Easy Fried Zucchini Recipe

Easy Fried Zucchini Recipe

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Fried zucchini is a crispy and delicious side dish that you can easily prepare at home. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal time, you can enjoy this dish that rivals any restaurant version. Follow these easy steps to make your new favorite snack or side dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium zucchinis, trimmed and sliced into -inch thick rounds
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 sleeve of buttery round crackers (like Ritz), crushed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or any neutral oil like vegetable or canola oil)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1: Begin by slicing the zucchinis crosswise into -inch thick rounds. This will help them cook evenly and ensure the perfect crispiness.

Step 2: In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs. This will act as the base coating for the zucchini slices.

Step 3: In another shallow dish, crush the buttery crackers until you have fine crumbs. These crumbs will give the zucchini its crispy, golden coating.

Step 4: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. You want enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan, but not so much that it submerges the zucchini slices.

Step 5: Dip each zucchini slice into the beaten egg, ensuring it is fully coated. Then, press it into the crushed cracker crumbs, making sure both sides are covered. Shake off any excess crumbs and place the coated zucchini in a single layer on a plate.

Step 6: Once the oil is hot, carefully add the zucchini slices to the skillet. Pan-fry the zucchini for about 3 minutes on each side, or until the crust turns golden brown and crispy. The zucchini should be tender inside.

Step 7: Remove the zucchini from the skillet and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately while crispy and hot.

Tips for Perfect Fried Zucchini

If you're worried about soggy zucchini, heres how to avoid it:

  • Dry the zucchini: If the zucchini is too wet, it will struggle to crisp up. Sprinkle a little salt on the slices and let them sit for about 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture before coating them in the egg and cracker crumbs.
  • Dont overcrowd the pan: Fry the zucchini in batches to maintain the temperature of the oil. Overcrowding the pan can cause the oil temperature to drop, making the zucchini soggy.

What to Serve With Fried Zucchini

Fried zucchini pairs well with a variety of dips, such as marinara sauce, ranch dressing, or even ketchup. It also complements many main dishes, making it a versatile side. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Juicy Hamburgers
  • Roasted Chicken
  • Classic Pizza Margherita

Storage and Freezing

How to store fried zucchini: Store any leftover fried zucchini in an airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, place them in the oven to crisp back up.

How to freeze fried zucchini: To freeze, arrange the fried zucchini in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Flash freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven to regain its crispy texture.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

  • Calories: 256
  • Fat: 17g
  • Carbs: 20g
  • Protein: 6g
  • Sodium: 301mg
  • Dietary Fiber: 2g
  • Vitamin C: 17mg
  • Calcium: 47mg
  • Iron: 2mg
  • Potassium: 290mg

Easy Fried Zucchini Recipe

Comments

Berlykim

10/06/2025 01:52:54 PM

So fast & easy to make. The crackers help give it a buttery taste. Will definitely make again! We substituted seasoning salt for the salt & pepper. Yum!

Melissa Conger

08/05/2012 01:46:39 PM

I'm giving these 3 stars because 2T of olive oil isn't going to fry your zucchini, especially when sliced half of an inch thick! I started with a little more than that and it still wasn't enough. I ended up using enough oil to half submerge the slices, and also ended up making the slices only half as thick. I don't keep buttery crackers in the pantry so I melted a generous amount of butter and mixed it with plain bread crumbs. If you do use the crackers though, I recommend giving them a good spin through the food processor to get the crumbs nice and small. My final outcome was quite tasty; served with warm marinara.

Paul Nash

07/09/2019 11:35:08 PM

I had a fairly slow oven going and lots of zucchini, so a slight variation: cute zucchini on the diagonal into thick slices (1/4"), heaped with parmesan and breadcrumbs, roasted for about 15 minutes. Cooked but still crunchy and DELICIOUS! Thank you!

LaLa

07/30/2021 08:06:19 PM

I really liked this recipe but I only gave it 4 stars because I don’t think the directions are complete. The Ritz crackers need to be finely crushed. Otherwise the big chunks fall off. Add salt and pepper to the crushed crackers. After breading the zucchini slices, put them on parchment paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Two tablespoons of oil is not enough to cook this much zucchini. I had to add more to every batch. Plan on eating the entire batch of zucchini. I tried reheating them in the air fryer and the oven. They were pretty soggy.

Thomas

07/16/2018 10:55:00 PM

Only 4 stars because an essential step for breading veggies(AND boneless skinless chicken and pork or beef) is dredging in FLOUR FIRST! This is what helps the egg stick and makes the crumb coating work. Without the flour, you'll be chasing the final coating all over the bubbling oil.

Barb

08/14/2017 06:11:09 PM

I added parmesan cheese to the crumbs and avocado oil for frying. A little more oil than what the recipe called for was needed for a crisp coating. My husband is a very fussy eater, he liked them which means they will be on the menu again!

Allison Lownds

06/25/2015 03:11:47 PM

Instead of coating with egg, I coated them with olive oil and used shake and bake. Easier and faster to coat with the breadcrumbs in the bag provided, definitely worked just as well! I also coated the frying pan with a thin layer of veggie oil (probably a 1/4 cup or so) and they fried up fine.

Julieann Barr

02/04/2020 01:38:00 AM

I cut the zucchini into 1/4 inch medallions and pan fried in 3 tbsp organic unflavored coconut oil and 1 tbsp butter. The whole family loved it and there were no left overs. I am definitely going to pass the recipe on to other family members. Super easy and very tasty!

Diana

08/29/2017 03:45:55 AM

I used more oil but I also used a large skillet. Used Townhouse crackers. Dredged in flour first. Just like I wanted! I would totally make this again. Didn't need S&P. Plenty of flavor as is.

Amanda B

07/16/2015 06:28:19 PM

I don't like zucchini but I was given a ginormous one and my husband says he likes it fried so here I came for a recipe! This was very good! I did mix up a bowl with a little flour mixed with salt, pepper, garlic powder and dipped the pieces in the flour, then egg, then the crackers. I sliced it thin and definitely used more oil (I put about 1/2 in in pan I think). My kids gobbled them up and my husband said they were just like he remembered!

dougcollinssr

10/19/2023 02:54:44 PM

I did not use crushed Ritz crackers. Instead, I used Panko and Italian bread crumbs. It is also best to serve right out of the skillet.

Mary

08/24/2025 01:41:59 PM

It needed more flavor, I may try it again and add Italian seasoning to it.

Sheri

07/09/2024 11:46:21 PM

By far the best recipe for fried zucchini, exactly as written!! We will have this many times every summer. Thank you SO much for this recipe, we love it!!

fruitdog

06/06/2024 04:14:30 AM

So fast and easy to make! Great alternative for French fries!

Debra Smith

05/11/2024 05:48:41 PM

So quick, so flavorful! 🙌

jeterfan

07/23/2023 09:52:04 PM

Very simple to make and was very delicious! Definitely will make again!

FeistyPlate9544

07/11/2023 11:12:54 PM

Had problems with not enough olive oil but they were very good will make them again

RubyPlate2684

04/30/2023 03:32:08 PM

Used Cheese-its... teasty!

Darryl Sandy

10/12/2022 03:54:14 AM

tastes great

AmberInWA

08/21/2022 04:53:12 AM

Easy & delicious, I followed the recipe exactly but added just a few spices to the breading. I also used yellow squash because I had one of each.