This air fryer zucchini and squash recipe is lightly seasoned with salt, pepper, and olive oil and cooked in the air fryer until it achieves a delicious browning. This side dish is an easy air fryer recipe perfect for summer!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I'll send you recipes & tips every week!
WHY YOU'LL LOVE This Air Fryer Zucchini and Summer Squash
If you're looking for an easy and delicious way to enjoy summer squash and zucchini, look this air fried squash and zucchini recipe is for you.
Not only is this recipe super quick (ready in under 20 minutes), but it also doesn't heat up the house like using the oven would, making it perfect for summer!
This zucchini and squash recipe is lightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, just like roast zucchini!
The squash is simply seasoned with a little salt, pepper, and olive oil, air fryer squash and zucchini are the perfect addition to any summer meal. But the truly great thing about this dish is its versatility.
You can add any flavors you like, from dried spices like Italian seasoning to fresh herbs like basil, cilantro, parsley, or mint. Then serve it alongside a wide variety of meals.
Add air fryer summer squash and zucchini to grain bowls or salads, serve it as a side with grilled meats or burgers, or with any of your favorite proteins! You can also save this air fryer roasted zucchini squash and summer squash to containers for meal prep!
It's the perfect way to enjoy a healthy, flavorful veggie side dish while keeping the house cool.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.
Ingredient shot
- Fresh Zucchini Squash I don't recommend using frozen vegetables for this, as the texture won't be the same.
- Fresh Yellow Summer Squash Also called yellow crookneck squash. You could also swap in Mexican grey squash in place of either summer squash or zucchini.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil This can be either regular olive oil or olive oil spray.
- Kosher Salt This is my favorite salt to use when cooking. It's less salty per teaspoon than table salt or sea salt, making it harder to oversalt your food and easier to taste as you go.
- Black Pepper A few grinds of fresh black pepper is a nice addition to this side.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
HOW TO MAKE Air Fryer Squash and Zucchini
Step One To make this recipe, cut the zucchini and yellow squash into approximately ½-inch thick slices.
Step Two Cut parchment paper to fit the interior of the air fryer basket.
Step Three Place sliced zucchini and squash in a single layer on the parchment paper and season with salt and pepper. Flip them over and brush or spray with olive oil on the other side and season with salt and pepper. Alternately, you can coat the squash in olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl before adding to the air fryer.
Step Four Cook in the air fryer at 450 degrees F for 8 minutes, then flip the slices and cook zucchini and squash for another 6-7 minutes.
Step Five Remove from the air fryer and taste for seasoning.
Step Six Serve right away or store in an airtight container in the fridge for future meals.
VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Add some parmesan cheese for a hint of savoriness and saltiness.
- If you want the squash to have a consistently soft texture with minimal browning, try cooking in the air fryer at 400 degrees F and cooking for about 15 minutes.
- Try sprinkling with Italian seasoning or another dried seasoning blend before you cook the zucchini, or garnish with torn fresh herbs for additional flavor: basil, parsley, mint, dill, and cilantro, or a mixture of these, are all great options.
STORAGE AND REHEATING
Fridge Leftover yellow squash and zucchini can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezer While you can freeze cooked zucchini and squash, the texture will not be the same when it is defrosted. If freezing, I recommend adding the frozen zucchini to something like a soup or stew where the texture will matter less.
Reheating You can reheat zucchini and squash in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 3 to 5 minutes. You can also reheat squash in the microwave, but the texture will be soft.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
You can swap summer squash for zucchini or Mexican grey squash. All will cook at the same times and temperatures. Winter squash, like butternut squash or acorn squash, will take longer to cook.
Cooking zucchini at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time can create nice browning and a light crisp on the exterior.
Zucchini is a member of the summer squash family. So, all zucchini is summer squash, but not all summer squash is zucchini. Summer squash also includes crookneck, pattypan, and yellow squash.
You can easily differentiate between yellow summer squash and zucchini by color - zucchini is green and the summer squash is yellow.
HOW TO SERVE
Serve this air fried squash and zucchini with any of the recipes below for an amazing meal.
Grilled Meat and Seafood Serve with flavorful grilled carne asada for a perfect summer meal. It's also wonderful with shrimp, grilled Tajin chicken or grilled cilantro lime chicken, fish, and any other grilled protein of your choice.
Grain Bowls Add to your favorite grain bowls, like this warm grain bowl with goat cheese and greens or this Mediterranean grain bowl with chickpeas and lemon herb vinaigrette.
Salads This is a wonderful addition to a summer salad of your choice!
Wraps and Burritos Add to a veggie-packed wrap or burrito.
Serve with chicken thighs or turkey burgers. You can also make these air fryer turkey burgers if it's an especially hot night!
EXPERT TIPS For Squash in the Air Fryer
- Be sure to air fry zucchini and squash in one layer. Do not overcrowd the air fryer or the vegetables will steam rather than creating a nice browning on the exterior.
- Different sizes, brands, and models of air fryers cook slightly differently. If you have a small air fryer or a larger air fryer, you may need to add or subtract a minute or two to this recipe
- If you find that the zucchini and squash is not browning to your likeness by 8 minutes, cook the squash for another minute or so.
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment 💬 and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! You can also tag us @twocloveskitchen on Instagram or follow us on Facebook!
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini
- 1 yellow summer squash
- olive oil spray or about 1 tablespoon olive oil
- kosher salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut the zucchini and yellow squash into approximately ½-inch thick slices.
- Cut parchment paper to fit the interior of the air fryer basket.
- Brush or spray both sides of the squash slices with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. You can also coat the squash in olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl before adding to the air fryer.
- Cook in the air fryer at 450 degrees F for 8 minutes, then flip the slices and cook zucchini and squash for another 6-7 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer and taste for seasoning.
- Serve right away!
Notes
- Estimated calories are for vegetables with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. If using olive oil spray, check packaging for accurate nutritional information.
- Be sure to air fry zucchini and squash in one layer. Do not overcrowd the air fryer or the vegetables will steam rather than create a nice browning on the exterior.
- Different sizes, brands, and models of air fryers cook slightly differently. Check on the squash a minute or so before the 8-minute mark to ensure they are not overcooking.
- Fridge Leftover yellow squash and zucchini can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freezer While you can freeze cooked zucchini and squash, the texture will not be the same when it is defrosted. If freezing, I recommend adding the frozen zucchini to something like a soup or stew where the texture will matter less.
- Reheating You can reheat zucchini and squash in the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 3 to 5 minutes. You can also reheat squash in the microwave, but the texture will be soft.
Comments
No Comments