Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Easy Panko breaded Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks cooked up crispy in the air fryer. Just as delicious as deep fried without the mess and added calories.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword air fryer cheese sticks, homemade mozzarella sticks, how to make mozzarella sticks in air fryer

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 5

Servings sticks

Calories 88kcal

Author Beth Pierce

Ingredients

8 mozzarella string cheese
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
⅔ cup marinara optional

Instructions

Unwrap and cut the mozzarella sticks in half. Add the flour to a bowl. Whisk the eggs together in a second bowl. In a third bowl combine the panko breadcrumbs, Italian spices, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Dredge the mozzarella sticks in the flour, then dunk in the beaten eggs, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture. Place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper with space between them. Place the baking sheet on a level surface in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees. Brush the mozzarella sticks with olive oil or spray with cooking spray. Place in the air fryer basket with space between the sticks. Cook for 5 minutes or until they are brown and crispy. Keep a close eye on them. If the cheese starts to escape then remove them from the air fryer quickly. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

For extra crispy mozzarella sticks, dip them one more time in the beaten eggs and then in the panko bread crumbs. Increase the breadcrumbs to 1 1/4 cups and the eggs to 3.
Freeze the breaded mozzarella sticks on a parchment-covered baking sheet with space between the sticks for at least 30 minutes.
Every air fryer cooks at a little different pace, so check on the sticks several times.
For maximum enjoyment, serve with warm marinara.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the air fryer at 390 degrees for about 5 minutes.
Freeze for up to 3 months. See below for freezing tips.

Nutrition