Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan Rounds

4.9 from 9 votes

A little salty. A little cheesy. A little crispy. … These little bites of goodness only need three ingredients and about 10 minutes of your time. Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan Rounds are a flavorful, healthy, and easy snack or side dish you’ll want to make all summer long!

Do you love your air fryer as much as I do? I’m constantly trying out new foods in my air fryer because it’s just so darn convenient and quick. And not only do I keep my meals healthier by not frying them, my house (and clothes, and hair) don’t stink up from that fried oil smell, haha!

And so, it was time for zucchini to meet the air fryer. Zucchini is an awesome veggie because it’s healthy and so versatile! Of course it can be added to breads and muffins to bulk up the nutrition value, but it’s also the perfect low-carb snack, side, appetizer, or even main meal. From fries and fritters, to pizza boats and zoodles. Apparently, zucchini is like a mom – it does it all! LOL! 

About the Ingredients

Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan Rounds only need 3 basic ingredients (and one optional add-in.) 

Zucchini – Any size zucchini will work, but you’ll want to pay attention to the thickness of your zucchini slices. Zucchini reduces A LOT in size as it heats up so don’t cut it too thin. You can make slices from ⅛”thick to ½” thick, so long as you keep it uniform. 

Parmesan Cheese – freshly grated all the way! If for some unfortunate reason you can’t get a parmesan wedge, then pre-shredded parmesan will do. You can grate, shred, or even do thin slices of parmesan cheese, it all works! I would forego the grated parm in the shaker bottles though, you won’t end up with the same results. 

Cracked Black Pepper – freshly cracked black pepper has a stronger, spicier flavor than your standard container of ground black pepper. It’s a great earthy, deep contrast to the mellow flavors of the zucchini and parmesan.

Optional: Garlic Powder – sometimes I like to add a little sprinkle of garlic powder. It adds a little flavor, but it won’t make or break the meal. Your choice!

These zucchini rounds are made without breadcrumbs to keep this a low-carb snack or side option. Breadcrumbs do make things crunchier, but honestly, these are so yummy that you don’t need the added ingredient, steps, or calories! 

How Thick Should You Slice Your Zucchini?

Zucchini contains a lot of water and when you cook it, not only does the structure break down, it also gets soggy. Besides drying your zucchini slices, you can also try slicing them thinner or thicker to get more crunch. This recipe is based on ¼” thick zucchini slices because I like the flavor and texture best. It’s creamy and tender with a slight crisp.

• ⅛” thick zucchini slices will yield thin zucchini chips that are more dry and crunchy. You’ll want to reduce your cooking time to about 6 minutes and keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.

• ¼” thick zucchini rounds are most common and result in nice bites of tender zucchini with slightly crunchy edges and lightly crisped parmesan cheese. 

• ½” thick zucchini rounds will allow for your parmesan to get golden and crispy while retaining some firmness in the zucchini. You’ll want to add a minute or two to your cook time. Personally, I find that thicker rounds are harder to eat. They’re juicier by default, so they’re messier and very, very (very) hot when you’re not a patient eater 😣. 

How to Make Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan Rounds

STEP 1 – Wash your zucchini and dry it. Slice it into ¼” thick coins and place onto a sheet of paper towel. You can sprinkle a little salt and let it sit for 10 minutes, this helps draw out more of the moisture. Place another piece of paper towel on top and press down gently to soak up the liquid. I’m usually not patient enough for the salt step so I just push down gently on my zucchini slices to absorb as much liquid as I can. That said, if you have the time, do the salt. 

STEP 2 – If your air fryer requires it, preheat to 400°F (“Air Crisp” setting on the Ninja Foodi.)

Place a large pinch of grated parmesan cheese on top of each zucchini slice. Grind fresh black pepper over your zucchini rounds. (Sprinkle a little garlic if you prefer.) I like to do this step BEFORE putting the zucchini rounds into the air fryer so I don’t end up with burnt cheese all over my air fryer basket. 

STEP 3 – Once heated, place the zucchini rounds into the air fryer in one layer. Don’t overcrowd the basket so that air can flow around the zucchini and crisp up the edges. Air fry for 8 minutes.

Now take out those delicious-smelling, golden, air-fried zucchini parmesan rounds and enjoy every savory bite!

Dipping Sauces

My favorite dipping sauces for these Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan Rounds are marinara sauce and Marie’s Creamy Italian Garlic Dressing + Dip. 

Roasted garlic, roasted red pepper, or herbed aioli would pair perfectly as well!

Storage and Reheating

These Air Fryer Zucchini Parmesan Rounds are definitely best when fresh, but if you made a lot and have extra, you can easily store and reheat them!

Store leftover zucchini in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
To reheat, air fry for 2-3 minutes on 360°F until the cheese has crisped back up a bit.

FAQ

Tips for Success

• Try to slice your zucchini in uniform thickness for even cooking.
• Dry your zucchini slices between two sheets of paper towel. 
• Cook in ONE LAYER. Yes, that means you may need to cook multiple batches.
• Eat right away! I mean, let them cool down for a minute so you don’t burn your tongue, but don’t let these sit around before digging in because they’ll get soggy, and you’ll be sad.

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