How to Make Fried Mozzarella Sticks in an Air Fryer

How to make air fryer mozzarella sticks?

Mozzarella sticks are a classic fried food that just gets so much better and healthier in the air fryer. Today’s recipe is a quick and tasty air fryer snack that everyone will love. You will be surprised by how easy it actually is to make fried mozzarella cheese sticks in the air fryer. This recipe is a perfect one for an afternoon snack, a tasty appetizer at a party, or even for a midnight treat.

Keep reading to learn some quick tips and tricks for making the best mozzarella cheese sticks in the air fryer!

Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks Breading Ingredients

Mozzarella sticks is a make-ahead recipe because you’ll want the cheese to be frozen before air frying for the best results. I’ll talk more about this later, but first here are the ingredients you will need to make air fryer mozzarella sticks.

• 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat or all-purpose flour
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ tsp pepper
• 2 eggs, divided
• ⅓ cup panko or breadcrumbs
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• Avocado oil spray – I like to use this Mistifi oil sprayer

Do I have to freeze mozzarella sticks before frying?

It is so important to make sure the mozzarella cheese sticks are frozen before you start frying them. Why? Because that way the breading will cook without completely melting the cheese. You want the cheese to still be intact and but warm when it is finished. So, the best way to get this result is to freeze the cheese sticks several times throughout out the cooking process.

How to make fried cheese sticks in the air fryer?

I like to cut my cheese sticks in half because they are the perfect size for munching and snacking. Here are a few other great tips for making homemade cheese sticks.

Tip #1: Freeze the cheese sticks

After you cut each of the mozzarella cheese sticks in half. Freeze the sticks for at least an hour in a Ziploc safe bag.

Tip #2: Set up your breading stations

Set up three small or shallow bowls for the breading the mozzarella sticks. In the first bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and pepper. In the second bowl, lightly beat 1 egg. In a third bowl, mix together the panko, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Keep the leftover panko mixture.

Tip #3: Completely cover the cheese sticks in breading

Coat each of mozzarella sticks in the flour mixture, the egg, and then the panko. Lightly press the coating to the mozzarella sticks to help it adhere.

Tip #4: Freeze the cheese sticks again

Place the mozzarella sticks on a lined baking sheet and freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least 1 hour.

Tip #5: Repeat

In a small bowl, beat the second egg. Then, take the the already coated cheese sticks out of the freezer and dip them in the egg, then coat them in the panko mixture again. Freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least another 30 minutes.

How to air fry mozzarella sticks?

When you are ready to cook your mozzarella sticks, lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil cooking spray and place the mozzarella sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray the tops of the cheese sticks with oil and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius for 7-10 minutes. Check on them halfway through cooking. Adjust the cooking time as needed.

Should I use parchment paper?

Air Frying Pro Tip: Because you are dealing with cheese, you can place the mozzarella sticks on air fryer parchment paper. I like to use parchment paper whenever I am cooking with cheese because I don’t like it when cheese bakes onto the air fryer basket. However this is a really a matter of personal preference.

You can learn more about air fryer parchment paper in this YouTube video!

How do I know when fried mozzarella cheese sticks are done?

Mozzarella sticks will be done frying once the outside is crispy and the inside is no longer frozen. You want the sticks to be melty cheese like, but still intact.

Can you reheat mozzarella sticks in an air fryer?

This recipe is best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer basket. However, if you choose to store them you can keep them in an air tight container. Then, heat them back up in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 degrees Celsius for 3-5 minutes, or until they are revived and crunchy again.

Can I freeze mozzarella sticks?

If you want to save the mozzarella sticks for later. You can prep them as previously described. Then, after you freeze them on the cookie sheet for the last time, move them to a freezer safe bag or container. They will keep in the freezer for about 3 months.

How long does it take to cook frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer?

When you are ready to cook frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer, you may need to add an additional minute or two to the cooking time. This means, cook the mozzarella sticks for 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees Celsius for 9-12 minutes.

Check on the mozzarella sticks halfway through cooking, and adjust the cooking time as needed until they are a nice golden brown on the outside and the inside is no longer frozen. If you try cutting one in half, you’ll be able to know how cooked the insides are.

Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella Sticks

I love to enjoy this recipe with marinara sauce. Ranch dressing, hot sauce, BBQ sauce, or even Chick-fil-a sauce are some other great dipping sauce options that you may enjoy! What is your favorite dipping sauce for mozzarella cheese sticks? Let us know in the comment section below!

More tasty air fryer snacks!

• Delicious and Easy Air Fryer Puff Pastry Danishes
• Bacon and Pineapple Appetizer in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Pigs in a Blanket

Air fryer tips and tricks so you can use your air fryer like a pro!

• Common Air Fryer Mistakes!
• All about the Best and Worst Air Fryer Accessories
• How to Clean Your Air Fryer

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Learn how to make fried mozzarella sticks with crisp breading in an air fryer. This fried mozzarella sticks recipe is great for parties, football games and kids!

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Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Freezing Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 3 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

Adjust Servings: 4

US CustomaryMetric

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 6 mozzarella string cheese sticks
• 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon pepper
• 2 eggs divided
• ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• Avocado oil spray

Instructions

• Cut each of the mozzarella cheese sticks in half. Freeze the sticks for at least an hour in a Ziploc safe bag.
• Set up three small, shallow bowls for breading the mozzarella sticks
• In the first bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and pepper. In the second bowl, lightly beat 1 egg. In a third bowl, mix together the panko, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
• Coat each of the mozzarella sticks in the flour mixture, the egg, and then the panko. Lightly press the coating to the mozzarella sticks to help it adhere.
• Place the mozzarella sticks on a lined baking sheet and freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least 1 hour.
• Keep the leftover panko mixture. In a small bowl, beat the second egg.
• Take the mozzarella sticks out of the freezer and dip them in the egg, then coat them in the panko mixture again.
• Freeze the mozzarella sticks for at least another 30 minutes.
• When you are ready to cook, lightly spray the air fryer basket and place the mozzarella sticks in the air fryer. Lightly spray with oil and cook at 400°F/200°C for 7-10 minutes. Check on them halfway through cooking.
• They will be done cooking once the outside is crispy and the inside is no longer frozen.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 11g | Sodium: 471mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g