These crispy breaded vegan zucchini fries are easy to make and simply delicious. Make these restaurant-quality appetizers easily at home in minutes. Deep-fried, air-fried, or baked, these cook up crunchy and golden brown. This fried zucchini is super flavorful dipped in marinara sauce, pizza sauce, vegan chipotle mayo, or vegan sriracha mayo.

A close up of breaded vegan zucchini fries with chipotle mayo on the side.

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This recipe is

  • quick and easy to make.
  • egg and dairy-free.
  • easy to make gluten-free.
  • a healthier alternative to french fries.

Best Fried zuchinni that I have had. We really enjoyed this recipe.

—Kat

Ingredients and substitutions

  • Zucchini – about 1 medium zucchini or 2 small ones. They need to be small enough that they don’t have large seeds forming in them yet or you will need to cut around the seeded section.
  • Flour – to make the batter. You can swap this out for whole wheat, or any type of grain-based gluten-free flour. I don’t recommend almond flour.
  • Corn Starch – to make the zucchini fries extra crispy. You can use potato starch instead as well.
  • Garlic Powder – for flavor.
  • Onion Powder – for flavor.
  • Salt – for flavor. Feel free to reduce the amount to suit your taste or dietary needs.
  • Plain Plant-Based Milk – to mix with the batter. You can use any type that you have or simply use water instead.
  • Panko Bread Crumbs – or any type of vegan bread crumb. You can also crush up the vegan stuffing and use it as bread crumbs too. You can use gluten-free bread crumbs or even corn flakes to make them gluten-free.
  • Nutritional Yeast – optional for a slightly cheesy flavor. This replaces the parmesan cheese in many traditional recipes. You can also use my homemade vegan parmesan instead.
  • Italian Seasoning – for flavor. You can use any type of dried herbs that you wish in its place like, basil, oregano, or parsley.
  • Oil – for deep frying or spray oil if you choose to bake them instead. Any neutral flavored oil will work.
  • Sauces – for dipping. Choose your favorite dipping sauce like marinara, pizza sauce, vegan ranch, vegan chipotle mayo, or vegan sriracha mayo.
A white plate filled with breaded deep fried zucchini cut in to long strips like fries with chipotle dipping sauce on the side.

Helpful tools

  • Deep Fryer – or you can use a pan with about 1 inch of oil in the bottom.
  • Tongs – for getting the zucchini in and out of the hot oil.

How to make vegan zucchini fries

Step 1 – Preheat your frying oil to 350° F. (If you are baking them preheat the oven to 425° F.)

Step 2 – Wash a medium-sized zucchini and cut both ends off. Then cut it into long thin French fry-shaped pieces.

A zucchini cut into French fry shaped pieces on a cutting board with a knife on the side.

Step 4 – Prepare the batter by mixing 1/2 cup flour, 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Then add 1/2 cup of plain plant-based milk and stir well until you have a smooth thick batter.

Step 5 – In a separate bowl mix 2 cups of bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast, 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Step 6 – Dip each piece of cut zucchini in the batter and coat it well, then dip it into the breadcrumb mixture and coat it with a layer of the breadcrumb mixture.

Cut zucchini on a cutting board with a bowl of batter and a bowl of bread crumbs to coat the zucchini in before frying.

Cooking Methods

DEEP FRY

Step 1 – Set your deep fryer to 350° F (182° C) or heat a pot of oil with at least 1 inch in the bottom.

Step 2 – Fry in batches of about 5-6 fries at a time, so they have enough room to cook evenly.

Step 3 – Deep fry for about 3 minutes until they are golden brown. Then pour it onto a paper towel-lined plate before arranging it on a plate with dipping sauce.

BAKE

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 425° F (218° C).

Step 2 – Spray a baking sheet with a spray oil before placing the breaded fries on it, then spray the zucchini with another coating of oil before baking.

Step 3 – Bake the breaded zucchini for 10 minutes, then take them out of the oven and flip them to the other side. Put them back in the oven for 10-12 more minutes until they are golden brown for a total cook time of 20-22 minutes.

