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Crispy Baked Panko Crusted Zucchini Fries

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Panko Crusted Zucchini Fries are crispy and seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside, and a great alternative to french fries. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and even your kids will be asking for seconds!

crispy panko crusted zucchini fries dipping in spicy ranch sauce.

Another day, another zucchini recipe

I think zucchini is my favorite summer vegetable and even though the groundhog ate my garden, I’m still making loaded zucchini skinszucchini brownieszucchini taco boats, and these crispy zucchini fries.

This baked zucchini fries recipe is a healthier alternative to fried zucchini and a delicious way to use up some summer zucchini. 

You’ll get a satisfying crunch, tender zucchini, and the added bonus of increasing your family’s veggie intake all without deep-frying!

closeup of a crispy panko crusted zucchini fry in sauce.

Why you’ll love these Panko Zucchini Fries

Zucchini Season – You can only make so many loaves of zucchini bread. Switch things up with this savory option and make crispy baked zucchini fries!

Perfect Side Dish – As much as I love simple roasted zucchini, zucchini sticks are a fun low carb alternative to french fries. 

Crowd Pleaser – No promises but I think you might impress the whole family with this one, which is always a feat. 

Easy recipe – Made with a few ingredients and baked to perfection you can whip up a plate of “fries” in no time!

Tools you’ll need

  • Colander – To drain the excess water off the zucchini.
  • Baking Sheet – I like to use a lipped baking sheet so nothing slips off the sides.
  • Mixing Bowls – Shallow bowls for making your fry assembly line.

Ingredients

Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.

  • Zucchini – Fresh garden zucchini is always great, but picking it up from the market works fine as well.
  • Flour – I’ve only tested with all purpose flour.
  • Seasonings – Garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and lemon pepper. 
  • Egg – You’ll make an egg wash to “glue” the coating to the zucchini sticks.
  • Milk – I use 2% because that’s what we always have on hand.
  • Panko breadcrumbs – I prefer panko to regular breadcrumbs because they are larger and crispier. 
overhead shot of labeled ingredients laid out to make zucchini fries.

How to make Panko Crusted Zucchini Fries

  1. STEP ONE: Cut your zucchini and place the pieces into a colander over a bowl. Sprinkle with salt and let them drain. This will help get all of the excess moisture out (and zucchini has a lot of moisture!) to allow for the fries to bake to crispy perfection.
zucchini sticks in a colander.
  1. STEP TWO: Once drained, rinse zucchini with cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Preheat your oven and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and lightly spray with olive oil. Alternatively, you can use a silicone baking mat.
zucchini sticks laid out on paper towel.
  1. STEP THREE: In one bowl, combine flour, garlic salt, onion powder and optional red pepper flakes and mix to combine. In a second bowl combine egg and milk and whisk to combine. In a third bowl, combine panko crumbs and seasonings and mix to combine.
  2. STEP FOUR: Set up your assembly line. First flour, then egg mix, then panko mixture. Dip each piece of zucchini into each mix, one at a time. Making sure to fully coat each piece of zucchini at each stage. I HIGHLY recommend keeping one hand dry, one hand wet. You’ll be happy you did.
zucchini sticks laying in panko breadcrumb mixture.
  1. STEP FIVE: Place prepared zucchini pieces onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer, making sure they have enough room between them all for even baking.
panko crusted zucchini fries on a foil wrapped baking sheet.
  1. STEP SIX: Bake at 425 until starting to brown and then flip each one. Bake until golden brown and crispy.

Let cool before serving and enjoy!

Eat as is or serve with your favorite dipping sauce. I make a simple dipping sauce of Ranch dressing mixed with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.

How long to bake them

All ovens are not created equal so it is important to keep an eye on your zucchini fries to not over bake.

I find that baking for about 10 minutes before flipping for another 10 minutes is ideal to get that golden brown color with a crispy exterior.

overhead shot of zucchini fries on a baking sheet.

What are panko breadcrumbs?

