Air-Fryer Zucchini

Zucchini isn’t exactly the most exciting vegetable. Without the right seasonings, it can taste bland and lifeless. And without the right cooking method, it can become soggy. Making fried or roasted zucchini is a great way to bring out the veggie’s crisp texture, but these recipes tend to heat up the house in the summertime. Luckily, air-fryer zucchini tastes just as good! The bite-sized pieces of zucchini stay soft on the inside and crisp up beautifully on the outside. Plus, the air fryer’s compact size makes clean-up a breeze.

Seasoning is essential when it comes to zucchini. It has a mild taste on its own, and its flavor really blossoms when it’s tossed with a combination of herbs and spices. We use Italian seasoning, salt and garlic powder to give the zucchini an herbaceous, savory flavor, but feel free to change it up and experiment. Try making this dish a little spicier by adding cayenne pepper or chili powder, or give it a smoky finish with ground cumin and coriander.

Ingredients for Air-Fryer Zucchini

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• Zucchini: Look for small- to medium-sized zucchini with a firm texture and a dark green exterior. Extra-large zucchini aren’t as tender, so save those honker squashes for grated zucchini recipes like zucchini muffins or zucchini fritters.
• Olive oil: Oil adds flavor and helps the zucchini crisp up in the air fryer.
• Herbs and spices: The combination of Italian seasoning, salt and garlic powder is pretty all-purpose and pairs well with most foods, but feel free to use your favorite spice blend or seasoning mix.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the zucchini

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Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Trim the ends off the zucchini. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then into 1/4-inch half-moons.

Editor’s Tip: If the zucchini releases water after being sliced, pat it dry with paper towels. Excess moisture can prevent the seasonings from sticking to the zucchini.

Step 2: Season the zucchini

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In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and garlic powder. Toss to coat.

Step 3: Cook the zucchini in the air fryer

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In batches, place the zucchini on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket. Cook until the pieces are lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes, tossing halfway. Serve them immediately.

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Recipe Variations

• Air-fryer zucchini chips: Instead of cutting the zucchini into half-moons, slice the zucchini into chips to make air-fryer zucchini chips.
• Air-fryer zucchini fries: To make zucchini fries, cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and then in half crosswise. Cut each piece lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices.
• Cheesy air-fryer zucchini: Add grated Parmesan cheese to the seasonings bowl to coat the zucchini pieces with cheese. For vegan air-fryer zucchini with cheesy flavor, use nutritional yeast instead.
• Breaded air-fryer zucchini: Before cooking, toss the zucchini with panko bread crumbs to give them a crispy finish.

How to Store Air-Fryer Zucchini

Store leftover air-fryer zucchini in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The zucchini will become a little soggy in the fridge, but it will last up to four days.

Can you make air-fryer zucchini ahead of time?

You can slice the zucchini ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. However, we don’t recommend air-frying zucchini ahead of time. It has the best texture when it’s freshly cooked.

How do you reheat air-fryer zucchini?

To reheat zucchini, air-fry it in a 400° air fryer until it’s warm. Shake the air-fryer basket every few minutes to ensure even heating.

Can you freeze air-fryer zucchini?

We don’t recommend freezing zucchini, as the watery vegetable becomes mushy when thawed. That said, if you must freeze them, you can transfer the leftovers to a freezer-safe container. Freeze zucchini for up to three months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Air-Fryer Zucchini Tips

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Can you make this air-fryer zucchini recipe with summer squash?

You can make air-fryer zucchini with other types of summer squash like yellow crookneck squash, pattypan squash or Tatuma (aka white Mexican squash). Using a mixture of zucchini and other summer squash is a great way to create a colorful medley. Just make sure to cut the squash into equal-sized pieces that will cook evenly in the air fryer.

Why is air-fryer zucchini soggy instead of crispy?

Zucchini has a high water content (it’s 95% water!), so it can become soggy for several reasons. Air-fryer zucchini will taste soggy if cooked until completely soft, so avoid overcooking this tender veggie. Check on the zucchini as it cooks, and remove it from the air fryer when it’s crisp-tender. The zucchini also won’t become crispy if it’s crowded in the air-fryer basket. Zucchini releases water as it cooks, and crowding will cause the pieces to steam, preventing caramelization and crisping.

What should you serve with air-fryer zucchini?

We often serve zucchini recipes as side dishes for meaty mains like grilled steak, roasted chicken or braised short ribs. Air-fryer zucchini also pairs well with lighter entrees like fish or tofu. You can easily turn air-fried zucchini into the vegetable component of your favorite bowl recipes like salads, burrito bowls, or quinoa and lentil bowls. Or enjoy air-fryer zucchini as a snack, serving it as-is or pairing it with a dipping sauce like marinara or ranch dressing.