Air Fryer Zucchini Pesto Bites

Air Fryer Zucchini Pesto Bites are low-carb, keto-friendly, easy to make, and delicious! These bites come together in about 15 minutes and can be used as a snack, appetizer, or light meal.

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Summer is my favorite season for a lot of reasons but one of the biggest reasons is all of the fresh produce we get from our gardens, farmers markets, or the grocery store! Everyone knows when zucchinis are in season, neighbors are trying to give them away and they get much larger on the shelves.

These mini Air Fryer Zucchini Pesto Bites are the perfect solution to using up some of that summer zucchini. This recipe is keto-friendly, low-carb, kid-friendly, and healthy! And it comes together in about 15 minutes so really you have no excuse not to make these delicious bites.

If you love zucchini and want another easy recipe, check out my Air Fryer Zucchini Pizza Bites as well! They are similar to this recipe and you can add any topping you want.

How to Make Air Fryer Pesto Zucchini Bites

Slice the zucchini and Preheat the Air Fryer

Slice the zucchini into ¼” rounds and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Preheat your air fryer at 350°F for 2 minutes.

Spray the basket and precook the zucchini

Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick spray and carefully place as many zucchini slices as you can fit in the basket. Cook at 350° for 4 minutes.

Top zucchini slices with pesto, cheese and tomatoes

Using tongs, remove each zucchini slice from the air fryer. Top each slice with pesto, cheese, and tomato halves.

Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes

Place the slices back in the air fryer and cook at 350°F for another 4-5 minutes. Remove from the air fryer using the tongs and allow the pesto bites to cool before enjoying.

Make your Own Pesto or Use Store-Bought

Homemade pesto is so easy to make and adds another fresh element to this recipe. Check out my recipes for how to make your own pesto. You can make Almond Pesto or Carrot Greens Pesto for a twist on the classic recipe. Of course, you can also use your favorite store-bought pesto and these pesto bites will still turn out delicious.

Which Air Fryer I used to Make Pesto Bites

I used my Mealthy CrispLid air fryer for this recipe. It fits right on top of my Instant Pot and has a glass lid so I can see how my food is cooking. Below are a few more air fryers that you may like for your home if you don’t already have one. They are a game-changer in the kitchen, I promise!

Tips for Air Frying Zucchini Bites

• If you want a fresh element to these zucchini bites, add some freshly chopped basil on top before serving.
• These Zucchini Pesto Bites will become soggy if you let them sit too long. They also are not good for leftovers. Make sure you eat these little bites right away, this is not a recipe to make ahead of time.
• The first step of softening the zucchini before adding the toppings is an important step to get the zucchini to be just the right texture for these pesto bites.
• Preheating your air fryer is not always neccesary (unless otherwise noted by your manufacturer), but it helps with even cooking and speeds up overall cooking time.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Check Out

• Delicious Air Fryer Taquitos made with your favorite filling.
• Easy Air Fryer Star Donuts for the holidays or just for fun.
• Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders for the fasted meal ever.
• Everyone’s favorite treat, Air Fryer Tater Tots with endless topping possibilities.
• Air Fryer Pop Tarts made with fresh berry filling.

Air Fryer Zucchini Pesto Bites

These Air Fryer Zucchini Pesto Bites are the perfect healthy, low-carb snack or appetizer for any occasion.

5 from 17 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 7 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 235kcal

Author: EmilyFabulous

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• tongs
• aluminum foil

Ingredients

• 1 medium zucchini, sliced in ¼" rounds
• salt and pepper for sprinkling
• ½ cup pesto sauce
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced ( I used pre-sliced from Bel Gioioso)
• 12 small cherry tomatoes, cut in half

Instructions

• Slice the zucchini into ¼" rounds and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Preheat your air fryer at 350°F for 2 minutes.
  
• Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick spray and carefully place as many zucchini slices as you can fit in the basket. Cook at 350° for 4 minutes.
  
• Using tongs, remove each zucchini slice from the air fryer. Top each slice with pesto, cheese, and a tomato half.
  
• Place the slices back in the air fryer and cook at 350°F for another 4-5 minutes. Remove from the air fryer using the tongs and allow the zucchini bites to cool before enjoying.
  

Notes

• These Zucchini Pesto Bites will become soggy if you let them sit too long. They also are not good for leftovers. Make sure you eat these little bites right away, this is not a recipe to make ahead of time.
• The first step of softening the zucchini before adding the toppings is an important step to get the zucchini to be just the right texture for these zucchini bites.
• Preheating your air fryer is not always necessary (unless otherwise noted by your manufacturer), but it helps with even cooking and speeds up overall cooking time.
• Non-stick spray is a must-have when air frying so don’t skip it. Not only does it help the food from sticking to the basket, but it also aids in the crisping of whatever you are air frying. You can use vegetable oil, olive oil, avocado oil, or whatever oil spray you like.
• Aluminum foil is also a handy tool when air frying for easier clean-up. You will get some residual oil spray at the bottom of your air fryer as well as some food that may fall off. Use a small piece of foil to catch as much as you can.
• Cooking times and temperatures may vary due to variations in equipment and may require adjustments
• Always read the instruction manual that came with your Air Fryer and follow all safety guidelines.

Nutrition

Serving: 4slices | Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 9.5g | Protein: 13.3g | Fat: 18.4g | Saturated Fat: 8.4g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 365mg | Potassium: 517mg | Fiber: 2.9g | Sugar: 6.7g | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 1mg

Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

DID YOU MAKE THESE AIR FRYER ZUCCHINI PESTO BITES?

If you make these Air Fryer Zucchini Pesto Bites, don’t forget to leave a comment below. You can also tag me on Instagram and Facebook if you snap a pic.

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