Air Fryer Zucchini Chips: Keto-Friendly, Crispy, And Healthy!

Zucchini chips are a great keto-friendly snack that can be made in an air fryer. They are a healthier alternative to potato chips and can be made in under 30 minutes. To make them, cut a zucchini into thin slices and season with olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Parmesan cheese. Place the slices in the air fryer in a single layer and cook until golden brown. Let them cool before serving to crisp them up.

Choosing and preparing the zucchini

The first step in making keto zucchini chips in an air fryer is to choose the right zucchini. Look for medium-sized zucchini that are firm and have no soft spots or browning. Smaller zucchini can be cumbersome to work with, and larger ones tend to have larger seeds and inferior flavour.

Once you have selected your zucchini, you will need to slice them into thin, even slices. The thinner the slices, the crispier your chips will be. You can use a knife or a mandoline slicer to get uniform slices. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 inch or 3-4 mm.

After slicing, it is important to remove the excess moisture from the zucchini slices. Use a paper towel or clean kitchen towel to pat them dry. This step is crucial as zucchini holds a lot of water, and if there is too much moisture, the chips may turn out soggy.

Seasoning the Zucchini

Now it's time to season your zucchini slices. Place them in a large mixing bowl and add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss until the zucchini slices are lightly coated in oil. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder, smoked paprika, or Italian seasoning. Just be careful not to add too much salt, as it can draw out too much liquid and make the chips soggy.

Cooking the Zucchini Chips

Preheat your air fryer to 325-400°F (162-204°C). Place the seasoned zucchini slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap. Cook for 8-12 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your slices and your air fryer, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Let the zucchini chips cool before serving. They will continue to crisp up as they cool. Enjoy your crispy, healthy snack!

Making the batter

Ingredients

• 2 medium zucchini
• 1 large egg, beaten
• ½ cup almond flour, or panko/Italian breadcrumbs
• ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or seasoning of choice
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder, optional
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• Oil for spraying, olive or oil of choice

Method

• Cut the zucchini in half and into sticks (aka fries) about 1/2 inch thick and 3-4 inches long.
• In a shallow bowl, combine the almond flour (or bread crumbs), grated parmesan, spices and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
• Dredge zucchini in egg and then in the almond flour mixture and place on a plate or baking sheet. Generously spray zucchini with cooking spray.

Seasoning options

Make these zucchini fries your own by spicing them up with your favorite seasoning mix. You can't go wrong with Italian seasoning but cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning or your favorite seasoning blend will take these zucchini fries to the next level!

Cooking methods and times

Air Fryer

To make keto zucchini chips in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 325°F or 400°F. While the air fryer is heating up, slice the zucchini into thin, even slices, ideally using a mandoline. Thinner slices will make for crispier chips. Pat the zucchini slices dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

Next, season the zucchini. In a medium bowl, combine the zucchini slices with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and toss until all slices are evenly coated. Alternatively, whisk together eggs in a shallow bowl and dip the zucchini slices in the egg mixture. In a separate bowl, combine almond flour, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Dip the zucchini slices in the egg mixture, then coat with the almond flour mixture.

Place the zucchini chips in the air fryer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the basket. Cook at 325°F for 8-12 minutes or at 400°F for 10 minutes, flipping the chips halfway through. Check on the chips regularly and remove any that are starting to brown. Allow the chips to cool before serving to let them crisp up.

Oven

To make keto zucchini chips in the oven, preheat the oven to 250°F or 425°F. Slice the zucchini into thin, even slices and pat dry with a paper towel. Season the zucchini slices with olive oil, salt, and pepper, or dip them in an egg mixture followed by an almond flour mixture, as described above.

Place the zucchini chips on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer and cook at 250°F for 1 hour, flipping halfway through, or at 425°F for 12 minutes, also flipping halfway through. Allow the chips to cool before serving to let them crisp up.

Seasoning and flavour combinations

The great thing about zucchini chips is that they are so versatile and can be seasoned in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Italian

Add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning and 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder to the basic recipe of olive oil, salt, and pepper. This will give your zucchini chips a delicious herby flavour with a hint of garlic.

Spicy

If you like your food with a kick, try adding a teaspoon of Cajun seasoning, jerk seasoning, or a light dusting of cayenne pepper to the basic recipe. This will give your zucchini chips a nice spicy kick.

Ranch

For a creamy and tangy flavour, toss the zucchini chips in a teaspoon of ranch seasoning mix before or after air frying. This will give your zucchini chips a cool, creamy flavour that is perfect for dipping.

Parmesan

A sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese takes these zucchini chips to the next level! You’ll need about 1/4 cup of finely grated Parmesan cheese. This will add a salty, umami flavour to your zucchini chips.

Garlic and Herb

For a classic flavour combination, try adding some garlic powder and dried herbs to the basic recipe. You could use Italian seasoning, or experiment with other herbs like thyme, rosemary, or basil.

Smoked Paprika

For a smoky flavour, add some smoked paprika to the basic recipe. Smoked paprika comes in mild or hot, so you can adjust the heat level to your taste. Regular paprika can also be used if you don't have smoked paprika.

Keto-Friendly Dipping Sauces

These zucchini chips go well with a variety of dipping sauces. Here are some ideas:

• Keto-friendly ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing
• Sugar-free ketchup
• Hot sauce
• Creamy Sriracha: Mix mayo, sour cream, Greek yogurt, or ranch dressing with sriracha, and lemon or lime juice.
• Avocado Cilantro: Blend avocado, sour cream or Greek yogurt, water, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice.
• Creamy Chipotle: Mix mayo, sour cream, or Greek yogurt with lime juice, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, and chili powder.
• Garlic Aioli: Mix mayo with crushed garlic, lemon juice, cayenne, and salt.
• Fry Sauce: Mix mayo, ketchup, pickle juice, lime juice, and garlic powder.

Dips and sauces

Keto zucchini chips are a great snack for dipping into your favourite sauces. Here are some sauce and dip suggestions:

• Keto blue cheese dressing
• Keto ranch dressing
• Ranch dressing
• Tahini sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Honey mustard
• Greek yogurt dip
• Guacamole
• Salsa
• Sour cream dip
• Cream cheese dip
• Tahini sauce
• Crab dip
• Spinach dip
• Sausage rotel dip
• Garlic aioli
• Marinara sauce
• Garlic yogurt sauce
• Eggplant dip
• Sugar-free BBQ sauce
• Sugar-free ketchup

Frequently asked questions