Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are a mouthwatering air fryer appetizer! These unbelievably crispy mozzarella sticks in the air fryer will make you quickly forget the ones from the freezer section.
Mozzarella sticks are a great handheld snack to feed the masses, and these Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks take minutes to make and can be prepared way in advance.
The same mozzarella cheese sticks you pack in kids' lunches and eat as on-the-go snacks become melty, delicious mozzarella sticks with a few spices and some breadcrumbs.
While they still need to be frozen for at least an hour before cooking, the air fryer magic helps the fresh and seasoned coating stay tasty and crunchy.
While the full fat cheese sticks will have the best melted texture, low fat cheese sticks will also work for this!
If you are a professional snacker, you have to check out our Air Fryer Meatballs and our Air Fryer Risotto Balls.
These air fryer recipes, however, will take your snacking expertise up a notch.
How to make Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
These six-ingredient Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks take more waiting time than making time!
- Put cheese sticks in the freezer for at least half an hour. While they chill, whisk an egg until blended in one bowl. Mix your spices and bread crumbs in another bowl. Pour your flour into a gallon size ziplock bag.
- Remove cheese sticks and cut in half. Place into gallon size bag with flour and shake until cheese sticks are thinly coated.
- Dip each cheese stick in egg wash.
- Dredge cheese sticks through bread crumb and spice mixture, covering all sides. Return coated cheese sticks to freezer for another half an hour. This step is KEY.
- Cook coated cheese sticks in air fryer basket for 4-5 minutes at 370 degrees. When the timer is done, remove the basket and let mozzarella sticks cool. If any have exploded, reshape them with a silicon spatula or spoon. Serve with marinara or your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Looking to make your own marinara sauce? Try our minimalist take on Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce!
Can I freeze these ahead of time?
Absolutely! These are the perfect quick after school snack and better than their pre-made freezer section counterparts.
Complete all the steps before cooking and let the coated cheese sticks freeze solid, at least a couple of hours.
Transfer the homemade frozen sticks to a ziplock bag and freeze for up to three months.
Now, you've got fresh mozzarella sticks ready in less than 10 minutes!
In other words, you are becoming an air fryer expert!
How to get crunchier mozzarella sticks
Want even more crunch? Coat them twice!
After the first coating and second trip to the freezer, repeat the egg wash and dredging steps to add a second crunchy coat to your Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks.
Make sure you always freeze them for at least half an hour before cooking to keep the insides from immediately melting in the air fryer basket.
more yummy air fryer appetizer recipes
We have so many air fryer recipes to choose from!
If you are having trouble figuring out which one to try next, we suggest: Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings, Pickles in the Air Fryer, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders and Air Fryer Meatballs
Looking for purchase an air fryer? Wondering which air fryer is right for you?
Here are my TOP picks of air fryers on the market today!
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.
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Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 8 cheese sticks halved
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup flour gluten free or all purpose
- ½ cup bread crumbs
Instructions
- Place cheese sticks in the freezer and allow to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg until blended and set aside.
- In another bowl, mix spices and bread crumbs. Set aside.
- In a gallon sized ziplock bag, add flour and set aside.
- Remove cheese sticks from freezer and cut in half. Put halved cheese sticks into bag with flour. Shake bag to gently coat all over with flour.
- Dip each cheese stick in egg wash.
- Dredge the cheese stick through the bread crumb and spice mixture. Make sure the cheese stick is covered on all sides.
- Place all sticks back into the freezer for another 30 minutes. Do NOT skip this step!
- Place covered cheese sticks in air fryer basket. Cook for about 4-5 minutes at 370 degrees. When timer goes off, remove basket from air fryer but allow mozzarella sticks to cool before handling. Shape any that have melted with a silicone kitchen tool.
- Serve with marinara sauce and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
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Bonnie T
Thank you for this recipe. It does take some time, but I like to make them ahead and freeze them. My family loves this.
Cindy
Bonnie, I am so glad your family loves it! We love these air fryer mozzarella sticks too!
Jersey Girl Cooks
Now I must make these! I just love my air fryer!
Cindy
Enjoy!
Jessica Formicola
We made these yesterday and they were amazing! They are already a favorite at our house!
Cindy
So glad your family loved our air fryer mozzarella sticks!
Adrianne
These are the perfect way to start any party and the crunchy texture loooks right up my alley. I wouldn't have thought to freeze the cheese sticks 1st. That is a great idea! Cheers
Cindy
Freezing is key! Other wise the cheese will melt quickly!
Anita
Mozzarella sticks are our favorite snack. It's great that now we can make it in our air-fryer. ๐
Cindy
Thanks for checking them out Anita!
Jenn
I'm really starting to love my air fryer (a recent purchase) and can't wait to dig into these mozz sticks - they look so amazing!
Cindy
The air fryer is so much fun! I hope you enjoy!
Trey
I admit that these do take some TIME with the freezing steps BUT they are worth every minute I spent on them. SO delicious! I used regular panko crumbs, turned out great!
Cindy
Hi Trey, yes they do take some time, but you are right, so worth it. Thanks for letting me know you used non-glutenfree panko and they turned out great!
Shawn
I made these gluten free using the Ians bread crumbs. My daughter has Celiac Disease, she was so excited to try them. She loves them. We've made them three times so far!
Cindy
AWE, I love that! I am so excited that your daughter loved them! ๐ Many of our recipes are naturally gf or can be made that way. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Joan
Is m gluten free and so thankful for this recipe. I get to eat these again. This recipe works great
Cindy
That is great to hear Joan, I am so glad!
Devin
This is the first time I've made these from scratch, they are delicious. They are worth the extra work and time!
Cindy
So glad you liked it, thank you for coming back and leaving a review and comment!