Description
A cheap, healthy, and crispy baked zucchini fry snack that uses pantry staples and costs less than $3 to make. Perfect for budget-conscious home cooks looking for a guilt-free alternative to chips.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large zucchini (approx. 600g total)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt (plus extra for salting zucchini)
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Wash zucchini, trim ends, and cut into 1/4 inch thick sticks (about 20-24 sticks).
- Place zucchini sticks in a colander, sprinkle generously with salt, and let sit for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Pat zucchini sticks completely dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with whisked egg, and one with breadcrumbs mixed with garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Dip each dry zucchini stick in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, letting excess drip off.
- Press the stick firmly into the breadcrumb mixture to ensure full coating.
- Place coated sticks on the baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch.
- Lightly spray the tops of the fries with non-stick cooking spray.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then flip each fry and spray the other side lightly.
- Bake for another 5-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with dipping sauce of choice.
Notes
Salting and drying the zucchini is crucial to prevent sogginess. For best results, eat immediately as they lose crunch after an hour. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in an air fryer or toaster oven. Do not microwave. For a vegan version, substitute the egg with plant milk and vinegar. For gluten-free, swap flour and breadcrumbs for GF alternatives.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 6 frie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
Keywords: zucchini fries, baked zucchini, healthy snack, budget recipes, cheap snacks, gluten-free option, vegan option, crispy vegetables