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This Air Fryer Zucchini is an easy and delicious side dish recipe you can enjoy all year long. It’s made in a few simple steps, and the air fryer takes care of the rest, making the veggies tender, caramelized, and sweet.
By now, it’s no secret that I love my air fryer! It’s such a versatile and easy-to-use appliance and adds dimensional flavor and texture to so many dishes, from roasted chickpeas and “chicken” nuggets to empanadas and baking sweet potatoes. The options are endless!
Nearly daily, I use the air fryer to make vegetable side dishes. It cooks them until deliciously tender and caramelized in a fraction of time needed to roast and doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
This air fryer zucchini is one of my frequently made recipes. Zucchini is often in our dinner side dish rotation — it’s affordable, easy to find year round, and has a mild, sweet flavor Baby J and I love.
For a versatile, everyday recipe, season the zucchini with garlic, salt, and pepper. It’s perfectly balanced, flavorful, and makes this recipe easy to whip up with pantry staples (no last minute grocery store trip!). To get creative or adapt the recipe to your preferences or meal, try one of my optional variations below.
Do you have more zucchini to use up? Make the most of it with these Hearty Zucchini Burgers and Vegan Pasta Salad.
Ingredients
Zucchini: You will need 2 medium-sized zucchinis for this air-fried zucchini recipe. Choose squash with firm and smooth, deep green skin. Wash them well before slicing off the ends and cutting into medallions or spears.
Olive Oil: This adds a touch of richness to the vegetables and helps them to brown while preventing them from sticking to the air fryer basket. I recommend using extra virgin olive oil, but you can also substitute it with virgin olive oil or avocado oil if needed.
Seasonings: Garlic powder adds a light, nutty sweetness, while salt and pepper season the zucchini, enhancing its flavor.
How to Air Fry Zucchini
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F and slice the zucchini into 1/8-inch medallions.
- Season. In a mixing bowl, toss the sliced zucchini with the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Transfer the zucchini to the air fryer basket in a single, even layer. You may need to cook the zucchini in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry for 13 minutes, shaking the zucchini every 5 minutes.
- Enjoy! Serve the air-fried zucchini hot, paired with your favorite meals.
Jenné’s Recipe Pro-Tips
- Air fry in a single layer. This is the most important tip! The zucchini requires ample space for the moisture to evaporate as it air fries, preventing it from becoming wet and soggy. If your basket isn’t large enough to fit all of the zucchini in one layer, cook it in batches. If desired, keep cooked batches warm in a 200°F oven while the others cook.
- Shake or turn regularly. This ensures that the vegetables cook and brown evenly. A light shake should help release the vegetables to turn, but you can use a wooden spoon or spatula if needed.
- Monitor the cooking process. I recommend keeping an eye on the zucchini in the air fryer from 10 minutes onward. For al dente zucchini, you may want to remove it before the 13-minute mark. If caramelized and crisp veggies are more your thing, they may need a few extra minutes of cooking time.
Recipe Variations
Versatility is the name of the game for this air-fried zucchini recipe! There are endless ways to adapt it to your taste preferences and meal:
- Mixed Squash: Swap a medium yellow summer squash or 2-3 pattypan squash for one of the zucchini for a two-toned veggie side!
- Spears: Cut the veggies into spears to make the zucchini more finger-food friendly. If making this swap, keep the cooking time the same.
- Seasoning: When it comes to seasoning variations, the options are nearly endless! Swap 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, Herbes de Provence, taco seasoning, or your favorite savory seasoning blend for the garlic powder to make this dish your own.
- Finishing: For a fresh, citrusy finish, squeeze the zucchini with fresh lemon juice. Chopped flat-leaf parsley or sliced fresh basil adds a light and herbaceous touch. Alternatively, sprinkle the zucchini with toasted breadcrumbs for a bit of crunch.
- “Cheesy“: Add 2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast to the seasoning mixture or finish the hot zucchini with 1-2 tablespoons of shredded vegan parmesan cheese for some savory comfort.
Serving Suggestions
It’s always a great time for air fryer zucchini! Enjoy this delicious side dish hot with any of your favorite entrees:
- Saucy Garlic Noodles
- Beet and Black Bean Veggie Burgers
- Pan-Fried Oyster Mushrooms
- Mushroom Alfredo Pasta
Storage Directions
- Refrigerating: To prevent the zucchini from getting soggy, cool it uncovered at room temperature. Once cooled, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing the zucchini, as its texture can break down upon thawing.
- Reheating: Warm the zucchini in an air fryer preheated to 325°F for 2-3 minutes or in a microwave on gentle heat until hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
In my recipe testing, I found that 13 minutes is the perfect sweet spot for tender, perfectly cooked zucchini. For al dente veggies, cook for 10-12 minutes; for a more caramelized texture, cook for 13-15 minutes.
More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer Broccolini
- Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
Air Fryer Zucchini
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced into ⅛-inch medallions or spears
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp fine sea salt or kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- In a mixing bowl, toss the sliced zucchini with the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Transfer the zucchini to the air fryer in a single, even layer — you may need to cook the zucchini in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry for 13 minutes, shaking the zucchini every 5 minutes.
- Enjoy hot.
Notes
- Refrigerating: To prevent the zucchini from getting soggy, cool it uncovered at room temperature. Once cooled, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing the zucchini, as its texture can break down upon thawing.
- Reheating: Warm the zucchini in an air fryer preheated to 325°F for 2-3 minutes or in a microwave on gentle heat until hot.
- Mixed Squash: Swap a medium yellow summer squash or 2-3 pattypan squash for one of the zucchini for a two-toned veggie side!
- Seasoning: When it comes to seasoning variations, the options are nearly endless! Swap 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, Herbes de Provence, taco seasoning, or your favorite savory seasoning blend for the garlic powder to make this dish your own.
- Finishing: For a fresh, citrusy finish, squeeze the zucchini with fresh lemon juice. Chopped flat-leaf parsley or sliced fresh basil adds a light and herbaceous touch. Alternatively, sprinkle the zucchini with toasted breadcrumbs for a bit of crunch.
- “Cheesy“: Add 2 teaspoons of nutritional yeast to the seasoning mixture or finish the hot zucchini with 1-2 tablespoons of shredded vegan parmesan cheese for some savory comfort.
- Air fry in a single layer. This is the most important tip! The zucchini requires ample space for the moisture to evaporate as it air fries, preventing it from becoming wet and soggy. If your basket isn’t large enough to fit all of the zucchini in one layer, cook it in batches. If desired, keep cooked batches warm in a 200°F oven while the others cook.
- Shake or turn regularly. This ensures that the vegetables cook and brown evenly. A light shake should help release the vegetables to turn, but you can use a wooden spoon or spatula if needed.
- Monitor the cooking process. I recommend keeping an eye on the zucchini in the air fryer from 10 minutes onward. For al dente zucchini, you may want to remove it before the 13-minute mark. If caramelized and crisp veggies are more your thing, they may need a few extra minutes of cooking time.
