These Baked Zucchini Fries are gluten-free, paleo, and a perfect healthy appetizer! They are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and baked to crispy perfection.

The BEST Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries

Have you ever had those crispy fried zucchini fries at restaurants? They are delicious, and of course, most of the time NOT gluten-free. They are generally fried in a shared fryer, which isn’t safe for a celiac. So we are going to make our own, right in the oven!

These zucchini fries are so simple, and come together pretty quickly. They are perfect to serve as an appetizer with a dipping sauce, or as a side dish with chicken or fish. They have a light and crispy almond flour coating, which gives them a fantastic texture when you bake them to golden brown perfection.

almond flour, eggs, zucchini, and spices

How to Prevent Soggy Zucchini Fries!

Zucchini has a very high water content, which can result in a soggy fry if you don’t remove some of that moisture. When you take the zucchini out of the oven, let it sit out for a few minutes to come closer to room temperature. They will start to condensate, and you don’t want that to happen when you put them in the egg wash.

After they sit out for a bit, cut them into thin sticks. Then make sure you take a paper towel and gently press the towel into the zucchini. This will help remove some of that moisture on the outside.

Almond Flour for a Gluten-Free Alternative

I used almond flour to keep these gluten-free, as well as paleo! You can use regular gluten-free breadcrumbs as well! Almond flour keeps them a bit lower carb if you are looking for a low-carb appetizer or snack.

Tips for the BEST Baked Zucchini Fries

Make sure they are dry – I already talked about this, but it is worth repeating. More moisture is going to result in soggier fries.
Cut the pieces evenly – Make sure all of the the pieces are relatively the same size so that they cook evenly in the oven.
Have an assembly line – Set up your assembly line by having one bowl for the egg wash, and another bowl with the almond flour, right next to each other. This will make the process much smoother.
Use one hand for the egg, and the other for the flour – Designate one hand to dip into the wet ingredients, and the other hand to dip into the dry, this will create less clumpy mess on your hands, as well as on the zucchini.
Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet – Make sure you put the zucchini in one even layer, not overlapping on each other. This will allow them to brown evenly, and become more crispy.
Flip halfway through baking – Every oven is different, but this recipe turns out better for me if I flip the zucchini halfway through baking. It allows all sides to get brown and crispy if they have contact with the hot pan.
Eat them fresh! – These zucchini fries are best when eaten fresh. The texture is much better, and they will be crispier. But if you don’t eat all of them immediately, they will keep in the fridge and can be reheated in the oven to crisp them up again.

Ingredients for Healthy Baked Zucchini Fries

Zucchini
Almond Flour
Salt & Pepper
Eggs
Paprika (optional, or your spice of choice)

How To Make Baked Zucchini Fries

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the almond flour, paprika, salt and pepper and set aside.
Cut the ends off of the zucchini and then cut them in half. Quarter each half lengthwise so that they are the shape of fries.
Use a paper towel to pat the cut zucchini to remove as much of the excess moisture as you can.
Use one hand to toss a piece of zucchini in the egg, making sure it is coated. Shake off the excess and use your other hand to toss the egg-coated piece in the flour until completely coated. Shake off the excess and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the zucchini slices.
Once all zucchini are coated in egg and flour, arrange them on a baking sheet so that they have a little bit of room in between them, this will help them to brown.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown on the outside. You may need to flip them halfway through.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!

Storing & Reheating

Storage – Store the baked zucchini fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating – The best way to reheat the fries is in the oven. Just preheat to 425 degrees, lay them out on a baking sheet, and bake them for about 7 minutes or so. This will help them get crispy again. If you reheat them in the microwave, they will be soggy.

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