Every summer, when my Mom’s garden overflowed with massive zucchini, she’d gather us grandkids in her kitchen for a lesson in turning abundance into deliciousness. Her secret wasn’t fancy ingredients or complicated techniques but rather the perfect balance of crispy saltine coating and properly prepared zucchini. For over four decades, this recipe has graced our family tables, transforming simple garden vegetables into golden, irresistible chips.
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Table of Contents
What makes crispy fried zucchini so good?
Combining saltine crackers and proper moisture removal creates the ideal coating texture. Saltines provide more flavor than plain breadcrumbs, creating a lighter, crispier crust. The key lies in removing excess moisture from zucchini before coating, preventing the dreaded soggy coating that plagues many fried vegetable dishes.
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil – Provides clean frying medium that reaches high temperatures without burning
- Fresh zucchini – Provides the sweet, tender base that contrasts beautifully with crispy coating
- Saltine crackers – Creates light, flavorful coating that crisps perfectly without heaviness
- Large eggs – Acts as a binding agent that helps the coating adhere properly to zucchini surface
How to Make Fried Zucchini From Scratch
This fried zucchini recipe is straightforward to make. Click on the recipe card to receive exact quantities and complete cooking instructions. Here’s how:
- Wash the zucchini and slice them about 1/4 inch thick. Pat the zucchini slices dry to remove any excess moisture so the batter will stick better. Slicing them fairly thinly means they’ll quickly get soft in the middle when fried in the oil.
- Make a simple egg wash.
- Place the crushed saltine crackers in a bowl.
- Dip the zucchini slices in the egg mixture, and then cracker crumbs.
How to Fry Zucchini
- Once coated, the zucchini rounds are fried in 350°F vegetable oil for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Space out your zucchini slices in a single layer in the pan, and don’t move them around too much while frying.
- Drain the fried zucchini on a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
- You can keep the zucchini warm in the oven on the lowest heat setting while frying the batches.
Fried Zucchini Variations
Here are some ideas for different fried zucchini recipes:
- Switch out cracker crumbs for bread crumbs.
- Use panko crumbs for extra crispiness.
- Use seasoned croutons crumbled in your food processor.
- Add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the cracker crumbs
- Add a tablespoon or two of parmesan cheese.
- Add some garlic powder and cayenne pepper.
- Use yellow squash or eggplant instead of zucchini.
What Goes Well With Breaded Zucchini?
When it comes to appetizers, fried zucchini is hard to beat. Serve with some ranch dressing or marinara sauce for dipping. Here are some other ideas to accompany your fried zucchini:
- Marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Serve with fresh mozzarella and sliced tomatoes.
- Fried zucchini is terrific with goat cheese and pine nuts.
- These zucchini rounds are perfect for serving with fish, scallops, or a seafood salad. Think smoked or baked salmon, fried catfish, or baked halibut.
- They also go well with grilled steak tips.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Freezing: Not recommended, as breading becomes soggy and zucchini releases excess moisture when thawed.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container with paper towels for up to 3 days. The coating may soften slightly when chilled.
- Reheating Method: Reheat in 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes on a wire rack. Never microwave, as this creates a soggy coating and uneven heating.
Best Zucchini Recipes:
More Fried Food Recipes
- Fried Cheese Appetizer
- Fried Cheese Curds Recipe Without Beer
- Beer Battered Shrimp
- Tempura Fried Shrimp
- Homestyle Fried Chicken
- Fried Chicken Nugget Recipe
- Fried Steak Sandwich
- Chicken Fried Potato Wedges
- Fried Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers
- Fried Cabbage with Sausage
Be sure to look at more vegetable side dish and appetizer recipes.
Crispy Fried Zucchini Chips – Family Recipe 40+ Years
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2 1/2 cups saltine cracker crumbs
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Wash the zucchini and slice into 1/4-inch rounds.
- Place the beaten eggs in one shallow dish and the cracker crumbs in another.
- Dip the zucchini rounds into the egg wash, then coat with cracker crumbs.
- Heat the vegetable oil to 350°F in a deep fryer or large pot. Fry the breaded zucchini for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove the zucchini from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on a wire rack before serving.
Video
Notes
- Substitute the cracker crumbs for panko crumbs
This is really good for everyone
This is really good for everyone
Reminded me of growing up, very good. My grandmother used to make these all of the time.
Such A Nice Post, Keep Providing Good Resources.
These are perfect.
Tried these last night, they were great, my whole family loved these.
Man, talk about perfect timing, as I have a bunch of Zucchini from the garden right now.
This Is really very good for the everyone
I have so many zucchini right now, everyone loved the zucchini chips!
This recipe is AMAZING!!!
That looking so yummy and it looks like very healthy fried food.
This Is really very good for the everyone
I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. I really enjoyed reading this post. big fan, thank you!
My kids loved these.
Thanks for your article! I have read through some similar topics! However, your post has given me a very special impression, unlike other posts. I hope you continue to have valuable articles like this or more to share with everyone!
thank you so much for commenting, it is lovely and really makes my day!
I really really like it!! Haven’t thought about that!
Definitely trying this. Trying to replace the killer foods for things simular. Chips will go out the door. Thanks so much.
looks yummmm … i make only for myself, will serve with ranch dressing
Another way to make a familiar dish. I think it will be very attractive. I will do it for my family’s dinner. Thanks for your guidance a lot!