My new favourite zucchini recipe! These Lemon and Parmesan Air Fryer Zucchini sticks are packed with flavour and the perfect summer side dish with any meal.
It's officially summer which means my garden will be pumping out zucchinis from now until September. So I hope you are ready for all the zucchini recipes coming your way! As you may know by now I love taking vegetables people typically "hate" and creating a delicious air fryer version EVERYONE loves. So far I've created air fryer Brussels sprouts and air fryer asparagus both of which have gone VIRAL on Tiktok and Instagram!
I wanted to kick off zucchini season with the BEST air fryer zucchini recipe to convince even the biggest zucchini haters that zucchini can actually be good! Introducing; lemon and Parmesan air fryer zucchini sticks. The only vegetable I'll be eating all summer (kidding...).
If I hate zucchini why will I like this air fryer zucchini?
Believe me when I say if you hate zucchini I feel you. It took me YEARS to finally enjoy zucchini. For the longest time I found the texture really odd. There was something about how juicy the inside was when you baked it that just threw me off. However over time as I got older I started giving it more of a chance and realized I was being a little too judgmental of the versatile veggie.
I am now a FIRM believer that every vegetable can be tasty depending on how you cut and cook it. So it is now my personal mission to convert any vegetable hater into someone who AT LEAST gives veggies a fighting chance.
What makes these lemon and Parmesan air fryer zucchini sticks so good is the fact that the zucchini is cut into thin slices. That way you keep the nutrients, while missing out on the weird juiciness that typically results when you bake zucchini. Not to mention the combination of flavours and spices are PERFECT. I swear these zucchini sticks taste like pasta somehow and I promise if you try them you will love them as much as I do.
What if I don't have an air fryer?
Don't worry! Like all of my air fryer vegetable recipes these lemon and Parmesan air fryer zucchini sticks can be made in the oven!
I recommend following the recipe as is, spreading the zucchini sticks evenly on a prepared baking tray and roasting at 400 degrees F for about 30 minutes shaking the pan halfway through cooking. Tip: to get the zucchini extra crispy try broiling at the very end for a few minutes!
What ingredients do I need for Lemon and Parmesan Air Fryer Zucchini Sticks?
Zucchini- DUH you can't have the best air fryer zucchini without zucchini! We take full advantage of zucchini with this perfect summer side recipe.
Spices- A combination of Italian seasoning, black pepper, salt and red pepper flakes brings the PERFECT blend of spice and flavour to this zucchini.
Parmesan- My personal favourite addition to any vegetable. Nutritional yeast is also an amazing substitute if you are following a vegan diet, don't have Parmesan on hand or just wan to change it up and add a little more vitamin B12!
Bread Crumbs- For additional flavour a bit of crunch! I use Italian breadcrumbs in this recipe, however original breadcrumbs will also work! If you do not wish to use bread crumbs - don't worry, just add additional Parmesan cheese!
Olive oil- You can use any cooking oil such as avocado oil, canola oil etc. This helps coat the zucchini to help them crisp up while cooking.
Lemon- Just the juice! Lemon brings the perfect amount of zest to these lemon and Parmesan air fryer zucchini sticks. I find lemon is the perfect addition to any vegetable to help reduce the bitterness!
Garlic- Use freshly pressed garlic for optimal flavour!
Air Fryer- This isn’t an ingredient but to make this spicy garlic air fryer zucchini you will also need an air fryer. I personally love this one! However any air fryer will work!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these Lemon and Parmesan Air Fryer Zucchini Sticks don't forget to leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic and I'll be sure to re-share!
Lemon and Parmesan Air Fryer Zucchini Sticks
Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchinis (about 1 lb)
- 1.5 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 medium lemon just the juice
- 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoon Italian flavoured bread crumbs * optional see below
- 2 cloves garlic pressed
- red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Cut your zucchini in half width wise. Take each half and slide lengthwise into two equal sections. Continue slicing each section into 4 wedges to create your zucchini sticks.
- In a large bowl, add your zucchini sticks, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, spices, Parmesan and bread crumbs and stir/ toss to coat well.
- Place your zucchini in your air fryer basket and bake for about 12 minutes, shaking half way.
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