AIR FRY

Step 1 – Set the temperature to 375° F (190° C).

Step 2 – Place the zucchini fries in the air fryer so that they are separate and air can get around each piece.

Step 3 – Spray them with oil.

Step 4 – Cook for a total of 15 minutes (flipping the pieces after five minutes of cooking).

Pro Tips

  • Try to cut the fries into equal-sized pieces so they cook in the same amount of time.
  • Use small or medium zucchini that don’t have large seeds forming in them yet.
  • Serve hot, they tend to get soggy after about 1/2 hour.
  • If you want another creative alternative to fries, try my recipe for tofu fries!

How to make gluten-free vegan zucchini fries

To make the vegan zucchini fries gluten-free as well, simply swap out the flour with any grain-based gluten-free flour or chickpea flour. You will also need to use a gluten-free bread crumb or crushed-up cornflakes instead of traditional breadcrumbs.

How to store and reheat zucchini fries

Refrigerate: Fried zucchini is best served hot and fresh, but it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days in a sealed container.

Freeze: You can also store the fries in an airtight bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can reheat them directly from the freezer, they will just need about 5 extra minutes of baking time.

Reheating: Reheat the vegan zucchini fries on a cookie sheet in the oven at 375° F for about 10 – 15 minutes until warm.

Someone dipping deep fried zucchini into a bowl of vegan chipotle mayo.
Zucchini fries dipped in chipotle mayo.

More zucchini recipes

Vegan zucchini fries recipe

A plate full of deep fried breaded zucchini fries with tomatoes and dipping sauce on the side.
Diet
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5 from 8 rating

Vegan Zucchini Fries

Yield: 8
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 3 minutes
Total: 13 minutes
Author: Monica Davis
Golden deep-fried zucchini battered and cooked to perfection.
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Ingredients

  • oil for deep frying, (or spray oil for baking)
  • 1 medium zucchini

Batter

  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 cup plain plant-based milk, or water

Bread crumb mixture

  • 2 cups bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your frying oil to 350° F. (If you are baking them preheat the oven to 425° F.)
  • Wash a medium-sized zucchini and cut both ends off. Then cut it into long thin French fry-shaped pieces.
  • Prepare the batter by mixing 1/2 cup flour, 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Then add 1/2 cup of plain plant-based milk and stir well until you have a smooth thick batter.
  • In a separate bowl mix 2 cups of bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast, 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
  • Dip each piece of cut zucchini in the batter and coat it well, then dip it into the bread crumb mixture and coat it with a layer of the bread crumb mixture.

DEEP FRY

  • Set your deep fryer to 350° F (182° C) or heat a pot of oil with at least 1 inch in the bottom.
  • Add about 5-6 fries to the basket at a time, so they have enough room to cook evenly.
  • Deep fry for about 3 minutes until they are golden brown. Then pour it onto a paper towel-lined plate before arranging it on a plate with dipping sauce.

BAKE

  • Preheat the oven to 425° F (218° C).
  • Spray a cookie sheet with a spray oil before placing the breaded fries on it, then spray the zucchini with another coating of oil before baking.
  • Bake the breaded zucchini for 10 minutes, then take them out of the oven and flip them to the other side. Put them back in the oven for 10-12 more minutes until they are golden brown for a total cook time of 20-22 minutes.

AIR FRY

  • Set the temperature to 375° F (190° C).
  • Place the zucchini fries in the air fryer so that they are separate and air can get around each piece.
  • Spray them with oil.
  • Cook for a total of 15 minutes (flipping the pieces after five minutes of cooking).

Notes

  • Try to cut the fries into equal-sized pieces so they cook in the same amount of time.
  • Use small or medium zucchini that don’t have large seeds forming in them yet.
  • Serve hot, they tend to get soggy after about 1/2 hour.
Serving: 5fries, Calories: 188kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Sodium: 566mg, Potassium: 183mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 118IU, Vitamin C: 5mg, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 2mg
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