Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

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Easy pan fried zucchini is one of the most delicious ways to eat this vegetable. Zucchini slices are breaded and fried until crispy. The end result is a wonderful, crispy treat.

Easy Pan Fried Zucchini is a fast side dish to highlight this versatile vegetable. These zucchini coins are lightly breaded in four and pan fried until crispy, salty and delicious. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese over top, and serve! Follow these easy instructions for how to fry zucchini slices.

Table of Contents

Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe:

Many of my favorite recipes come from co-workers. When you spend half your life at the office, you tend to talk about many topics, and food is one of my favorites.

One night, my co-worker (and friend), Tammi, posted a photo of her dinner which included these yummy looking fried zucchini coins.She gave me the simple instructions, and now I am hooked on these. They are crispy, and salty, and fast! This recipe works great with summer (or yellow) squash too!

I’m always looking for new ways to use zucchini from our garden, other than our usual recipes that include Spicy Roasted Zucchini, Zucchini Quiche, and Frosted Zucchini Bars. I also have my eye on this Zucchini Pie from South Your Mouth to try soon!

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Ingredients for Easy Pan Fried Zucchini and Squash

Frying up zucchini from the garden makes a perfect appetizer or side dish during the summer months. I love to serve crispy fried zucchini along side steaks, BLTs, or even just plain old chicken salad. Be sure to serve them up hot when they are at their tastiest.

  • Zucchini or Yellow Squash
  • Large Eggs
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Salt or Seasoned Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Vegetable or Canola Oil
  • Parmesan Cheese (optional)

How To Pan-Fry Zucchini Slices

Step By Step Instructions

  1. Cut washed and dried zucchini (or yellow squash) into thin slices.
  2. Set up a batter station – one bowl of salted flour and a second bowl of beaten eggs.
  3. Dip the zucchini slices in egg first, and then into the flour mixture.
  4. In a skillet of oil, fry in a single layer on the stove top over medium high heat until golden brown; flip and fry the other side.
  5. Remove from oil and place onto paper towels lined plate to drain. Grate fresh Parmesan over top, if desired.

For the full recipe steps and ingredient amounts for pan fried zucchini with flour recipe, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Recipe FAQs

  • You can use zucchini or yellow summer squash or a combination in this pan fried zucchini with Parmesan recipe.
  • I tend to slice my zucchini fairly thin (1/8 inch), but you can leave thicker if that is your preference.
  • This fried zucchini recipe involves a two-step breading method.First, dip the zucchini into beaten eggs, and then dredge in flour. This will form the batter.
  • Be sure to season the flour mixture well with salt and pepper. I also sometimes substitute seasoned salt for regular salt in the easy fried zucchini batter.
  • For the frying oil, use vegetable or canola oil.
  • It is best to remove the pan fried zucchini to a paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil. Be sure to grate the Parmesan cheese over immediately and then taste to see if additional salt is needed. If so, salt while hot so that the salt sticks to the fried squash.
  • Rather have more of a fritter consistency? Try our Zucchini Patties with Bisquick.
  • Try some of our other favorite zucchini recipes including Mocha Glazed Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Pie and Frosted Zucchini Bars.
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Recipe Variations

  • Use breadcrumbs or panko to make a breading.
  • Add seasonings to the flour mixture such as onion powder, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, paprika, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, thyme, etc.
  • Use kosher salt or sea salt, if desired.
  • Dip into ranch dressing.

Old Fashioned Zucchini Recipes

Zucchini Bacon Casserole

Sour Cream Zucchini Casserole

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Cookies

Classic Zucchini Bread

Why is my breading not sticking to my zucchini?

If you are having issues with your breading falling off your pan-fried zucchini, reevaluate your breading method. One great way to bread is to start with a wet mixture of egg followed by a dry mixture of seasoned flour. The wet mixture helps keep the flour mixture to adhere to the zucchini.

How long do I pan fry zucchini?

There’s no exact time when it comes to pan-frying zucchini. Instead, fry the zucchini until the color is golden brown on both sides.

Easy Pan Fried Zucchini – How to Fry Zucchini Slices

Easy Pan Fried Zucchini is a fast side dish to use up garden zucchini. These zucchini coins are breaded lightly and pan fried until crispy, salty and delicious. Grate with fresh Parmesan, and serve!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time8 minutes mins

Total Time18 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Easy Pan Fried Zucchini, Fried Zucchini, Fried Zucchini and Squash, Pan Fried Zucchini

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 338kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 1 medium zucchini, sliced thin
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt or seasoned salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or enough to barely cover bottom of skillet)
  • Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Instructions

  • Wash and slice zucchini into thin slices, approximately 1/8 inch thick.

    Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (13)

  • Beat eggs in a bowl.

    Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (14)

  • Mix flour, salt and black pepper in a separate bowl or plate.

