Looking for fresh cooked veggies in the heat of the summer? Simply slice up a zucchini, add some basic seasonings and pop it in the air fryer. The result is crispy yet tender zucchini that's as delicious as it is healthy!

Zucchini is the ultimate summer veggie. Served raw, it's super hydrating and a nice addition to cold salads for some extra crunch. But when roasted or grilled, its tough exterior breaks down and the interior becomes soft and and mildly sweet.
I don't always have the time for roasting vegetables though, and firing up the grill puts pressure on me to cook more than just a side dish on it.
The solution? This air fryer recipe! Air-frying zucchini is the perfect way to enjoy all the benefits of roasting but in less than half the time. Plus, you won't have to stand over the oven or grill in the summer heat!
Why You'll Love this Air Fryer Zucchini
- Ready in less time and uses less oil than roasting
- Simple yet offers so much flavor
- Healthy
- Great way to enjoy in-season produce
- The perfect side dish (or delicious appetizer!)
Ingredients
This easy recipe uses just a handful of simple ingredients, all of which are pantry staples you likely have on hand. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.
- Zucchini
- Extra virgin olive oil - avocado oil can be used instead if desired
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini
1. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
2. Slice zucchini into evenly sized pieces. To do so, slice into rounds and then cut each into quarters.
3. In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced zucchini with olive oil and seasonings.
4. Place the zucchini in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Ideally, the zucchini pieces should not be touching each other.
5. Air fry for 5 minutes. Gently toss with a spatula (or shake the air fryer basket) and cook another 2 minutes.
6. Serve immediately while hot.
Recipe Tips
Preheat the air fryer. This is a small but important step, as a preheated air fryer will help ensure maximum crispiness.
The size of the zucchini slices will affect cooking time. I love the taste and feel of bite-sized pieces, plus cutting them small allows for quicker cooking time (win-win!). Cutting zucchini larger or thicker will take a bit longer to fully cook, so plan to adjust accordingly if you slice them into spears or bigger chunks.
Do not overlap the zucchini in the basket. Overlapping zucchini will prevent the hot air from circulating around each piece and will therefore cause it to steam rather than fry. The result will be soggier zucchini that won't be anywhere near as crisp. If you can't fit all the zucchini in the basket of the air fryer without touching each other, cook in two batches! It all depends on the size of your air fryer as different brands vary.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover zucchini in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat in the air fryer (400 degrees F for 2-3 minutes) for best results. You can certainly reheat it in the microwave but it will lose any crispiness.
How to Select Zucchini
For zucchini, bigger is not better! Size really does matter and the ideal length is between 6-8 inches. These tend to be the most flavorful, whereas larger zucchini are more watery and essentially tasteless.
Ripe zucchini will be firm, have a bright green color and feel heavy for its size.
How to Serve Air-Fried Zucchini
Serve as a side with any main dish such as vegan summer rolls or veggie kebabs, or mix the zucchini in with summer pasta dishes like this bright lemon spinach pasta!
When serving as a side, I love pairing it with any of the following sauces (all vegan). Any of these can be prepared while the zucchini cooks.
Health Benefits of Zucchini
Zucchini, like cucumbers, are high in water content which is perfect for the summer months. They are also rich in vitamins A and C as well as manganese, copper and folate.
More Air Fryer Vegetables
Fun fact: Because zucchini contains seeds and grows from teh flowering part of a plant, it is technically not a veggie, but a fruit!
I hope you enjoy this air fryer zucchini recipe! It is such an easy way to add a healthy side dish to the table. If you make it, please share @eatingbyelaine so I can see your crispy and golden brown zucchini!
Print
Crispy Air Fryer Zucchini
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Looking for fresh cooked veggies in the heat of the summer? Simply slice up a zucchini, add some basic seasonings and pop it in the air fryer. The result is crispy yet tender zucchini that's as delicious as it is healthy!
Ingredients
- 1 medium zucchini, ends trimmed
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Slice zucchini into evenly sized pieces. To do so, slice into rounds and then cut each into quarters.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced zucchini with olive oil and seasonings.
- Place the zucchini in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Ideally, the zucchini pieces should not be touching each other.
- Air fry for 5 minutes. Gently toss with a spatula (or shake the air fryer basket) and cook another 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Sizes of air fryers vary. If you are unable to fit all of the zucchini pieces in the basket without overlapping, cook in two batches.
- Prep Time: 3
- Cook Time: 7
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
Charity says
So delicious! What a wonderful way to enjoy this seasonal delight!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy!