Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (No Breading)

Give me anything crunchy for a snack and I’m instantly happy. I grew up with my mom making zucchini chips fried in oil and they were always a hit. Even at a very young age, I remember looking forward to zucchini season just because it meant zucchini chips were going to be on rotation and we loved them so much.

Fried foods are super addictive, but I’m so thankful that we live in a time with air fryers now. It’s possible to get that same crunch without deep frying everything! Plus, you get a huge serving of veggies in a delicious way, all without feeling like you’re eating vegetables. This is always convenient when it comes to sneaking veggies into kids’ diets… if you know, you know.

How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Zucchini chips are as easy as 1-2-3! Literally. Follow these three steps, and you’ll be on your way to snacking heaven.

• Cut the zucchini: Using a mandolin, slice the zucchini into thin pieces. If you don’t have a mandolin, use a sharp knife and cut the pieces as thin as possible. Just be aware that the cooking time increases with thicker slices.
• Season the chips: Remove the excess moisture from zucchini chips (with a paper towel) and allow them to air dry for five minutes. Next, give the chips a liberal and generous seasoning with your spices of choice. Finally, spray with cooking spray or a drizzle of olive oil and toss to coat evenly.
• Air fry the chips: Pop the zucchini chips into the air fryer basket in a single layer. After a few minutes, flip them. When they are golden brown, they will be crisp and ready to be snacked on!

Tips For the Best Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

The biggest problems people have with zucchini chips has to do with the taste and texture of the chips. Here are my tips to troubleshoot these issues, plus a few extra tips along the way.

• Use young zucchini: It’s tempting to go for the large zucchini (especially if they come from your own garden), but large zucchini have more moisture than smaller, young fresh zucchini. For zucchini chips, the younger, firmer zucchini are the best option.
• Cut the zucchini into same-sized pieces: For evenly cooked chips, cut the zucchini evenly. You don’t want to bite down into an accidentally semi-raw sliced zucchini! I find ⅛ of an inch to be the perfect thickness.
• Take out the extra moisture: To achieve the perfect texture, make sure you remove excess moisture from the zucchini by blotting them with a paper towel. Salt your chips, then let them sit for 5 minutes so the salt brings out extra moisture. Afterward, blot the moisture away with a paper towel again.
• Season the chips your way: I love a simple seasoning of garlic and salt. But, you can get as creative as you want here! Use extra garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, or any other favorites.
• Use a touch of oil: A bit of cooking spray is all you need to achieve ultimate crispiness in the air fryer. This one is my all time favorite.
• Keep a close eye for doneness: All air fryers are different, so keep an eye on your chips, especially the first few batches. You may need to slightly adjust the cooking time depending on your air fryer performance.

Storing Air Fried Zucchini Chips

Air fried zucchini chips are so good eaten right away. I don’t recommend storing them for very long, as they do still get soggy. If you must store them, let them completely cool to room temperature before putting them into an airtight container. Also, try not to pack them tightly. Instead, eat them up right away (within a few hours is best!).

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Perfectly crispy, with so much less guilt than the fried kind
• Air Fryer Salmon – Moist on the inside, crispy texture on the outside.
• Air Fryer French Fries – French fries without the fat? Oh, yes!
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders – There’s no reason to buy the freezer aisle tenders after these!

Recipe

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (No Breading)

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Servings

4 servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

These no-breading air fryer zucchini chips are a wonderfully healthy, low-carb snack that stays crunchy without the extra calories. Plus, they're easily customizable!

Ingredients

• 4 medium zucchini
• 1 tbsp salt adjust to taste
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cooking spray oil

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Using a mandolin slicer or a knife, cut zucchini into 1/8-inch thick slices.
  
• Place zucchini slices on a flat surface and season them with salt. Let them sit for about 5 minutes.
  
• Blot the zucchini with a paper towel to get rid of the excess liquids.
  
• Place the zucchini chips in a small bowl and season with garlic powder (or your favorite seasoning). Spray with oil and toss to evenly coat.
  
• Place zucchini chips in one layer inside your air fryer basket. Note: You will need to do a couple batches to ensure even cooking and a crispy texture.
  
• Air fry at 350 °F for 8 minutes. Flip the zucchini chips and air fry for 5 more minutes or until golden brown.
  

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips (No Breading)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 36 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Sodium 1760mg73%

Potassium 521mg15%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 392IU8%

Vitamin C 35mg42%

Calcium 33mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.