Panko bread crumbs are used predominantly in Japanese cuisine. The process to make Panko bread crumbs and “regular” bread crumbs differ in that Panko crumbs are made from crustless bread.

They are processed into flakes and then dried. They are usually heavier and flakier and absorb less oil and therefore produce a crispier and lighter crunchy exterior.

Should I use the oven or air fryer?

There is no right or wrong here, so whatever you want to use, go right ahead, you will still get the same result! I traditionally always oven baked these zucchini fries, but now that I have an air fryer, I use that on occasion, too.

The oven, as we all know, takes a lot more energy and produces a lot more heat which may not be a good time in the middle of summer.

However, the air fryer is smaller so despite a faster cook time, you may have to work in batches to make sure everything is evenly spread with enough space around each piece of zucchini, which may defeat the point of faster cook time.

So, the choice is yours! Either way you will not be disappointed.

Dipping Sauces

As I said, I like a simple ranch sauce with the addition of Frank’s Red Hot, however the possibilities really are endless! Here are some options:

How to store leftovers

Zucchini fries will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

You will be hard pressed to keep them from getting soggy. They will be ok to eat but you will probably want to reheat them in the oven or air fryer to get back some of the crispiness!

Can I freeze them?

You can freeze oven baked zucchini fries in an airtight container for up to a month, but again, you will need to reheat in the oven before serving to crisp them back up.

Panko Zucchini Fries

Need more ways to cook veggies? Try these:

crispy panko crusted zucchini fries dipping in spicy ranch sauce.

Crispy Baked Panko Crusted Zucchini Fries

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates
Panko Crusted Zucchini Fries are crispy and seasoned on the outside, tender on the inside, and a great alternative to french fries. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and even your kids will be asking for seconds!
4.80 from 5 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Sweating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 317 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 large zucchini

Flour Mixture

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • teaspoon red pepper flakes optional – if you like a little heat

Egg Mixture

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup milk I used 2%

Breading Mixture

  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs seasoned with pepper & lemon pepper

Instructions
 

  • Cut the zucchini into approximately 3" sticks, about the size of a finger.
  • Put the zucchini pieces into a colander over a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Let them drain for at least an hour.
    2 large zucchini
  • After the hour (or so) is up, rinse the zucchini with cool water and pat them dry with paper towel.
  • Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and lightly spray with olive oil. Set aside.
  • In one bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder & red pepper flakes. Mix to combine.
    1 cup all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • In another bowl, combine egg and milk. Whisk to combine.
    1 cup milk, 1 large egg
  • In a third bowl, combine the panko and seasonings. Mix to combine.
    2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • Set up an assembly line – flour mix, egg mix, panko mix.
  • Dip each piece of zucchini first into the flour, then the egg, then the panko. Fully coating each piece.
  • Line the prepared zucchini pieces onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
  • Bake for 10 minutes until they start to brown. Check on them and flip each one. Bake for another 10 minutes or so until golden brown and crispy.

Notes

Depending on zucchini size, this should serve 2-4 as a side dish.
I HIGHLY recommend keeping one hand dry, one hand wet while dredging the zucchini. You’ll be happy you did.
I make a simple dipping sauce of Ranch dressing mixed with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 317kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 13gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 1441mgPotassium: 612mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 508IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 161mgIron: 4mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @melissa_pplates or tag #persnicketyplates!

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Originally published February 5, 2013

Baked Zucchini Fries | Persnickety Plates



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  1. Lisa says

    Mmmmm, these look super yummy!

  2. Angela Paris says

    Wow, these look amazing! Thanks for sharing these for the Zucchini round up… check my blog on the 16th to see if you are featured… 🙂

  3. Jarrod Kassis says

    5 stars
    Yum!

  4. Laurie says

    4 stars
    They’re good, but I had a really hard time getting the breadcrumbs to stick to the skin of the zucchini. Any suggestions to get them to stick better? Thanks.

    • Melissa Williams says

      Even with the flour & egg wash? You do need to gently press the panko on, but it should stay.

Melissa Williams/Persnickety Plates is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For more details, please see my Privacy Policy & Disclosures page.