Crispy, crunchy snacks are my weakness! What can I say? I’ll choose a salty bite over a sweet treat any day. And for me, when it comes to satisfying that craving, French fries are the ultimate. That said, when a hankering hits, I sometimes like to reach for healthier foods that are just as delicious. If you feel the same, then you have to try this Crouton-Crusted Zucchini Sticks recipe. It’s packed with flavor, with only 170 calories and 5 grams of fat.
For over-the-top crunch, we coat the veggie sticks in a mixture of crushed up garlicky croutons and cornmeal. How fun is that? Then, instead of deep-frying, we pop ’em in the air fryer. This handy device evenly circulates heat, so all you need is a spritz of cooking spray to achieve the crackle we all crave without all that oil. Make a batch — we promise, you won’t be able to eat just one! Let us know in the comments.
Yields
Total Time
Prep Time
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 1 (5 oz.) pkg. garlic-and-butter croutons
- 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
- 1 tsp. grated lemon zest + additional
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 2 lbs. zucchini, trimmed, cut into 1/2”-thick sticks
Instructions
PrintIn food processor, pulse croutons with cornmeal, 1 tsp. zest and cayenne until finely ground; transfer to bowl. In separate bowl, mix flour and 1/2 tsp. salt. Place eggs in third bowl. Working with 2–3 zucchini sticks at a time, coat in flour; dip in egg, then crumb mixture, shaking off excess.
Heat 7-qt. air fryer to air-fry at 375°F. Coat air-fryer basket with cooking spray. In batches, place zucchini in single layer in basket; coat with cooking spray. Air-fry until crisp tender, 5 min. Transfer to plate. Return all batches of fries to basket. Air-fry until hot, 3–4 min. Transfer to serving plate. If desired, sprinkle with lemon zest.
Nutrition
- Calories: 170 kcal
- Fat: 5 gram
- Saturated Fat: 0 gram
- Protein: 6 gram
- Carbohydrate: 27 gram
- Fiber: 2 gram
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
- Sugar: 3 gram
- Sodium: 270 mg
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