Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Wellplated Com

With its intense convection heating capability, the air fryer excels at creating healthy versions of fried food favorites that are magnificently crispy-crunchy. From Air Fryer French Fries (or Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries) to Air Fryer Pickles (another of my favorite fair foods) to ridiculously crispy, juicy Air Fryer Chicken Wings, this appliance earns its cabinet space. When I’m craving a bite of nostalgia (or I’m hosting a game watch and really want to make my friends go crazy), baked Mozzarella Sticks are always the right choice. Since we love them in the oven, I thought—why not try them in the air fryer, like I did with Air Fryer Potato Chips? Even better. Crispy outside, gooey inside; my inner kid is loving this!

How to Make Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Making fried mozzarella cheese sticks in the air fryer is easy, but it does take some planning! To keep mozzarella sticks from exploding in the air fryer, you MUST freeze them first.

Freezing cheese sticks for 1 hour both before and after breading them ensures that the cheese doesn’t explode before the filling has a chance to turn golden and crisp.Good news: healthy air fryer mozzarella sticks can last in your freezer for months.

Prep and freeze a big batch, then all you need to do is pop them in the air fryer when a craving strikes!

The Ingredients

Mozzarella String Cheese. So simple, yet SO delicious! Mozzarella cheese sticks are a crowd-pleaser that’s packed with calcium, potassium, protein, and probiotics. I used part-skim mozzarella to lighten things up a little and keep the air fryer mozzarella sticks’ calories low. All-Purpose Flour. Coating the cheese sticks in flour first helps the egg stick.Egg + Milk. Helps the breadcrumbs adhere to the cheese sticks. Breadcrumbs. Skip air fryer mozzarella sticks with white bread. A mix of Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs creates the best texture. The Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs add flavor and the panko adds crunch. Spices. A blend of herbs like basil and oregano, Italian seasoning gives the mozzarella sticks an herby, Italian flair. Garlic powder adds some beloved garlicky flavor.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Mozzarella sticks are best enjoyed immediately after making. You can try saving the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.To Reheat. Gently rewarm the mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet in a 350 degrees F oven until warmed through with melty cheese. Or, reheat in the air fryer.To Freeze. I recommend freezing the cheese sticks before baking if possible. If you’d like to freeze them after baking, place the mozzarella sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen sticks to an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the air fryer.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Air Fryer. This one has an air fryer basket that’s perfect for making this recipe.Pie Dish. My go-to choice for the egg and breading mixtures. Baking Sheet. Line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Step aside, state fair cheese sticks.