Love going out to a restaurant and getting those crispy mozzarella sticks? Well, now you can enjoy them from the comfort of your own home, without all the guilt of deep fried cheese sticks. In just a few minutes, you’ll learn how to make mozzarella sticks in the Air Fryer.
Whether you want to make your own homemade mozzarella sticks or use frozen mozzarella sticks, you can use this simple Air Fryer recipe to make your favorite finger foods in no time.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Air fryers make traditionally deep fried foods healthier with less oil and trans fat
- Safer for kids to use than a deep fryer or oven
- Crispy mozzarella sticks every time
- Super simple recipe to follow- easy enough for kids
- You can make a quick snack with just a few gooey mozzarella sticks
Ingredients needed
If using frozen mozzarella cheese sticks, the only other thing you need is cooking spray and your Air Fryer. If you want dipping sauce, you can use your favorite marinara sauce.
If making your own, you’ll need mozzarella string cheese sticks and some seasonings.
We like to use panko breadcrumbs, a beaten egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and any other seasonings or bread crumbs we want to use for the breading.
How to Make Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer
If making the already made cheese sticks that you’ve had in the freezer, do not thaw them. Here’s how to make Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks:
- Preheat the Air Fryer for 5 minutes at 350F. Before adding the sticks to the basket, spray it with non stick spray so they don’t stick to the basket.
- Add your cheese sticks to the Air Fryer basket one at a time, in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Once cooked, serve immediately with dipping sauce if desired.
If making your own mozzarella sticks gather your ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 8 mozzarella sticks
Then follow these instructions to make your own Air Fryer Homemade Mozzarella Sticks:
- In a small shallow bowl, beat the egg to create an egg wash.
- In another mixing bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, and spices and herbs.
- Cut your mozzarella sticks in half, then one by one, dunk the through the beaten egg and then into the panko mixture before carefully placing them in the preheated Air Fryer.
- Cook according to the directions above as if they were frozen. You’ll probably need less time than the frozen ones, so opt for starting with 5 minutes and adjusting the cooking time until they’re golden brown.
Storage
Any leftovers should be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a day or two. They won’t last long. In fact, they’re best if you just eat them when you first make them as they’ll lose their crispiness and the cheese inside won’t have the melty cheese like you expect.
For best results, if you want to reheat the mozz sticks, you need to toss them back in the Air Fryer again. Reheating this tasty snack this way helps to bring them back to their crispy state and helps bring back the ooey, gooey cheese you want when you air fry mozzarella sticks.
Tips and Variations
- Serve these cheese sticks with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Make sure to not overcrowd the mozzarella sticks in the fryer. It needs enough room to circulate the hot air around to properly cook the sticks. If you overcrowd the basket or put them in layers they won’t cook evenly.
- Feel free to alter your homemade Air Fryer Mozzarella sticks recipe by adding in other seasonings you like, like black pepper, kosher salt, etc.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
If you’re all about easy recipes like these
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls (coming soon)
- Air Fryer Hot Pockets (coming soon)
- Air Fryer French Fries
You can practically make any of your favorite frozen foods in the Air Fryer rather than the oven. Hopefully, by now, you have seen how easy it is to make any of these Air Fryer appetizers. Just grab your bag of frozen mozzarella sticks and make the ultimate appetizer or snack with just the help of your fantastic Air Fryer.