5-Ingredient Air Fryer Breaded Zucchini Sticks
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!
Crispy, crunchy, and cheesy, these air fryer zucchini sticks are sure to be a hit with the whole family – including picky eaters! They’re a quick and easy snack or side dish made with just five simple ingredients. They’re ready in just 20 minutes in the air fryer – perfect for busy weeknights.
Whether you’re trying to sneak 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 or burgers, 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!
If you’re looking for a new way to get your kids excited about vegetables, this one’s for you. Even skeptical toddlers have been known to devour these crispy zucchini sticks!
Let’s get into the recipe!
Are These Zucchini Sticks Healthy?
Yes! These zucchini sticks are a much healthier alternative to traditional fries. Here’s why:
- 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.
How to Adapt This Recipe for Babies and Toddlers
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your child’s pediatrician before making any changes to their diet or feeding approach, especially if you have concerns about nutrition, growth, or feeding difficulties. Read the full disclaimer here.
Babies 8+ months
- 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
Toddlers 12+ months
- 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
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make the Zucchini Sticks
- 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 to Make the Zucchini Sticks
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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.
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
Let cool slightly, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce — ranch, ketchup, marinara, or even plain yogurt!
Making This Recipe on a Budget
MAKE THIS RECIPE ON A BUDGET
This recipe cost me about $6.00 to make for 5-6 servings, which is about $1.00 per serving!
The biggest expenses were the zucchini and Parmesan cheese.
⎯
Here’s some tips for making this recipe on a tight budget:
→ Buy zucchini in bulk or when it’s in season (typically summer). I’ve found that the cheapest places to buy zucchini are Aldi and Trader Joe’s
→ Use homemade breadcrumbs by toasting leftover bread
→ Use store-brand ingredients which are often cheaper
→ Use shredded Parmesan which is sometimes cheaper than grated parmesan. You could also find small tubs of pre-shredded or pre-grated cheese which are also sometimes cheaper
→ Skip the Parmesan and use nutritional yeast instead, which is a good (and cheap) alternative for a cheesy flavor
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!
The Printable Recipe Card
5-Ingredient Air Fryer Breaded Zucchini Sticks
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!
I hope you enjoyed these super simple air fryer breaded zucchini sticks! If you made this recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below!
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