These Air Fryer Zucchini Chips come out perfectly crispy made with a combination of almond flour, whole wheat breadcrumbs, and a flax egg wash. They’re a healthy, flavorful snack or appetizer!
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I have been having a blast experimenting with my air fryer. One of my favorite ways to use it is to create delicious veggie snacks for my kids.
These Air Fryer Zucchini Chips are my way of giving my kids a salty chip-like snack with hidden veggies.
Paired with marinara sauce for dipping, I’ve got what I consider a super snack!
Often zucchini chips have a hint of a cheesy flavor with added parmesan, so I added some nutritional yeast to give it that parmesan flavor while keeping it vegan. It’s an easy vegan appetizer or snack!
💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Healthier Option: Air frying requires minimal or no oil, making zucchini chips a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried snacks. They are lower in calories, fat, and harmful trans fats, making them suitable for weight-conscious individuals.
Nutrient-Rich: Zucchini is a nutrient-rich vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Air frying preserves more nutrients compared to deep frying, ensuring you get the maximum nutritional benefits.
Crispy Texture: The air fryer creates a crispy and crunchy texture without excessive oil. The satisfying crunch of these chips is enjoyable and provides a satisfying snack experience.
Easy and Quick Preparation: Making air fryer zucchini chips is a breeze. Simply slice the zucchini, season as desired, and pop them into the air fryer. Within minutes, you’ll have delicious, crispy chips ready to enjoy.
🥣 Ingredients and Notes
Zucchini: Choose zucchini that are relatively long and thin. If it’s wide it will be too big to fit very many slices in the air fryer basket.
Ground Flax and Water: Combining ground flax seeds and water and allowing it to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes creates a sticky egg-like consistency that helps to bind the breadcrumbs to the zucchini.
Panko Breadcrumbs: I prefer Panko Breadcrumbs because they add an extra bit of crispiness.
Almond Flour: A touch of almond flour combined with breadcrumbs gives them a depth of flavor and helps to make them extra crispy.
Nutritional Yeast: This ingredient gives the breadcrumb layer an umami flavor.
Seasonings: Add a touch of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. That’s all you need!
🛠 Tools and Equipment You’ll Need
I used a mandoline to get evenly cut rounds, but be careful when using these. It’s very easy to cut yourself if not using proper gloves or the mandoline shield! I cut mine without the shield until I reach the end of the zucchini, then I attach it to the shield so my fingers don’t get anywhere near the blade!
👩🏻🍳 How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
Step 1: Thinly slice zucchini using a mandoline or knife. Using a mandoline ensures you get a thin, even cut. Place zucchini slices on top of the dish towel. Sprinkle with salt. Cover with another dish towel, then place a heavy pan on top. Press for 15 minutes. (This will extract some moisture from the zucchini and help them come out of the air fryer nice and crispy.)
Step 2: Combine ground flax and water in a shallow bowl, whisking together until combined. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until it thickens.
Step 3: In a shallow bowl, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, almond flour, Italian seasoning, nutritional yeast, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Step 4: Dredge the zucchini slices in flax egg, ensuring it is completely covered on all sides.
Step 5: Transfer to the panko mixture and cover on all sides.
Step 6: Place the slices in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd or overlap them. Spray with cooking spray. Bake at 375° Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, turning at the 5-minute mark. Spray the other side with cooking spray, and cook the additional 5 minutes. Cook in batches. While one batch is baking, prepare the zucchini for the next batch. They are ready when they are golden brown on each side.
📝 Expert Tips
- Cut the rounded ends of the zucchini off and cut them into thin rounds.
- Press the excess water from the zucchini chips using the towel method. Skipping this step could result in soggy chips.
- Use a mandoline for thin and even slices.
- You can sub ground chia seeds for flax seeds or use unsweetened dairy-free milk.
- Do not overcrowd the zucchini in the air fryer. Place the zucchini in a single layer.
- Prepare the chips in batches. While one batch is baking, dredge and bread the next batch.
- Eat the chips warm straight out of the air fryer. They taste best and stay the crispiest when they’re fresh!
❓ Recipe FAQS
No, you do not need to dehydrate the zucchini slices first. But I do recommend patting them with a paper towel to absorb some of the water.
Yes! These zucchini chips are a healthy substitute for regular chips or a tasty snack you can enjoy guilt-free. Using the air fryer allows you to skip the deep frying, reducing overall calories and fat. Zucchini is also high in vitamins and nutrients such as vitamins C and A, potassium, folate, and fiber.
Yes, you can bake these in the oven. Follow the same steps to prepare the chips, then place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 375° Fahrenheit for 12 minutes, flipping at the 6-minute mark
No, they are not gluten-free because they use whole wheat panko breadcrumbs. However, if you substitute gluten-free breadcrumbs then this recipe would be gluten-free.
