These Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are crispy, perfectly seasoned, and oozing with melty cheese. I used mozzarella cheese strings for the filling and served them with homemade marinara sauce. The most important part is to freeze the cheese strings for 30 minutes, which will prevent the cheese from leaking out.
Looking for my air fryer recipes? Try my air fryer sardines next!
About This Recipe
My wife doesn't always rave about the dishes I cook, but this one she absolutely loved. "Honey, these mozzarella sticks are amazing" she said as she ate her sixth one.
I guarantee these air fryer mozzarella cheese sticks will become your new favorite cheesy appetizer. They are super easy to make and air-frying is a much better alternative to deep-frying. There is way less mess and you don't need to deal with a lingering oil smell in your house.
Plus, mozzarella sticks are known for leaking when you cook them, and it can be very scary for beginners when they leak out into hot oil. Air-frying is much less dramatic.
Why cheese leaks out?
The main problem with homemade mozzarella sticks is that the cheese tends to leak out. This happens because the cheese gets too hot, starts to boil, and breaks through the crust. To prevent this, you can freeze the cheese sticks first to slow down their heating before the crust gets crispy and golden.
Key Ingredients
Mozzarella cheese string: In my opinion, the best cheese to use is cheese strings. I find they are exceptionally melty (super long cheese pull) and they are already in the perfect mozzarella stick shape. If you don't have cheese string, you can use regular mozzarella cheese as well.
Eggs: You'll need two large eggs for the batter. The batter provides a protective layer around the cheese and helps the breadcrumbs stick to it.
All-purpose flour: This helps thicken up the batter.
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
Panko breadcrumbs: These are a Japanese style of breadcrumb. They are flakier than regular breadcrumbs, which gives an exceptionally crispy texture. However, you can use regular breadcrumbs as well.
Instructions
STEP 1: Cut each cheese string in half, then freeze for at least 30 minutes (this will prevent the cheese from leaking out when you air-fry them).
STEP 2: In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
STEP 3: In a separate dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning.
STEP 4: Dip a cheese stick in the egg wash and shake off excess.
STEP 5: Coat the cheese stick in breadcrumbs.
STEP 6: Arrange the cheesesticks in the air fryer basket
STEP 7: Air-fry at 400°F for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Ingredients
- 8 mozzarella cheese strings
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Cut each cheese string in half to make shorter sticks. Transfer to a plate and freeze for 30 minutes (this will prevent them from leaking when air-frying).
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- In a separate dish, combine the breadcrumbs and Italian seasoning.
- Dredge the cheese in the egg wash and shake off any excess. Transfer to the breadcrumbs and coat all over.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Arrange the cheese sticks in the basket. Spray with oil and air-fry for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Serve with marinara sauce!
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