Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash
If you love roasting your vegetables, you’ll love Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash. These step-by-step instructions make a batch of crisp-tender vegetables in minutes in your air fryer or Ninja Foodi. Perfect quick and easy side dish! Low carb, vegan, paleo, & Whole30.
If you’re looking for a way to cook an abundance of summer zucchini squash, cooking them in the air fryer is a great way to do it, and the veggies come out perfect every time.
It’s simple! Zucchini grows cylindrical, while yellow squash is usually wider at one end. So do your bests to slice them both the same size and shape. From there, you’ll coat them lightly in oil, and savory seasonings, then let your air fryer do the rest of the work.
Air fryer zucchini and squash pair with almost any main course, and from start to finish, take less than ten minutes to make. Finally, a way to roast vegetables in the summer without turning on the oven!
💭 Why The Air Fryer Is The Best Way To Cook Squash
- Summer zucchini & squash are prolific growers. This is a great way to use them.
- No more soggy squash. They come out firm and tender every time.
- It’s so easy and is done in 10 minutes or less.
- Easy low carb, vegan, paleo, and whole30 side dish.
🥒 Ingredients & Tools
- Zucchini & squash – I cut mine into bite-size half moons, but you can also slice them into rounds. Smaller zucchini are harvested before maturity, so they tend to have the least water and the best flavor.
- Avocado oil – Or another high-heat, quality cooking oil. Melted grass-fed butter and ghee are good options.
- Garlic powder – Enhances the zesty, savory tastes.
- Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning has a robust blend of herbs and spices. F el free to adjust the flavors to your preference.
- Salt & pepper – Wakes up the rest of the flavors and ties everything together.
🥣 How To Make Zucchini & Squash In The Air Fryer
1️⃣ Prep. First, preheat the air fryer to 400F for 3-5 minutes. Meanwhile, wash your squash and zucchini. Cut off the ends and slice down the middle lengthwise. Then, slice into 1/2-inch moons or half-circle shapes.
2️⃣ Season. Add the chopped zucchini and squash to a bowl and pour the cooking oil over the top. Sprinkle with dried seasonings and toss to coat.
3️⃣ Air fry. Add the seasoned vegetables to the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches, if you need to). Set the timer for 10 minutes.
4️⃣ Toss. Give the zucchini a toss with tongs or a spatula at the halfway point. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the zucchini is tender and starts to brown on the surface. Remove with tongs and serve hot with your favorite dishes!
💭 Recipe Tips
- Don’t skip preheating. If you get the air fryer warmed up before adding your veggies, they’ll start cooking immediately and brown beautifully.
- Chop consistently. Do your best to slice the zucchini into equal size pieces.
- Don’t cook too much at once. Cook the pieces in an even layer without overlapping so moisture doesn’t get trapped and inadvertently steam the veggies. Cook in batches if you need to.
- The time and temp may vary. In addition, air fryers vary in functionality, so always keep an eye on what you’re cooking and adjust as needed.
🧂Variations
You aren’t limited to my choice of spices and seasonings. Squash and zucchini can be flavored with just about anything before roasting in an air fryer. These are some of the ways I like to switch things up.
- Ranch seasoning
- Fresh herbs – basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, etc. Toss with fresh herbs right after the vegetables are finished cooking.
- Lemon juice & a pinch of zests
- Freshly grated parmesan
- Greek seasoning blend
- Italian dressing – Instead of cooking oil and dry spices and seasonings, coat squash in Italian dressing before air frying.
Feel free to load more vegetables into this easy side dish. Fried mushrooms, red onion, and colorful bell peppers go great with zucchini. Be sure to cut everything relatively the same size.
♻️ Storing & Reheating
Storing: Air fryer squash and zucchini are best enjoyed hot out of the air fryer, but leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Freezing: I don’t recommend it. Once thawed, frozen zucchini turns to mush.
Reheating: Reheating leftovers in an air fryer is the best way to restore your food to its best. To reheat zucchini and squash, place the veggies back in the air fryer, leaving a little bit of space in between, and air fry at 400F for 4-5 minutes.
❔FAQ
Yes! This nourishing pair of vegetables is fantastic cooked in the air fryer. You can make roasted squash and zucchini, zucchini fritters, and even zucchini fries in an air fryer.
Squash is perfect when cooked in the air fryer. It has a high water content, so cooking it without becoming soggy can be tricky. B t, when it’s cooked in an air fryer, the constant blast of high heat evaporates the excess moisture, and the squash stays crisp.
It’s simple. After washing the squash, slice it into 1/2″ moons or chop it into 1/2″ chunks. Then, cook in a preheated 400F air fryer for 10 minutes, tossing the basket halfway through.
🥦 More Easy Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
Looking for more air-fried veggie recipes? You’ll love:
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Air Fryer Beets
- Air Fryer Acorn Squash
- Air Fryer Cabbage
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Broccoli
Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash
Equipment
- air fryer or Ninja Foodi
- mixing bowl
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 2 cups zucchini sliced into 1/2 inch moon shapes
- 2 cups yellow squash sliced into 1/2 inch moon shapes
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 3-5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, wash the squash and zucchini. Cut off the ends and slice in half lengthwise. Then, slice into 1/2-inch moons or half-circle shapes.
- Add the chopped zucchini and squash to a bowl and pour the cooking oil over top. Sprinkle with dried seasonings and toss to coat.
- Add the seasoned vegetables to the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches, if needed). Set the timer for 10 minutes
- At the halfway point, give the zucchini a toss with tongs or a spatula. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the zucchini is cooked and tender on the inside and starts to brown on the outside.
- Remove with tongs and serve hot with your favorite dishes.