🍽 How to Serve
These chips taste great, but who doesn’t love a dipping sauce? With the Italian spices of these zucchini chips serving them with a side of marinara sauce is perfect! If you prefer something creamy, you could opt for an aioli. Serve these chips as an appetizer, a snack, or a side dish with your main meal.
🫙 How to Store and Keep
After cooking the zucchini chips in the air fryer, let them cool down completely before storing them. This helps to avoid condensation, which can make the chips lose their crispiness.
Transfer the cooled zucchini chips to an airtight container. Make sure the container is clean and dry before storing the chips to prevent moisture from getting in.
Place a sheet of parchment paper or paper towels between layers of zucchini chips in the container. This can help absorb any excess moisture and keep the chips from sticking together.
Try not to stack too many chips on top of each other in the container, as this can lead to breakage and loss of crispiness. Store the container of zucchini chips in a dry place. Don’t store them in the refrigerator as this can introduce moisture, which will make the chips lose their crispiness. It’s ideal to consume them within 2-3 days for the best texture and taste.
If your zucchini chips start to lose their crispiness over time, you can re-crisp them in the air fryer for a few minutes at a lower temperature. This can help restore some of their original crunch.
🎥 Video
⚖️ Serving Size
This recipe makes 4 large servings or 8 small servings. If you want to serve more people, increase the zucchini you cut from 2 to 3. You should still have enough flax egg and panko breading to cover all of the slices.
😋 More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes!
Recipe
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini sliced into rounds
- ½ cup whole wheat panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup blanched almond flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tbsp ground flax meal
- ¼ cup water
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Thinly slice zucchini using a mandoline or knife. Using a mandoline ensures you get a thin, even cut. Place zucchini slices on top of the dish towel. Sprinkle with salt. Cover with another dish towel, then place a heavy pan on top. Press for 15 minutes. (This will extract some moisture from the zucchini and help them come out of the air fryer nice and crispy.)
- Combine ground flax and water in a shallow bowl, whisking together until combined. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until it thickens.
- In a shallow bowl, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, almond flour, Italian seasoning, nutritional yeast, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Dredge the zucchini slices in flax egg, ensuring it is completely covered on all sides.
- Transfer to the breadcrumb bowl and cover on all sides.
- Place the slices in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd or overlap them. Spray with cooking spray. Bake at 375° Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, turning at the 5-minute mark. Spray the other side with cooking spray, and cook the additional 5 minutes. Cook in batches. While one batch is baking, prepare the zucchini for the next batch.
Notes
- Cut the rounded ends of the zucchini off and cut into thin rounds.
- Press the excess water from the zucchini chips using the towel method. Skipping this step could result in soggy chips.
- Use a mandoline for thin even slices.
- You can sub ground chia seeds for flax seeds or use unsweetened dairy free milk.
- Do not overcrowd the zucchini in the air fryer. Place zucchini in an even layer without overlapping.
- Prepare the chips in batches. While one batch is baking, dredge and bread the next set.
- Eat the chips warm straight out of the air fryer. They taste best and stay the crispiest when they’re fresh!
- If you have leftovers, don’t store them in the refrigerator, as this can introduce moisture, making the chips lose their crispiness. It’s ideal to consume them within 2-3 days for the best texture and taste.
Nutrition
Sheree E Fortier
Can I make these in my oven air-fryer setting?
Alison Corey
Yes, that should work.
Tammy
Yum Yum Yummy! Eating one batch now and another batch is in the airfryer. I followed your recipe to the T. I did have to make the breading twice. Perhaps my 2 zucchini were just large.
They are delicious. There is something mouthwatering good about the combo of Italian seasoning and nutritional yeast. I will use those two together again!
I took a couple pictures making them and posted to IG. I gave you a shout out!
Thank you for the recipe. I will make again!
Alison Corey
Hi Tammy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! It’s such a satisfying savory snack! I’ll look out for you IG post!! Thanks!
Kathy
SO delicious😋
Alison Corey
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Jennifer
These were super yummy! My toddler (who normally won’t eat zucchini) loved them too. Adding this one to our favorite recipes for sure!
Pam Greer
These are the best healthy snacks! Kids and adults love them!
Dannii
Such a great alternative to regular chips. I love them.
Jessica Formicola
I’ve been looking for healthier snack options, and it looks like these chips are the perfect choice! Thanks for sharing!
Jessica
Is there anything the air fryer can’t do – I don’t think so! Looking good here!
Sophia
Delicious! I love zucchini chips and what a great idea to make them in the air fryer. I especially love this recipe for the addition of nutritional yeast and flaxseed meal, it makes them even more healthy without sacrificing flavor!