Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are the perfect cozy snack, crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. They are made with simple ingredients and cook in under 10 minutes!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 6

Freeze Time 30

Total Time 56

Servings servings

Calories 326kcal

Author John Kanell

Equipment

Air fryer
Shallow dishes

Ingredients

8 whole milk mozzarella sticks
2 large eggs
½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
1¼ cups panko breadcrumbs (90g)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon. garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Marinara sauce for dipping

Instructions

Cut the mozzarella sticks in half crosswise to make 16 pieces.
Place the flour in a shallow dish. Beat the eggs in a second shallow dish, and combine the panko, Italian seasonings, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a third shallow dish.
Dip each cheese stick in flour, then the egg, then coat in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere. Dredge again in the egg and then the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere.
Place on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 month in an airtight container.
Preheat air fryer to 390°F for 5 minutes. Spray the basket and frozen sticks with oil. Air fry in batches, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve hot with marinara.

Notes

Double-dredge the cheese sticks. Make sure to dredge the mozzarella cheese sticks twice by giving them a double layer of coating in the egg and breadcrumb mixture. This will create a proper barrier to keep the breading from cracking or splitting too fast when cooked and letting the cheese ooze out.
Keep an eye on them in the air fryer! While the double dredge adds some extra protection from oozing cheese, the longer the mozzarella sticks cook, the more likely they are to burst and let the melted cheese flow out. Your air fryer may differ in temperature, so start checking them every minute after 6 minutes.
Don't skip the freezing step! This step is worth the extra time and is essential to make air fried mozzarella sticks. If you don't freeze them before cooking, the cheese will melt too early and spill out before the coating is fully cooked.
Air fry in batches if needed. To make the crispiest mozzarella sticks in the air fryer, place them in a single layer so they do not touch each other and leave about ½ inch between each one for good airflow. Avoid overcrowding the basket by cooking in two batches!

Nutrition