Yes, you can make Southern Fried Squash in the air fryer, and this foolproof recipe tastes just like the classic version but with less fat. It’s crispy outside and soft inside, just the way it’s supposed to be!
Southern Fried Squash is a staple around the dinner table in the south. You might know this vegetable as yellow squash (usually right next to zucchini in the grocery store). Typically, it’s cooked in a pan with oil.
The problem that comes in is that squash tends to soak up excess oil, making it a heavy side dish. When we cook it in an air fryer, we can cut down on the oil that’s needed and still end up with crisp fried squash.
How To Cut Your Squash
Summer squash can be a little more tender than zucchini or other vegetables like eggplant, so cutting it a little thicker, approximately 1/2-inch thick, helps ensure the cooked dish is tender but not mushy. If the centers of the squash gets too cooked before the breading browns, then it’s watery. By cutting it thicker, it cooks more slowly and your risk of that happening is lessened.
How To Bread Air Fryer Southern Fried Squash
I use a mixture of breadcrumbs and cornmeal for the breading for this Southern fried squash because adding cornmeal makes it more flavorful and crispy. I use a three-step method for breading the squash. This is the best way to make sure the breading sticks when you cook it. First, you’ll coat each piece in flour, then egg, and finally, the seasoned breadcrumb and cornmeal mixture.
Just before placing each piece of squash on a rack in the air fryer, spray both sides with cooking spray to help it brown even more. Instead of cooking spray you can also use oil in one of these oil sprayers.
Using a Rack in the Air Fryer
And yes, I said to use a rack. I have found that putting the squash on a rack set in the air fryer helps them to crisp up more than if you just put them in the basket or on the tray in the air fryer. The idea is that the air can circulate under and around the squash circles better. If they’re laying in the basket, there is more chance of moisture developing under them. Also, with the air circulating, the breadcrumbs will brown more quickly, which means there’s less of a chance of the middle of the squash getting mushy and wet.
A lot of air fryers come with a rack, so if yours does, use that. If not, you can use a small metal oven-safe rack, or just put them in the air fryer basket or on the tray.
Tips To Cook Air Fryer Southern Fried Squash
- Cut the squash into even slices. Using thicker pieces will help make sure the edges stay browned without making the inside too overdone.
- Use this three-step dry, wet, dry method to keep the breading on during the cooking process.
- Using an air fryer rack in the basket will make sure that each side is evenly browned.
- Spray the squash with cooking spray to help encourage the browning and crisp edges even more.
More Great Air Fryer Recipes
Love this fried squash recipe? Try out this Roasted Summer Squash recipe or more of my air fryer vegetable recipes!
- Air Fryer Zucchini
- Crispy Brussels in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Green Bean Fries
- Stuffed Mushrooms in the Air Fryer
Podcast Episode: Making Southern Breaded Air Fryer Squash
Listen to our editor, Christine Pittman, explain briefly about how to make this recipe, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Air Fryer Southern Fried Squash Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup coarse ground cornmeal
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 yellow squash, cut into 1/2-inch slices
- Cooking spray
- Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F.
- Mix together plain breadcrumbs, cornmeal, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.
- Whisk eggs in a separate small bowl.
- Place flour in another small bowl.
- Take squash pieces and dip in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture. Set aside until ready to cook. Once ready to cook, spray each with cooking spray on both sides.
- Place squash slices in a single layer on rack set in your air fryer and cook for 5 minutes. If still not tender, flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Repeat with remaining squash.
- Top with fresh parsley and serve warm.
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Recipe for green air fryer tomatoes please
I don’t have one currently, Cathy, but I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks for the suggestion!
This is a wonderful recipe I love it fried but does have a lot of oil in it and the air fryer gives it the crunch you want I just love it
Happy to hear it, Catina! Thanks for commenting.
This was awesome! And so easy! Didn’t have to stand and fry!!! Thank you
You’re welcome, Jo! These are so tasty.
Just picked the first of this year’s squash and had enough to try your recipe. THANKS and God bless
Love to hear that, Judith! Thanks for coming back to comment.
Never cooked it in air fryer but I’m going to as my squash is just no
w coming in from my garden. I wiet you know how it comes out.
That’s awesome, I’m sure it’ll be extra delicious with home-grown squash!
Wonderful!!!
Thank you, Marlene!
Made exactly like the recipe, except with my air fryer i had to do 7 min at 360, flip them then 2 min on 400 degrees. perfect 👍
Thank you for sharing, D!
Love fried squash- don’t love the calories! This is great- make sure you spray squash slices well so they will brown. Next time I may increase the temperature a little- but that’s due to my air fryer. Who knew you could cook southern in an air fryer??
Thanks so much for the feedback, Becky! Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Can you use this recipe in the oven
Barbara, I haven’t tried it. But if I was going to try, I’d put them on a baking sheet lined with parchment and cook at 450F until browned. Let me know how it goes!
You say cook for 5 minutes or a little more but the recipe says 45 minutes. Is that for all the batches?
LGP, thanks for noticing that! It was a typo. It should have read 15 minutes of cooking time, which is the amount of time needed to cook three sets of breaded squash slices. I have made the change to the recipe.
I hate to sound crazy but what is cooking spray and where do I find it.
Thank you
Judy
Not a problem, Judy! When I refer to cooking spray, I mean PAM or a cooking oil in a spray bottle like this – https://amzn.to/43lCZvE
Could I replace the plain bread crumbs with plain panko?
That should work, Stacey. You may deal with a little bit falling off since the crumbs of panko are bigger than regular bread crumbs, but if that’s what you have, go for it. Let us know how you like it!
How much is a serving size?
Because these are breaded, they are a small serving size. Each serving is a little more than 1/3 of a yellow squash, probably 4 slices or so. Enjoy, Nancy!
Sam this recipe is fire, this take squash to another level, not soggy by frying a pan and oil, but they are tender and the batter is crisp a new favorite way to cook, thank you Sam, you put your foot in that one💞💕
So happy that you enjoyed it, Bruce!