This air fryer zucchini is inspired by pan-fried zucchini, which is dredged in flour and cooked in butter or oil, but this version uses only a fraction of the oil, and features chickpea flour for a gluten-free and protein-rich option. Chickpea flour isn’t universally appealing before it’s cooked, but it crisps-up nicely and the flavor blends in perfectly with this simple seasoning mix. You can make homemade chickpea flour in just minutes, too!
This side dish is delicious on its own, but if you want to try it with a dip, it’s delicious with Creamy Tahini Dill Dressing or Vegan Ranch.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make crispy zucchini in the air fryer, you’ll make a simple coating with the following ingredients. This gives the zucchini just enough structure, so it isn’t soft or soggy after cooking.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Chickpea flour Salt Garlic powder Black pepper
You can also make zucchini in the air fryer with no breading at all. In that case, just toss the zucchini with olive oil and seasonings, and cook as directed below.
Making thinner slices means you’ll have more slices to cook, so you may to need to cook more than one batch to finish off a whole zucchini. 2. Coat. Mix the flour and seasonings in a large bowl and set it aside. Toss the zucchini slices with olive oil, then dredge each slice in the flour mixture, flipping the zucchini slice over to coat both sides. Shake off any excess flour, then place the slice on your air fryer tray.
Repeat with the remaining slices, adding them to the air fryer basket as you go. Don’t overlap the slices for the crispiest results. 3. Cook. Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF then cook the tray of zucchini slices for 10 minutes. Flip, and remove any slices that are getting golden already, then cook until the rest of the slices are golden and lightly crispy around the edges, about 5 more minutes.
On average, it takes about 15 minutes for the air fryer zucchini to cook, but this will vary based on your air fryer at home. Be sure to keep an eye on them after the 10-minute mark. 4. Enjoy! As soon as the zucchini is golden, serve it right away. These have the best taste and texture while they are still warm. They can start to dry out when they are totally cool, but they’re still tasty, either way. Can I use a different flour? The most similar flours to chickpea flour would be all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or buckwheat flour. I don’t recommend using oat flour, almond flour, or coconut flour, as they don’t crisp-up quite the same way. Can I skip the breading? Yes! You can dip these in grated Parmesan cheese for a grain-free coating, or skip the coating all together and just toss the zucchini with olive oil, garlic powder, salt & pepper. The thinly sliced zucchini will still become slightly crispy around the edges when cooked in the air fryer. Can I use a different veggie? Of course! Try Air Fryer Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, or Air Fryer Broccoli for more guidance. Which air fryer is best? Check out my air fryer review, where I tested 9 different models in my kitchen. There’s a comprehensive video included, so you can see each model in action, too.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Get the most out of your air fryer with these other recipe ideas.
Air Fryer Tofu Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas Air Fryer Salmon Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Breasts Air Fryer French Fries Sweet Potato Fries
I can’t wait to hear what you try! If you try this Air Fryer Zucchini, please leave a comment below letting me know how you like it! – Reader Feedback: What would you like to cook in the air fryer next? Let me know if you have any requests!
