I love zucchini fries. When summer rolls around I know exactly what to do with all those zucchinis from the garden. This is the best recipe for Zucchini Fries!
Zucchini fries are a healthier alternative to traditional potato french fries, offering a delightful crunch and a mild, savory flavor. Whether you prefer baking or using an air fryer, we’ve got you covered with two fantastic recipes that will satisfy your cravings while keeping your meal nutritious and low in calories.
Zucchini Fries (Baked or Air Fried)
Here’s how to pick the best zucchini for this recipe. You’ll want to choose small to medium-sized zucchini about 6 to 8 inches long. Avoid really large zucchini. They tend to have more seeds in the middle. Pick zucchini that has bright green skin. They should feel firm to touch. Pass on any that have pitted marks on the skin and has a soft, spongy texture. These zucchini will be too soft inside and your fries won’t be crisp.
Ingredients for Zucchini Fries:
- Medium Zucchini – halved and sliced into matchsticks, excess seeds removed.
- Large eggs – the eggs help the coating stick to the zucchini.
- Panko breadcrumbs – I prefer panko breadcrumbs as it gives the fries a crispy crunch.
- Parmesan cheese – use finely shredded cheese or grated cheese so it will stick to the fries.
- Salt and Black Pepper – use your favorite type of salt and fine ground black pepper.
- Cooking Spray – a bit of cooking spray will help the fries turn golden brown.
Ingredients For the Greek Yogurt Dipping Sauce:
- Greek Yogurt – choose plain Greek yogurt for this recipe. The yogurt is thick and creamy and has the best texture for making dip.
- Lemon Juice – adds delicious flavor to the dip.
- Seasonings – Greek seasoning, salt, black pepper and fresh dill and parsley if desired.
How to make Zucchini Fries:
Zucchini naturally contains a lot of natural moisture. To help get crispy zucchini fries you will need to sweat some of the water out of the zucchini.
Cut the zucchini into long, thin strips. Remove any excess seeds. Place the zucchini in a colander. Sprinkle the zucchini with a teaspoon of salt . Set the colander over a bowl and allow the water to drain from the zucchini for about 30 minutes. Rinse the salt off. Pat dry with paper towels.
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a shallow dish or pie pan, gently whisk the eggs together. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
In a second shallow dish or pie pan, combine panko and parmesan cheese. Set aside the breadcrumb mixture.
Dip each zucchini piece into the beaten egg mixture (egg wash).
Allow excess egg to drain off each piece before transferring to the bowl of seasoned breadcrumbs to dredge. Turn to evenly coat each piece of zucchini before transferring to the prepared baking sheet.
Arrange zucchini fries on a large baking sheet. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired. Lightly spray with cooking spray or olive oil.
Place in the oven to roast until golden-brown and crisp, 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through the baking time.
How to cook Zucchini Fries in the Air Fryer:
Cooking your zucchini fries in the air fryer is so simple. Start by following the directions to prep the zucchini up to the step where they are coated in breadcrumbs.
Preheat your air fryer following the directions for your air fryer model.
Evenly space the zucchini in your air fryer basket. Leave a bit of space between each one so the hot air can circulate around them (this makes them crispy on all the sides).
If you want extra crispy fries then lightly spray the tops with a bit of non stick baking spray or your favorite cooking oil.
Cook the zucchini fries at 400 degrees F (or use the french fry setting) for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
If you like your fries even crispier then flip them over and air fryer for another 2 to 3 minutes.
Once cooked, transfer them to a serving plate and allow them to cool several minutes before serving.
Serve the air fryer zucchini fries with your favorite dipping sauce or enjoy them as is.
Try these dipping sauces with your zucchini fries:
Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce
Tangy Ketchup
Marinara Sauce
Or try this easy to make Greek Yogurt Dipping Sauce.
