A snack that's healthy, delicious, and easy might seem out of reach, but these baked zucchini chips fit the bill! This easy recipe only requires 10-15 minutes of total cook time, making it a crispy, crunchy treat for anything from a guilt-free workplace snack to a salty bite for movie night. Kids love the flavor, so you can sneak some into their lunches for a healthy addition to their school day. You could even use this chips recipe for an appetizer with a zesty dipping sauce, or a side dish. With all the possibilities, this may just be one of your favorite new recipes!

Why Zucchini?

Zucchini recipes are popular thanks to the squash's nutritional density. They're low carb, contain almost no fat, they're loaded with nutrients like potassium, folate, and vitamin B6, and they're incredibly versatile, to boot! This squash is commonly used as a pasta alternative in Italian dishes, and they're just as delicious when made into chips. We're not going to try to convince you that they're just like potato chips, but they're pretty fantastic as far as healthy snacks go.

Recipe Tips

The biggest issue you might come across is soggy zucchini chips. There are a couple of reasons this happens:

Sliced too thick: If you have very thick slices, they may not cook all the way through. To get them uniformly thin, you can use a food processor or a mandolin to slice them. If you don't have access to those gadgets, a chef's knife is fine.

Big squash: The bigger the zucchini, the more water they hold. If you've ever made zucchini fritters, you know how much water you can squeeze out of the squash. But this one can be remedied with a sprinkling of sea salt. After chopping them, spread the zucchini rounds out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, then dust the zucchini slices with salt and let them sit for 15 minutes or so to let the salt pull out the moisture. Then pat them dry with paper towels.

Variations

Use the original recipe as suggested, or try one of these delicious variations.

Fry your zucchini: Instead of baking your chips, try frying them for a deliciously crisp alternative. While this version isn't as healthy, it's certainly delicious.

Make it Vegan: If you'd like an alternative for Parmesan cheese, try using a dairy-free cheese by combining garlic powder, cashews, nutritional yeast, and sea salt. You'll also need to substitute the eggs for a flax egg to make this recipe vegan. To do this, simply mix one tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water. Combine thoroughly, then let sit the flax egg sit your fridge for 15 minutes to set up and thicken.

Make it Gluten-Free: Instead of regular bread crumbs, use gluten-free bread or gluten-free Panko bread crumbs.

Add spices: If you'd like a spicy chip, add a dash of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. If you're looking for something unique, try harissa. It's an African spice blend that includes chili, sumac, caraway, fennel, cumin, coriander, garlic, and peppermint. Another great option is za'atar — made with wild thyme, toasted sesame seeds, and sumac. Smoked paprika and cumin is also be a delicious combo.

Salt and vinegar chips: Add a sprinkle of salt and a splash of malt vinegar to your chips for a delicious salt and vinegar flavor—just like classic salt and vinegar chips!

Add fresh herbs: Feel free to add fresh herbs to your zucchini chips, such as parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, or thyme for another layer of flavor.

Try a different type of cheese: Instead of Parmesan cheese, try utilizing a different type of cheese, such as Pecorino Romano, cheddar, Monterey Jack, feta, or blue cheese. Depending on the flavor you're going for, any of these cheeses could be delicious options if they're grated finely.

Add A Dipping Sauce

If you're making an appetizer or side dish, complete the dish by adding a delicious dipping sauce to your zucchini chips. You can pair them with something simple like ranch dressing, or make something like tzatziki sauce made with Greek yogurt and cucumber, or a sour cream dip.

Hungry yet? Here's the recipe!