Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (Easy Vegan Snack)

A healthy snack or appetiser of crispy air fryer zucchini chips, using minimal pantry ingredients.

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Jump to:

• 😋Why you’ll love this recipe
• ✔️What You’ll Need
• 🥘Ingredient Notes
• 🔪Step-By-Step Guide
• ✔️Variations
• 💭Pro Tips
• 🥘Related recipes
• Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (Easy Vegan Recipe)
• 💭Pro Tips

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. Purchase your good quality avocado oil at Thrive Market*, which pride itself on providing a range of quality organic non-GMO products.

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 baba ghanouj or hummus, or fry sauce. Or enjoy them as a side for lunch or dinner.

🥘Related recipes

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. 

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