Crispy air Fryer zucchini chips are crunchy low carb snacks that are much healthier than our deep fried salt and pepper zucchini chips but with the same crispy breaded texture! Try them in your Ninja Foodi or other brand today for a snack.

crispy Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
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This is how to make air fryer fried zucchini chips breaded and crispy are so much easier than I thought they’d be to make. Yes we have been busy creating a ton of easy air fryer recipes because I’m a bit obsessed! (affiliate links present)

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips Parmesan

I love making crunchy food without the need of artery clogging oil. This machine has been a game changer. Now we can make our favorite deep fried foods way healthier but the same taste. You can top with parmesan or add it into your breadcrumbs. Just one of many of our best air fryer zucchini recipes here on our site.

If you are like me and want to serve air fryer vegetables to your family at every meal, you need a few new ideas. Yes tossed with olive oil and seasoning is great but that can get boring and the kids may not be excited about it. This one they will love!

If you love extra crispy food and quick recipes, here are some resources to start with:

A close-up photo of a hand pulling out the basket of an open air fryer on a light-colored surface. The interior of the air fryer basket is empty and features a mesh design, perfect for cooking your favorite dishes like bang bang shrimp. The edge of the air fryer has a latch mechanism for securing the basket.

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips Breaded

If you only have a pressure cooker, did you know you could turn your Instant Pot into an air fryer too? Yes! You can actually use a CrispLid or their new IP lid on top with a special basket that comes with it to make these as well. Years ago we made fried zucchini chips with our easy homemade tempura batter. BUT they were fried.

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips No Breading

Yes you could make these more like russet potato chips super thin with just salt and pepper but I mean…..these are better. You can certainly try both methods and see which you prefer. With no breading you would want to use a mandolin and slice really thin. Dry outsides and rub olive oil on with seasonings.

Then you can’t cook too many at a time because they have to lay flat one next to the other. You can read the post above where we did the same thing with potatoes and go from there.

air fried zucchini

Can you cook veggies in an air fryer?

Yes!! We’re here to show you how to make zucchini chips in air fryer and more. First, preheat your machine, then place vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, and onion in a large bowl with olive oil. Use whatever seasonings you like and air fry for just a few minutes. NO breading is necessary, but we did a light one for these.

Is an air fryer healthy?

Air fried zucchini is a healthier alternative that comes out just as crunchy as deep fried without any oil. If you haven’t tried this method it’s so amazing. I got hooked when we made this air fryer wings recipe with a dry rub and my family gobbled them up quicker than I could make another batch.

Can you air fry without oil?

Well, no oil is needed when making foods inside your air fryer, just spray for the outside of your food. Adding cooking oil in a spray form before air frying will add an extra crunchy layer to your food. I like olive but I have found and used avocado oil as well.

Placing vegetables in an even layer into the air fryer basket, and not overlapping pieces is key. Air fryer vegetables cook in as little as 5 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking time.

ninja air fryer

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips No Egg

If you cannot use this you could brush some yogurt or mayo on the outsides instead. You just need something that will allow the crumbs to stick nicely.

Though they may be a better alternative to deep fryers, limiting your intake of fried foods altogether is the best option of course when it comes to your health. You can make items with no breading too though. Compared to deep fried foods, an air fryer can reduce the amount of fat and calories into your food.

Just remember the thinner each sliced piece is the crispier it will become, and the less time it will take.

air fryer zucchini

Do you have to dry zucchini before cooking?

The key to making everything as crispy as possible is to make sure you dry the outsides. This will help the breading to stick and make it as crispy as possible. Another tip is to grab a can of olive oil spray!  A sprits of that on each side will get it browner quicker.

You also want to make sure that each zucchini dials are the same thickness. This will ensure that they are all the same crispiness. You could really use yellow squash, or make half and half.

  • Mixing up your air fryer vegetables is great, and gives your kids something new to try.
  • We used this similar method to make air fryer eggplant too. These were a hit even though my girls had never ever tried it, now they’re obsessed.
  • The breading mixture is super versatile.

Really you should season the breadcrumbs as you wish, below is just a suggestion but comes out amazing.

ninja foodi zucchini

Air Fryer Zucchini Ingredients

Here is what you should grab from the grocery store. Most items you probably already have in your cupboard. Mixing yellow and green squash is great too, use whatever is fresh.

  • 2 med./large zucchini
    • I prefer large with 1/2″ zucchini slices
    • Could slice like air fryer zucchini fries too
  • Panko bread crumbs
    • There is a gluten free version out too if needed
  • Old Bay seasoning
    • I’m obsessed with these flavors, you can even find more Old Bay recipes here too
  • Garlic salt
  • Olive oil cooking spray
  • Air fryer basket or trivet baking rack
    • I used our metal trivet
  • Parmesan cheese is optional

If you’re wondering how to make zucchini in an air fryer this is the way to go. My kids even love this as a snack, now that is a win.

air fryer zucchini chips

How to Cook Breaded Vegetables in Air Fryer

Directions to make these golden brown as you see here: First I preheat my air fryer for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Then whip up your egg in a bowl. In another shallow bowl combine bread crumbs and seasoning, or use a plate and mix.

