This Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini is a quick and healthy side dish that needs just 4 ingredients and less than 15 minutes to make. What you get is a crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, cheesy and delicious veggie that is a total dinner-time game-changer.
Table of contents
- Healthy Side Dish Zucchini Recipes
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Why Roast Vegetables in Your Air Fryer
- Ingredients
- How to Make Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini
- Tips for Air Frying Vegetables
- What to Serve with Air Fryer Roasted Zucchini
- How To Store/ Reheat Crispy Parmesan Zucchini
- Most Asked Questions
- More Zucchini Recipes
Healthy Side Dish Zucchini Recipes
Zucchini is my newest obsession for creating a healthy and easy side dish. And cooking them in the air fryer is a great way to get that crispy texture we all know and love. Plus the air fryer needs less time, less oil, and is a healthier alternative to deep frying.
If you love fresh zucchini or are on a low-carb diet these easy zucchini recipes are for you. My perfect side dish favorites include Air Fryer Zucchini Fries, Air Fryer Zucchini Boats, Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters, and this Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini recipe.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make - just cut your zucchini, season, and air fry. That's it!
- Quick - cooking vegetables in the air fryer takes half the time of roasting them in the oven. Just 7 minutes of cook time is all you need!
- Extra Crispy - that beautiful crunch covering soft, moist insides is the best! The air fryer creates crisper vegetables versus cooking them in the oven.
- Healthy - the air fryer uses less oil than frying and loses fewer nutrients making it a healthier option. Great for paleo, low carb, or keto diet.
- Easy Cleanup - just a quick soapy rinse is all you need to clean the air fryer basket.
- No Oven - a great way to cook meals in the middle of summer when you don't want to heat up the house.
Why Roast Vegetables in Your Air Fryer
Air frying is one of my favorite ways to cook vegetables. They cook up quickly, are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, mimicking deep-fried veggies, and finish with a wonderful roasted flavor that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
This air fryer zucchini recipe is one of the easiest recipes you'll ever make. Simple ingredients, a bowl to mix them in, and pop them in the air fryer. The exact measurements are in the printable recipe card below.
Zucchini - purchase firm and fresh organic zucchini. Medium-sized zucchini are your best bet as the skin is more tender and the seeds are smaller than that of large zucchini.
Olive Oil - helps to create golden brown, crispy zucchini as well as to keep it from burning. I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil but avocado oil or vegetable oil are also options.
Italian Seasoning - adds flavor to this rather bland vegetable. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes if you want a spicier outcome, onion powder for a sweet savory flavor, or a little garlic powder for all you garlic lovers out there.
Salt & Black Pepper
Parmesan Cheese - you can sub nutritional yeast for a vegan side dish
How to Make Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini
Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 5 minutes while you prepare the zucchini.
- Place cut zucchini in a large bowl. Add olive oil and stir well.
- Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Add in grated parmesan cheese.
- Toss to coat evenly.
Tip for quicker meal prep: Wash and cut zucchini the day before and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray then add prepared zucchini. Air fry in batches to achieve even cooking. Do not overcrowd the basket.
- Air fry for 5 minutes, toss, then cook another 2-4 minutes or until zucchini are still firm but tender and have achieved a nice golden brown crust.
Tips for Air Frying Vegetables
Make sure your vegetables are cut into equal bite-sized pieces. This will enable them to cook evenly.
Lay the food in a single layer so as not to overcrowd. This will allow the vegetables to crisp up instead of steaming.
Use the exact amount of oil called for in the recipe for the best results. Too much oil will make the vegetables soggy. You only need minimal oil to create crispy veggies.
Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time so each side has the chance to brown.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Roasted Zucchini
This air fryer zucchini parmesan makes a great side dish and is both delicious and versatile. It will pair with just about any beef, chicken, pork, or seafood, whether it's grilled, roasted, cooked in a slow cooker or instant pot, or the air fryer. To make dinner easy, just keep the air fryer out and cook up a protein to pair with your crispy zucchini.
Beef: Air Fryer Steak Bites, Air Fryer Filet Mignon, Crockpot Cube Steak
Chicken: Air Fryer Lemon Chicken, Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Chicken Cordon Bleu Shells
Pork: Air Fryer Pork Chops, Rosemary Grilled Pork Chops, Instant Pot Honey Garlic Pork Tenderloin
Seafood: Air Fryer Shrimp, Air Fryer Fish Sticks, Grilled Salmon
How To Store/ Reheat Crispy Parmesan Zucchini
Store: Leftover zucchini can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat: in the air fryer at 400°F for 3-5 minutes. You can also reheat in a 375°F oven on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes or until warm.
Freezing is not recommended as they will become soggy once thawed.
Most Asked Questions
You most likely overcrowding the basket of the air fryer. To achieve a crispy outside, the zucchini needs to have room for the air to circulate around them. If you have a small air fryer or are making a large quantity of zucchini, air fry in batches.
Absolutely! This recipe will work with either vegetable.
More Zucchini Recipes
- Zucchini Cake
- Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
- Oven Baked Parmesan Zucchini Chips
- Zucchini Bran Muffins
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Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchini
- 1 ½ Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese grated
- Avocado or olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F for 5 minutes.
- Wash and cut zucchini. First cut the zucchini lengthwise into quarters then cut each of these quarters into equal-sized pieces.
- Place in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil then sprinkle with seasonings.
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray then add cut zucchini to the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer with enough room around them to roast not steam. If you need to, do them in batches.
- Air fry for 5 minutes, stir, then air fry another 2-4 minutes. You want them to be nicely charred on the edges and still have a slight bite.
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