Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Print)

Golden, crispy mozzarella sticks with a melty center, cooked quickly in an air fryer for a perfect snack.

# What You Need:

→ Cheese

01 - 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
03 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

→ Coating

04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 2 tablespoons milk
06 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

→ Seasonings (optional)

07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Serving

11 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed

# Steps:

01 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Optionally, slice each mozzarella stick in half to create 24 shorter pieces.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with eggs beaten with milk, and one with combined Italian-style breadcrumbs, panko, and optional seasonings.
03 - Coat each mozzarella stick in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into the egg mixture, followed by thorough coating with the breadcrumb blend.
04 - Repeat the egg dipping and breadcrumb coating to enhance crispness and minimize cheese leakage.
05 - Place the breaded sticks on the prepared baking sheet and freeze until solid, for at least 1 hour.
06 - Set the air fryer to 390°F and allow it to reach temperature.
07 - Arrange frozen sticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, lightly spray with cooking oil, and air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp with cheese beginning to melt but not oozing.
08 - Present immediately with warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • The air fryer gives you that golden crunch without the mess of deep frying
  • You can prep a huge batch and keep them in the freezer for sudden cravings
  • Double breading is the secret trick that keeps the cheese from escaping
02 -
  • Skip the freezing step and the cheese will explode out of the breading before the outside gets crispy
  • Work quickly when coating because the cheese starts getting soft and messy within minutes
  • Do not crowd the air fryer or the steam will make them soggy instead of crisp
03 -
  • String cheese already has the perfect moisture content, but block mozzarella works too if you cut it into sticks and pat it dry first
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture if you want subtle heat throughout
  • If some cheese escapes anyway, just snap off the crispy cheese bits and eat them like a snack
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