Fresh, melty, and crispy Air Fryer Cheese Curds are easy to make in the air fryer and so, so tasty! Follow this recipe to create the best cheese curds, with little oil and lots of flavor.
“Oh wow! These were AMAZING! The cheese was perfectly melted and the coating was perfectly done. I've made them before but deep fried them, and as delicious as they were, the oil content was quite high so I only ever had them very occasionally. Now thanks to your air fryer method, I can have them more often and not feel quite so bad! If I could give you more stars, I would do!”
Recipe Overview
Learn how easy it is to make cheese curds in the air fryer that are crispy, melty, and irresistible!
Dipped in ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce, these homemade air fryer appetizers are perfect for football parties, late-night snacking, or anytime you have a craving for fried cheese curds made without all the fuss and oil.
What are cheese curds?
Cheese curds are soft pieces of baby cheddar cheese, with a mild flavor and a unique firm, rubbery texture.
When eaten fresh and cold, cheese curds feel and sound “squeaky”, so some people call them “squeaky cheese”!
But when cheese curds are breaded and fried in the air fryer, the cheese becomes wonderfully melty, soft, and stretchy.
Popular in the northern states and parts of Canada, you will certainly find cheese curds in Wisconsin, and they are an integral part of Canadian poutine, which is a french fry dish topped with gravy and melted cheese curds.
Ingredients
- Flour – Breading cheese curds for the air fryer is similar to making mozzarella sticks or boneless chicken wings. A three-part breading that starts with a light coating of flour is the way.
- Eggs – A second coating of beaten eggs helps the breadcrumbs stick to the cheese pieces.
- Breadcrumbs – This recipe for air fryer cheese curds uses a blend of both regular bread crumbs and panko bread crumbs. This mixture ensures that each piece of cheese is fully coated and gets extra crispy in the air fryer.
- Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder – To season the breadcrumbs perfectly.
- Cheese Curds – This air fryer recipe makes 10 ounces of cheese curds, which is a typical package size. Feel free to adjust it to make more or fewer curds if you like though.
- Cooking Oil Spray – To make your breaded cheese curds crispy, you need to add a small bit of oil. A natural spray oil (avocado oil) is my choice, but you can use any type of oil in an oil mister too.
Steps to Make
- Set up your breading station. Place the flour in one shallow bowl. In a second bowl, beat the eggs. In a third bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, regular bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Place a few cheese curds in the flour. Toss until they are covered and shake off any excess.
- Then place the floured cheese curds in the beaten eggs. Mix until they are covered in egg, then let any excess drip off.
- Add the cheese curds to the breadcrumb mixture, coat well, then remove them to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Repeat the breading process with the remaining cheese curds, then place the tray of breaded curds into the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
- To air fry the cheese curds, place frozen breaded cheese curds into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray them with cooking spray and air fry at 380°F/195°C for 5-6 minutes, until the breading is golden brown and the cheese is melted in the center.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
What to serve with air fryer cheese curds
While you can eat fried cheese curds straight from the air fryer, they are best when paired with a tasty dipping sauce.
Try a simple side of tomato sauce, or a creamy dressing such as ranch or blue cheese.
Garlic cilantro sauce, homemade honey mustard, or buffalo sauce are also great dip choices.
Tips and Tricks
- It’s very important to freeze them! After you add the bread crumb coating to the curds, they must be frozen for at least 30 minutes before cooking them. This way, the outside coating will have enough time to brown and crisp up before the cheese melts.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Because the air fryer works by circulating air around our food, you need to leave space between each cheese curd so that that air can do its job. Arrange the frozen cheese curds in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if you need to.
- Try other seasonings. The seasoned breadcrumbs in this recipe are simply seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, but you can get creative. Try Italian seasoning, cajun seasoning, or your favorite spices.
- Air fry flavored cheese curds. If you can find specialty cheese curds, try air frying them! Flavors like garlic and herb, buffalo wing, jalapeno, and pizza cheese curds will all be delicious prepared this way.
- Make these ahead of time. Because the breaded cheese curds need time in the freezer, they make an easy make-ahead snack! Simply leave the breaded but uncooked cheese curds in the freezer, in an airtight container, until you’re ready to cook them.
Reheating instructions
Store any leftover air fryer cheese curds in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
To reheat them, add them to a preheated air fryer at 380°F/195°C for 3-5 minutes, or just until they have heated through. Avoid overcooking, as they cheese will melt out.
More Air Fryer Appetizers
Crispy, crunchy, hot appetizers are one of the air fryers best tricks!
You’ll love making fresh, homemade onion rings in the air fryer. They are crispy and savory, but not greasy or messy.
Want to try something a bit more fancy? Make a batch of air fryer calamari rings to share. They’re delicious with a side of marinara sauce. So are air fryer aranchini!
There are so many more air fryer appetizers here for you to make! Air fryer falafel, frozen fried pickles, air fryer crispy tofu, and air fryer meatballs are a few of my favorites.
Air Fryer Cheese Curds
Equipment
- 3 shallow bowls
- Baking sheet
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 cup regular breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 10 oz cheese curds
- cooking oil spray
Instructions
- Place the flour in a bowl. Place the beaten eggs in a second bowl. Place the panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in a third bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Place the cheese curds in the flour, a few a time. Toss until the cheese curds are covered and shake off any excess.
- Place the floured cheese curds in the beaten eggs. Mix until the cheese curds are covered, letting any excess drip off.
- Add the cheese curds to the breadcrumb mixture, tossing to coat them completely. Place the cheese curds on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and repeat with remaining cheese curds.
- Freeze the cheese curds for 30 minutes.
- Place the breaded cheese curds in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook in batches if need be. Spray the top with oil.
- Air fry at 380°F/195°C for 5-6 minutes, until the breading is golden and the cheese curds are melted in the center.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Video
Notes
- It’s very important to freeze them! After you add the bread crumb coating to the curds, they must be frozen for at least 30 minutes before cooking them. This way, the outside coating will have enough time to brown and crisp up before the cheese melts.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Because the air fryer works by circulating air around our food, you need to leave space between each cheese curd so that that air can do its job. Arrange the frozen cheese curds in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Work in batches if you need to.
- Try other seasonings. The seasoned breadcrumbs in this recipe are simply seasoned with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, but you can get creative. Try Italian seasoning, cajun seasoning, or your favorite spices.
- Air fry flavored cheese curds. If you can find specialty cheese curds, try air frying them! Flavors like garlic and herb, buffalo wing, jalapeno, and pizza cheese curds will all be delicious prepared this way.
- Make these ahead of time. Because the breaded cheese curds need time in the freezer, they make an easy make-ahead snack! Simply leave the breaded but uncooked cheese curds in the freezer, in an airtight container, until you’re ready to cook them.
- Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.
- Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes air frying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
Nutrition
Oh wow! These were AMAZING! The cheese was perfectly melted and the coating was perfectly done.
I’ve made them before but deep fried them, and as delicious as they were, the oil content was quite high so I only ever had them very occasionally.
Now thanks to your air fryer method, I can have them more often and not feel quite so bad! If I could give you more stars, I would do!
Hi Kelly! Thanks for taking the time to give a rating and leave us such a lovely comment.
Yes, I must admit these are one of my favorite treats, and so much better without all the added oil 🙂