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• This Air Fryer Zucchini Has My Favorite Cheesy Coating
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Cook Zucchini In The Air Fryer
• My Recipe Tips
• Air Fryer Zucchini (Easy, Cheesy Recipe) Recipe card
• Serving Ideas
• Recipe Reviews

This Air Fryer Zucchini Has My Favorite Cheesy Coating

This air fryer zucchini has been my go-to for three summers straight. Here’s why:

• Crispy, cheesy parmesan coating – A.k.a. the best part! While the vegetables get tender and a little sweet inside, the outside gets golden brown — the perfect combo of melty and crispy.
• Fast and easy – Just 5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes! It’s the quick, healthy side dish of the season, without heating up my kitchen.
• Better for you with a little comfort factor – My air fryer zucchini recipe has no breading and still feels special with the parmesan all over it. It’s not quite as plain as regular roasted zucchini (which I also love in its own way), but much lighter than traditional frying methods or coatings that have breadcrumbs.

If you’ve got a pile of squash and need an easy side tonight, make this cheesy air fried zucchini with me!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fryer zucchini recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Zucchini – I cut it into 1/2 inch thick slices, but you could cut zucchini sticks if you prefer, about the same thickness. I’ve also made this recipe using yellow summer squash instead.
• Grated Parmesan Cheese – For a cheesy flavor and crispy outside! You can swap half of it with breadcrumbs (even crispier), or substitute other grated hard cheeses, such as pecorino romano. I’ve also air fried zucchini sprinkled with semi-soft or semi-hard cheeses, like mozzarella or cheddar, but they turn out more melty rather than crispy.
• Olive Oil – Avocado oil works, too.
• Herbs & Spices – Garlic powder , dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper. Sometimes I use Italian seasoning instead of oregano.

How To Cook Zucchini In The Air Fryer

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Season the squash. While your air fryer preheats, slice the zucchini and place in a large bowl. Toss with olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper.
2. Add the parmesan cheese, tossing to coat again.
3. Air fry zucchini. Arrange the zucchini slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If the coating of parmesan looks sparse, sprinkle extra parmesan on top. Cook until tender and golden brown.

My Recipe Tips

• Cut uniform slices, not too thick or too thin. You want the same thickness, so that they cook at the same rate. Don’t make them too thin, unless you want crispy air fryer zucchini chips instead of tender zucchini! Keep in mind they’ll shrink a bit.
• Dry the zucchini if it’s wet. If you slice the zucchini ahead of time, or yours has excess moisture after slicing, pat dry with paper towels before adding the oil. I usually need to do this especially with larger zucchini, which tends to be more watery.
• Don’t crowd the air fryer. My air fryer is roomy enough to fit all the slices at once, but smaller air fryers may need multiple batches.
• I don’t recommend flipping. The parmesan coating tends to fall off if you flip halfway through cooking, so it’s best to just leave the pieces in one spot the entire time. The top turns out more crispy, and I think that’s just fine!
• Can you make these without an air fryer? Yes! You use your oven (15-20 minutes at 400 degrees F), but I recommend broiling at the end to brown the cheese. You might also like my stovetop fried zucchini or baked zucchini fries instead.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 1 lb Zucchini (sliced, about 1/2 inch thick) ▢
• 1 tbsp Olive oil (or avocado oil) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder ▢
• 1/4 tsp Dried oregano (optional) ▢
• 1/8 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
• 1/3 cup Grated parmesan cheese (plus more if needed) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for at least 5 minutes .
2. Meanwhile, place the zucchini slices in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat.
3. Season with garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
4. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over the zucchini. Toss to coat again.
5. Arrange the zucchini slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if needed. (Do not crowd the basket. Mine fit in the air fryer in one batch, but smaller air fryers may need multiple batches.) If the coating of parmesan looks sparse, sprinkle a thin layer of additional parmesan on top.
6. Air fry zucchini for 8 minutes , until tender and golden brown.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help your air fried zucchini cook evenly, get the best crispy coating, and alternate cooking methods.
• Storage: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can freeze if you really want to, but I don’t love it because the results are very mushy after thawing.
• Reheat: I recommend reheating the zucchini in the air fryer again to revive the coating. It only takes 1-2 minutes at 350 degrees F.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Air Fryer Zucchini

Serving Ideas

Although air fryer zucchini works well with just about any main, I like to stick to easy options for a quick weeknight dinner. Here are some ideas:

• Chicken – A couple of my faves are lemon garlic chicken and crispy baked chicken legs .
• Beef – You can’t go wrong with a juicy sirloin steak or my easy burger recipe . For a special occasion, I like to air fry filet mignon followed by the zucchini while the steak rests.
• Fish – My air fryer cod or air fryer salmon recipes can make your entire meal in the same appliance! If you want your veggies and main ready at the same time, I recommend broiled salmon or pan fried tilapia .
• Dipping Sauce – When I serve this air fried zucchini as an appetizer, I usually add a sauce on the side, like marinara sauce , tahini sauce , or even ranch dressing (less conventional, but my personal fave).

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Air Fryer Zucchini (Easy, Cheesy Recipe)

You’ll love my crispy, cheesy air fryer zucchini, made with just 5 simple ingredients in 15 minutes. The perfect easy, healthy side dish!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/air-fryer-zucchini/

Ingredients

• 1 lb Zucchini (sliced, about 1/2 inch thick)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil (or avocado oil)
• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp Dried oregano (optional)
• 1/8 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 1/3 cup Grated parmesan cheese (plus more if needed)

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) for at least 5 minutes .
2. Meanwhile, place the zucchini slices in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat.
3. Season with garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
4. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over the zucchini. Toss to coat again.
5. Arrange the zucchini slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, working in batches if needed. (Do not crowd the basket. Mine fit in the air fryer in one batch, but smaller air fryers may need multiple batches.) If the coating of parmesan looks sparse, sprinkle a thin layer of additional parmesan on top.
6. Air fry zucchini for 8 minutes , until tender and golden brown.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help your air fried zucchini cook evenly, get the best crispy coating, and alternate cooking methods.
• Storage: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. You can freeze if you really want to, but I don’t love it because the results are very mushy after thawing.
• Reheat: I recommend reheating the zucchini in the air fryer again to revive the coating. It only takes 1-2 minutes at 350 degrees F.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)