• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • Beef Gravy
  • Store

Cooking With Curls logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Instant Pot
  • Beef Gravy
  • Store
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Instant Pot
    • Beef Gravy
    • Store
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Appetizer » Fried Zucchini

    Published: Aug 9, 2014 · Modified: Jun 17, 2020 by Lisa Johnson

    Fried Zucchini

    1758 shares
    • Share57
    • Tweet

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    fried zucchini on a square white plate with an orange ramekin of ranch dressing

    Do you ever get weird cravings? I have been craving Fried Zucchini for weeks now! I used to LOVE the ones that we got from Carl's Jr in Fresno, California. I don't know if all of the Carl's Jr restaurants serve them, but they were awesome! So was the Mexican food...like I said, I'm not sure if all of the restaurants sell them or not. Fresno was a test market for new products, so we always got to try out fun new things.....

    fried zucchini on a square white plate with an orange ramekin of ranch dressing

    While my Fried Zucchini is not an exact copy, they are actually better than the originals.

    How to make Fried Zucchini:

    I used panko crumbs instead of bread crumbs, so they were really light and crispy! I also tried to keep all of my zucchini at a 1/2-inch, so they would not be too thick.....

    Fried Zucchini slice cookingwithcurls.com

    I prefer my zucchini to be cooked and not raw at all in the center. 😉  I again used my favorite breading trick, I used brown rice flour to coat the zucchini. I also decided to season it with some garlic and onion powder, as well as some paprika.....

    Fried Zucchini season cookingwithcurls.com

    My onion and garlic powder has parsley mixed in, so ignore the green flecks. 😉  It adds a subtle flavor, without being overpowering. Dredge the zucchini slices through the seasoned flour.....

    Fried Zucchini flour cookingwithcurls.com

    Then dip it in the beaten egg.....

    Fried Zucchini egg cookingwithcurls.com

    and the panko crumbs.....

    Fried Zucchini panko cookingwithcurls.com

    It is best to coat all of the zucchini before you start frying, you don't want to get distracted!

    Fried Zucchini plate cookingwithcurls.com

    Or if you are like me, you don't want to make a bigger mess than you have to. 😉  Heat about 1/2 an inch of oil in a heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven to 350 degrees.....

    Fried Zucchini oil cookingwithcurls.com

    Once you reach 350, carefully drop several zucchini slices into the oil.....

    Fried Zucchini fry cookingwithcurls.com

    You don't want to overcrowd the pan, or drop the temperature too much. You want it to stay as close to 350 as you can. If the oil is not hot enough, the zucchini will be oily because they are sitting in the oil longer. If the oil is too hot, the outside will cook too quickly, and the inside will not be cooked at all.

    Cook the zucchini for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown.....

    Fried Zucchini golden cookingwithcurls.com

    Remove zucchini with a wire strainer or tongs, and place on paper towels to drain.....

    Fried Zucchini drain cookingwithcurls.com

    Serve with Homemade Ranch Dressing.....

    fried zucchini and ranch dressing on a square white plate

    and try to share with others! I  know, it's hard. They are so delicious.....

    hand holding fried zucchini that has been dipped in ranch dressing

    I never seem to remember to make my Homemade Ranch Dressing ahead of time, so it always looks very thin in photographs. I promise, it really does thicken up when it's cold. 🙂  As you can see, I did not let that stop me! 😉

    a square white plate sitting on a red plaid napkin holding fried zucchini and an orange ramekin of ranch dressing with a bottle of Corona in the background

    more delicious zucchini recipes:

    • Zucchini Fritter with Pine Nut Dipping Sauce
    • Zucchini Shrimp Scampi
    • Sauteed Zucchini and Carrots
    • Grilled Summer Squash Pizza
    • Sheet Pan Greek Chicken Dinner

    Enjoy!!

    fried zucchini on a square white plate with an orange ramekin of ranch dressing

    Fried Zucchini

    Fried Zucchini is one of my favorite appetizers! Fresh zucchini dredged in seasoned flour and panko crumbs, deep fried till golden brown and served with Creamy Ranch Dressing!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: crispy fried zucchini served with creamy ranch dressing
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 205kcal
    Author: Lisa Johnson

    Ingredients

    • 2 medium zucchini cut into 1/2-inch slices
    • ½ cup brown rice flour
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
    • 1 ¼ cups panko crumbs
    • 1/2- inch oil for frying I used peanut oil
    • Ranch Dressing for dipping
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Season flour with garlic, onion, and paprika and place on a large plate.
    • Place eggs in a bowl and beat to combine.
    • Place panko on a large plate.
    • Dredge zucchini slices through the flour, dip in the egg, and coat with panko crumbs.
    • It is best to coat all of the zucchini before you start frying. Place on a large plate as you go along.
    • Heat about 1/2 an inch of oil in the bottom of a heavy bottom pot, to 350 degrees.
    • Place several zucchini in the pot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden brown.
    • Remove from pan, and place on paper towels to drain.
    • Serve with Creamy Ranch Dressing.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 187mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 17.6mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2.2mg
    « Traditional Shortbread
    Tikka Masala »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Baby June says

