Meatball Marinara with Spiralized Courgette

How to keep zucchini from becoming soggy

There are a few ways you can prevent zucchini from getting soggy in the air fryer. For one, you can use a higher temperature, which helps create a browned outside. Avoid thicker zucchini slices when making air fryer zucchini, as they’re more likely to get soggy than crispy while cooking.

The final way to prevent sogginess is by not overcooking the zucchini. Follow the recipe card notes on how long to cook zucchini in the air fryer for the best results. 

Why does zucchini get soggy in the air fryer?

Zucchini naturally contains a lot of water, which means it can soften quickly during cooking. The key to crispy air fryer zucchini is removing excess moisture and allowing hot air to circulate properly. Cutting the courgettes into evenly sized pieces, avoiding overcrowding, and cooking at a high enough temperature all help the outside crisp while the inside stays tender. If your zucchini turns soggy, it’s usually because the pieces are too thick, the basket is overcrowded, or the cooking time is too long.

Serving Suggestions

Once you learn how to air fry zucchini, the next step is figuring out what to serve this air fryer zucchini recipe with! Luckily, these zucchini fries are versatile, so you can serve them with nearly anything. The simplest option is to enjoy them as a snack with dipping sauces like ketchup or honey mustard. They’re also great alongside sandwiches and burgers.

Try them with:

• Aubergine Parmigiana
• Salmon in the Air Fryer
• Quorn Chicken Pieces
• Homemade Avocado Mayo Recipe
• Extra Crispy Pork Cutlet (Pan-Fried in Cast Iron)
• Low Sugar BBQ Sauce Recipe (Easy, Healthy & Full of Flavor)
• Tender Pepper Steak Recipe (Better Than Takeout)

Leftover Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator: If you have leftovers from this air-fried zucchini recipe, let them cool fully. Then, store the leftover air fryer zucchini in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Freezer: You can freeze this air fryer zucchini recipe – just allow the fries to cool once they’re out of the air fryer, then pack them in an airtight baggie. They’ll stay good in the freezer for up to one month.

Reheat: Reheat these zucchini fries in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 374°F (190°C). It may take an extra minute or so if you’re reheating them from frozen. Be sure not to reheat them too long, or they’ll become soggy.

FAQS

Need inspiration for some more air fryer recipes? Try my Air Fry Frozen Dumplings, Air fryer Halloumi and Air Fryer Chicken Bites.