Baked zucchini fries are the perfect summer side dish! Best of all, this recipe only requires 8 ingredients and can be put together in less than 30 minutes.
This post was originally published in August 2018. Pictures, post, and recipe have been updated.
Zucchini fries (or as we called them, zucchini fingers) are one of the first things I learned to make with my mom. Really, it was just shaking cut zucchinis in a plastic bag of bread crumbs, but still. I was helping in the kitchen and I felt like a real chef.
I wanted to re-create this recipe sans egg and gluten, to give one of my childhood favorites a little health boost.
What makes this zucchini fries recipe great?
- Baked as oppose to fried
- Crispy (thank you, panko breadcrumbs!)
- Easy to make
- Flavorful
Ingredients for vegan zucchini fries
- Zucchini (I bet you yellow squash would work too!)
- Rice flour (can substitute with all-purpose flour)
- Panko Breadcrumbs (can substitute with a GF brand to make this recipe gluten-free)
- Almond milk (any unsweetened plant-based milk works here)
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
Health Benefits of Zucchini
Zucchini is a Summer vegetable and it is actually packed with health benefits! Don’t let the word “fries” in this recipe fool you otherwise, my friends!
- Aids with digestion
- Promotes weight loss
- Lowers blood sugar
- Increases energy
Of course, some of these nutrients are lost in the cooking process, but they are baked instead of fried so we have that.
We can’t win at everything, right?
How to make baked zucchini fries
- Combine the rice flour and seasonings in a shallow bowl.
- Set up three “work stations”. The almond milk in one bowl, the flour mixture in a separate bowl, and the panko breadcrumbs on a plate.
- Dip a zucchini fry in the flour mixture, then dunk in the almond milk, then roll in the panko.
- Transfer the zucchini fry to a lined baking sheet. Repeat with all the fries!
What makes this zucchini fries recipe vegan?
We are not using eggs! Eggs are typically used to help bind the breadcrumbs to the zucchini, but here we are using almond milk instead.
Best dipping sauce for zucchini fries
- Ketchup (my personal fav!)
- BBQ sauce
- Honey mustard
- Vegan ranch
- Vegan aioli
Serving Suggestions for baked zucchini fries
- These baked zucchini fries would taste great paired with a vegan burger for a complete, plant-based meal
- Pair with a big salad for a healthy meal
Best way to store and reheat zucchini fries
To reheat zucchini fries, it’s best to heat them in the oven at 350F for about 10 minutes. You CAN microwave them if you are impatient like me, but they will be limp.
Store zucchini fries in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
If you tried this vegan zucchini fries recipe, let me know in the comments below and share a photo using #mindfulavocado. I’d love to hear from you! Want to see more recipes? Let’s get social! CONNECT WITH ME on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest to see what I’m currently cooking up!
More Great Vegan Side Dishes
Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchinis cut into fries
- 1/3 cup almond milk can substitute with any unsweetened plant-based milk
- 1/4 cup rice flour can substitute with all-purpose flour
- 1-1.5 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cut zucchini into fries.
- Combine rice flour and seasonings into a shallow bowl and mix well. Pour the almond milk into a shallow bowl, and pour 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs on a plate.
- Set up your "work stations": Flour mixture, almond milk, and panko breadcrumbs.
- Take a zucchini fry and roll in the flour mixture until coated. Dunk in the almond milk, then coat in the panko breadcrumbs.
- Transfer to your baking sheet and repeat with all the zucchini fries. Tip: Use one hand as your dry hand and the other hand for dipping in the almond milk. This helps to keep things clean! Add more panko breadcrumbs when the plate gets empty.
- Bake the zucchini fries for 20 minutes. Optional; broil them for 2-3 minutes to get them nice and golden brown! Serve warm with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce.
Video
Notes
- To reheat zucchini fries, it’s best to heat them in the oven at 350F for about 10 minutes. You can microwave them, but they will be soft and not crispy.
- Store zucchini fries in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Nutrition
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I always loved zucchini but it was quite a discovery for me to learn how healthy it is. I didn’t know zucchini aids with digestion and lowers blood sugar – that is quite incredible. And baked zucchini sounds and looks delicious!
Learning the little health benefits of certain veggies definitely makes it more beneficial to eat!
Zucchini fries with tzatziki are a lifelong favourite of mine. Looks amazing!
thanks, girl!
Looks great. Mine always turn out mushy. Not crisp.
Yes that is a common thing that happens! You can try salting the zucchini and letting it rest. This will draw out some of the moisture. Another tip is the cut the zucchini into thin fries rather than large pieces.
I love a simple, healthy recipe like these zucchini fries and how wonderful to hear that you first made these with your mom. It’s a great way to teach kids to enjoy nutritious food.
Yes! Getting kids involved in the kitchen is the best!
I have never tried using chick pea flour and sometimes get stuck using all purpose because my regular go tos of almond flour or coconut flour just won’t work well in certain recipes. I am going to give this recipe a try and maybe try chickpea flour out in some other recipes. Thanks for the idea.
Yes, almond and coconut flour can be rather dense unless they are mixed with other flours to make a blend. Chickpea flour certainly has a different texture than all-purpose, but it is a great GF flour to play around with!
These were easy to make but look impressive. I used both green zucchini & yellow summer squash & they turned out crispy on the outside & sweet & chewy on the inside. They just needed a sprinkling of pink salt to make them really tasty. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome! So happy you enjoyed the recipe, Lesley.