A healthy snack or appetiser of crispy air fryer zucchini chips, using minimal pantry ingredients.
What I love about an air fryer, is with little preparation and time, a wonderful snack can be made. It’s effortless.
This is an air fryer zucchini chips without breadcrumbs recipe. It’s straightforward to make and can be used as a base for building up your own favourite flavoured zucchini chips.
😋Why you’ll love this recipe
- Inexpensive using minimal pantry ingredients
- Simple and easy recipe
- Perfect for whenever you’re stuck on a snack, dip these into your favourite sauce
- Suitable for a variety of diets - vegan, gluten-free and low-carb.
✔️What You’ll Need
The following ingredients are two combinations that I like, at the very basic level, you'll need green zucchini, oil and salt.
The above photo is of a savoury flavour profile, whilst the bottom one has a sweetness from the maple syrup. I love the combination of zucchini with maple syrup.
🥘Ingredient Notes
Zucchini - these air fryer zucchini chips can be made with small and large dark green zucchini. Choose good quality zucchini that don’t have any bruising.
Oil - I have used avocado oil to air fry with, you can choose your preferred oil, such as olive oil.
Salt - can be added after the zucchini is air fried rather than at the beginning.
The above two ingredients are the basics of this recipe. You can then build flavour with the following suggestions;
For a sweet version, which I personally love, add maple syrup, dried oregano, a pinch of salt with the above.
For a savoury version, add nutritional yeast which will give a cheesy flavour, you can optionally add garlic powder to the above two ingredients also.
Do note that using too much nutritional yeast or garlic powder or similar will result in a heavier zucchini chip which may not crisp up properly.
🔪Step-By-Step Guide
Here’s how to make air-fried zucchini chips
Step 1 - Slice zucchini into even coins using a mandolin, no thicker than 3-4mm.
Step 2 - Sprinkle salt onto zucchini and allow them sit for about 10 minutes, this will draw out excess moisture. Pat down zucchini coins between two layers of paper towel.
Step 3 - In a mixing bowl, toss zucchini through oil and all other ingredients.
Step 4 - Place zucchini coins into the air fryer into a single layer. Fry on med-high until golden brown. See notes. Place onto a cooling rack. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce.
✔️Variations
Deep-fried - zucchini chips can also be deep-fried if you prefer. Just follow steps 1-3 then fry in oil until golden.
Oven - these zucchini chips can also be made in the oven, simply follow steps 1 -3 and then place them into the oven at 200C (400F) and bake until golden. Place the zucchini coins in a single layer onto a tray.
Seasoning - you can select to add your favourite seasoning. Think Everything Bagel or lemon and herb. Just add the salt at the end.
💭Pro Tips
As air fryers differ, keep an eye out on these whilst they cook to determine when they are ready. Check-in around the 6-minute mark. It is only a matter of seconds toward the end when they start to brown quickly. Time listed is only a guide. This is the air fryer that is a step up to the one I have.
Thickness - use a mandolin to slice the zucchini evenly. This will help to achieve even air frying. Slice them no thicker than 4-5mm. If cutting thicker, you will need to air fry these for longer. If you don't have a mandolin, just slice it as evenly as possible with your knife.
Mandolin - this piece of equipment is very sharp. Please be very careful when handling and use the piece provided to hold the vegetable in place whilst cutting or cut-proof gloves. I normally will hover between cuts 2 & 3 - though this will alter cooking times.
Letting it sit for 5 minutes helps the zucchini expel water out. Which can then be dabbed out with a paper towel. I have made these chips with and without this step. When I have left out the patting dry, it took a little longer to crisp. Both versions do work.
Single-layer - ensure zucchini coins are not overlapping in the air-fryer tray, this will ensure they turn crispy and golden.
Flipping - flip the zucchini chips halfway through cooking, to ensure both sides get crispy.
Additional salt & seasoning - if you wish, you can sprinkle more of this afterwards to achieve your required taste.
Serving suggestion - dip these vegan zucchini fries into your favourite dip - think fry sauce. Or enjoy them as a side for lunch or dinner.
🥘Related recipes
Another delicious air fryer food check out this air fryer zucchini and squash recipe by Two Cloves Kitchen.
Did you enjoy making healthy air fryer zucchini chips? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below (tell me how you seasoned yours) and give me a rating. This will help me sustain Plant Based Folk.
Alternatively, did you happen to take a photo? Tag me @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. If you love sharing your vegan food pics, join the PBF community group.
Recipe
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (Easy Vegan Recipe)
Ingredients
Base
- 1 large Green zucchini sliced into coins approx. 3-4mm (⅛") thick. My was 25cm (nearly 10") and approx. 320g 11.3oz
- 1 pinch Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Avocado oil
Sweet
- 1½ teaspoon Maple syrup or to taste
- 1 tablespoon Dried Oregano or to taste
Savoury
- ½ tablespoon Nutritional yeast or to taste
- ¼ tablespoon Garlic powder
Instructions
- Slice zucchini into even coins using a mandolin, no thicker than 3-4mm (⅛").
- Sprinkle salt onto zuchini and allow them sit for about 10 minutes, this will draw out excess moisture. Pat down zucchini coins between two layers of paper towel.
- In a mixing bowl, toss zucchini through oil and all other ingredients.
- Place zucchini coins into air fryer into a single layer. Fry on med-high until golden brown. See notes. Place onto a cooling rack. Serve with favourite dipping sauce.
Video
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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Jan
Tried these vegan air fryer zucchini chips too. I tried different thickness and the paper thin ones are the ones that get extra crunchy and brown. Liked the combination of dipping these into the vegan fry suace too.
Maria
Why air fryer uses degrees instead of medium/medium high/high, What would you suggest is medium high with regards to the temperature? Thank you!
Janelle Hama
As each air fryer is different, you will need to play around with the temperature. Try starting with 180c and adjust from there...