Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (2024)

Our Keto Fried Zucchini is a gluten free, grain free recipe that might just be my favorite way to eat zucchini! This crispy coated zucchini is perfect dipped in ranch and so good that I have to fight my kids for these!

Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (1)

If you’ve been around here for long, you know that I’ve eaten low carb off and on for years now. I love the way it makes me feel and I’ve lost quite a bit of weight doing it as well!

When I’m focusing on carbs, I try to eat healthy – lots of protein, plenty of veggies, and some healthy fats. Egg roll in a bowl is one of our go to meals!

But I inevitably end up craving fried food, because let’s be honest – fried food is delicious. 😉

These crispy fried zucchini chips are the ultimate low carb treat! So easy to make, the whole family loves them, and they make a great snack or side dish!

We like to dip our fried zucchini in this keto ranch dressing. Seriously the best ranch ever!

Table of Contents

Ingredient Notes:

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Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (2)

Coconut Flour- We’ve tested this recipe with both coconut flour and almond flour. Both work well, but coconut flour seems to get a bit crispier.

Parmesan – Use the powdery kind in a green can. It adds flavor to the breading!

Zucchini – You can use zucchini or yellow squash in this recipe! They’ll both fry up just about the same.

Oil – We like to use avocado oil for frying. It has a high smoke point and is healthier than most vegetable oils. It is more on the expensive side though, so feel free to use what you have on hand.

What Readers are Saying!

“My husband is the one doing Keto, so I made these for him. They were quick and easy, and he said they were restaurant quality!” – Jodi G.

How to Make Fried Zucchini:

Prepare: Slice the zucchini into 1/4 inch thick rounds and sprinkle with kosher salt. Let them sit on a paper towel lined sheet pan to draw out the moisture for 30 minutes and then wipe off any excess liquid and salt with a paper towel.

Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (3)

Helpful Tip!

Getting Fried Zucchini Crisp:

There is a lot of moisture in zucchini, so salting it and letting that liquid sweat out is a great way to help make for a crispier finished product.

This step is optional, but if you have the time, it’s worth it!

Low Carb Breading: Dip the zucchini rounds into an egg wash and then into the breading.

The low carb breading is just a simple mix coconut flour and Parmesan cheese.

Dip the zucchini one by one into the egg mix and then dredge them in the low carb breading until they are all fully coated.

Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (4)

Fry: Add the zucchini in a single layer to a shallow pan with an inch or two of hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. For best results, your oil should be 375 degrees.

Let these fry for about 1 minute per side, just to get them golden brown.

Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (5)

Drain: Remove the zucchini to a paper towel lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Let the grease drain off for a bit while you fry up the rest of the zucchini.

Substitutions:

Zucchini: Can’t find zucchini? Use yellow crookneck squash instead! We can’t tell a difference!

Breading: Not worried about the carbs and don’t want to purchase coconut flour? Use equal parts all purpose flour and panko bread crumbs.

Seasoning: We keep this recipe simple and dip it in ranch dressing for flavor, but if you’d like more flavor on the zucchini, season the breading with garlic and onion powder.

Dip: Ranch is our go to, but honey mustard is another favorite, if you don’t mind the carbs.

Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (6)

FAQs:

Can you use this low carb “breading” in other recipes?

We’ve only used this breading for zucchini, but it should work well on other things such as fish or onion rings.

Can I store the fried zucchini?

Like most fried foods, these are best eaten immediately after cooking. If you do have leftovers, store them in the fridge and reheat them in an air fryer for maximum crispiness.

Should you salt zucchini before frying?

Adding salt to the zucchini before frying it allows the zucchini to release some of it’s moisture, so that it fries up a bit more crispy. This step is optional, but recommended.

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Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (8)

Recipe

Keto Fried Zucchini

This fried zucchini recipe is such a tasty way to get in those veggies! We love fried zucchini dipped in ranch dressing and it’s a great low carb treat.

3.37 from 61 votes

Print Pin Save

Prep10 minutes minutes

Cook10 minutes minutes

Total20 minutes minutes

Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 medium zucchini or yellow squash
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 cup powdered Parmesan cheese
  • avocado oil for frying
  • Ranch dressing for serving

Instructions

  • Wash and slice the zucchini into thin rounds, about 1/4 inch thick.

  • Lay zucchini on a paper towel lined sheet pan and sprinkle with salt. Let set for 30 minutes to draw out the moisture. Pat dry, removing as much liquid and salt as possible.

  • Heat a 1/4-1/2 inch of oil in the bottom of a large skillet over medium heat to 375 degrees.

  • Beat together the egg and water in a shallow bowl.

  • Stir together the coconut flour and Parmesan in a second shallow bowl.

  • Coat the zucchini in the egg and then dredge in the coconut mixture to coat.

  • Add a single layer of zucchini to the hot oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry for 1-2 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Repeat with remaining zucchini.

  • Drain on a paper towel lined plate. Sprinkle with salt, if desired.

  • Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.

Tips & Notes:

Salting and letting the zucchini sit to draw out moisture is optional if you’re in a hurry, but it does make for a crispier crust on the zucchini.

You can add seasonings to the breading, such as onion powder and garlic powder, if desired. We dip ours in ranch dressing when eating and find the zucchini doesn’t need additional seasoning as the Parmesan also adds flavor.

