Air Fryer Zucchini Fries are a lighter version of a summertime delight. Using the air fryer gives you a crispy finish without all the added oil of deep or pan frying.
No, you aren’t imaging things, I have shared a recipe before for Zucchini Fries. The difference with this recipe is they are a lot lighter on the waistline than my original zucchini fries recipe. Not that those ones were terrible for you but why not cut a few calories where we can, right?
HERE’S WHAT ELSE MAKES THIS RECIPE DIFFERENT?
- Egg whites rather than whole eggs.
- A mixture of panko AND traditional breadcrumbs rather than just the traditional. I find in the air fryer adding panko helps with the crunch factor but I like how a regular crumb covers more area so the combination of using the two is golden.
- Omitting the parmesan cheese in the breadcrumbs – I found it’s just as effective to sprinkle a little on at the end for those who want it but they’re just as good without it as well.
WHAT AIR FRYER WORKS BEST?
Honestly, I don’t know. The one I have is the only experience I have with air fryers. I’ll share the one I have below. I purchased it on Amazon and I think it’s pretty great.
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER ZUCCHINI FRIES
Begin by cutting the zucchini into “fries”. I find the easiest way to do this is with a mandolin that has the fry option. Otherwise, just use a knife. They don’t have to be perfect.
Next, set up a breading station. Three bowls, one for each flour, egg whites and crumbs. Dip the “fries” in this order: flour, egg white, breadcrumb. Place them in the air fryer basket, being sure not to overcrowd. I did mine in two batches. Give the “fries” a spritz of oil with a misting bottle or with cooking spray.
Set air fryer to 400 F for 10 minutes. Halfway thru the cook time, give them a shake or flip them over. I prefer just to give the basket a shake because I’m lazy. Do you.
They should be ready and crispy after 10 minutes. If not, pop them back in two minute increments. Boom. Done.
If you want to, top finished zucchini fries with a little grated parmesan cheese. They are also pretty darn awesome dipped in ranch dressing if that is your thing. Oh and if ranch isn’t your thing, we are no longer friends.
Tip: Make your own ranch dressing – recipe by Life Currents
The last time I made the air fryer zucchini fries I served them along side my Grilled Veggie Quesadillas. It was a meal made of summer. Seriously, give it a try.
DON’T FORGET TO PRINT OR PIN THE RECIPE FOR AIR FRYER ZUCCHINI FRIES!
- 1 medium zucchini cut into "fry" shape
- 1/2 C egg whites
- 1/2 C flour all-purpose
- 1/2 C panko seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/2 C seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt & Pepper
- Olive oil mist or cooking spray
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Set up breading station by placing egg whites in a shallow bowl, flour in another and the breadcrumbs in another. Season the flour with a pinch of salt and pepper and stir the garlic powder into the crumbs.
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Dip each "fry" in flour, then egg white and then coat with breadcrumbs. Set aside. (See notes section for helpful tips).
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Place "fries" in air fryer being sure not to overcrowd as an air fryer requires air circulation to work properly. You will need to work in two batches most likely. Spray the "fries" with cooking spray or olive oil mist.
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Set air fryer to 400 F and timer to 10 minutes. Shake or flip "fries" halfway thru cook time.
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If desired, top with grated parmesan cheese before serving.
TIP FOR EASY BREADING:
It can be tedious or a little time consuming to bread these "fries" if you are new to this method. A good shortcut would be to put the breadcrumbs in a resealable bag and after they take a dip in the egg white, drop them in the bag and shake. It's a little quicker and less messy than using a bowl.
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