Crispy Oven Fried Zucchini Chips are coated with Panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese then baked in the oven. So crispy and delicious without the extra added calories of frying.
Zucchini Makes the Perfect Healthy Appetizer
Who loves appetizers and snacks?
Me, me, me! !! I could eat appetizers for dinner every night. I love getting appetizers and cocktails with friends however they are not always calorie friendly in a restaurant. So a good option is to make my own appetizers and I do that often.
Zucchini has a ton of health benefits and this recipe is baked in the oven rather than fried. The crispy coating gives it crunch and great flavor so you won't miss the heavy oil that it would normally be fried in. I actually prefer this healthier alternative baked in the oven for a nice light appetizer.
I often use panko breadcrumbs in my cooking and I make Panko Crusted Asparagus as well as Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
Ingredients
- Zucchini – medium size zucchini have the best flavor and their size is easy to work with.
- Cooking Spray - olive oil cooking spray is preferred.
- Parmesan cheese – use freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Italian Seasoning – select a premixed spice blend or add oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme, etc.
- Bread Crumbs – panko bread crumbs are my preference because of their crunchiness. You can use traditional bread crumbs if you prefer.
- Eggs - beat 2 room temperature eggs to dip the zucchini before coating in breadcrumbs.
- Salt and Pepper – add kosher salt and black pepper to the bread crumb and parmesan mixture to taste or sprinkle directly onto the zucchini.
- Marinara Sauce – for dipping. I like to make homemade marinara but you can use a jarred sauce for simplicity.
Find complete measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.
How To make Crispy Oven Fried Zucchini
These baked zucchini chips are super easy to make!
- Slice it into ¼ to ½ inch thick coins depending on how thick you like them.
- It is then coated in an egg wash and dipped in a bread crumb mixture of Panko bread crumbs, dried herbs and Parmesan cheese.
- The zucchini chips are placed in a single layer on a baking sheet. I like to line my baking sheet with parchment paper for making easy clean up. Or you can cook them on a wire rack to make them more crispy.
- The zucchini coins get brushed with cooking spray then baked in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes for crispy perfection. They come out golden brown, crispy and delicious!
Cooking /Storage Tips
- Dry zucchini slices on a paper towel. This will get rid of any excess water and ensure that the egg mixture and panko mixture stays on well.
- Place the parmesan and bread crumb mixture into a shallow bowl for dredging.
- Use a prepared baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. I love the pre cut sheets and always keep a big box on hand.
- Use a wire rack for extra crispy oven fried zucchini.
- For best results use olive oil cooking spray.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce such as marinara, creamy homemade garlic sauce, or even my favorite bottled ranch dressing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.
- Reheat in a 375 degrees F oven for up 5-7 minutes. You can reheat in the microwave but they wont be as crispy.
Variations/Substitutions
- Zucchini Sticks – Instead of slicing the zucchini into coins, cut into sticks for a low carb french fry substitute.
- Spicy Oven Fried Zucchini – Add a bit of garlic powder and cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the parmesan mixture to really kick up the flavor.
Serving Suggestions :
You can serve this crispy zucchini as an appetizer or a great side dish. You really can't go wrong either way. If you have picky children that won't eat many vegetables, this could be a good option to introduce them to zucchini. I serve it with my Easy 25 Minute Marinara Sauce because the coins are great for dipping. I also love this zucchini dipped in Homemade Bang Bang Sauce. But use your favorite fry sauce or whatever type of sauce you prefer.
More Light Appetizer Recipes:
I love to entertain in the summer. The weather has been nice and we have frequently been having friends over to social distance on our patio. I like to serve a few different appetizers with this Oven Fried Zucchini. Here are some other great appetizer recipes:
- PESTO TORTELLINI SKEWERS
- FETA CHEESE DIP WITH RED PEPPERS
- GREEK KOFTA KABOBS (with GROUND VEAL)
- BUFFALO CHICKEN FLATBREAD WITH BACON
- SHRIMP NACHOS
- TOMATO PESTO CAPRESE BITES
- SWEET AND SPICY SHRIMP (ONLY 10 MINUTES!)
More Zucchini Recipes
- Chococolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Zucchini Noodles with Healthy Bolognese Sauce
- Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats via Food Fanatic
- Air Fryer Parmesan Zucchini (Low Carb recipe)
Slice them, bake them and serve them with your favorite dipping sauce. You are going to love this delicious way to enjoy this bountiful summer vegetable.
