Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are crispy on the outside, melty in the middle, and perfect for dipping (no deep fryer required). Pair with homemade marinara sauce or a creamy ranch dressing for a bite you can’t resist.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Flavor: Crispy, golden breading with a savory garlic crunch on the outside and warm, stretchy, mild mozzarella that’s perfectly salty and melty inside.
- Why Make It: This recipe is easy to make with string cheese and a handful of pantry ingredients. They are easy to prep ahead of time, and only take minutes to cook!
- Technique: Freezing the mozzarella sticks before air frying is the key step that keeps the cheese locked inside so it gets perfectly melty without leaking out during cooking.
- Serving Suggestions: I love to serve them hot and melty with marinara sauce for dipping, creamy ranch, zesty pizza sauce, or a rich garlic aioli for an extra hit of flavor.
Total Time: 1 hour (only 20 mins hands-on!) Servings: 16 Mozzarella Sticks Cooking Method: Air Fryer
Ingredient Notes for Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Mozzarella Cheese Strings: Cheese strings (any flavor works) are the easiest choice since they’re already perfectly portioned and hold their shape well when cooked; simply cut each one in half for bite-sized, party-ready pieces.
- Eggs: Eggs act as the binding layer that helps the flour and breadcrumb coating stick to the cheese. Whisking them with a little water helps create an even, smooth coating for crisp results.
- Breadcrumbs: Seasoned breadcrumbs bring the main savory flavor to the coating. Panko breadcrumbs add extra lightness and give the mozzarella sticks a crisp, airy texture when air-fried.
Favorite Variations
- Italian-style: Use Italian breadcrumbs and add a pinch of dried oregano or basil.
- Flavored: Mix in Taco Seasoning, Cajun Seasoning, or add a pinch of cayenne or crushed red pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
- Extra cheesy coating: Add finely grated Parmesan to the breadcrumbs.
How to Make Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Cut the mozzarella sticks in half and set up three bowls with egg, seasoned flour, and the breadcrumb mixture.
- Dip each cheese stick in egg, then in flour, then in egg again, then in breadcrumbs.
- Freeze. Air fry in a single layer (full recipe below).
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Using Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
Skip the prep work and use store-bought frozen mozzarella sticks. They will cook for about 5-7 minutes at 390°F.
Saving the Crunch
- Leftovers: Keep cooked mozzarella sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 minutes or until crisp and warmed through.
- To Make-Ahead: Prep then freeze the breaded uncooked mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer them to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. Cook from frozen when ready to serve!
- Serving: These are best served right away. The coating softens as they sit, but the air fryer brings back the crunch better than the microwave.
More Crispy Air Fryer Snacks
Did you enjoy this Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.
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 to 7 minutes or until crisp.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- No Air Fryer? No Problem! These can be baked in a preheated oven at 400°F for 9 to 11 minutes.
- These are frozen before cooking to allow the crumbs to crisp up without the cheese melting out.
- Be sure to preheat the air fryer and keep in mind that air fryers can vary. Check them early at about 4 minutes. Once you see cheese starting to bubble, they’re ready.
- Purchased frozen mozzarella sticks will cook for about 5 to 7 minutes at 390°F.
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or make ahead, freeze for up to 6 months, and cook in the air fryer.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1Mozzarella Stick | Calories: 87 | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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 cheese sticks recipe originally posted in 2013.
I made these and the crust was great but the cheese exploded everywhere so I’ll need to figure out how to prevent this.
Want to make this, but i dont know how long to cook it for! or at what temp! (celcius)
As mentioned in the recipe, we air fry these mozzarella sticks at 390°F (200°C) for 5-7 minutes or these can be baked in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 9-11 minutes.
These are awesome and so easy to make! One problem I have though … I’m allergic to wheat so I have to use Gluten Free Flour and Gluten Free Panko. The GF panko doesn’t always want to stick to the cheese very well; I find this with other recipes as well. I use plenty of the egg mixture and try to really press the coating on. Any suggestions on how to fix this? Maybe its the flour and not the panko?
Hmm, it could be the flour Allison. I have not cooked with Gluten Free Panko much but I have often cooked with gluten free flour and different brands can create such different results. I always love using the an All-purpose 1:1 Gluten Free Flour, it usually provides pretty consistent results to regular flour.
Im going to try these soon, can i use light olive oil instead of vege oil to mix with bread crumbs and spices? thank you
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.