Marianne Martinez
Air-fried breaded squash is a quick, easy, and delicious way to cook up a healthy side dish in under 10 minutes. With an air fryer, you can cut down on the oil needed and still achieve a crispy texture. This recipe is versatile and can be made with yellow squash, zucchini, or a combination of both. The key to success is in the breading technique and ensuring even slices so that the squash cooks through without becoming mushy.
How to Cook Breaded Squash in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation Time | 15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 8-10 minutes |
| Temperature | 350°-400° |
| Ingredients | Squash, flour, breadcrumbs, cornmeal, eggs, milk, oil, salt, pepper, seasoning |
| Method | Cut squash into 1/4-1/2 inch slices, dip in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, cook in a single layer in the air fryer |
| Notes | Use a rack for crispier results, avoid aerosol cooking spray, shake the basket halfway through |
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What You'll Learn
Breaded squash ingredients
The ingredients you will need for breaded squash in an air fryer include:
- Yellow squash or zucchini, or both.
- Cornmeal, or breadcrumbs, or panko, or a mixture of breadcrumbs and cornmeal.
- Flour.
- Eggs.
- Milk.
- Salt.
- Seasonings of your choice, such as onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or vegetable seasoning.
- Oil, such as olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil (optional).
The exact quantities of these ingredients will depend on the number of servings you wish to make, and you can adjust the seasonings to your taste preferences.
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Preparing the squash
If you are using zucchini, you can cut them into equal bite-sized pieces using a technique called roll cut or oblique cut. This involves holding your knife at a 45-degree angle to the zucchini and making diagonal cuts, turning the zucchini a quarter turn after each cut. This method exposes more surface area, allowing the flavours to soak in and resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing dish.
Once your squash is sliced, place the pieces into a bowl and toss them with salt to combine. You can also add other seasonings to the bowl at this stage, such as Italian seasoning, or simply stick to the classic recipe. If you want to add a unique flavour, you can toss the squash with Italian seasoning before dipping it in the batter or add the seasoning to your flour mixture.
Next comes the breading process. Set up a dipping station with three bowls. In the first bowl, combine flour with onion powder and garlic powder. You can also add other seasonings to this mixture if you prefer a more heavily seasoned dish. The second bowl should contain a mixture of eggs and milk, whisked together. The third bowl should contain your breading. This can be panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, or even smashed cracker crumbs, as long as they are finely crushed and similar in size to the breadcrumbs.
Now you are ready to start breading the squash. Take each slice of squash and dip it first in the flour mixture, making sure both sides are coated. Then, dip it in the egg mixture, and finally, coat it with the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat this process for all the squash slices, ensuring each one is well-coated. If you want to ensure the breading sticks firmly, you can use a three-step dry, wet, dry method by coating the squash with flour, then egg, and finally, seasoned breadcrumbs.
Before placing the breaded squash in the air fryer, spray both sides of each slice with cooking spray to enhance browning. Alternatively, you can drizzle or toss the slices with olive oil or vegetable oil, but this is not necessary, especially if you are aiming for a healthier dish.
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Preparing the air fryer
Firstly, decide whether to use the air fryer rack or basket. Many air fryers come with a rack, which is recommended as it allows better air circulation, leading to crispier results. If your air fryer didn't come with a rack, you can use a small metal oven-safe rack, or simply use the air fryer basket or tray. It's worth noting that if you use a rack, avoid using aerosol-propelled cooking sprays as these can be harmful to non-stick surfaces. Instead, use an oil sprayer or toss the squash in oil before coating with breading.
Next, preheat your air fryer. Most recipes for breaded squash recommend a temperature of around 400°F. However, if you're cooking at a lower temperature, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
When you're ready to cook, arrange the breaded squash in a single layer on the rack or in the basket. It's important not to overcrowd the air fryer as this can lead to soggy squash. If you have a small air fryer, you may need to cook the squash in batches.
Finally, if you're using a basket, give it a shake about halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking. If you're using a rack, there's no need to turn or shake the squash, but keep an eye on it to prevent overcooking.
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Cooking the squash
Next, prepare your breading and coating. One method is to use a simple flour, egg, and seasoned breadcrumb and cornmeal mixture. Alternatively, you can use a flour, egg, and milk mixture, followed by a coating of panko or smashed cracker crumbs. You can also add seasonings to your flour mixture or toss the squash with Italian seasoning before dipping.
After breading and coating the squash, place the slices in a single layer on a rack in the air fryer basket. Using a rack allows air to circulate under and around the squash, preventing moisture buildup and ensuring even browning. If your air fryer didn't come with a rack, you can use a small metal oven-safe rack.
Before placing the squash in the air fryer, spray both sides with cooking spray or oil to enhance browning. However, if your air fryer rack is non-stick, avoid using aerosol-propelled cooking sprays as they can be harmful to the non-stick surface.
Finally, air fry your squash at temperatures between 350°F and 400°F for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Keep an eye on the squash and shake the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Your breaded squash is now ready to be served!
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Storing and reheating
To reheat your breaded squash, simply pop it back into the air fryer at 400°F for 2 to 5 minutes, shaking or tossing halfway through. This will ensure your squash gets its crisp back and is warmed through.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a three-step dry, wet, dry method to keep the breading on during the cooking process. First, coat each piece of squash in flour, then egg, and finally, the seasoned breadcrumb and cornmeal mixture.
This depends on how crispy you like your squash. It should be cooked for at least 8 minutes, but no more than 10 minutes. Remember to shake the basket halfway through cooking.
Once cooked, store the remaining air fryer squash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, place the leftovers in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 to 5 minutes.
