You need these Crispy Baked Zucchini Slices in your life! Seasoned, roasty-sweet zucchini slices, coated in crispy, golden panko crumbs, and held tightly together with melty vegan cheese. The perfect combo of tender, sweet, crispy, crunchy, chewy, and cheesy!
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Crispy Baked Zucchini Slices: Where have you been all my life? To say I'm obsessed would be an understatement.
I'll keep it quick so you can get to baking these crispy little morsels up, but the bottom line is, they are extremely yummy. We're talking sweet, tender, roasty zucchini slices, with a well-seasoned, crispy, crunchy, toasty panko coating and a generous scattering of vegan cheese, which melts and kind of hugs all of the zucchini rounds together on the tray in the most irresistibly stringy, melty, chewy, cheesy way.
Inspiration for this recipe comes from Pinch of Yum and their Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini. I spotted the recipe on Pinterest and immediately had a go at veganizing the crispy zucchini part of it. And well...Here we are...My vegan version was too good not to share!
Mel x
Ingredients
Here's exactly what you need at a glance, along with some ingredient notes and substitution ideas:
- Zucchini - 1 large or 2 smaller ones. No need to be exact here. Green or yellow zucchini is fine.
- Cornstarch & dairy-free milk - These are combined and used to stick the seasonings to the zucchini.
- Garlic powder, oregano, salt & pepper - Our seasonings. You could use onion powder instead of garlic powder, and Italian seasoning instead of oregano.
- Nutritional yeast - This adds so much flavour! Vegan parmesan cheese would be a great sub though. Homemade or store-bought.
- Panko crumbs - I recommend these over regular breadcrumbs. They just don't get the same uber-nubbly, crispy, crunchy texture as the panko.
- Vegan cheese - Any that you love that will get melty. I used Daiya Mozzarella.
You will also need plenty of olive oil for drizzling. This isn't a recipe that will turn out well without oil.
How To Make Crispy Baked Zucchini Slices
Can't wait to make them? Here's a quick rundown of how it's done. See the recipe card for the full and detailed version, and if you're a visual learner, check out my recipe video.
- Mix the cornstarch with the milk to make a thin cream-type consistency.
- Toss the zucchini in it.
- Add the seasonings and toss, then the panko and toss again.
- Spread out on a baking sheet and bake.
- Once golden, remove from the oven.
- Add a generous sprinkle of vegan cheese, then bake again for 5 minutes until bubbly and melty!
Serving Suggestions
A tray of these glorious zucchini rounds with a glass of white wine, and I'm a very happy girl!
If you do manage to not eat every single one straight off the baking tray though, you can enjoy them as an appetizer, or a side dish, or make them the star of the show in a delicious vegan meal like Creamy Orzo with Zucchini.
They are absolutely incredible piled high on top of spaghetti with cherry tomato sauce or marinara sauce, or pretty much any soft or creamy dish. And don't forget the loose panko crispies from the tray! The contrast between soft rice or pasta, sweet roasty zucchini, and crispy, caramelized crumbles is just incredible.
Any and all of these would be perfect partners:
Recipe
Crispy Baked Zucchini Slices
Author:WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Ingredients
- 1 large zucchini , cut into 1/4 inch-thick rounds (about 3 cups/400g)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- About 1½ to 2 tablespoons dairy-free milk
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano , or Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder , or onion powder
- 1 cup (60 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup (120 grams) vegan cheese shreds
- olive oil for drizzling
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
- To a large mixing bowl, add the cornstarch, then gradually add 1½ tablespoons of milk and mix really well to make a thick, sticky, and gloopy slurry. You might need to add an extra teaspoon or 2 of milk if it won't blend together well, but use the smallest amount possible to get it combined.
- To the slurry add the zucchini rounds. Toss around with a clean hand to coat them on all sides. The slices tend to stick together a bit so loosen any ones that do so they get coated properly.
- To the bowl add the nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder and toss to coat. I find it easier to use a clean hand to do this.
- Now add the panko and toss it all around again. It won't stick well. Don't worry, that's fine.
- Transfer the zucchini rounds to the baking tray in a single layer, leaving a little space around each one, then scatter the damp crumbs all over and around them.
- Drizzle generously all over with olive oil.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown, then remove from the oven, sprinkle over the cheese and bake again for another 5 minutes until really melty, bubbly, and golden.
- Serve immediately.
NOTES
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Judy Christenson says
I made this recently and while it was tasty it was not crispy. The zucchini was quite mushy. Did I do something wrong?
Melanie McDonald says
No! Zucchini will always become soft when roasted. It's the panko that gets golden and crispy!
Terre says
Could these be baked in an air fryer?
Melanie McDonald says
It doesn't work well in an air fryer. Unless your air fryer is huge you'd need to cook it in at least 2 batches, possibly 3 or 4, to keep it in a single layer with space around each circle. That means it would take way longer and the first batches would be cold by the time the last ones were done. You would also lose too much of the yummy crumb in the bottom of the air fryer. It's way easier and more effective on a baking tray in the oven.
Janet says
Wow, this is very tasty and easy to make. Hard to stop eating them before they get to the table.
Melanie McDonald says
So pleased you enjoyed them, Janet! I have trouble with them not making it to the table too!
Gail Holm says
I'm eating my first attempt as I type this and it is very good. Since I never have panko crumbs (I'm gluten free and don't bother with gluten free panko crumbs) and I only had 2 gluten free crackers to make into crumbs, I made some lightly seasoned "ringolos" into crumbs with the crackers. I must say it was a great success.
Very simple to make as well.
I will certainly make again. Especially in zucchini season
Maureen Cram says
Five stars because all your recipes merit five stars. I think I wasn't 'generous' enough with the olive oil as I still had dryish crumbs after the cheese was melted. I sprayed the slices - next time I will just use the bottle to be generous!
Very tasty so husband approved and will make again soon :).
Melanie McDonald says
So pleased you enjoyed it Maureen! Lots of olive oil is definitely key here!
Donna says
Doesn't seem like the correct amount of plant milk to cornstarch to make a slurry. Please check and advise.
Melanie McDonald says
It's correct.