Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are easy to make and taste amazing! Who knew that mozzarella sticks in the air fryer would taste so delicious! Ditch that deep fry and learn how to make mozzarella sticks without all that oil!

Homemade mozzarella sticks are a party staple at my house. How your classify a party is up to you! Perhaps, it’s a Friday movie night, Superbowl Sunday or game day!? Regardless, these air fryer cheese sticks are going to be a huge hit no matter when you make them!

We love our air fryer when it comes to making snacking recipes! Our air fryer jalapeno poppers are a huge hit along with our  air fryer chex mix and our air fryer french fries.

You might be going back and forth about an air fryer. Do you really need an air fryer? What is an air fryer? Will I really use an air fryer? I get it, I get you. I understand, but here is the thing. You really need one. One you figure out how to use it, you are unstoppable! Promise!

Recently, my youngest kiddo and I were on a mission to figure out how to make mozzarella sticks in the air fryer. We had some triumphs and we had some failures. Happy to report that even the failures were delicious.

We learned that you HAVE to freeze the cheese sticks. That is a MUST for making homemade mozzarella sticks! You actually have to freeze the air fryer mozzarella sticks TWICE! See, we did have LOTS of learning moments, testing and testing this air fryer cheese stick recipe!

But seriously, once you figure out the secrets, air fryer mozzarella sticks are a breeze to make. You have to invest a little time (during the freezing potions) but other than that, you will be impressed with how your air fryer cheese sticks turn out!

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Ingredients

• Cheese sticks
• Flour
• Egg
• Bread crumbs
• Spices

How to make Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

1. Half the cheese sticks and place into the freezer. Cheese sticks must stay in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
2. In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg until blended and set aside.
3. In another bowl mix the spices and bread crumbs and set aside.
4. In a gallon sized baggie, pour in the flour and set aside.
5. Remove cheese sticks from the freezer. Cut in half. Put halved cheese sticks into the bag with flour. Move the cheese sticks around so the flour thinly coats them.
6. Dip each cheese stick in the egg wash.
7. Dredge the cheese stick through the panko/bread crumb mixture with spices. Make sure that the cheese stick is covered on each side.
8. Place all sticks BACK into the freezer and freeze another 30 minutes. This step is KEY!
9. Place the covered cheese sticks in the air fryer. Cook at 370 Degrees F for 4-5 minutes. 
10. When the timer goes off, remove the air fryer basket, let the air fryer mozzarella sticks solidify some. You can also shape any that might have started to explode.
11. Serve with marinara and enjoy!

Tips for Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

• Here is a PRO TIP for your air fryer cheese sticks…keep a pack of cheese sticks in your freezer. That way when you want to make some air fryer mozzarella sticks, you are ready! The cheese sticks are already in the freezer and frozen!
• You actually DO NOT have to cut the cheese sticks in half before freezing.
• I feel that the air fryer cheese sticks actually cook better when they are cut in half, but if you want you can keep the sticks full length.
• Air Fryer Oven – I have cooked their air fryer mozzarella sticks in my air fryer oven and it seems to take 1-2 LONGER in the AF Oven. Keep that in mind if you are cooking with an air fryer oven.
• Watch the air fryer cheese sticks closely in the last 1-2 minutes. They can quickly explode. While they do not look great when they explode, they still taste good 🙂
• If you want your air fryer mozzarella sticks to be a golden brown color you can spritz with cooking oil. This will help them to brown up.

Air Fryer Mozzarella Stick Questions

Can you freeze these air fryer cheese sticks?

Yes, you can make the cheese sticks following the directions up until the point you would put them in the air fryer. Just keep them frozen (from the second time freezing). You can stock your freeze with these air fryer mozzarella sticks so you can use them whenever you get that hankering for some air fryer cheese sticks! Sticks should last 2-3 months in a sealed Ziploc bag or airtight container.

Can I use other flours or toppings for my air fryer mozzarella stick coating?

Yes, you can use anything you want to coat the air fryer cheese sticks. If you have a specific type of flour you like, use that. If you want to crush up crackers or cereal to make a coating, have at it. My youngest crushed up some corn nuts to make coating one night.

