This easy-fried zucchini recipe transforms ordinary zucchini into a crispy and flavorful dish. Serve as an appetizer or a tasty side dish with a bowl of warm marinara or homemade avocado ranch dressing.
What’s In This Post
Crispy Fried Zucchini
If you have a summer garden, chances are pretty good that you have some zucchini, and if you don’t, zucchini is readily available at your local grocery store all year. This is one of our favorite zucchini recipes. You can make these up to a few hours in advance and reheat them right in the air fryer or oven, and they will still be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. We like to serve them with marinara, but you can also serve with Honey Mustard Sauce or Southern Comeback Sauce.
They reheat incredibly well and are always a favorite with family and friends. I love to serve them for family night with Lemon Pepper Wings, Baked Shrimp Toast, and French Onion Dip.
Fried Zucchini Ingredients
- Zucchini: look for medium-sized, unblemished, firm zucchini
- Flour: all-purpose
- Eggs: large ones
- Breadcrumbs: Italian and Panko
- Parmesan cheese: freshly grated
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- Oil: vegetable or canola
- Sauce: marinara or homemade ranch
How to make Fried Zucchini
Start by cutting your zucchini into sticks or rounds. Either way, they should be about 1/2 inch thick. Now, set up three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one mixed with Italian breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
Dredge the zucchini sticks or slices in the flour, dip them in the eggs, and in the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat until you have coated all the zucchini.
Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a Dutch oven or heavy skillet like a cast iron skillet. Now working in batches, fry the zucchini on each side for a few minutes or until golden brown. Then, remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain excess grease. Serve with warm marinara sauce or ranch dressing.
Recipe Tips
- Leave the skin on and cut the sticks or rounds for zucchini bites about 1/3-1/2 inch thick for optimum frying.
- I like to make my own breadcrumbs using croutons. They provide such terrific flavor with a lot fewer preservatives. I grind them up in my mini food processor.
- To avoid the dreaded breading fingers, use one hand for the wet ingredients and the other for the dry ingredients! Voila, no more constant hand washing.
- Try cooking in the air fryer for a lighter version with less fat and calories.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese as it is flavor-packed and helps make this recipe so delectable.
How to cook fried zucchini in an air fryer
Bread the zucchini per the instructions and spray the pieces lightly with cooking spray. Then, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Arrange in a single layer and cook for about 5-7 minutes or until crispy. Every air fryer cooks differently, so check on them several times.
How to bake these zucchini sticks
Bread the zucchini per the instructions and spray the pieces lightly with cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the breaded zucchini in a single layer with some space between them. Bake for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
Storage and Reheat
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be reheated in an air fryer in a single layer at 400 degrees for 2-3 minutes or in the oven at 375 degrees for 5-6 minutes.
More Zucchini Recipe
Fried Zucchini Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 medium to large zucchini
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Marinara optional
Instructions
- Set up 3 bowls. One with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one mixed with Italian breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Dip each stick in the flour, then in the eggs, and then in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Heat 1/2 inch oil in a Dutch oven heavy or heavy skillet. Working in batches, fry the zucchini for 2-3 minutes per side. Remove to paper towels to drain any excess grease. Serve with warm marinara sauce.
Notes
- Leave the skin on and cut the sticks or rounds for zucchini bites about 1/3-1/2 inch thick for optimum frying.
- I like to make my own breadcrumbs using croutons. They provide such terrific flavor with a lot fewer preservatives. I grind them up in my mini food processor.
- To avoid the dreaded breading fingers, use one hand for the wet ingredients and the other hand for the dry ingredients! Voila, no more constant hand washing.
- For a lighter version with less fat and calories, try cooking in the air fryer.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese as it is flavor-packed and really helps make this recipe so delectable.
Nutrition
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Josephine Pitt
Wow, I don’t know why I never tried this before. It was so good! My new favorite way to make zucchini! Thanks!
Erica
They were incredibly delicious and crispy! Can’t wait to make these again. Thanks for the recipe.
Suzanna
I love this recipe! Its a good way to make my kids eat veggies! They enjoyed it!
Marilee
I had not tried fried zucchini before. It is such a moist veggie, I am surprised how well it can be battered and fried! Do you have a fried mushroom recipe?
Beth Pierce
Yes, I sure do! Here you go!
Ryan Meads
Great fried zucchini! It was crispy and flavorful. It will be a summer favorite with my garden zucchini.
Beth Pierce
That sounds like a great plan!
Garland Hanson
Perfectly seasoned and that CRUNCH – these were great! I served them with comeback sauce and everyone gobbled them up! Now I know what I am going to do with all that summer garden zucchini!
Beth Pierce
Great idea, Garland!
Nicole
I just love these fried zucchini. I tried them in the air fryer and they turned out crispy and flavorful. I served them with some warm marinara! I will make these again and again! I just love zucchini!
Beth Pierce
Me too, Nicole! Just a tasty and flavorful vegetable!
Crystal Carder
Fried zucchini is a recipe my mom always makes. Hers is fried, but I love the idea of using an air fryer instead. Can’t wait to use some of my zucchini this summer to try this recipe!
Helen McKenzie
Pretty good.. I used corn starch instead of flour, makes it super crispy
Pooja
This was really tasty! My whole family enjoyed this. I serve it as an appetizer on Saturday night.
Jennifer Prince
Ooh! This is such a great appetizer, and they look easy to make. Saving this for my next get together — or maybe even a movie night at home.
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Enjoy!!
Rosey
This fried zucchini was delicious. I served with some warm marinara and fresh Parmesan cheese. You can’t go wrong there!
Neely Moldovan
Ohhhh I love fried zuchini! Trying your recipe this weekend!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Neely!
Patricia Chamberlain
I have two giant zucchinis that need used, so I found this recipe at the perfect time. I can’t wait to try it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Patricia! Enjoy!
Ivan Carlo Jose
Thanks for the great recipe. It was delicious and I did not have to use too much oil to get it done.
Rose Ann Sales
Wow! This looks absolutely delicious and tasty! My kids would definitely love this for sure!