  • Dip zucchini slices into eggs; then dredge in flour mixture.

    Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (15)

  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is hot.

  • Add breaded zucchini slices. Do not overcrowd pan.

    Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (16)

  • Fry on first side until golden brown (approximately 3 minutes); flip and cook the other side.

    Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (17)

  • Remove to a plate lined with a paper-towel. If desired, while hot, grate fresh Parmesan over zucchini coins and add additional salt to taste.

    Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (18)

Notes

  • You can use zucchini or yellow summer squash or a combination in this pan fried zucchini with Parmesan recipe.
  • I tend to slice my zucchini fairly thin (1/8 inch), but you can leave thicker if that is your preference.
  • This pan fried zucchini recipe involves a two-step breading method. First, dip the zucchini into beaten eggs, and then dredge in flour. This will form the batter.
  • Be sure to season the flour mixture well with salt and pepper. I also sometimes substitute seasoned salt for regular salt in easy pan fried zucchini.
  • For the frying oil, use vegetable or canola oil.
  • It is best to remove the pan fried zucchini to a paper towel lined plate to remove excess oil. Be sure to grate the Parmesan cheese over immediately and then taste to see if additional salt is needed. If so, salt while hot so that the salt sticks to the fried squash.
  • Try some of our other favorite zucchini recipes including Mocha Glazed Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Pie and Frosted Zucchini Bars.
  • The nutritional information below is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 338kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 177mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 217IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Easy Pan Fried Zucchini Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

How do you fry zucchini without it getting soggy? ›

When frying the zucchini, make sure there is at least half an inch of space between each spear. This will help the zucchini brown evenly and become perfectly crisp. Let the zucchini drain on a paper towel after frying. This will remove the excess oil and ensure the zucchini turns out nice and crisp.

How do you keep zucchini from getting soggy when sauteed? ›

Slice and salt zucchini in advance of cooking to draw out some of the vegetable's excess moisture (while also seasoning it more thoroughly). To do this, cut up a pound of zucchini and toss it with ½ teaspoon of table salt. Let it drain in a colander for about 30 minutes before patting it dry and cooking it.

How do you keep zucchini crisp when cooking? ›

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven. Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

How do you keep breading from falling off zucchini? ›

To help the breading stick to the zucchini, you'll need to rest them in the fridge for at least 15 minutes, but you could extend that up to 3 hours.

Why is my fried zucchini mushy? ›

Reduce cooking time

Since zucchini gets mushy and soft when overcooked, my first tip is obvious - reduce the cooking time. Depending on the recipe, this is an easy step to implement.

What comes first when frying flour or egg? ›

First things first: The breading process must go as follows: flour, egg, crust. The flour step gives the egg something to adhere to. Without it, the breading would slide right off the meat.

Why is my fried zucchini bitter? ›

Bitterness in zucchini can be caused by environmental stress (mild bitterness) or plant genetics (severe).

Why does my zucchini taste rubbery? ›

How to Tell If Zucchini Has Gone Bad. Bad zucchini will feel rubbery or slimy to the touch. It may also have an off-putting smell and dark or fuzzy moldy spots. The interior of bad zucchini may be off-white to brownish with stringy, mushy flesh and large, hard seeds.

Why did my zucchini turn to mush? ›

Mushy veggies are also often the result of overcooking. When the interior is loaded with moisture, you have to cook it for much longer to evaporate all of the water and avoid the interior having the unappealing, spongy, raw texture that eggplant and zucchini are notorious for.

How can I enhance the flavor of zucchini? ›

You can season the oil before you add the zucchini with garlic, shallots, spices, or red pepper flakes, it's totally up to you. Once the oil, butter, or combination thereof is heated, add all of the zucchini. If the pan seems crowded at first, don't worry. Season with salt and toss to begin drawing out the moisture.

How to tell when zucchini is done cooking? ›

Once the zucchini is caramelizing, you'll continue to cook it until it's until tender all the way through—a paring knife or a fork should slip in without much resistance—but not yet mushy.

Why is my zucchini so slimy when I cook it? ›

This, the outlet asserts, is due to zucchini's high water content: If it cooks too slowly, it will release its moisture before it sears, becoming soggy and sodden. Over high heat, on the other hand, zucchini becomes caramelized on the outside but retains a meaty, firm texture within.

How do you keep zucchini from getting soft? ›

Zucchini thrives in a dry environment, so pop it into the crisper drawer whole, preferably in a plastic or paper bag with one end open for ventilation. The minimal humidity will keep it from going bad. Stored properly, it'll last one or two weeks, though you'll probably see the skin shrivel as the days pass.

Why is my zucchini turning to mush? ›

On the other hand, they may simply be waterlogging if your garden is poorly drained. Another possibility is squash bugs have damaged them and rot has set in as a result. In the meantime, keep removing the infected fruit as soon as you see signs of the problem.

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