Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
This Air Fryer squash and zucchini recipe is an easy, flavorful vegetable side dish that comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners, summer cookouts, or whenever you need a simple way to add more veggies to your plate.
Air frying gives the veggies lightly browned edges while keeping the centers tender- just like with my Air Fryer Parmesan asparagus.
I have recently been putting my Air Fryer to a lot of use, and I absolutely loved how it transformed the simple zucchini and squash to a dish that’s so flavorful and effortless.
Just like my crispy garlic edamame and Air Fryer cauliflower steaks, this recipe is incredibly versatile, easy to make and an absolute hit with everyone in my family.
Quick Look: Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
- 🥒 Prep time: 5 minutes.
- 🔥 Cook time: 10 minutes.
- 🍽️ Servings: 2.
- 🥣 Main ingredients: Zucchini, yellow squash, Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, and Italian seasoning.
- ➡️ Method: Slice vegetables → mix seasonings → coat vegetables → air fry → garnish with basil.
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy.
- 🍗 Best served with: Grilled chicken, fish, pasta, sandwiches or with Italian chicken cutlets.
Jump to:
- Quick Look: Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
- What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Recipe Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How to Make Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
- 💭Top Tip
- Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- How to Serve Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
- Troubleshooting & FAQs
- More Easy Veggie Side Dishes
- Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
What's So Great About the Recipe?
- Ready in 15 minutes: With just 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes in the air fryer, this is an easy side dish for even the busiest days.
- Easy to customize: Switch up the herbs, add a little heat, or adjust the Parmesan to suit your preferences.
- A versatile side dish: These vegetables pair well with grilled meats, fish, pasta, sandwiches, and cottage cheese pizza bowls.
Recipe Ingredients
Zucchini + squash: The hero ingredients. Remember to check the surface for spots or blemishes, and stick to using a firm, long variety.
Breadcrumbs: I’ve used homemade breadcrumbs for the recipe, but you can use panko crumbs as well! The idea behind using these breadcrumbs is to make the Air Fryer squash and zucchini more crispy.
Parmesan cheese: Parmesan cheese lends a nice salty taste and flavor to the air fried veggies. You can skip this if you want to- it’s completely okay.
Seasonings: I kept it simple and just used some garlic powder, black pepper, Italian seasoning and salt. You can also try using homemade garlic bread seasoning for this recipe. Both have a similar underlying flavor that works well with almost all veggies.
Oil: While using oil is not necessary for this recipe, I like to grease the Air Fryer basket with a bit of olive oil, and use a little of the oil as a base for the seasoning mix for the veggies.
Basil: I topped up the Air Fryer squash and zucchini with a sprinkle of chopped basil leaves. You can use dried parsley or almost any other herb of your choice.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Add a little heat: Mix in a pinch of cayenne pepper, chili flakes, or paprika for a spicy twist.
- Experiment with herbs: Swap the Italian seasoning for a combination of dried oregano, thyme, and parsley. You can also use a simple mixed herb seasoning if you want to.
- Add lemon zest: A little lemon zest tossed through the seasoning mixture adds a fresh, citrusy note that works especially well with the vegetables. I like using my homemade lemon pepper seasoning sometimes.
How to Make Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
Step 1: Start by slicing the zucchini and squash into slices about ¼ inch in thickness.
Step 2: Combine all the seasoning ingredients together in a small bowl.
Step 3: Toss the slices in the seasoning mix and arrange in a greased Air Fryer basket.
Step 4: Air fry the zucchini and squash at 200 for 10 minutes, flipping midway through the process.
Step 5: Check if the zucchini and squash are crispy. If not, Air fry again for a couple of minutes.
Step 6: Top with chopped basil and serve.
💭Top Tip
To make a gluten free version of this recipe, you can skip adding the breadcrumbs, and just stick to the seasoning mix.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- When layering the Air Fryer basket with the zucchini and squash, remember to leave a bit of space between all the sliced veggies for the hot air to circulate well and crisp them up. I always do this when I make my Air Fryer Teriyaki cauliflower too.
- Tossing or flipping the veggies halfway through the process is another must. This will ensure that they become crunchy on both sides.
- When slicing the veggies, try to keep the slices as even as you can. Remember that the key to getting all the veggies to be perfectly cooked and crispy is to ensure that they are all roughly the same size. I always focus on this when I'm chopping okra to make my Air Fryer okra.
- Remember that since both squash and zucchini have high water content, they will not get ultra crispy, even when air fried. To get that bit of crunchiness, cook them for a shorter time span and use a breading of your choice.
How to Serve Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
Serve these seasoned vegetables alongside grilled chicken, roasted fish, steak, or your favorite main course. You can also turn them into a quick snack or appetizer by serving them with avocado ranch sauce or cottage cheese ranch sauce, or by simply drizzling a spoonful of basil Gremolata on them before serving.
Let the vegetables cool slightly, then add them to a salad with leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, and a light vinaigrette or my lemon Parmesan lettuce salad. They're also a delicious addition to vegetable sandwiches.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
You sure can! Remember that baking these veggies may take longer than air frying. Moreover, it won’t give you as much of a crunch to the zucchini and squash as air frying will.
While you can definitely choose to peel these air fried veggies if you want to, I would recommend keeping the skin on. This helps retain all the healthy goodness, and also lends the sliced, air fried veggies that crunch factor.
If you have any leftovers, you can transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 2 days, then reheat them in the Air Fryer.
Fresh vegetables are best for this recipe because frozen squash and zucchini tend to release more moisture as they cook. Also remember that their finished texture may still be softer.
More Easy Veggie Side Dishes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this Air Fryer squash and zucchini or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
Ingredients
- 2 green zucchini
- 1 yellow squash
- ½ teaspoon pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon parmesan cheese grated
- 2 teaspoon panko breadcrumbs
- 1 sprig Basil for garnish
Instructions
- Start by slicing the zucchini and squash into slices about ¼ inch in thickness.
- Combine all the seasoning ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Toss the slices in the seasoning mix and arrange in a greased Air Fryer basket.
- Air fry the zucchini and squash at 200 for 10 minutes, flipping midway through the process.
- Check if the zucchini and squash are crispy. If not, Air fry again for a couple of minutes.
- Top with chopped basil and serve.
Notes
- Slice the vegetables evenly so they cook at a similar rate.
- Pat the zucchini and squash dry before seasoning to help the coating brown.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or omit them.
- Air fryer models vary, so check the vegetables near the end of cooking.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer for the best texture.
- The vegetables are best enjoyed fresh, as they soften as they cool and sit.
