Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks – All the stretchy cheesy and crispy goodness you’ve been craving! All without that unnecessary grease. Bask in this glorious appetizer as a casual snack or serve it to guests as part of your appetizer table. This recipe comes complete with detailed freezing instructions.Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are a tasty snack that can be prepared and stored in the freezer! Any time you want a snack, just pop a few into the air fryer.
Why buy the pre-packaged, frozen version of mozzarella sticks when you can make your own homemade recipe in the air fryer in minutes?
Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
We love mozza sticks because they are crispy on the outside and melty inside.
These are easy to make with string cheese and a handful of pantry ingredients.
They’re prepped ahead of time and stored in the freezer for a great snack anytime.
Add your favorite dipes from marinara sauce to homemade ranch dressing.
Ingredients
Keep scrolling for to the recipe card for the full list of ingredient amounts and instructions
Mozzarella sticks – If you can’t find sticks, you can slice up your own from a block. More firm mozzarella works best for this recipe. My mozzarella sticks were quite long so I cut each one in half, more sticks that way.
Panko breadcrumbs – While regular or Italian breadcrumbs will still work, panko will give you maximum crunch.
SEASONING Garlic powder, salt & pepper are all you need.
Eggs – Use large eggs.
Flour – All-purpose.
How to make air fryer mozzarella sticksPrep: Preheat the air fryer to 390F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in another shallow bowl, and add the flour to a 3rd shallow bowl.
Dredge: Dip each mozzarella stick to fully coat in the flour, then the beaten eggs, into the breadcrumb mixture eggs again, and finally breadcrumb mixture one last time. So flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, eggs, breadcrumbs. Place them on the baking sheet and repeat until all the sticks are dredged.
Cook: Place the mozzarella sticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You may need to cook them in batches if there isn’t enough room. Spray the sticks with a bit of cooking spray, close the lid, and cook for 6 to 7 minutes or until golden brown.
FROZEN MOZZARELLA STICKS
This recipe is for homemade mozzarella sticks and they are frozen before cooking so cook time is the same.
Freezing them first allows the crumbs to crisp up without the cheese melting out.
Be sure to preheat the air fryer and keep in mind that air fryers (and brands of mozzarella sticks) can vary.
Check them early at about 4 minutes. Once you see cheese starting to bubble out, they’re ready.
Purchased frozen mozzarella sticks will cook for about 5-7 minutes at 390°F.
How to Store
Keep air-fried mozzarella sticks in a covered container for about 3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the air fryer for about 3 minutes to re-crisp them.
Breaded, uncooked mozzarella sticks can be frozen for up to 6 months. They should go straight from the freezer to the air fryer without thawing!
Full recipe: Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOK TIME 10 minutes
FREEZE TIME 40 minutes
SERVINGS 4
Super cheesy with a crunchy bread crumb coating, these Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are the ultimate appetizer!
INGREDIENTS
8 mozzarella sticks cut in half
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
2 large eggs beaten
¼ cup all-purpose flour
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep: Preheat the air fryer to 390F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in another shallow bowl, and add the flour to a 3rd shallow bowl.
Dredge: Dip each mozzarella stick to fully coat in the flour, then the beaten eggs, into the breadcrumb mixture eggs again, and finally breadcrumb mixture one last time. So flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, eggs, breadcrumbs. Place them on the baking sheet and repeat until all the sticks are dredged.
Cook: Place the mozzarella sticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You may need to cook them in batches if there isn't enough room. Spray the sticks with a bit of cooking spray, close the lid, and cook for 6 to 7 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve warm with marinara sauce.
How to serve mozzarella sticks
This recipe is perfect for a cheesy appetizer or snack. They’re usually served with lots of marinara sauce for dipping. You can also pair them with a creamier dip like ranch or thousand island.
Looking to put together an appetizer spread for a get-together? These recipes will go amazing with your homemade mozzarella sticks:
Toasted Ravioli
Baked Parmesan Zucchini Crisps
Lasagna Dip
Pigs in a Blanket
Lemon Pepper Wings
Crispy Baked Parmesan Garlic Breaded Mushrooms
Potato Skins
Skillet Pizza Dip