When I’m craving something crunchy, but still healthy and light, I make these baked zucchini chips. I slice fresh zucchini very thin, then season and bake them, until perfectly crisp, to create a diet-friendly snack. They’re crunchy little guys are incredibly easy to make, and low in calories. Win-win!

Baked zucchini chips from scratch served in two small ramekins.

Why I Love Zucchini Chips

When trying to stay on a healthy eating plan, I find snack time the hardest meal to stick to. Mainly because I get tired of eating the same three healthy snacks over and over again. This winter, I’ve been experimenting with healthy snack options to mix things up a bit and help me stay on a clean eating regimen.

The naughty snack I miss more than any other munchy, is chips… Potato chips, tortilla chips, pretty much any sort of salty fried chippity-chip. To have something crunchy and salty, that is also healthy, I turned to zucchini.

When zucchini is sliced thin and baked at low heat, it turns into thin rounds of crispy goodness. I have to tell you, this is one of my favorite zucchini recipes! I don’t have a lot of self-control with these chips either, but at least I know they are ultra-light and packed with goodness. Like my sweet potato chips, it’s a guilt-free snack I can enjoy anytime I want!

Baked Zucchini Chips - overhead shot of chips in two bowls

Ingredients and Tips

  • Zucchinis – fresh zucchini, evenly sliced 1/8 inch thick
  • Olive Oil – or your choice of healthy cooking oil
  • Salt – like kosher or crunchy sea salt
  • Hot Smoked Paprika – optional, but recommended for a sweet smoky note
  • Cumin – optional, but recommended for earthy depth

Pro Tip: You can season your zucchini chips however you like. Always add salt no matter what, but you can add garlic powder, onion powder, or a little cayenne pepper for some heat! Everything bagel seasoning would also be a fun option.

Fresh zucchini sliced into thin pieces.

How to Make

Slice the zucchini – I like using a mandolin to keep the slices consistent. If you don’t have a mandolin, cut them as thin as possible with a sharp chef’s knife. Lay the zucchini slices on paper towels in a single layer. Cover with more paper towels and set a baking sheet on top of the zucchini slices. Press down on the baking sheet, applying slight pressure, to help squeeze out some moisture.

Preheat the oven – I preheat it to 235 degrees F. (Preheat two ovens if you have them to fit more in at once.) Line several baking sheets with parchment paper. Brush the parchment paper lightly with olive oil.

Season – I lay the zucchini slices in a single layer on the parchment paper. Fit as many on each baking sheet as possible. Then I lightly brush the top of the zucchini with olive oil. Sprinkle the zucchini slices with salt. You can also sprinkle with a little cumin and smoked paprika for extra flavor, or any seasonings of your choice.

Bake low and slow – Bake for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until crisp and golden. If some zucchini chips are still flimsy or damp, remove the crisp chips and place the damp chips back in the oven for a few more minutes. Allow the zucchini chips to cool on the paper towels to absorb any extra oil. Store in an air-tight container.

Oven Baked Zucchini Chips on cookie sheet with parchment paper

Serving Suggestions

If you love chips made out of vegetables, you can combine these with my healthy carrot chips, kale chips, and crunchy beet chips, too!

These easy baked zucchini chips can be eaten on their own as a crunchy, delicious snack! I find they are also delicious paired with creamy dips and sauces like whipped cottage cheese dip, dill dip, or magic taco dip!

Expert Tips

  • You can use any size of zucchini available, but this is the one time you’ll hear me suggest going with larger zucchini squash. Because the chips shrink as they bake, the large grandma’s garden-sized zucchini works exceptionally well. They are also a little drier than baby zucchini, so they have less moisture to release.
  • Using a mandolin slicer also helps a great deal, because all the zucchini slices are exactly uniform so they come out perfectly crunchy across the board.
  • A Silpat baking sheet would work just as well as parchment paper if you want to use that instead.
  • Best of all, you can season your light and healthy zucchini chips any way you like. I love them with a touch of smoked paprika and cumin.
Baked Zucchini Chips in blue bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Store Zucchini Chips?

Baked Zucchini Chips can be stored in a zip bag or airtight container for several weeks at… Although there’s no way they’ll last that long! (My kids usually gobble them up on the first day.)

What Other Seasonings Can I Use On This Crunchy Side Dish?

Adding different seasonings can drastically change the flavor of the chips. For example, you can use ranch seasoning, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, or a homemade combination of simple seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder) with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. You can even make sweet zucchini chips by sprinkling the zucchini rounds with cinnamon sugar!

Can I Bake These In The Air Fryer?

Yes. In fact, I have a separate air fryer zucchini chips recipe just for that. You’ll love it!

Chips made from zucchini served in small bowls.

More Healthy Snacks To Try:

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Baked Zucchini Chips

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Crispy Baked Zucchini Chips are a healthy paleo-friendly snack recipe that is loaded with flavor and crunch, yet light in calories!
Servings: 8

Video

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Slice the zucchini. (Using a mandolin helps keep the slices consistent.) Lay the zucchini slices on paper towels in a single layer. Cover with more paper towels and set a baking sheet on top of the zucchini slices. Press down on the baking sheet, applying slight pressure, to help squeeze out some of the moisture.
  • Preheat the oven to 235 degrees F. (Preheat two ovens if you have them to fit more in at once.) Line several baking sheets with parchment paper. Brush the parchment paper lightly with olive oil. 
  • Lay the zucchini slices in a single layer on the parchment paper. Fit as many on each baking sheet as possible. Then lightly brush the top of the zucchini with olive oil. Sprinkle the zucchini slices with salt. You can also sprinkle with a little cumin and smoked paprika for extra flavor.
  • Bake for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until crisp and golden. If some zucchini chips are still a little flimsy or damp, remove the crisp chips and place the damp chips back in the oven for a few more minutes. Allow the zucchini chips to cool on the paper towels to absorb any extra oil. Store in an air-tight container.

Nutrition

Serving: 10Chips, Calories: 48kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 8mg, Potassium: 255mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 260IU, Vitamin C: 17.6mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 0.5mg
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
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