      August 09, 2014 at 9:43 pm

      That looks great! Awesome use for zucchini 🙂

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        August 13, 2014 at 2:16 pm

        Thanks so much, it's my favorite way to eat zucchini. 😉

        Reply
    2. Claire @ A Little Claireification says

      August 10, 2014 at 9:20 am

      Yum! We love fried zucchini! Looks like it's time to bust our deep fryer again. Any excuse. lol Pinned!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        August 13, 2014 at 2:15 pm

        It is one of my favorites!! Thanks Claire. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Cindy Eikenberg says

      August 11, 2014 at 5:19 am

      Lisa, these are a great little snack and love that you used panko. Sounds like a perfect snack while watching a game - which we'll be doing a lot of around here, between baseball and football! 🙂 Thanks for sharing and pinning! Have a happy Monday!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        August 13, 2014 at 2:11 pm

        They will be perfect while watching a game Cindy!! Thanks so much. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Thalia @ butter and brioche says

      August 11, 2014 at 3:33 pm

      ooh this looks delicious.. never thought to deep fry zucchini like that, i bet it tastes amazing!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        August 13, 2014 at 1:54 pm

        Thank you so much Thalia...they were insanely good! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says

      August 12, 2014 at 11:26 am

      I am always intimidated by frying....but these look so delicious I might need to get over my fear!! Pinning & sharing!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        August 13, 2014 at 1:44 pm

        LOL, I wish I had a fear of frying Cathy!! I use a deep pot so there is less splatter, but it is soooo simple to do. Waaaaay too simple to do. 😉

        Reply
    6. Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says

      August 12, 2014 at 7:52 pm

      I could make a meal out of just this!! Yum!! On a side note, I grew up on the East coast and I have always called it Hardee's ...... even though I have lived in AZ for over a year now, I still cannot call it Carl's Jr LOL!! Btw, I think it must be a Fresno thing, I don't think our "Carl's Jr" here in Phoenix carries fried zucchini?!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        August 13, 2014 at 1:37 pm

        I did make a meal out of them Jamie, shhh;) I was so confused when we moved to Iowa, and the Carl's Jr sign had Hardee's name printed on it! It's not the same, they taste different...and we still call it Carl's Jr after 15 years!!

        Reply
    7. Lisa Johnson says

      August 14, 2014 at 1:46 pm

      Thank you so much Claudia. 🙂

      Reply
    8. Amy @thelittlefarmdiary says

      August 15, 2014 at 6:52 pm

      These look so delicious! Yum, yum, yum!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        September 11, 2014 at 6:19 pm

        Thank you so much Amy! 🙂

        Reply
    9. bill @thewoksoflife says

      August 16, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      What a lovely execution of a classic recipe and great photos!

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        September 02, 2014 at 12:49 am

        Thank you so much Bill. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Aida @ TheCraftingFoodie says

      August 19, 2014 at 8:17 pm

      Lisa,
      That is some gorgeous looking fried zucchini! I love the spice mixture that you dredged the veggies in before frying. My family would love this!

      Reply
    11. Bobbi says

      August 21, 2014 at 6:47 pm

      Love fried zucchini and squashers 🙂 Recipe sounds great!!

      Pinning it!
      Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    12. andi says

      August 27, 2014 at 7:02 pm

      Oh. Freaking. Yum. Zucchini is in my top 3 veggies of all time, along with asparagus and I can't remember what the other one might be. I must try this magical recipe....

      -andi

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        September 02, 2014 at 12:40 am

        Bahaha, thank you Andi...you just made my night...wait morning, it's almost 1am! 🙂 Yes, you must try...you will love!!

        Reply
    13. J. Lee says

      September 05, 2019 at 3:46 pm

      The Carl's Jr located on Grand Ave, just south of Bell Rd. in Surprise, Az does carry Fried Zucchini.

      Reply
      • Lisa Johnson says

        June 17, 2020 at 5:55 pm

        OMGosh, thank you so much for letting me know!!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Headshot of Lisa Johnson

    Hi, I'm Lisa - Welcome to my kitchen! I have a passion for good food and love sharing my creations with friends, family and everyone that loves a homecooked meal. This is where I share my favorite recipes with step-by-step instructions as well as tips and tricks to help you make these delicious recipes in your home.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • California Spa Salad
    • Layered Greek Dip
    • Lemon Cream Cheese Danish
    • Creative Brunch Ideas
    Shop Lisa's Favorite Products on amazon.com with 5 product images.

    As seen in...

    List of magazine where my recipes have been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Info

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer & Disclosure
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates & receive a FREE Instant Pot e-Book filled with the Top 10 reader's favorite recipes!

    Topics

    • Instant Pot
    • Tropical Pina Colada
    • Beef Gravy
    • Recipe Index

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2012-2022 Cooking with Curls® | All Rights Reserved