Air fried zucchini makes the perfect side dish for any meal. You only need four ingredients to make zucchini that's crispy around the edges and juicy in the middle. Plus, this recipe is vegan, gluten free and low carb!
Jump to:
If you're reading this you probably own an air fryer, and love it as much I love mine. What can you not cook in an air fryer? I've air fried everything from breakfast potatoes (yum) to homemade pizza rolls. Let's face it - it's so much easier than heating up the whole house with your oven, and the clean up is minimal, which is always a good thing!
So, following on from my air fryer zucchini fritters, I decided to make a simpler zucchini side dish in my air fryer. And, here it is - air fried zucchini. It's more than the sum of its parts, I promise. I hope you like the results as much as I do.
Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
✅It's vegan, gluten free and low carb.
✅Air fried zucchini only takes four ingredients (including the zucchini).
✅Prep time is minimal. Let your air fryer do all the work.
✅It's much healthier than deep fried zucchini, thanks to the fact that air fryers fry with air rather oil.
✅You can eat air fried zucchini solo with a dip like this chipotle mayo.
Ingredients
- Zucchini: I used yellow zucchini for this recipe simply because my neighbor had a bumper crop and I was lucky enough to get some. There's nothing quite like garden fresh zucchini. You can also air fry green zucchini. The only difference is that yellow zucchini is slightly sweeter. They will both require the same amount of cooking time.
- Salt & Pepper: Salt plays a crucial role in this recipe. It absorbs the excess liquid in the zucchini slices, meaning that they'll crisp up nicely in your air fryer.
- Olive Oil: Because this is a simple recipe that relies on fresh, quality ingredients, I recommend using a high quality extra virgin olive oil. It will really make a difference to the overall flavor.
- Garlic Powder: The reason I've used garlic powder, as opposed to fresh garlic, is because fresh garlic tends to burn and taste bitter when exposed to high temperatures. Garlic powder will still give you that nice garlicky flavor without turning acrid when used in the air fryer.
How To Make Air Fried Zucchini
- Slice your zucchini into ¼ inch rounds and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Lay the zucchini slices out on a paper towel and sprinkle the salt over the slices. Let them rest for 5 minutes. Blot any excess liquid off with a paper towel. Don't skip this step. If you don't remove the excess liquid from your zucchini, they won't crisp up properly in the air fryer.
- Transfer the zucchini to a medium sized mixing bowl and toss with the olive oil, garlic powder and black pepper. Make sure the zucchini slices are evenly coated in the oil and spices.
- Lay the slices out in the air fryer basket. Try to avoid overlapping them too much, as they won't cook evenly if your air fryer is over crowded. You may need to work in 2 batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook the zucchini for 15-20 minutes at 400° F (200° C). Flip them over at the halfway point. For crispier zucchini, add 5 more minutes to the cooking time.
- Serve with slices of lemon that can be squeezed over the top before eating.
Serving Suggestions
- I love to eat air fried zucchini chips with a great dip like Sriracha mayo or even a Libyan chraimeh sauce.
- If you're cooking a big holiday meal, why not save some oven space and make this as a delicious side dish to my popular lentil loaf.
- Zucchini actually makes a great addition to sandwiches like my Panera Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich.
- Beef up your favorite pasta dish by stirring the zucchini slices in before serving.
Did You Make This Recipe?
If so, I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @thisdailydish. Or, leave me a comment below. It makes my day, and your feedback helps other readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Veggies that are fried in the air fryer require much less oil than sauteing or deep frying, so they are lower in fat and much healthier. Also, air frying preserves nutrients that might otherwise be lost with other cooking methods.
Absolutely, air fryer zucchini are very low carb, so they're suitable for a ketogenic diet. In addition, they are paleo friendly, vegan and gluten free! Plus, they're very low in fat and have minimal calories.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Reheat in the air fryer at 400 F (200 C) for 2-3 minutes.
Craving More Easy Vegan Air Fryer Recipes?
Maple Roasted Air Fryer Baby Carrots
Authentic Falafel Gyros (Air Fryer)
Air Fryer Hash Browns From Scratch
📖 Recipe
Air Fried Zucchini
Ingredients
- 2 medium sized zucchini
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the zucchini into ¼ inch rounds and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Lay the zucchini slices out on a paper towel and sprinkle the salt over the slices. Let them rest for 5 minutes. Blot any excess liquid off with a paper towel.
- Transfer the zucchini to a medium sized mixing bowl and toss with the olive oil, garlic powder and black pepper. Make sure the zucchini slices are evenly coated in the oil and spices.
- Lay the slices out in the air fryer basket. Try to avoid overlapping them too much, as they won't cook evenly if the air fryer is over crowded. You may need to work in 2 batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook the zucchini for 15-20 minutes at 400° F (200° C). Flip them over at the halfway point. ***see note 1.
Notes
- For crispier zucchini add an additional 5-6 minutes to the cooking time. Just be sure to keep a close eye on them as they can burn quickly.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Reheat in the air fryer at 400 F (200 C) for 2-3 minutes.
Comments
No Comments