These 5-ingredient air fryer breaded zucchini sticks are a quick, crispy veggie snack that even kids and picky eaters are going to love! They’re perfect as a side dish for weeknight dinners, a party appetizer, or an after-school snack.

⏰ TIME: 30 mins | 🤑 COST: $6.00
🥦 5 INGREDIENTS

This recipe was inspired by the deliciousness of the hand-breaded zucchini at Eat n’ Park – a local diner that’s uber famous here in Pittsburgh!

These air fryer zucchini sticks are crispy, crunchy, and cheesy without any deep frying involved!

They’re a quick and easy snack, appetizer, or side dish made with just 5 simple ingredients. The best part is that they’re ready in just 20 minutes – perfect for when you need a healthy snack in a pinch.

Whether you’re trying to get in more veggies or looking for a healthy alternative to French fries, this recipe is a total win. No deep frying or oily, greasy zucchini sticks here!

I love serving these zucchini sticks as a side dish with dinner. They go well with chicken dishes, burgers, pasta dishes, plus you get a dose of veggies too. They’re great on their own, but kids may find it fun to dip these zucchini sticks in ketchup or ranch!

Oh and if you’re looking for another easy air fryer recipe, check out these easy air fryer veggie tortilla pizzas that are ready in under 10 minutes!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Zucchini – the star of the show in this recipe! Try to use zucchinis that are firm and bright green in color
Breadcrumbs – these add some crunch and texture to the zucchini sticks! You can use regular or whole wheat breadcrumbs. You could also use Panko breadcrumbs if that’s what you have in the pantry.
Parmesan cheese – adds a yummy, salty, and cheesy flavor to the zucchini sticks. I recommend skipping this ingredient if you’re making these for babies
Eggs – necessary for making the breadcrumb mixture stick to the zucchini sticks. If you are allergic to eggs or need an alternative, you could use buttermilk + flour, melted butter, or oil.
Garlic powder – adds a little bit of extra flavor to the zucchini sticks. You could skip this ingredient or try onion powder instead if you wish!

Equipment You’ll Need

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Air fryer – if you don’t have an air fryer, you can just bake these in your oven instead (425℉ for about 20 minutes). I got a Ninja air fryer last year and it’s been incredible, so I highly recommend that one if you’re in the market for an air fryer!
Parchment Liners for air fryer (optional) – this is totally optional, but something I highly recommend if you use your air fryer frequently. These liners pair very well with the Ninja air fryer. It’s so easy to get the food in/out of the air fryer, the basket is easier to clean up without stuck food bits, and it still crisps up the food perfectly without any compromise in texture!
Shallow mixing bowls – you will need two shallow bowls – one for the egg and one for the breadcrumb mixture. I like using pasta bowls for this, but you can also just use a larger mixing bowl if you wish!
Tongs – not required, but really comes in handy for turning the zucchini sticks in the air fryer.

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Making the Zucchini Sticks

1. Prep your zucchini

Wash and dry the zucchini, then cut each into thin, fry-shaped strips — about 3 inches long and ½ inch thick, like in the picture above. Try to keep the size consistent for even cooking.

2. Set up your breading stations

In one bowl, whisk the eggs. In a second bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, salt, and pepper (if using).

3. Bread the zucchini

Dip each zucchini stick into the egg mixture, then coat in the breadcrumb-Parmesan mixture. Press gently to make sure the coating sticks.

4. Air fry

Arrange the zucchini sticks in a single layer in your air fryer basket (you may need to cook in batches). Lightly spray with olive oil.

Air fry at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy.

5. Serve & enjoy!

Let cool slightly, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce — ranch, ketchup, marinara, or even plain yogurt!

Notes & Suggestions

Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free panko or crushed cornflakes.
Make it dairy-free: Skip the Parmesan or sub with dairy-free cheese or nutritional yeast.
Make it egg-free: You could use buttermilk + flour, melted butter, or oil to coat the zucchini sticks.
Cut the zucchini evenly and into thinner strips for even cooking. The thicker the slices are, the longer it will take and they may not cook evenly.
Don’t overcrowd the basket to make sure the zucchini sticks crisp up and cook evenly. It’s best to work in batches. I had to make 3 batches for this recipe.
Experiment with different seasoning! Don’t be afraid to jazz it up with Italian seasoning, try onion powder, add a little bit of paprika, or even lemon zest to change up the flavor.
Pair it with a dip such as marinara, honey mustard, or ranch. Toddlers love to dip things, so they’re gonna love these zucchini sticks next to a cup of their favorite dip!

