Air Fryer Zucchini with Parmesan
Golden and crisp-tender Air Fryer Zucchini is an easy side dish that’s ready in 20 minutes from start to finish. Seasoned simply and tossed with Parmesan cheese for extra flavor, it’s a quick way to enjoy the best of summer veggies without turning on the oven or stove. Plus, it pairs well with so many of your favorite meals.
Table of Contents
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: Italian-inspired
- Primary Cooking Method: Air Fryer
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
You’ll often find me making sautéed summer vegetables or grilled zucchini when I want to enjoy the best of the season. But sometimes I am looking for a hands-off way to cook my zucchini, or it’s just too hot to stand over the stove or the grill. That’s when I put my air fryer into action.
Perfectly crisp yet tender air fryer zucchini is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this summer staple. The outsides are roasted and golden, the insides are tender, and the flavors are incredible thanks to a generous coating of simple seasoning and fresh parmesan.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Zucchini
A summer dish after my own heart, and here’s why:
- Simple ingredients. You can stick with just zucchini, oil, salt, and pepper. However, a sprinkle of Italian seasoning and some parmesan cheese is an easy way to infuse tons of flavor.
- No oven. When you make zucchini in the air fryer, you don’t have to wait for the oven to preheat or warm up the kitchen on a hot day.
- Versatile. This easy vegetable side pairs with everything from grilled steaks to your favorite pasta dishes, and so much more. See the Make it a Meal section below for lots of ideas!
Recipe Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy air fryer zucchini recipe. Here’s an overview of the ingredients, with the full amounts available in the recipe card below:
- Zucchini: You’ll need 2 to 4 medium-sized, fresh zucchini for this recipe. Just chop it up into bite-sized chunks for roasting. You can also use yellow summer squash.
- Oil: I use avocado oil when air frying my veggies because of its higher smoke point. Something like olive oil or cooking spray can leave a residue on your air fryer.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan is best. I love how the cheese gets all toasted and crispy in the air fryer! But you can skip it for a dairy-free option.
- Seasoning: Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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- Avocado Oil – I used to use olive oil, but have found that avocado oil, with its higher smoke point, works better in the air fryer.
- Air Fryer Liners – If you want to simplify cleanup, especially with something that can stick easily like parmesan cheese, these disposable liners are a great option.
How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini
Here’s how to make this delicious air fryer zucchini in three easy steps:
- Prep the Zucchini: While your air fryer is preheating, wash and dry the zucchini. Next, use a knife to trim off the ends and halve the zucchini lengthwise. Cut the halves into half-inch chunks.
- Season: Add the zucchini into a bowl with oil, parmesan, and seasoning, then toss to coat.
- Cook: Pop the zucchini chunks into the air fryer to cook. After 5 minutes, give them a toss and then roast for another 5-10 minutes, or until the zucchini is golden and crispy, and tender in the middle. Take them out of the air fryer, and serve! See below for easy serving ideas.
Tips for Success
A few things to remember for the best zucchini in the air fryer:
- Leave Enough Space: As with most air frying recipes, the trick to crispy outsides and perfectly cooked insides is leaving enough space between the food for the hot air to circulate. This air fryer zucchini comes out best when it’s cooked in a single layer, so work in batches if needed to achieve tender-crisp perfection.
- Cut the Right Size: Aim for uniform chunks that are a ½-inch to ¾-inch thick when cutting up your zucchini. Slices that are too thin or small will overcook quickly, and different-sized pieces will cook unevenly.
- Toss Halfway Through: Make sure to give the air fryer basket a shake every so often while the zucchini bites are cooking, to get them nice and crispy on all sides.
How to Store and Reheat Extras
- Refrigerator – Store any leftover zucchini airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer – Due to zucchini’s high water content, I wouldn’t recommend freezing, as it becomes mushy when it thaws. Frozen air fryer zucchini also doesn’t reheat well. Instead, use up cold leftover zucchini as an addition to salads!
- Reheat – You can reheat zucchini in the air fryer or oven, at 400ºF for a few minutes until it’s crisped up and warmed through.
Variation Ideas
When it comes to a vegetable recipe as simple as this one, the door is wide open for customization! Here are some ways that you can adapt the flavors of your air fryer zucchini:
- Use Different Seasoning Blends: Instead of Italian seasoning, try tossing your zucchini in other pre-mixed blends like Herbes de Provence, Cajun seasoning, or Homemade Blackened Seasoning.
- Add Herbs and Spices: Add in paprika, cayenne pepper, crushed red peppers, or fresh chopped herbs such as dill, basil, thyme, and rosemary.
- Add Lemon: Before serving, garnish air fryer zucchini with a squeeze of fresh lemon, or sprinkle of zest.
- Drizzle with Balsamic: Add balsamic vinegar into the oil and seasoning, or drizzle the finished zucchini with a bit of vinegar for extra flavor.
- Teriyaki-Style: Coat your zucchini with store bought or homemade Teriyaki Sauce for an Asian-inspired twist.
Make It a Meal
These air fryer zucchini bites are perfect with so many family dinners since they are super versatile! Here are some ways to serve this tasty roasted zucchini:
- Make it a simple family-friendly meal with Gluten-Free Air Fryer Fried Chicken, Homemade Air Fryer French Fries and a side of air fryer zucchini. Or try these crisp zucchini bites as an alternative to fries next to Air Fryer Hamburgers.
- It’s wonderful with pasta dishes like Penne with Tomato Cream Sauce or some spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce.
- Serve them as a veggie side for entertaining next to French Onion Stuffed Meatballs, Instant Pot Ribs, or Balsamic BBQ Baked Chicken Breasts when you have guests. These dishes are all great with zucchini, Perfectly Oven-Roasted Asparagus, and Hasselback Sweet Potatoes.
- It’s also great during grilling season alongside Grilled NY Strip Steaks or Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki and other easy summer side dish ideas like Easy Three Bean Salad.
- Try it for dipping in fresh Marinara Sauce or light and creamy Tzatziki Sauce.
Air Fryer Zucchini with Parmesan Cheese
Golden and crisp-tender Air Fryer Zucchini is tossed in simple seasonings and parmesan cheese for an easy and flavorful side dish that's ready in 20 minutes. No need to turn on the oven or stove!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2-4 medium zucchini
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
- 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Wash and dry 2-4 medium zucchini. Slice off the ends and cut the zucchini in half lengthwise. If they are thicker, then slice them into quarters lengthwise. Then slice them into chunks about ½- to ¾-inches.
- Add the zucchini to a large bowl, drizzle 1 Tablespoon avocado oil over the zucchini, then sprinkle 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper over it. Toss everything together to coat the zucchini chunks.
- Cook in the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes. Open the air fryer and toss everything gently. Cook at 400°F for another 5-10 minutes, checking and tossing after 5 minutes, or until the zucchini is golden-brown, crispy outside, and tender inside.
- Remove from the air fryer and serve.
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Zucchini with Parmesan Cheese
Amount Per Serving
Calories 58
Calories from Fat 36
% Daily Value*
Fat 4g6%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 2mg1%
Sodium 339mg14%
Potassium 263mg8%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 220IU4%
Vitamin C 18mg22%
Calcium 50mg5%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
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