Air Fryer Crispy Parmesan Crusted Zucchini Spears
Make crispy, flavorful zucchini spears in your air fryer using a simple Parmesan coating. This recipe provides a quick and satisfying vegetable side or appetizer.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 medium zucchini
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C).
- Wash the zucchini and trim the ends. Cut each zucchini lengthwise into spears, about 1/2 inch thick. Pat the spears very dry with paper towels; this helps the coating stick and promotes crispiness.
- Set up a dredging station with three shallow dishes. Place flour in the first dish. Place the beaten egg in the second dish. In the third dish, combine the Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Dredge each zucchini spear first in the flour, shaking off excess. Dip it into the egg, allowing excess to drip off. Finally, press the spear firmly into the Parmesan mixture to coat completely.
- Lightly spray the coated zucchini spears with cooking spray. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; work in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping the spears halfway through the cooking time. The spears are done when the coating is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with your preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
- Drying the zucchini thoroughly before coating is the key to achieving a truly crispy crust.
- For extra crunch, use only panko breadcrumbs instead of mixing them with flour.
- If you prefer a dipping sauce, marinara sauce or a simple ranch dressing pairs well with these spears.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 spears
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 16
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 55