These gluten-free zucchini fries are the perfect healthy snack. Easily air fried and served with 3 dipping sauces, these are sure to fly off your countertop!
These gluten-free zucchini fries are the perfect snack or appetizer for summer. They're light, crispy, and healthy. Not to mention easily air fried for quick prep. Served with a variety of flavourful dipping sauces, these gluten-free zucchini fries will fly off your counter top! Keep reading to learn all of the tips and tricks for success, featuring air fryer and oven instructions.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a small countertop appliance that is basically a mini convection oven. It can cook food quickly and with minimal oil by circulating hot air. It often contains an inner basket with holes to allow for this circulation. Air fryers are great for making healthier versions of your favourite foods, since less oil is needed to get that "crispiness". Use it to bake, toast, reheat, cook, etc. Basically if you can bake it in the oven, you can air fry it, and probably much faster.
I will say that it's worth it to get a larger size if you have space for it. Multiple batches are often required if you're doing larger quantities in an air fryer. This is the one I have and I love it! I highly recommend adding an air fryer to your kitchen appliance repertoire.
Note: Be careful with gluten cross-contamination in any small appliance like an air fryer. Air fryers have dozens of tiny holes for the hot air to circulate. That is the perfect place for gluten particles to hide. If you are celiac or have a severe gluten intolerance, please look into having your own dedicated gluten-free air fryer.
Want more summer snacks? Check out my Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, Gluten-Free Pizza Pockets, or Melon & Prosciutto Skewers.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick & easy to make: The only hands-on prep is chopping and breading the zucchini! Then set it and forget it in your air fryer. Air frying is also typically a lot faster than baking in the oven, but oven instructions are included here as well.
- Healthy: Using an air fryer or oven requires less oil than frying to maintain crispiness.
- Flavour-packed: These gluten-free zucchini fries are breaded with several flavourful spices. They're also served with an option of 3 dipping sauces, taking this healthy snack to the next level!
Ingredients Needed
Here is everything you'll need to make these gluten-free zucchini fries:
This easy side dish is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, healthy, AND delicious. What more could you ask for? Here are a few notes on the ingredients...
- Zucchini: Try to find good medium-sized zucchinis. If your local store only has small ones, you may need 3-4 for this recipe.
- Tapioca starch: This helps to absorb moisture from the zucchinis. If you can't find tapioca starch, you could use potato starch, or really any gluten-free flour.
- Eggs: These will help the breadcrumbs stick to the zucchini fries.
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs: Try to pick an Italian-style breadcrumb over a panko-style breadcrumb. They will stick better and form a more cohesive coating.
- Spices: salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes (optional), and cayenne (optional) will season the breadcrumbs and provide delicious flavour!
- Avocado oil: Even though we are air frying or baking these zucchini fries, a little bit of oil will help the coating crisp up.
- Dipping sauce(s): Marinara, pesto aioli, and/or garlic aioli are easy and delicious dips for these lil zucchini fries. For ease, I use a good quality store-bought marinara sauce. Find my pesto aioli and garlic aioli recipes below.
Pesto Aioli Ingredients
Simply mix together equal parts of your favourite pesto and mayonnaise. If you're looking for a pesto recipe, try my Spinach & Basil Pesto.
Garlic Aioli Ingredients
Mix together all ingredients.
- Mayonnaise
- Fresh garlic: Fresh garlic will seriously blow your mind. Normally, I'm all for the ease and convenience of the pre-minced jugs of garlic - they're so easy! But if you can get a couple of fresh cloves for this sauce, it will make a world of a difference.
- Garlic powder: For just a little extra garlic kick.
- Sea salt
- Fresh lemon juice: This brightens up the sauce so much! Fresh lemon juice is the best, but any will do here.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions.
Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400°F.
(1) Remove the ends of the zucchinis and slice into fry-shape strips. Pat dry with a paper towel.
(2) Set up the breading station: a bowl for tapioca starch, one for the eggs, and one for the breadcrumbs. Have a plate ready for finished zucchini fries. Whisk the eggs together. Add all spices to the breadcrumbs, then mix lightly with a fork.
(3), (4), (5), (6) To assemble, coat a zucchini slice in tapioca starch, then switch hands and dip it in the eggs. Place in the breadcrumb bowl and pat to coat with breadcrumbs on both sides. Set aside. Repeat with the rest of the zucchini slices.
Air Fryer Instructions
(7) If using an air fryer, you can begin cooking once you have enough breaded zucchini fries to fit in the basket, as it may require several batches. Line the fries in the basket, leaving a bit of space in between. Spray or drizzle a tiny bit of avocado oil on the top of the fries. Air fry for 5 minutes or until golden brown, then remove to a wire rack. Repeat with batches as needed.
