These air fryer zucchini chips are crispy, golden brown, and filled with delicious Parmesan flavor. They're an easy, addictive side dish or snack!
Heads up: these air fryer zucchini chips are one delicious snack. They’re crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle, and filled with nutty Parmesan flavor. You might think you’re going to try just one, or maybe two, but if you’re anything like me, you’re not. You’re going to munch on these air fryer zucchini chips until every last one is gone!
I based this recipe on the baked zucchini chips I shared last summer. Both versions are super yummy, but at this time of year, I like how I can make the air fryer recipe without turning on the oven and heating up the house. Plus, Jack and I are always excited to experiment with air frying. 🙂 If you have any suggestions of what to try next, let me know in the comments!
Air Fryer Zucchini Recipe Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients to make these air fryer zucchini chips:
- Zucchini, of course! Look for two medium-sized ones that will have a nice “chip” shape when they’re sliced into rounds. Avoid using particularly large zucchini for this recipe. They’ll be too seedy and watery to make crisp chips.
- An egg – It binds the crispy coating to the sliced zucchini.
- Panko bread crumbs – They give the outside of the zucchini a delicious crunch.
- Almond flour – It adds richness and nutty depth of flavor to the panko coating.
- Parmesan cheese – For cheesy, savory flavor. To make this recipe vegan, use my vegan Parmesan instead of regular cheese, and replace the egg with 1/4 cup plant milk mixed with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – You’ll drizzle it over the zucchini chips before placing them in the air fryer. It makes them extra-flavorful and crisp!
- And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
First, slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch rounds, and pat them dry.
When you finish cutting the zucchini, mix together the panko, almond flour, Parmesan, and salt and pepper in a medium bowl, and beat the egg in a small bowl. Bread each zucchini slice by dipping it in the egg, followed by the panko mixture.
Place the breaded zucchini slices on a plate, drizzle them with olive oil, and cook!
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips Recipe Tips
- Drizzle them with olive oil. The olive oil is essential for helping the air fryer zucchini chips brown as they cook, and it makes them taste more rich and flavorful. Whatever you do, don’t skip it! You’ll still use way less oil than you would if you were deep frying the zucchini.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer. An air fryer works by constantly circulating hot air around whatever you’re cooking – in this case, zucchini chips. In order for them to become crisp and browned, the air needs to be able to contact them on all sides. Make sure to place the chips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space around each one. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches. Resist the temptation to crowd the air fryer. If you do, your chips will be soggy! P.S. I like this Instant Pot Air Fryer.
- Eat them right away. These zucchini chips are best when they’re freshly cooked – crisp on the outside, juicy in the middle, and still hot from the air fryer. I recommend eating them right away, as they start to soften if they sit around.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
These air fryer zucchini chips are delicious plain, but I like them even more with a flavorful sauce for dipping. Try serving them with marinara, pesto, or romesco sauce.
Devour them on their own as a snack, or serve them as a side dish with a larger meal. Like my air fryer French fries, they’re a great accompaniment for a veggie burger or sandwich. They’d be fantastic with any of these recipes:
- Easy Black Bean Burger
- Best Veggie Burger
- Portobello Mushroom Burger
- Quinoa Burger
- Caprese Sandwich
- BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches
Enjoy!
More Favorite Snacks and Sides
If you love these air fried zucchini chips, try one of these fun snacks or sides next:
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Homemade Soft Pretzels
- Jalapeño Poppers
- Stuffed Mushrooms
- Homemade Taquitos
- Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced into ¼ inch rounds
- 1 egg*
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese or Vegan Parmesan
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Marinara, for serving, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370°F.
- Use a clean kitchen towel to pat dry the zucchini and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg. In a medium bowl, combine the panko, almond flour, Parmesan, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
- Dip the zucchini slices into the egg and then into the panko mixture. Place on a plate as you work and then drizzle the slices with olive oil. Place in a single layer in the air fryer and air fry for 11 to 13 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
- Serve immediately (they’ll become less crispy as they sit) with marinara for dipping, if desired.