Quick Greek Yogurt Dipping Sauce:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1-2 teaspoon Greek Seasoning Mix
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: Add 1 tablespoon of finely chopped dill and parsley
Whisk the Greek yogurt, lemon juice and seasoning mix in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired add in the fresh herbs. Serve with your baked zucchini fries and enjoy!
How to Store and Reheat Zucchini Fries
To store, place any leftover zucchini fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
To reheat left over fries you’ll want to either bake them in the oven or reheat them in the air fryer for the best results. Place the left over fries on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 5 minutes.
To reheat in the air fryer place the fries evenly spaced in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400 degrees for 3 minutes.
Don’t use the microwave to reheat them. You’ll find that the zucchini becomes very mushy and the coating will be soggy.
What to Serve with Zucchini Fries:
Your favorite dip: who doesn’t love dunking fries into their favorite dipping sauce? Fries made with zucchini are no exception. Try using some of the dipping sauces listed above or go with ketchup.
Burgers: serve these fries up with your favorite burger recipes for a healthier take on the traditional burger and fries.
Other Main Dishes: these fries are a seriously delicious with so many main dishes…..meatloaf, baked chicken, baked fish (we love it with baked salmon), pork and so much more.
Are Zucchini Fries crispy?
Zucchini is a vegetable that has a lot of water in it. When you cook it the water is released from the zucchini making it soft. You don’t want that to happen when you make fries as it will turn the coating soggy. The trick to avoid this is to follow the directions for salting the zucchini before breading them.
You’ll find that using this method allows the zucchini fries to be soft and creamy inside while the coating is crispy on the outside.
Can I use breadcrumbs in place of the panko?
You can swap out the panko for traditional breadcrumbs though the coating on the fries will not be as crispy.
Regular breadcrumbs have a finer texture. Panko has a coarse texture which gives it extra crunch when used to coat the fries.
Can this be made Keto or low carb?
If you are following a keto diet this recipe can easily be made low carb. Simply swap out the panko bread crumbs with an equal amount of almond flour. Follow the same directions above except to keep it low carb you will be rolling the zucchini strips in the almond flour mixture. Baked as instructed until golden brown.
No matter which type of breadcrumb you use the fries will still be delicious!
These baked zucchini fries with panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese offer a healthier twist to a classic appetizer or side dish. The crispy exterior gives way to tender zucchini inside, while the flavors of the Parmesan cheese and herbs add a delightful savory touch.
Paired with the homemade dipping sauce, these zucchini fries are a crowd-pleasing treat. They are perfect for parties, game nights, or simply as a tasty snack. Give this recipe a try, and you’ll find yourself reaching for these zucchini fries time and time again. Enjoy!
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Best Recipe For Zucchini Fries (Baked, Air Fryer)
Equipment
- baking sheet
- Sharp knife
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini halved, sliced into matchsticks, excess seeds removed
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Nonstick Spray
Instructions
Prep the zucchini
- Cut the zucchini into long, thin strips. Remove any excess seeds. Place the zucchini in a colander. Sprinkle the zucchini with a teaspoon of salt . Set the colander over a bowl and allow the water to drain from the zucchini for about 30 minutes. Rinse the salt off. Pat dry with paper towels.2 medium zucchini
Prepare the zucchini
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a shallow bowl or pie pan, gently whisk the eggs together. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.2 large eggs, Salt and Pepper to taste
- In a second shallow dish or pie pan, combine panko and parmesan cheese. Set aside the breadcrumb mixture.1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- Dip each zucchini piece into the beaten egg mixture (egg wash).
- Allow excess egg to drain off each piece before transferring to the bowl of seasoned breadcrumbs to dredge. Turn to evenly coat each piece of zucchini before transferring to the prepared baking sheet.
- Arrange zucchini fries on a large baking sheet. Season with additional salt and black pepper, if desired. Lightly spray with cooking spray or olive oil. Place in the oven to roast until golden-brown and crisp, 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through the baking time.Nonstick Spray
Notes
Nutrition
Here are some other recipes you might enjoy:
Easy Beef and Chorizo Chili (no beans)
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