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 Mozza 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.
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No Air Fryer? No Problem! Use this Cheese Sticks recipe to bake them in the oven or deep fry them.
Ingredients
MOZZARELLA STRING CHEESE We love the way string cheese melts and it’s just the right size for a bite. Swap out Mozza for your fave string cheese flavor including cheddar.
EGGS are used to make the breadcrumbs stick to the string cheese.
SEASONING Garlic powder, salt & pepper are all you need.
BREADCRUMBS We use a combination of seasoned breadcrumbs (for flavor) and Panko (for crunch).
Variations
Feel free to create your own signature seasoning blend! We like to mix in Taco Seasoning, Cajun Seasoning, or our favorite Homemade Italian Seasoning.
How to Cook Homemade Mozzarella Sticks
Mozzarella sticks made from scratch.
- Combine breadcrumbs, oil, garlic, and salt & pepper to taste (per recipe below).
- Dip each mozzarella stick into whisked egg, then flour. Dip back into the egg, & finally into the bread crumb mixture.
- Freeze prepared sticks for at least 30 minutes.
- Spritz mozzarella sticks with oil. Place in a single layer air fry until crispy.
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!
Air Fryer Appetizers
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – extra crispy skin
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges – perfect for dipping
- Crispy Air Fryer Dill Pickles – ready in 30 minutes
- Everything Air Fryer Wings – so flavorful
- Air Fryer Taquitos – easy & cheesy
Did you make these Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 mozzarella cheese strings
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut mozzarella sticks in half.
- Whisk eggs with 1 tablespoon water. In a separate bowl combine bread crumbs, Panko bread crumbs, vegetable oil, and garlic powder. Place flour in a 3rd bowl and season with salt & pepper.
- Dip each mozzarella stick into the eggs and then into the flour mixture. Dip back into the eggs and finally into the bread crumb mixture.
- Place on a baking sheet and freeze at least 30 minutes (or up to 6 months).
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F.
- Generously spray mozzarella sticks with oil or cooking spray. Place in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes or until crisp.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer, Party Food, Snack
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Recipe Adapted from this recipe originally posted in 2013.
Oh my goodness!! I misread the egg/flour/breadcrumb part which is why they didn’t stick xD My ‘squirrel’ syndrome got in the way… I re made them and added some grated Parmesan and Romano cheese in the crumbs and they turned out perfect! Ha^.^
So glad you were able to get them to work for you, Cinder!
Hi! I loved how easy and non greasy these were! It’s just that even following this recipe by step my coating didn’t stick ): would you have any idea as to why? I really want to make these again!
I am sorry to hear that, Cinder. To help the coating stick make sure you are using enough of the egg mixture and then press the coating into the mozzarella stick to help it stick. I would love to hear how it turns out for you!
I followed the recipe to the letter,which I never do, wow! Really good. Actually not to the letter because I added a third of a cup of freshly and extra finely Locatelli cheese to the breadcrumb mixture. So good. I think using the cheese sticks keeps the leaking to a minimum as it seems much firmer than cutting a block. Plus they were all the exact same size which just looks nice on a platter. Thanks for the recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Do you have to freeze the mozzarella sticks if you are gonna make them right away?
Yes, Maggie, these should be frozen before air frying. Freezing the mozzarella sticks before air frying allows the crumbs to crisp up without the cheese melting out.
HOLY CRAP. These are so freaking good. We paired it with the Wegmans Parmesan Marinara sauce, and HOLY CRAP I will never go back to buying these premade. Heck, we liked these more than restaurant mozz sticks! *virtual hand shake*
That makes me so happy to hear! I am so glad they turned out so great for you. *virtual hand shake back*
Just made these tonight and Wow!, Delicious. Will be making more.
Hi, can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil? I never ever buy vegetable oil.
Hi Irene, that should work well!
Since the Panko crumbs are plain, I added a little extra italian seasoning, and they turned out really good. My issue is that even after being in the freezer for 45 minutes, the cheese still leaked out in the air fryer. I did try them at 350 degrees and the same thing happened, so I assume I need to shorten the cooking time and possible turn them over or rearrange them a little in the air fryer after a few minutes.
Did you use string cheese Lisa? Ensuring full coating of breading will help too.
I’ve been making mozza sticks for as long as I can remember but have never tried using my air fryer to cook them up. Until now. I always make them from a brick of mozzarella and get a large number from a one pound brick, which is much cheaper than using packaged string cheese. Other than that, I make them pretty much the same way as in this recipe. The only thing is that they never last 6 months in the freezer. If there are any left after 6 DAYS in my freezer, it would be a shock to me! LOL
LOL I am so glad you love this recipe! Thank you for sharing your tip!
I bought Mozzarella string cheese & thought I needed to freeze them first (I knew you had to freeze them but didn’t realize it was after putting the breading on first). Is this going to make a big difference? If I defrost them and them bread them & refreeze as stated in the recipe will it work the same or bread them while frozen & follow the steps as stated?
It will work just the same if you have frozen them first.
these were flavorless :( nothing like real mozzarella stick flavorwise
A lot of flavor will come from whatever you add to your breadcrumbs. I add basil, garlic powder and oregano. What did you add? If nothing, then that is the problem, you failed to season your breadcrumbs, that is not the recipe’s fault.
I haven’t tried this yet, but looking forward to it. I have a question, though. In the recipe you say to put them in the freezer for 30 minutes or up to 2 months. In “how to store” section, though, you say they can be kept frozen for up to 6 months. Which is it?
Sorry for the confusion Tina. These can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. Enjoy!
My first time making them homemade. Omg! Never buying another box of frozen mozzarella sticks again! They only took 5 minutes a batch in my air frier. I doubled the recipe and am glad I did. So good.
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Tammy!
Very good! I halved the recipe and used 4 sticks. Now I’m going to go back and make the rest of the package and freeze them (uncooked) for another time.
Definitely 5 stars! Worth the extra time to make and freeze. We followed the directions using Italian seasoning and would not change a thing. Which coming from someone who is always tweaking receipes says a lot.
Great recipe! Make sure to add the oil to the bread crumbs – I forgot that at first and after adding oil the bread crumbs stuck great! Cooked about 10 min in pre heated air fryer:)
So glad you loved the recipe Diane!
Stupid question, but do you cut them in half the long way or short way?
I cut them in half so I have two sticks about 2½-inches long. In the post you can see a photo of them cut in half on the pan where I am dipping them.