If you like this breaded zucchini recipe, please give it a 5-star rating below.
RECIPE
Crispy Oven Fried Zucchini Chips
Ingredients
- 2 medium size zucchini
- cooking spray
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Trim the ends off of the zucchini. Slice each zucchini into ¼ to ½ inch coins. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
- Combine the Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning then mix thoroughly. Dip the zucchini coins into the egg wash then the crumb mixture, making sure to coat evenly.
- Place on baking sheet. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until browned. Cook on broil for the last 2 minutes of baking if you would like it extra crispy.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with marinara sauce if desired.
Nutrition
First publish Jan 2019; Updated June 2020
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Emily Liao
Loved these zucchini chips! Perfectly crisp. Will definitely make again 🙂
Anastasia Papapetros
These look absolutely scrumptious! Definite be making them as a side for family dinner night, my family will love them!
Adriana
Perfect side and snack too, I enjoyed that this is oven baked and not fried. The Italian flavors are stunning cannot get enough of these crispy zucchini fries.
Pam
Can't wait to try these. I agree with you - I love a meal made up entirely of appetizers.
Katie
I made these for my kids and they loved them! I'm always happy for a way to get more veggies in their diets!
Marta
These parmesan crisps look so crunchy and flavorful!
Amber Myers
Oh yes, I am excited to try these out. They look and sound amazing.
Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com
These look and sound amazing! I love how easy they are to make too, perfect app or side...YUM!!!
Marina
These really look amazing. Have to try them soon even if mine won't be exactly like yours because I have skip eggs and cheese.
Katie
Looks amazing! Can't wait to try this with my friends and family.
kimberly k lewis
this looks like the perfect snack! thanks for sharing!
Nancy Lauff
The best way to use my zucchini. Made them as one of our side dishes dushes! Substituted almond flour for the panko. Yummo!
Nathan King
As much as I love a classic french fry, I bet these zucchini chips pack just as much flavor for a fraction of the calories. Can't wait to give these a try!
Emmeline
These are amazing!! Such a great appetizer - and perfect for snacking on the couch 😉
Colleen
We loved these zucchini chips! The parmesan makes them so flavorful and crispy!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
Wow! This looks amazing! I never know what to make with all the zucchini I have in the house, so this is perfect for the next time I have an overflowing amount. Bookmarked to make later 🙂
Jacqueline Debono
I often fill up on the appetizers and then don't have room for the main meal! But that's okay coz they're usually delicious! These oven fried zucchini look and sound really good. Definitely on my to make list!
Shruthi
Crunchy and flavorful - gotta love parmesan with zucchini! Unbeatable combination and so much healthier too!
Charlotte McCall
I made these and loved them! I felt that 1/2 inch was a bit too thick, so I cut them closer to 1/4 inch. So I had to almost triple the bread crumbs and the parmesan. So it made them less healthy. But they were delicious!
lisa
Thanks for the tip! I have been making my batch thinner too so I just updated the instructions to reflect that. The more crunchier the better!
Dana
Pleasantly surprised with how good these are! The zucchini was perfectly cooked and the panko was crunchy and crispy. I will definitely be making this again!
lisa
Glad you liked them!
Barb
These were so good! Since I’m vegan I substituted vegan mayonnaise for the egg wash (the mayo was diluted with a bit of water.)
lisa
Great idea and thanks for letting me know as I will put it in my notes for other readers! Enjoy!
Jenessa
What are the eggs for then? Am I missing something here or are you? Confused.
lisa
The eggs are beaten and then the zucchini is dipped in them before coating with the breading. This way the breading sticks an dyou get a nice crunchy coating.
Kobi Briggs
Very easy to make. Very tasty. Definitely needs salt and pepper.
lisa
Glad you enjoyed! Yes, I like to add salt and pepper to taste as everyone likes different amounts.
Christine
I love me some breaded zucchini. I made your recipe and served it with homemade ranch. Very tasty. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
lisa
Glad you enjoyed it Christine! And thanks for letting me know!
Lisa
Greta
FANTASTIC side dish with our blue cheese grilled burgers!! My husband loved them, asked if I can make them again soon! Thank you for them excellent tips and recipe!
lisa
Hi Greta,
Glad you enjoyed them!
Lisa