Crispy Fried Zucchini is a delicious way to enjoy all of that summer zucchini from your yard…or your well-meaning neighbor or coworker. Zucchini is sliced into medallions, coated in a parmesan breadcrumb mixture and fried until crispy!
Zucchini fries, grilled zucchini, zucchini toast, and this fried zucchini recipe are exactly what you should make when you are trying to find new ways to prepare and cook zucchini. You’ll never run out of ways to serve this abundant garden veggie!
How to Make Fried Zucchini
This is the easy part! Make as much as you have zucchini for by doubling up the recipe…oh, and give some away, too! Feel free to make these with panko which is pre-packaged and pre-seasoned. Or make them with breadcrumbs and season them yourself like the recipe below. Easy peasy!
- Wash and dry the zucchini and trim the ends off. Slice each zucchini into ½” medallions.
- Prepare the egg mixture and the breadcrumb mixture (per recipe below).
- Dredge zucchini in flour, dip in the egg mixture, and then coat evenly in the bread crumbs. Press down on them to make sure they are completely coated. Repeat with remaining slices.
How to Fry Zucchini
When it comes to frying zucchini there are a few different ways to do this. You can fry it in a pan with oil, in an air fryer, or avoid the oil altogether and bake them in the oven. No matter how you choose to cook them they will end up crispy, crunchy & delicious!
- In a Pan: Preheat oil in a frying pan, drop the coated zucchini in. Cook on each side about 2 to 3 minutes or until the coating is crispy and golden brown on both sides.
- In an Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the zucchini slices in a single layer, cooking for 8 mins or until crispy and golden brown.
- Oven-Fried: If baking in the oven without oil, simply place the coins in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 400°F degrees.
Drain on paper towels and serve hot with an assortment of dipping sauces. Try them with buttermilk ranch dip, a spicy chipotle mayo, or your favorite dipping sauce!
Still Have Zucchini?
- Zucchini Noodles – a light and refreshing pasta!
- Roasted Zucchini – just 5 mins prep
- Easy Baked Zucchini – tender & crisp!
- Zucchini Casserole – 3 main ingredients
- Easy Stuffed Zucchini Boats – perfect family meal!
- Zucchini Bread – freezes well
Crispy Fried Zucchini
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini about 1 ½ lbs
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese.
- 2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
- canola oil for frying
Instructions
- Trim ends off zucchini and slice into ½" slices.
- Beat eggs with salt and pepper to taste. Combine parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and salt & pepper to taste in a separate dish.
- Pour oil into a pan to ½" deep and heat over medium heat.
- Dredge zucchini in flour, dip in eggs and finally dip in bread crumbs. Repeat with remaining slices.
- Add zucchini to the pan, a few at a time (don't crowd) cooking 2-3 minutes per side.
- Drain on paper towels. Season with salt if desired.
Notes
- Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place in a single layer, cooking for 8 mins or until crispy and golden brown.
- Oven-Fried: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until crispy or golden brown.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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These were great even though I made some mistakes. The kids wanted me to use the deep fryer. The zucchini I used, however, was one that had “gotten away” in the garden and was huge so the slices were also very large (some over 4″ diameter). Although they looked pretty after coming out of the fryer, they weren’t cooked all the way through. I should have oven-baked these ones. The smaller pieces were delicious! I’ll probably stick the larger ones in the oven to cook them all the way through.
Hi….
I enjoy using your r3ecipes but where there are alternate cooking methods, they do not print when you print the recipe. I discovered that by accident as I just assumed that since it was mentioned in the test of the recipe and listed there, that it would print. The latest one was the fried zucchini in which you give methods for baking or air frying but the only instructions that print are the ones for frying in oil on the stovetop.
Thank you so much for your feedback Alix. This is a great suggestion.
I was disappointed that the other methods weren’t included on the printable recipe as well.
Why is my bread crumbs falling off. Any tips?
Hmmm, maybe the zucchini chips arent being soaked enough in the egg mixture before being coated with the bread crumbs?
@Christina – go back to the food network. Holly was so polite to your obnoxious comment. ok this recipe was not your cup of tea. Perhaps a cooking class or a valium would help you.
I have made fried zucchini many times, and this recipe turned out better than any I have made before. Thanks for the recipe! Only thing I changed was using peanut oil instead.
I made this last night and it turned out great. Even the kids liked it.
Those look wonderful
looked at the zucchini recipes became interested
Enjoy the zucchini recipes Murray!
So amazing!
My hubby made this for the family and said it was super easy, so he will make it any time we want! It is so delish!!
So glad you loved it!
Delicious and super easy. Adding to my favorite recipes. Texture and flavor was perfect. I couldn’t stop eating them
These were absolutely disgusting. How could you go wrong?? Well I’ve cooked fried zucchini many times and usually do the food network giadas recipe. This recipe had more stars and stupid me thought I’d give it a try. I was wrong!!!!!! I think doing the flour then the egg and then the parm mixed in with the bread crumbs makes it weird tasting and just not light and fresh. My son was so disappointed because he usually loves my fried zucchini. What a waste of money.
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this. Flour/egg is a common binder that helps the crumbs adhere to the zucchini (as zucchini has a lot of water content).
These were so bland and gross. I should have looked at the reviews before I made it.. my fault. But they were awful. No flavor whatsoever. Threw them in the trash….
How disappointing Catina. Did you use seasoned breadcrumbs in this recipe?
Dude, those complaining about this being bland…its their own fault for not seasoning to taste. ALL RECIPES SAY “SEASON TO TASTE”. But I guess common sense isn’t with some people.
I love fried zucchini!! Anyone have a recommendation for a dipping sauce:)
Tanya, try them with buttermilk ranch dip, a spicy chipotle mayo, or Easy Tzatziki Dip!
sour cream and horse radish makes a tasty dipping sauce.
A bit harsh perhaps? Wow. Try kindness. Not everything suits everyone. How much could zucchini, egg, and breadcrumbs cost?
Wow.
this recipe was absolutely delicious. we tweaked it a little – used panko to which we added onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, paprika. we also used twice as much oil, fried for 3 minutes then flipped and fried for 30 seconds more. they were perfect gourmet.
Yum
These look yummy and like a great way to use up the extra Zucchini in the garden. I was wondering can I pre dredged them in the batter and lay them on a cookie sheet to fry an hour or so later? I’m doing a huge fish and chips night so trying to be prepared as much as possible. Also contemplating baking them instead of frying them, but I’ve never deep-fried before and kids are so excited about it.
Yes, if you dredge them they will be fine to be refrigerated for a couple of hours. A fish & chips night sounds delicious!! Enjoy the recipe.
These were delicious! If we made too many do you know of a good way to keep them? Can they be frozen?
Thank you Tara! I wouldn’t recommend freezing them. I’d refrigerate and then reheat in a frying pan or in the oven.
Will try this air fryer recipe. It sounds delicious and simple.
Fried Zucchini in a Air Fryer looks great. I’ll have to zip up to Safeway!!! :)
Made these last night. So very good. Was wondering if these can also be baked and at what temperature. Thank you for this great recipe. Great with all types of dipping sauces.
Hi Linda, so happy you enjoyed them. You can definitely bake them! You will want to bake them for 18 to 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 400°F degrees.
These recipes look delicious!
Thanks Ginger!