Storage Instructions

Fridge: Store leftover zucchini sticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–4 minutes to re-crisp.

Freezing: Unfortunately, these zucchini sticks do not do well in the freezer. Zucchini has a high water content and can get soggy when frozen and thawed. Soggy breadcrumb mixture is not very tasty!

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! These zucchini sticks are a much healthier alternative to traditional fries.

Here’s some of the good stuff you can find in this recipe:

Zucchini is low in calories and high in nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
Air frying reduces the need for oil or deep frying, so you still get a crispy texture, but without excess fat.
Parmesan adds calcium and protein to every bite, and it’s flavorful enough that you don’t need to add extra salt.
They’re baked, not fried, and contain zero refined flour or added sugars.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your own doctor or your child’s pediatrician before making any changes to your diet or your child’s diet/feeding approach. Read the full disclaimer here.

🤑 The cost estimate for this recipe is $6.00 for 5-6 servings.

For babies:

It’s okay to lightly bread the zucchini sticks, but skip the salt and Parmesan cheese
If your baby has not been introduced to egg or is allergic, I would recommend skipping the egg coating and using melted butter or oil instead
Make sure that the zucchini sticks are soft and are cut into manageable sizes. Press on the sticks with your fingers and make sure they mush up easily. Supervise closely as your baby is eating

For toddlers:

I would still recommend skipping the salt, but it’s okay to add a little bit of Parmesan cheese
Make sure your toddler is not allergic to dairy before adding the Parmesan cheese

Cut fries into thinner pieces for easier chewing and supervise closely during dipping

The Printable Recipe Card

5-Ingredient Air Fryer Breaded Zucchini Sticks

Name: 5-Ingredient Air Fryer Breaded Zucchini Sticks
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 medium zucchini; 1 cup breadcrumbs (regular, whole-wheat, or panko); 1/2 cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese; 2 large eggs; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; Salt and pepper (to taste); Olive oil spray (optional)

These crispy, super easy 5-Ingredient Air Fryer Breaded Zucchini Sticks make a healthy veggie side or snack that even picky eaters will love! Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re perfect for busy weeknights and quick meals.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Servings 6 servings

Equipment

Air Fryer
2 Shallow bowls
Parchment liners for air fryer (optional)
Tongs (optional)

Ingredients

4 medium zucchini
1 cup breadcrumbs regular, whole-wheat, or panko
1/2 cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Pantry staples

Salt and pepper (to taste)
Olive oil spray (optional)

Instructions

Prep the zucchini: Wash the zucchini first. Cut both ends and discard. Slice each zucchini into sticks (see picture)
Set up the coating stations: In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs. In a second shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. I used about 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper each but you can use more or less depending on your preference.
Bread the zucchini: Dip each zucchini stick in the egg. Then, press each egg-coated zucchini stick into the breadcrumb mixture until it is completely coated. Press gently so that the mixture sticks. Place each breaded zucchini stick into the air fryer basket.
Place in air fryer basket: Arrange zucchini in a single layer inside the air fry basket. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket. Spray the tops of the zucchini sticks lightly using olive oil spray (optional). This will give the zucchini sticks a golden crust.
Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check on them periodically to make sure they don't overcook. Remove the zucchini sticks once they are golden and crisp.
Serve and enjoy! Pair it with marinara sauce or ranch dressing, which both serve as great dips for these zucchini sticks!

Notes

Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free panko or crushed cornflakes.

Make it dairy-free: Skip the Parmesan or sub with dairy-free cheese or nutritional yeast.

Make it egg-free: You could use buttermilk + flour, melted butter, or oil to coat the zucchini sticks.

Cut the zucchini evenly and into thin strips for even cooking. The thicker the slices are, the longer it will take and they may not cook evenly.

Don’t overcrowd the basket to make sure the zucchini sticks crisp up and cook evenly. It’s best to work in batches. I had to make 3 batches for this recipe.

Experiment with different seasoning! Don’t be afraid to jazz it up with Italian seasoning, try onion powder, add a little bit of paprika, or even lemon zest to change up the flavor.

Pair it with a dip such as marinara, honey mustard, or ranch. Toddlers love to dip things, so they’re gonna love these zucchini sticks next to a cup of their favorite dip!