How do I cook store bought frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer?

If you do not want to make your air fryer cheese sticks from scratch simply visit the freezer aisle and pick up a box. Load the mozzarella sticks in the air fryer basket. Bake at 350 degrees F for 4- 5 minutes. Remove the air fryer basket and shake. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until done. 

More Air Fryer Recipes:

• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Air Fryer Hamburgers
• Air Fryer Pizza
• Air Fryer Chex Mix

This recipe is so easy, I even made a video to show you how easy it is!

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5 from 4 votes

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are easy to make and taste amazing! Who knew that mozzarella sticks in the air fryer would taste so delicious! Ditch that deep fry and learn how to make mozzarella sticks without all that oil!

Prep Time45 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time50 mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer cheese sticks, air fryer mozzarella sticks

Servings: 16 sticks

Calories: 65kcal

Author: Cindy Gordon | Vegetarian Mamma

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 8 cheese sticks halved
• 1/2 t garlic powder
• 1/2 t smoked paprika
• 1/2 t oregano
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c flour (gf or AP)
• 1/2 c bread crumbs

Instructions

• Place the cheese sticks into the freezer. Cheese sticks must stay in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
• In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg until blended and set aside.
• In another bowl mix the spices and bread crumbs and set aside.
• In a gallon sized baggie, pour in the flour and set aside.
• Remove cheese sticks from the freezer. Cut in half. Put halved cheese sticks into the bag with flour. Move the cheese sticks around so the flour thinly coats them.
• Dip each cheese stick in the egg wash.
• Dredge the cheese stick through the panko/bread crumb mixture with spices. Make sure that the cheese stick is covered on each side.
• Place all sticks BACK into the freezer and freeze another 30 minutes. This step is KEY!
• Place the covered cheese sticks in the air fryer. Cook at 370 Degrees F for 4-5 minutes. When the timer goes off, remove the air fryer basket, let the air fryer mozzarella sticks solidify some You can also shape any that might have started to explode.Serve with marinara and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Tips for Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

• Here is a PRO TIP for your air fryer cheese sticks...keep a pack of cheese sticks in your freezer. That way when you want to make some air fryer mozzarella sticks, you are ready! The cheese sticks are already in the freezer and frozen!
• You actually DO NOT have to cut the cheese sticks in half before freezing.
• I feel that the air fryer cheese sticks actually cook better when they are cut in half, but if you want you can keep the sticks full length.
• Air Fryer Oven - I have cooked their air fryer mozzarella sticks in my air fryer oven and it seems to take 1-2 LONGER in the AF Oven. Keep that in mind if you are cooking with an air fryer oven.
• Watch the air fryer cheese sticks closely in the last 1-2 minutes. They can quickly explode. While they do not look great when they explode, they still taste good 🙂
• If you want your air fryer mozzarella sticks to be a golden brown color you can spritz with cooking oil. This will help them to brown up.

Air Fryer Mozzarella Stick Questions

Can you freeze these air fryer cheese sticks?

Yes, you can make the cheese sticks following the directions up until the point you would put them in the air fryer. Just keep them frozen (from the second time freezing). You can stock your freeze with these air fryer mozzarella sticks so you can use them whenever you get that hankering for some air fryer cheese sticks! Sticks should last 2-3 months in a sealed Ziploc bag or airtight container.

Can I use other flours or toppings for my air fryer mozzarella stick coating?

Yes, you can use anything you want to coat the air fryer cheese sticks. If you have a specific type of flour you like, use that. If you want to crush up crackers or cereal to make a coating, have at it. My youngest crushed up some corn nuts to make coating one night.

How do I cook store bought frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer?

If you do not want to make your air fryer cheese sticks from scratch simply visit the freezer aisle and pick up a box. Load the mozzarella sticks in the air fryer basket. Bake at 350 degrees F for 4- 5 minutes. Remove the air fryer basket and shake. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until done. 

 

Nutrition

Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

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.

Let’s talk! Do you love homemade mozzarella sticks? Have you tried them in your air fryer yet? Drop me a note and tell me if you plan to make these air fryer mozzarella sticks!