Breaded in savory parmesan breadcrumbs and made completely crispy within the air fryer, these air fryer zucchini chips are a scrumptious appetizer or aspect dish.
I’m a zucchini lover that lives with zucchini haters, so more often than not I find yourself hiding zucchini in baked items like zucchini cookies and chocolate zucchini cake.
However typically I say “screw it” and make one thing savory out of zucchini only for myself to get pleasure from.
I might need been the one particular person in my household who preferred these air fryer zucchini chips, however that didn’t cease me from making them and having fun with all of them on my own. They’re completely crispy and the seasoned breading pairs so nicely with the delicate zucchini.
CRISPY BREADED ZUCCHINI CHIPS
The remainder of my household might not be zucchini followers, however I LOVE it. I’m particularly a giant fan of crispy, breaded zucchini fries and chips.
I simply actually love the distinction in textures between the crispy breading on the surface and the superbly comfortable zucchini on the within. It’s so good.
I like making veggie sides in my air fryer, equivalent to air fryer brussels sprouts and air fryer inexperienced beans. And because it’s the peak of zucchini season proper now, I knew I needed to seize my air fryer and use it to make some zucchini chips.
I initially thought I’d attempt to make zucchini fries as a substitute of chips, however I discovered it was simpler to get an excellent, constant coating of the breading and crispy exterior when minimize the zucchini into skinny rounds as a substitute of fries.
However you’ll be able to completely use this breading recipe to show yours into fries if you happen to want!
Serve these up as an appetizer or as a aspect dish with some fast marinara sauce or do-it-yourself ranch dressing for dipping. You may even be capable of persuade a zucchini hater to present them a attempt!
HOW TO MAKE ZUCCHINI CHIPS IN THE AIR FRYER
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of getting to bread the zucchini rounds for these air fryer zucchini chips. So long as you will have 3 shallow bowls or pie plates, you are able to do this.
Prepping the zucchini
When shopping for your zucchini for this recipe, you’ll want to search for 3-4 small zucchini. Save these large zucchini for baking recipes, equivalent to lemon zucchini cake or traditional zucchini bread.
When you’ve washed the zucchini, minimize off every finish after which slice the zucchini into ¼-inch-thick rounds. There’s no have to peel the zucchini.
You may minimize them with a pointy knife or use a mandoline to make fast work of creating even slices.
Making this recipe
As soon as your zucchini is prepped and able to go, you can begin on making the air fryer zucchini chips.
You’ll want 3 shallow bowls or pie plates on your breading station.
In a single bowl, whisk collectively the flour and cornstarch. Within the second, evenly beat the eggs. Within the final bowl, whisk collectively the breadcrumbs with the italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese.
When you work on coating the zucchini rounds, let your air fryer preheat to 400°F for 5-10 minutes.
To coat the zucchini, dredge the rounds within the flour combination, then dip them within the crushed eggs. Lastly, coat them within the breadcrumb combination.
Set the coated rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet till you’re prepared so as to add them to the air fryer.
When your air fryer is preheated and also you’ve breaded a number of of the zucchini rounds, place them in a single layer within the backside of your air fryer basket. What number of you’ll be able to prepare dinner directly will rely on the dimensions of your air fryer.
Spritz the tops of the rounds evenly with olive oil or cooking spray. Air fry them at 400°F for five minutes, then flip them over and spritz the brand new high sides with olive oil or cooking spray earlier than cooking at 400°F for one more 5 minutes.
The air fryer zucchini chips are prepared when they’re crispy and golden on each side.
Repeat with the remaining batches of the breaded zucchini rounds as wanted based mostly on the dimensions of your air fryer. You may hold the already cooked zucchini chips heat on a wire rack in a low oven if wanted.
STORAGE & REHEATING
Like the vast majority of breaded and fried meals, these air fryer zucchini chips are positively finest when eaten proper after cooking.
Nonetheless, you probably have some left over, you’ll be able to retailer them within the fridge in a single day and reheat them within the air fryer the following day.
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container with paper towels on the underside of the container and between layers the zucchini chips. This may assist take in any moisture to make reheating extra profitable the following day.
To reheat, place the zucchini chips in a preheated air fryer and prepare dinner at 400°F for 2-3 minutes per aspect, till warmed via. They might not be fairly as crispy as on day 1, however they’ll nonetheless style nice.
RECIPE FAQS
Can I bake these zucchini chips if I don’t have an air fryer?
When you don’t have an air fryer, you could possibly bake these breaded zucchini chips within the oven as a substitute. They could not get fairly as crispy and can take somewhat longer than within the air fryer, however they’ll nonetheless be scrumptious.
Place the breaded rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet and spray the tops evenly with cooking spray. Bake at 425°F for about 20 minutes, flipping midway via, till golden and crispy on each side.
Can I exploit frozen zucchini for this recipe?
I don’t advocate utilizing frozen zucchini to make these air fryer zucchini chips. The method of freezing and thawing creates a mushy texture within the zucchini, which we don’t need in our chips.
Save your frozen zucchini for chocolate zucchini muffins or zucchini soup as a substitute.
Can I minimize the zucchini into fries as a substitute of rounds?
Sure, completely. I discovered that the rounds have been simpler to dredge and get a fair, crispy coating on, however you’ll be able to completely do fries.
When you select to do fries, it’s possible you’ll wish to flip them a few occasions through the cooking course of so as to get all 4 sides golden and crispy.
Can I exploit yellow squash as a substitute of zucchini?
Certain! Similar to with the zucchini, be sure you search for small yellow squash and save the large ones for a unique recipe.
Why do you should preheat the air fryer when making these zucchini chips?
So as to get the crispiest coating on our air fryer zucchini chips, you wish to take the time to preheat your air fryer earlier than including the breaded zucchini rounds. Simply set the air fryer to preheat when you coat the rounds within the breading and it’ll be able to go if you end up.
-
Seize 3 large, shallow bowls or pie plates. Within the first one, whisk collectively the flour and cornstarch. Within the second, evenly beat the eggs. Within the third, whisk collectively the breadcrumbs, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese.
-
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5-10 minutes.
-
Whereas the air fryer preheats, dredge the zucchini rounds within the flour combination, then dip them within the eggs, then coat them within the breadcrumb combination. Set the rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet till able to air fry.
-
When able to air fry, place a number of the breaded rounds in a single layer into the basket of your air fryer. Spritz the tops evenly with olive oil or cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for five minutes; flip the rounds, spritz the edges that at the moment are up with olive oil or cooking spray, and prepare dinner at 400°F for a further 5 minutes, or till crispy and golden brown on each side.
-
Repeat with the remaining batches of breaded zucchini rounds as wanted based mostly on the dimensions of your air fryer.
-
Serve heat with a dipping sauce equivalent to marinara or ranch.
Merely halve the components for a smaller portion of zucchini chips.
Energy: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 6g | Fats: 3g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 1g | Trans Fats: 0.004g | Ldl cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 243IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 2mg