Air Fried Zucchini Crisps with Parmesan

These zucchini crisps are a fabulous snack or appetizer, and a great way to sneak in veggies in your diet! You can bake them in the oven or even in the air fryer.

Who else is growing a vegetable garden this summer? This was always a fun project I did with my kiddos. We’d look at all the different shapes of seeds and plant them. The hardest part was waiting for the seeds to sprout and fruit to form.

Over the years we have grown all kinds of veggies, from turnips to artichokes. Tomatoes and carrots are always a family favorite. And lately, my kids are starting to appreciate the underwhelming zucchini!

Why you must try this recipe

These zucchini crisps are super easy to whip up. I used to bake them in the oven, but lately the air fryer has been a fun alternative for cooking. It’s a great treat to enjoy whether you have one zucchini or a dozen!

Zucchini is an under-appreciated vegetable. It gets mushy when overcooked and really isn’t something you should eat raw. What to do with it?

These crisps aren’t heavily battered. A quick coating olive oil is all you need to keep the parmesan and bread crumbs sticking to it.

The air fryer bakes these babies up nice and crispy on the outside. And they bake very nicely in the oven, too. It’s a great appetizer for a crown or whenever you want a healthy snack!

Ingredients needed

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• Zucchini: You can use green or yellow zucchini. Definitely use fresh zucchini as frozen is too mushy.
• Parmesan cheese: You will need finely grated parmesan for best results. You can also use grated pecorino romano or asiago cheese.
• Breadcrumbs: You can use seasoned or unseasoned bread crumbs. You can also use panko crumbs if you want more crunch! For a low carb option, you can use crush pork rinds.
• Extra virgin olive oil: You can use a mild olive oil or peppery one. You can also use avocado or any other vegetable oil.
• Salt and pepper

Tools to Use

• Chef’s Knife
• Cutting board
• Mixing bowls

SHOP NOW

Step-by-step directions

1. Slice zucchini into ¼-inch rounds. Place zucchini rounds in a medium-sized bowl and toss with olive oil to coat.

2. In a separate bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.

3. Press each zucchini round into the Parmesan mixture, coating it evenly on both sides. Place coated zucchini round onto a baking sheet. If you are baking the zucchini crisps, make sure the baking sheet is lightly greased.

4. Place the zucchini rounds in the air fryer and bake at 400ºF for 15 minutes, flipping them over halfway. To bake in the oven, bake at 450ºF until browned and crisp, about 25-30 minutes.

Expert tips and recipe FAQs

We dipped this tasty treats in my homemade marinara sauce, and boy were they delicious. You can also use your favorite jarred marinara or even homemade ranch dressing.

Leftovers don’t stay crispy when reheated unless you pop them in the toaster oven.

Want more zucchini recipes? You must try:

• Lemon and Zucchini Quinoa Pilaf
• Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai with Orange Chicken
• Pasta with Zucchini, Garlic and Olive Oil
• Balsamic Roasted Tomato Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles)

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Yield: 8 servings

Baked Zucchini Crisps

Print

These zucchini crisps are a fabulous snack or appetizer, and a great way to sneak in veggies in your diet! You can bake them in the oven or even in the air fryer.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb zucchini, about 2 medium zucchini
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• ¼ cup breadcrumbs, seasoned
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, ground

Instructions

1. If baking in the oven, coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Slice zucchini into ¼-inch rounds. Place zucchini rounds in a medium-sized bowl and toss with olive oil to coat.
3. In a separate bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.
4. Press each zucchini round into the Parmesan mixture, coating it evenly on both sides.
5. Place coated zucchini round onto prepared baking sheet.
6. For the oven, bake the zucchini rounds at 450ºF until browned and crisp, about 25-30 minutes. To air fry, cook at 400ºF for 15 minutes.
7. Serve immediately.
   

Notes

Serving Suggestions: Serve with marinara sauce ranch dressing or even pesto.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 58Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 119mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g

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This recipe and post was originally published May 31, 2010. It has been updated with more content and new photographs.