Oven Instructions
(8) If using an oven, place a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet. If you have one that fits, place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Line the zucchini fries on top of the wire rack (or directly on the parchment if you don't have one). Drizzle with a small amount of oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden, flipping halfway.
While the zucchini fries bake, prepare the dipping sauce(s) of your choice. See instructions in the note section below.
Once the zucchini fries are done, remove them to a wire rack or serving dish and immediately sprinkle with a bit of salt. Serve warm with your favourite dipping sauce(s). Enjoy!
Making the Pesto Aioli and Garlic Aioli
To make the pesto aioli, combine equal parts pesto sauce and mayonnaise.
To make the garlic aioli, combine all ingredients together in a small bowl or ramekin. Be careful not to get any seeds from the lemon (juice) in the sauce. Set aside in the fridge until ready to serve.
Storage Instructions
Gluten-free zucchini fries will keep in the fridge for 1 day. When ready to enjoy again, simply reheat in a 400°F air fryer or oven for a few minutes until crispy again. Sauces will keep covered in the fridge as well.
Expert Tips
- Thoroughly dry the zucchini. This will help to get rid of the excess moisture for ultimate crispiness. Do this through patting with a paper towel, and ensuring that the tapioca starch is coating the zucchini.
- Let the zucchini fries sit for a few minutes before baking. I find that the breading is a bit fragile just after coating the zucchini fry, so I like to let them sit (at room temperature or in the fridge) for 5-10 minutes before handling to place in the air fryer or oven. You'll notice they'll firm up a bit!
- Watch the zucchini fries while cooking. Everyone's air fryer and oven are a little different, so be sure to check on your fries a few minutes before the end of the designated cooking time. They cook fast in the air fryer!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can still make crispy, flavourful zucchini fries! See the recipe card below for oven instructions.
Air fryers can make your dishes a bit healthier by requiring less oil to get a crispy exterior. This is because they operate as a mini convection oven, circulating hot air rapidly around the food. This is what achieves a crispy texture with minimal extra oil.
Since eggs are integral in the binding of the breadcrumbs to the zucchini fries, these zucchini fries are not vegan. I do not have a recommendation for an egg substitution, but if you are successful with one, leave me a comment below!
Zucchini fries can be made up to 1 day in advance and stored in the fridge. When ready to serve, re-heat and re-crisp in a 400ºF air fryer or oven for just a few minutes. Best served immediately with dipping sauces.
And there you have it, a recipe for gluten-free zucchini fries that is also dairy-free and vegetarian. Not to mention it is easy and delicious with just 20 minutes of prep time, cooked in the air fryer or oven! These crispy gluten-free zucchini fries served with a trio of sauces are sure to be a hit at your next summer BBQ!
Have you made these gluten-free air fried zucchini fries? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a comment below and tag me on instagram @livglutenfree!
More Snacks You'll Love
Recipe
Gluten-Free Zucchini Fries
Equipment
- Air Fryer (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 zucchinis, sliced into fry-shape strips
- ¼ cup tapioca starch or potato starch
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon each: salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon each: onion powder, red pepper flakes (optional)
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne (optional)
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- ⅓ cup marinara sauce
- ⅓ cup pesto aioli* see notes
- ⅓ cup garlic aioli* see notes
Instructions
- Preheat your oven or air fryer to 400°F.
- Remove the ends of the zucchinis and slice into fry-shape strips. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Set up the breading station: a bowl for tapioca starch, one for the eggs, and one for the breadcrumbs. Have a plate ready for finished zucchini fries. Whisk the eggs together. Add all spices to the breadcrumbs, then mix lightly with a fork.
- To assemble, coat a zucchini slice in tapioca starch, then switch hands and dip it in the eggs. Place in the breadcrumb bowl and pat to coat with breadcrumbs on both sides. Set aside. Repeat with the rest of the zucchini slices.
- If using an air fryer, you can begin cooking once you have enough breaded zucchini fries to fit in the basket, as it may require several batches. Line the fries in the basket, leaving a bit of space in between. Spray or drizzle a tiny bit of avocado oil on the top of the fries. Air fry for 5 minutes or until golden brown, then remove to a wire rack. Repeat with batches as needed.
- If using an oven, place a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet. If you have one that fits, place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Line the zucchini fries on top of the wire rack (or directly on the parchment if you don't have one). Drizzle with a small amount of oil. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden, flipping halfway.
- While the zucchini fries bake, prepare the dipping sauce(s) of your choice. See instructions in the note section below.
- Once the zucchini fries are done, remove them to a wire rack or serving dish and immediately sprinkle with a bit of salt. Serve warm with your favourite dipping sauce(s). Enjoy!
Notes
- Combine equal parts pesto and mayonnaise.
- Combine ⅓ cup mayonnaise with 1 clove minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Let us know what you think!