  • Slice into thin or thicker pieces, the thinner the crispier they will be.
  • Dip each zucchini slice into your egg mixture on both sides, then cover with bread crumbs.
  • Once machine is preheated, place coated zucchini in the basket of the air fryer.
  • Make sure they are placed in a single layer so they get as crispy as possible.
  • Spray with olive oil Set for a total of 13 min. If your pieces are quite thin I might set to 7 minutes and check.
  • After 10 minutes flip to the other side and spray with olive oil again
    Enjoy immediately for the best zucchini chips ever with ranch or homemade bang bang sauce.

This was made in my Foodi which doesn’t have a basket but rather a rack with an air crisp lid you close down. Works the same as any other.

healthy fried zucchini

How to Cook Zucchini in an Air Fryer

Printable recipe card for this is below. You don’t have to slice these into circles either. Want the pieces larger, like pickles? We have done that too and shared in our air fryer zucchini fries steps. Made the same way with just a bit more cook time.

What if you wanted to make air fryer zucchini chips no breading? Well, it would taste a lot like our air fryer vegetables, simple with just oil and seasonings. We have done that and I would suggest that you follow these directions to do so.

  • I wouldn’t call these chips though as most people will think crispy and crunchy if you refer to them as that.
  • Yes the edges will get browned and “crisp” in a way but really, using a light coating like Panko doesn’t add that many calories and makes them so much better.

Do what you think you’d prefer. Plain would work too, just watch them carefully as they’ll brown rather quickly without anything on the outside.

  • They become healthy vegetable finger foods my kids actually beg me to make as often as possible.
  • I’d try both methods and let us know which your family prefers below.
air fryer zucchini breaded

Looking for other Ninja air fryer recipes? I know, we have become crazy over this new “magical machine” lately too. I haven’t found anything that doesn’t taste better air fried quite frankly.

Fried Zucchini Dipping Sauce

  • Fry sauce and even marinara is so yummy
  • Ranch dressing is a given
  • Some love blue cheese dressing
  • Marinara sauce warmed in the microwave is pretty great too

It is VERY rare I ever even turn on my oven nowadays. Between this and my Instant Pot I can cook literally anything I want. We love these stuffed air fryer zucchini boats too. If you have a ton of extra pieces I would try our salt and pepper zucchini chips with homemade 3 ingredient tempura batter too.

You do have to fry these in oil but it is a fun alternative if you want to try something different. Of course you can add any seasonings you want but simple is sometimes best. Use this batter for just about any vegetable but it is not to be used in your hot air machine.

Dry coatings need to be used in your machine or you’ll have a huge icky mess. This could make a great addition to a vegetarian Air fryer dinner recipes too.

salt and pepper zucchini chips
zucchini chips
4.60 from 5 votes

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

By The Typical Mom
Air Fryer zucchini chips with parmesan breaded and crispy, like fried zucchini but healthier than deep fried. Made in Ninja Foodi or Cosori.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
Servings: 6
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 2 med/large zucchini , Cut into 1/2" dials
  • 3/4 c Panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp Old Bay
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 egg, whisked
  • olive oil spray

Instructions 

  • Cut ends off zucchini and slice into 1/2" dials. Thinner they are the crispier they will get so thickness is up to you. This is what we like. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees while you're preparing these.
  • Lay pieces on paper towels and press gently to remove excess moisture on the outside of your pieces. In a bowl whisk your egg. On a plate add your Panko and seasoning, mix so it is combined.
  • Dip zucchini pieces one at a time into egg, then coat all sides with bread crumb mixture and when air fryer is preheated add them in one layer to your trivet inside your machine (if you have a trivet).
  • Once trivet is loaded up with pieces that aren't overlapping spray all of them with olive oil. Then close air crisp lid and continue cooking at 350 degrees for 13 minutes total, flipping after minute 10. (add more minutes for more crispy outsides)
  • If your dials are small you could do 10 minutes total flipping after 8 minutes.
  • Remove and enjoy immediately, then add another batch!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz, Calories: 41kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 27mg, Sodium: 453mg, Potassium: 25mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 40IU, Calcium: 20mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!
air fried zucchini 2

About The Typical Mom

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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4.60 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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10 Comments

  1. Hi I want to make this recipe but I don’t have old bay seasoning, what else could I use?

    Thank you in advance.

  2. Taste was delicious however I feel like most of the breading fell off when flipping? Did I maybe flip them to soon? Or any other ideas on what I should try next time?

    1. Make sure you get water off of zucchini after slicing so breading sticks well. Some breadcrumbs/Panko brands work better than others

  3. These zucchini chips are sooo good! Seasoning was perfect, crunch was great. I dipped them in marinara sauce…..delish!! Will be making these all the time!

  4. Please unsubscribe me from this site I can’t find anywhere to do it I will turn it over to the better business bureau

  5. I am waiting for my Mealthy Chrisp Lid. Would it be the same tempture and time for either maker?