Air fryer zucchini is both tender and crisp, with beautifully caramelized edges. The air fryer is perfect for small portions.

Zucchini in the Air Fryer

Tender-crisp bite-size zucchini pieces are hard to resist every time I cook them this way. Similar to the results from roasting zucchini, but able to be cooked much more quickly in small batches.

Want to know how to make the perfect air fryer zucchini? Here are some simple tips to get you started.

When buying squash, look for smaller zucchini whenever possible as the larger more mature zucchini tend to have bigger seeds and a softer middle. Larger squash are not always as evenly shaped and typically carry a lot more moisture.

First, cut the zucchini into uniform pieces. This will allow them to cook at the same rate and fry evenly. I like to use zucchini that are 8-10 inches in length and fairly even in diameter.

When cutting up the zucchini try for even-sized pieces. If the squash is thicker, you may need to be a little creative with the way you slice it.

Second, toss your vegetables with oil before putting them in the air fryer. Be sure to have a single layer and allow for good air circulation on all sides.

Third, the best-tasting air-fried zucchini will have browned or blackened areas where they have been fried.

How To Air Fry Zucchini

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the zucchini in a bowl and toss with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss again to coat.
Place the zucchini in a single layer in the basket or directly on the rack. Fry the zucchini for 6 minutes. If you are using a basket-style air fry toss the basket at about 4 minutes for even cooking. Test the zucchini and cook an additional 2 minutes as needed.

I can’t overstate the importance of testing with a fork and also tasting the vegetables when trying new cooking methods.

We prefer our vegetables more firm than soft, with a solid bite to them. If you prefer your vegetables to be a bit more cooked, just add a minute or two to the provided cooking times. It’s always better to err on the side of undercooked versus overdone.

Keep in mind that cooking times are estimates and adjust them to be exactly what you like best.

cooked zucchini in round white dish with cream linen

How Long to Cook Zucchini in Air Fryer

When cooking in the air fryer it is all about the spacing of your item and the thickness. You will want to have a single layer of zucchini. I typically cut it into half-inch pieces, definitely not larger than 1-inch.

Larger pieces will take longer and you will need to check it every 1 to 2 minutes for the proper doneness.

That’s all. If you prefer yours a little more cooked, you can always add a minute or two to the cooking time after you’ve tested it.

Take care not to overcook the zucchini! No one likes mushy squash. I cooked ours for just 4 minutes, shook the basket, and cooked an additional 2 minutes.

I use the COSORI Air Fryer for all of my air fryer recipes. I’m partial to a square basket air fryer as I find it easier to fit more food into the basket. This is a 5.8QT air fryer, one of the largest machines I’ve found that works effectively.

The machine is a bit retro with simple knob controls. It turns out that I really like the basic settings and ability to set the time and temp like a traditional appliance. I’ve used a few different air fryers with pre-programmed settings and I found I was still tweaking the times.

This air fryer is surprisingly easy to clean and the two-part basket locks together (it’s literally impossible for it to detach the way some do) until you open the latch and then push the button to release it. I simply wipe down the baskets with a sudsy dish scrub brush or sponge, rinse and let them air dry on the counter.

Recipes with Zucchini

If you’re lucky enough to have leftover zucchini, try adding it to vegetable quesadillas or a vegetable-filled rice pilaf.

Tender vegetables are breaded and broiled to perfection with plenty of buttery garlic and lemon in this Crispy Buttered Zucchini and Summer Squash.

And if you have an abundance of summer squash on hand, there are a lot of great ways to cook it! Roasted, sauteed, steamed, baked, or even grilled, you really can’t go wrong using up your zucchini harvest.