My Air fryer zucchini fritters are a game-changer for those seeking a healthier twist on a classic favorite. These fritters are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor—all achieved without deep frying. It is a great way to use all that zucchini from my garden.
In the Summer when I have an abundant supply of zucchini,there are a couple more of my favorite recipes for zucchini: banana zucchini bread and my baked zucchini fries.
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Why this Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters Recipe is a Keeper
I love this recipe for zucchini fritters in the air fryer. They’re incredibly easy, and after testing a few variations, this version came out on top. Zucchini fritters are the perfect side to any meal.
- Quick & Easy: These crispy air fryer zucchini fritters are ready in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients.
- Healthier Option: Air frying reduces oil usage without compromising on crispiness of the best air fryer zucchini fritters.
- Versatile: Make this recipe as a snack, appetizer, or side dish.
- Family-Friendly: A delicious way to incorporate more veggies into meals.
How Do I Prevent my Zucchini Fritters from Being Soggy?
To ensure crispy fritters, it’s crucial to remove as much moisture as possible from the grated zucchini. After grating, place the zucchini in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze firmly to extract excess water. This step prevents fritters from becoming soggy and helps them hold their shape during cooking.
Pro Tip to Make Zucchini Fritters
Peel Skin: You can peel the skin on zucchini or leave it, both ways work. However, the skin adds more nutrients, texture, and color to the fritters.
Ingredient Notes for this Air Fryer Recipe
This air fryer zucchini fritters recipe uses everyday ingredients:
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Zucchini: Fresh, medium-sized zucchini work best. Grate and squeeze out moisture.
- Egg: Acts as a binder to hold the fritters together.
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides structure. For gluten-free, use a suitable alternative.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a savory depth of flavor.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and optional herbs like dill or parsley enhance taste.
Variations and Substitutions for Zucchini Fritters in the Air Fryer
There are a few easy ways to change up this air-fryer zucchini fritters recipe. Try different flavors or adapt it to fit your dietary needs.
- Make it Gluten-Free: Use almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
- Add Protein: Incorporate cooked bacon bits or shredded chicken.
- Spice It Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeños.
- Cheese Variations: Try feta or cheddar for a different flavor profile.
Special Equipment Needed for Crispy Fritters
Based on my professional experience, you will need a few things to help make these easy air fryer zucchini fritters.
- Air Fryer: You will need to use the oven or air fryer. It’s essential for achieving the golden brown and crispy texture without deep frying.
- Box Grater or Food Processor: Either of these items will help efficiently grate the zucchini.
- Cheesecloth: A nut milk bag or cheesecloth helps in squeezing out excess moisture from fresh zucchini.
How to Make Air Fry Zucchini Fritters
This crispy air fryer fritters recipe comes together in 3 easy to follow steps. These zucchini cakes are so easy and delicious, I come back to them again and again.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Prepare Zucchini: Preheat the air fryer and shred the zucchini. Use a clean kitchen towel to squeeze out any excess moisture.
- Make Zucchini Fritters: Mix shredded zucchini in a bowl with egg, salt, baking powder, garlic powder, Italian Seasoning, chili flakes and flour. Make about 10 patties out of the zucchini mixture.
- Air Fry the Fritters: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil and place the fritters zucchini patties in the air fryer basket. Brush some oil on top and fry for 15 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for this Easy Air Fryer Recipe
I like to prepare air fryer zucchini fries ahead of time so that I don’t have to do all of the steps at once when I’m making air fryer recipes.
- Prepare Mixture in Advance: Mix ingredients and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before cooking.
- Freeze Uncooked Patties: Shape fritters and freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months.
Alternate Cooking Methods for this Side Dish
If you don’t happen to have an air fryer, or you’re using it for another recipe, there’s a couple more ways to cook the fritters.
- Oven-Baked: Bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.
- Pan-Fried: Cook in a skillet with a small amount of oil over medium heat for 3–4 minutes per side.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Crispy Air Fryer Fritters
- Storing: Place cooled leftover fritters in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes to regain crispiness.
- Using Leftovers: Serve air fryer zucchini chips as a sandwich filling, atop salads, or as a quick snack. Try topping with grated parmesan cheese.
Expert Tips for Making Air Fryer Zucchini Recipes
- Uniform Size: Shape fritters evenly to ensure consistent cooking.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Always preheat your air fryer for optimal crispiness.
- Use Cooking Spray: Lightly spray delicious fritters to enhance browning and prevent sticking.
- Don’t Skip Moisture Removal: Thoroughly squeezing out zucchini moisture is key to texture. If you don’t do this step you may get zucchini fritters soggy.
- Serve this Recipe With: Serve the fritters with Sloppy Joe Sliders, Air Fryer Catfish Nuggets or Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers.
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Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters
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Ingredients
- 2 Zucchini
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Chili flakes
- ⅓ cup All-purpose flour
Instructions
- Shred zucchinis and squeeze out excess water using cheesecloth.
- Take the shredded zucchini in a bowl and add egg, salt, baking powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, chili flakes, and all-purpose flour. Toss and mix everything.
- Make small size (around 9-10) patties out of the zucchini mixture.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350℉ / 180℃. Place the patties in the air fryer basket and brush some oil on top.
- Air fry the patties for 10 minutes. Flip and then cook for another 5 minutes or until lightly brown.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Christina’s Notes
- Squeeze Zucchini Dry: Removing excess moisture is key for crispy fritters that hold together.
- Don’t Overcrowd: Air fry in batches to ensure even cooking and maximum crispiness.
- Uniform Shape: Make sure all fritters are the same size so they cook at the same rate.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: This step ensures the fritters start crisping up immediately.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
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