Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Even kids will love this crispy zucchini side dish.

By
Kayla Hoang
Kayla Hoang
Kayla Hoang
Kayla Hoang is a freelance recipe developer, writer, and baker. Her journey in food media began with interning at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and continued through Food Network, Kitchn, and freelance work.
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Updated October 04, 2023
Kayla Hoang
Air fried zucchini slices

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

You might not believe it, but I was once an air fryer skeptic. I couldn’t see uses beyond getting frozen spring rolls or chicken nuggets super crispy. Thankfully, the tides have turned. The air fryer, thanks to the combination of its concentrated heat and blowing fan, makes cooking foods to golden perfection a breeze—as long as you’re using the right recipe. 

Enter air fryer zucchini chips. The sweet summer squash is sliced into rounds and coated with oil and a flavorful breadcrumb mixture that, when air fried, is tender on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside. 

Although air fryer zucchini chips do need to be cooked in batches (the recipe can be halved if needed), I promise it’s super simple and unforgettable. Make it as a side for dinner, an accompaniment to lunch, throw it on a salad, or even enjoy it as a snack. Just make sure to eat them while they’re hot!

Air fried zucchini slices in the basket of an air fryer

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Fire Up the Air Fryer

These air fryer zucchini chips are so wonderful because the contained, more concentrated heat from the air fryer in combination with a flavorful breadcrumb coating creates the most delicious, golden brown, tender zucchini. The coating that’s created from a combination of a little olive oil, cornstarch, and traditional breadcrumbs becomes delicately crisp in the air fryer, making this zucchini a family favorite. 

A Note on Air Fryer Models

This recipe was developed in a 6-quart air fryer, which is large enough to cook the zucchini in two batches. If your air fryer is smaller, you may need to cook the zucchini in three batches. Just divide the zucchini and breadcrumb mixture into thirds. 

Sometimes you don’t have time to cook in batches, and that’s okay! Almost all the ingredients in the recipe can be divided in half easily, aside from the 1/3 cup breadcrumbs. For that, use 3 tablespoons—it’s a little over half, but it works the same.

Air fried zucchini slices on a plate with a block of Parmesan and a grater on the side

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Tips for Making Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

My favorite part about recipe development is discovering all the tricks to make a recipe as good as it can be. These thoughtful techniques ensure this zucchini comes out tender, crisp, and golden every time.

  • Cut the zucchini as close to 3/16-inch thick as possible. I know how fussy that measurement sounds, but in testing I found this thickness to yield the best results. 1/4-inch is okay if you mis-cut, just note that cooking may take a few more minutes. 
  • Make sure to use plain, traditional breadcrumbs, not panko. Panko won’t cling to the zucchini the same.
  • Don’t skip quickly salting the zucchini. Zucchini has so much excess moisture that if you don’t salt it first it can lead to a soggy end result. 
  • This recipe calls for air frying at 325°F, which is lower than many air fryer recipes. In testing, I found this temperature to be the sweet spot—low enough that the zucchini has time for the excess moisture to cook out, but high enough to get golden brown and tender. 
  • Don’t bread the zucchini until just before air frying. This keeps the breadcrumbs from becoming oversaturated and clumpy and ensures the zucchini cooks evenly. 

Easy Recipe Variations

While salt and pepper are non-negotiable in my book, feel free to swap the other seasonings and the Parmesan to suit your fancy. Swap gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed, go with vegan cheese, swap cayenne for a different chili powder (or skip it altogether if you like things mild), add dried herbs, finish with lemon zest or juice for a bit of brightness—the possibilities are endless. 

Air fried zucchini slices

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Air Fryer Magic

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 36 mins
Total Time 46 mins
Servings 2 to 4 servings

This recipe was developed in a 6-quart air fryer which is large enough to cook the zucchini in 2 batches. If your air fryer is smaller, you may need to cook the zucchini in 3 batches.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound total)

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus a pinch for salting the zucchini

  • 1/3 cup plain fine breadcrumbs

  • 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, optional

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch cayenne, optional

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • Cooking spray

Method

  1. Prepare the zucchini:

    Trim the ends off the zucchini. Slice the zucchini into 3/16-inch thick rounds. Transfer the zucchini to a medium bowl followed by a pinch of salt. Use a rubber spatula, a large spoon, or your hands to toss the zucchini with the salt and set aside to sit for 5 minutes to draw out some of the moisture.

    Zucchini slices into thin slices on a cutting board with a knife

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Zucchini slices in a clear bowl

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the breadcrumb mixture:

    In a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan (if using), cornstarch, granulated garlic (if using), freshly ground black pepper, a pinch of cayenne (if using), and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to combine.

    Breading ingredients in a clear bowl with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  3. Dry the zucchini and prepare the air fryer:

    After 5 minutes, there will be some moisture on the zucchini and a little in the bowl. You don’t want to draw all the moisture out, just a bit of the excess. Use a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to dab away the excess moisture off the zucchini rounds as much as possible. No need to go one by one or transfer it out of the bowl. 


    Preheat the air fryer to 325°F if your air fryer requires preheating. If your air fryer has different settings, use the “air fry” setting.

    Patting zucchini slices dry with a paper towel

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  4. Coat the zucchini in oil and divide into batches:

    Add the olive oil to the zucchini and use your hands (or a spoon or spatula) to toss until the zucchini rounds are coated. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will need to coat and cook the zucchini in batches (see recipe note). Divide the oil-coated zucchini into 2 batches.

    Zucchini slices in a clear bowl with some in a smaller bowl off to the side

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  5. Toss the zucchini in the breadcrumb mixture:

    Add about half of the breadcrumb mixture to the first batch of zucchini and use a large spoon or spatula (the breadcrumbs tend to stick to your hands) to toss until the zucchini rounds are coated in the breadcrumbs. 

    Simple Tip!

    Some crumbs won’t stick immediately, so feel free to press them onto the zucchini rounds as you transfer them to the air fryer.

    Zucchini slices tossed with the breading in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
  6. Air fry the zucchini:

    Spray the basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange the coated zucchini rounds in an even layer. If a few overlap just slightly, that’s okay. It’ll shrink as it cooks. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook at 325°F for 10 minutes. 

    Flip the zucchini rounds and continue to cook until the zucchini is tender and the coating is golden brown and crispy, 8 to 12 minutes more. 

    Transfer the zucchini to a plate, sprinkle with more Parmesan if desired, and serve immediately or move to a wire rack if not eating immediately so it doesn’t get too soggy. Repeat coating and air frying the rest of the zucchini. 

    Leftover zucchini can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Breaded zucchini slices in the basket of an air fryer

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Zucchini slices partially cooked in an air fryer basket

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
    Air fried zucchini on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
105 Calories
5g Fat
11g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Sodium 302mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 15mg 73%
Calcium 73mg 6%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 327mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.