These air fryer fried zucchini spears have a crunchy panko coating, tender centers, and a warm marinara dip. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C), then cook the spears for about 12 minutes per batch, flipping halfway through. Plan on two batches—about 24 minutes of cooking total—so the coating has room to crisp instead of steaming.
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound total)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Olive oil spray
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce, for dipping
How To Make It
- Rinse the zucchini under running water and dry them thoroughly. Trim the ends, cut each zucchini in half lengthwise, then cut each half lengthwise into four spears. You should have 16 sturdy spears, not thin slices.
- Put the flour in one shallow bowl and beat the egg in another. In a third bowl, combine the panko, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. Dip each spear in flour, then egg, then panko, pressing gently so crumbs stick to every side. Discard any egg or coating left in the dipping bowls.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for about 3 minutes, or use its preheat setting. Arrange half the spears in a single layer with space between them. Lightly spray their exposed sides with olive oil spray.
- Air-fry for about 12 minutes, turning carefully after 6 minutes. Lightly spray any dry-looking patches after turning. The coating should be golden and set, with no wet egg remaining. Transfer to a clean plate and repeat with the remaining spears. Warm the marinara separately and serve it alongside.
Tips
Keep the spears thick. Cutting each zucchini into eight long pieces gives you a tender zucchini bite beneath the crisp crumbs. Very thin pieces soften quickly and are harder to turn without losing breading.
Give them space. Basket size varies; if eight spears crowd yours, cook smaller batches and allow roughly 12 minutes per batch. A light spray helps the panko brown, but avoid soaking it with oil.
Serve promptly. The coating is crispest straight from the air fryer. Wash hands and utensils after handling the raw egg, and use a clean plate for cooked spears rather than the one that held uncooked breaded zucchini.
Set out the marinara and enjoy these crunchy zucchini spears while they’re hot.