Have you ever tried putting these in a dehydrator after they’ve been in the air fryer? I just wonder if it would be a way to keep them for snacks another day/week without getting moist or soggy. Let me know what you think, please?
Hi Carol, I haven’t tried this, so I’m not sure how it would work. If you try it, let us know how it goes!
Made a nice crispy snack fresh from our garden!
Hi Reg, so glad you enjoyed them!
So delicious! So happy to find a gf zucchini side. We love it & will make again.
Highly recommend making this!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing came out perfect!
Hi Celia, I’m so glad you loved them!
I never knew Zucchini would taste this amazing. I love it! Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. I’ll definitely try again.
I just made these last night. I used Wondra Flour, and added fresh garlic, fresh basil, and Italian seasoning. They were so golden and delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
I’m so glad you loved them!
Great air fryer recipe . I added ranch seasoning to my planko and bread crump and parmesan coating. Very delicious ?. Thanks ?
So glad you loved it!
I’m so confused….one egg with all the dry mixture made a dough ball like making bread.
Where is the liquid? Can’t dip into that!!!!;?
I’ve never tried this recipe. So how could I have left a comment?
Waste of my time and ingredients!
Will let all my food groups know…..
Hi Cindy, the egg gets mixed in its own separate bowl, not with the rest of the dry ingredients. Then each zucchini piece gets dipped into the egg, then the dipped into dry mixture. Hope that helps.
I’ve made this several times now, modifying just a touch for personal taste. It’s an absolute favorite in our house, thanks so much! I use Adobo seasoning in the panko mix, and a bit more cheese than called for. Otherwise followed almost exactly. Also found I needed to cook a bit longer, but that may be based on style of air fryer. Also, I’ve used a dipping sauce of sriracha ranch – try it! Thanks again.
Hi Mary, ooh your additions sound so delicious. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed the recipe!
So good! Like, sooooo good. Even my zucchini-HATING hubby thought they were delicious. It’s rainy and cold today and I was craving something warm and yummy for lunch… well this was the perfect tasty but healthy snack. Hubby and I just ate two whole zucchinis ?
Yay! Ha, I’m so glad you both loved it 🙂
I have everything except almond flour. Would regular flour be a suitable replacement?
hmm… it’s so different so it’s hard to say. I think it would be fine.
I realize your question was months ago, but I’m just seeing! I use Wondra flour in the shaker can. It’s similar in consistency to almond flour.
I don’t have an air fryer… do you have any modifications that might work, i.e., regular baking or a sauté in an iron skillet maybe?
Hi Henri, here’s the oven version: https://www.loveandlemons.com/baked-zucchini-chips/
Air Fryer is the best thing I’ve bought for my kitchen in years. Can’t live without it now. Kids now cook for themselves with no problem so it’s a win win situation. Love it.
I have to say that I had my doubts. This is completely different than the zucchini fries recipe that came with the air fryer. But it is far superior.m! Like others, I found the cooking them for about 15 minutes was about right. I do not have an air fryer oven I have a ninja foodie. Maybe that’s the difference. I also used olive oil spray and sprayed both sides of the chips. Per the suggestion of the raider below are used adobo seasoning instead of sea salt And I added a tiny bit of oregano to the breading. All these were very minor changes and wouldn’t have made a difference to the overall result which was a very crispy, very tasty zucchini chip. Thank you so much for sharing!
I’m so glad you loved them!
Hello. Please state the name brand of your Air fryer. Thank you.
Hi Karyn, it’s the Skinnytaste air fryer but it’s been discontinued.
My zucchini hating hubby loved these! (And so did I!) We just got an oven with air fry and it took a lot longer to get crispy, but they were great!
I’m so glad you both loved them!
Great idea to bake! Not so greasy but still very yummy.
We recently bought an air fryer; would love to see recipes for fried pickles, and also for fried jalapeños!
Thinking of buying an air fryer… would you mind sharing which one you use and/or like?
Thanks.
This sounds so easy, thank you for the nice recipe!