We have not tested this in the air fryer, but if I were testing I would start at 390 degrees for 6-8 minutes and see how it goes.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 87kcal (4%)| Carbohydrates: 6g (2%)| Protein: 6g (12%)| Fat: 4g (6%)| Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)| Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g| Monounsaturated Fat: 1g| Trans Fat: 1g| Cholesterol: 66mg (22%)| Sodium: 1272mg (55%)| Potassium: 284mg (8%)| Fiber: 3g (13%)| Sugar: 3g (3%)| Vitamin A: 322IU (6%)| Vitamin C: 18mg (22%)| Calcium: 72mg (7%)| Iron: 1mg (6%)

Author: Karly Campbell

Course:Appetizer

Cuisine:American

Keyword:easy appetizer recipes, game day recipes, low carb recipes

Did You Make This?Tag Us On Instagram

This recipe was originally published in September 2015. It was updated with new photos in January 2022. Original photo below.

Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (9)
Step by Step Tutorial: Fried Zucchini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you fry zucchini so it's not soggy? ›

Yes, you should always salt your zucchini before frying — especially if you're aiming to achieve a crispy texture. Salting your zucchini helps remove the excess moisture stuck in the zucchini that would otherwise make frying a challenge.

How do you keep breading from falling off zucchini? ›

Chill the breaded zucchini: It helps the breading stay stuck, which means they won't fall off in the fryer and they'll be crunchier. Refrigerate the breaded zucchini for at least 15 minutes and up to 3 hours—it's just enough time to help the breading stick.

Why do you soak zucchini in salt water? ›

Salt causes zucchini rounds to release excess water. This important extra step helps the zucchini to sauté rather than stew in its own juices.

Why is my fried zucchini bitter? ›

When exposed to environmental stress, poor soil pH, or poor soil nutrition, zucchinis trigger the production of cucurbitacin, a natural phytonutrient that helps the plant overcome stress but consequently results in the unwanted bitter taste.

What is the best way to cut zucchini for stir fry? ›

Cut it into thin slices so it cooks quickly and won't become soggy. Work Quickly. Zucchini can go from tender to mushy in a hurry, so be careful not to overcook it. Three minutes at medium high heat is all you need.

Do you need to peel zucchini before cooking? ›

There's no need to peel zucchini. In fact, the skin is a big source of zucchini nutrition (the deep green color is a dead giveaway) so you definitely want to leave the skin on. How to cut zucchini: after giving the zucchini squash a good rinse under cold water, slice off the stem and discard it.

Is fried zucchini healthy to eat? ›

Is Fried Zucchini Good For You? Fried foods don't have to be unhealthy. This fried zucchini recipe is a prime example of a healthy fried snack, but it also makes a healthy side dish. The key is to use a natural, low carb breading and a healthy oil.

Why is my fried zucchini soggy? ›

Zucchini is made of over 90% water. When cooked, it gets soft and slowly releases that water into whatever dish you're cooking. If zucchini is overcooked, it will have a mushy, soft texture. In certain recipes, the author may recommend that zucchini be patted dry or salted and drained before cooking.

Does salt draw water out of zucchini? ›

By sprinkling the cut vegetable with salt and letting it stand in a colander over the sink, water will drip out, leaving behind a firmer vegetable. The zucchini can then be more easily sauteed or roasted to bring out its natural sugars and, hence, flavor.

Do you need to remove water from zucchini? ›

When cooking with grated zucchini, it's important to squeeze out the moisture to stop your dish from going soggy.

Why is my zucchini turning to mush? ›

Blossom End Rot

It's occurs due to the plants inability to get calcium. This can be caused by a few things: Watering inconsistency (the most likely cause especially if you've had a lot of rain) Soil PH is either too high or too low (do a PH test to check)

How do you get breadcrumbs to stick to vegetables? ›

Shake excess buttermilk off of a handful of veggies, and coat lightly with breading, then coat with egg wash, letting excess drain off, and return to breading, turning and pressing to help it adhere. Transfer veggies to the tray as they are coated, and repeat with remaining veggies.

Why does my zucchini bread sink in the middle after baking? ›

Check your leavening agent

What is this? Expired leaveners: Always check the freshness of your leaveners. Expired or ineffective baking powder and baking soda will not leaven your quick bread. Adding too much or insufficient leavening agents: Adding too much leaveners will cause your quick bread to sink in the middle.

How do you firm up zucchini? ›

Arrange the zucchini pieces into a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (It will stick to the pan if you don't line it first!) Freeze the zucchini for about 1 hour, until it's firm to the touch, then transfer it to an airtight container to preserve the flavor as you store it.

Why is my fried squash soggy? ›

If frying frozen squash, make sure it is completely thawed beforehand. Consider patting it dry with a paper towel to remove any excess water. HOW DO YOU KEEP FRIED SQUASH FROM GETTING SOGGY? To keep your fried squash from getting soggy, avoid stacking the slices as they come out of the oil.

Should zucchini be crunchy when cooked? ›

When cooked that way, zucchini has the most wonderful texture: just barely soft in the center, slightly crunchy on the outside. It's juicy, not mushy, and could help any zucchini hater come to their senses.

Why is my zucchini so slimy when I cook it? ›

This, the outlet asserts, is due to zucchini's high water content: If it cooks too slowly, it will release its moisture before it sears, becoming soggy and sodden. Over high heat, on the other hand, zucchini becomes caramelized on the outside but retains a meaty, firm texture within.

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