Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are full of warm, ooey, gooey string cheese that’s coated in a crunchy homemade batter and fried to perfection. This recipe is quick to make, but satisfies the craving for the cheesy deliciousness that only mozzarella sticks can offer!
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who doesn’t like mozzarella sticks. I mean, melted, gooey cheese, coated in batter and fried to perfection, what’s not to like? They used to be our go-to appetizer every time we went out, but since I perfected my recipe for making the perfect mozzarella sticks at home in my air fryer, it’s a thing of the past!
This mozzarella sticks recipe is so easy to make. It uses string cheese as a base that’s coated in a super easy homemade batter. They are ready in less than 20 minutes and can even be made ahead of time.
Why we love making Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer
- Quick and easy homemade mozzarella sticks recipe
- Great for an appetizer or fun snack -my kids love these!
- Can be made ahead and frozen for an even quicker snack
- Fun and simple air fryer recipe
- Perfect to serve with a variety of homemade dipping sauces
Air Fryer Cheese Sticks ingredients
- 12 low-moisture mozzarella sticks -frozen (I like to use string cheese)- I find it easiest to use string cheese but you can make your own sticks by cutting a block of mozzarella into rectangles, if you prefer.
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Panko bread crumbs – You can use regular breadcrumbs if you are in a bind but you may not get as even of a coating.
- Grated parmesan cheese – You can use additional panko bread crumbs as a substitute.
- Fresh basil
- Large eggs
- Chopped basil – (optional garnish) – You can substitute dried basil if needed but use only 1 Tablespoon instead of 3.
Recommended tools for Air Fry Cheese Sticks
- 3 long, shallow bowls
- Measuring tools
- Mixing tools (fork or wire whisk)
- Air Fryer
- Cooking spray
SEE FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD BELOW
How to Air Fry Mozzarella Sticks
- Be sure to have your mozzarella sticks completely frozen before you begin this recipe. Do not remove them from the freezer until you are ready to coat and cook them.
- Whisk together flour and salt.
- Whisk together the panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, basil, and salt.
- Beat together eggs and water.
- Coat the mozzarella sticks (one at a time) in the flour, then dip into the egg mixture, and finally dip into the bread crumb mixture.
PRO-TIP: Move quickly through the coating process so the mozzarella sticks don’t thaw out too much. If they get too warm, they will bubble out of the coating during the cooking process. They can always be placed back into the freezer to cool before cooking. - Place back into the egg mixture and recoat them.
- Then, back into the panko crumbs.
- Place sticks into the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 6-8 minutes.
- Let them sit for 1-2 minutes after cooking.
- Garnish and serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
How long to put mozzarella sticks in an Air Fryer
This recipe air frys for about 6-8 minutes, but always check your specific air fryer’s guidelines.
Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer tips
- You can prep your mozzarella sticks in advance and freeze them uncooked with the coating before cooking them. This is a quick treat that you can meal prep ahead of time and cook and eat fresh.
How to serve Air Fryer Cheese Sticks
Serve Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks hot with a side of marinara sauce for dipping, and maybe even a sprinkle of fresh basil or Parmesan for extra flavor.
Storing Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- To Store: In the unlikely event that you have leftover mozzarella sticks (this has never happened to me, they always get gobbled up too quickly!) They can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- Freeze: You can also freeze leftovers, preferably before cooking them but even afterwards, for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes or until heated through.
Reheating Mozzarella Sticks in Air Fryer
To reheat, place the mozzarella sticks back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, or until they’re hot and crispy again.
Mozzarella Sticks Air Fryer FAQs
One of the biggest problems that causes the batter to lump is having big chunks of egg white in your egg bowl. Adding the water helps thin the whites a little bit but I also recommend whisking it rapidly, until it gets slightly frothy. If you still have trouble, you can put the egg mixture through a fine wire strainer to get the larger pieces out or break them out.
Another trick is to coat one mozzarella stick at a time before moving on to the next step. This will help keep some of the egg mixture out of the panko mixture so you don’t end up with as many lumps. You can also use the “dry hand/wet hand” trick by using just 1 hand to turn the sticks in the egg mixture and the other hand to turn them in the panko mixture. This helps keep lumps of wet coating from transferring back and forth between bowls. You can also use a spoon to put the eggs and coating on the sticks instead of rolling them in each bowl.
This recipe is fun to mix up by using different types of cheese sticks! You can use Colby jack cheese sticks, cheddar cheese sticks, pepper jack cheese sticks, even string cheese with jalapeno and red bell pepper! That one simple change gives you a variety of options.
You can also change out the herb that you use to complement your chosen cheese. You can try cilantro, parsley, or a combination of herbs. You can switch out for dried herbs if you don’t have fresh herbs on hand but remember to reduce the amount appropriately so you don’t overseason your sticks!
If you are new to the Air Fryer world, I’ve got you covered. I answer all the questions, like how to use an Air Fryer, what you can cook in an Air Fryer, and even the best Air Fryers on the market. Make sure to check out my post How to Use An Air Fryer for all the details.
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Apple Chips
- Air Fryer Croissants
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Air Fryer Hamburgers
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast
- Air Fryer Garlic Knots
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower
Mozzarella Sticks (Air Fryer Recipe)
Ingredients
- 12 low-moisture mozzarella sticks frozen
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt divided in half
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp minced fresh basil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp water
- Optional garnish: fresh, chopped basil
Instructions
- Be sure to have your mozzarella sticks completely frozen before you begin this recipe. Do not remove them from the freezer until you are ready to coat and cook them.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, if your model requires preheating.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the flour and ½ teaspoon of salt. Set aside.
- In a separate, shallow bowl whisk together the panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, fresh basil and ½ teaspoon of salt. Set aside with the bowl of flour.
- In a third shallow bowl, beat together the eggs and water with a fork or wire whisk. Place in between the other bowls and remove 6 mozzarella cheese sticks from the freezer.
- One at a time, coat the mozzarella sticks in the flour, making sure that they are completely covered. Following the flour, dip the sticks into the egg mixture, covering them completely.
- Place the mozzarella sticks in the panko mixture and turn multiple times, until they are lightly covered in the mixture.
- Place the sticks back in the eggs and recoat them.
- Finish by placing them back in the panko bowl and coating them a final time.
- Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with cooking oil and then place the sticks in the air fryer in a single, non touching layer and cook for 6-8 minutes or until lightly golden brown all over. Do not overcook them or the cheese may bubble out and make a mess in the bottom of your air fryer!
- While the first batch is cooking, remove the remaining sticks from the freezer and prepare them following steps 6 through 9. When the first batch finishes, cook the second batch in the same way.
- Let the cheese sticks set for 1-2 minutes after cooking and garnish with fresh, chopped basil, optional. Serve with marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: In the unlikely event that you have leftover mozzarella sticks (this has never happened to me, they always get gobbled up too quickly!) They can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
- To Freeze: You can also freeze leftovers, preferably before cooking them but even afterwards, for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 minutes or until heated through.
- Move quickly through the coating process so the mozzarella sticks don’t thaw out too much. If they get too warm, they will bubble out of the coating during the cooking process. They can always be placed back into the freezer to cool before cooking.
- You can prep your mozzarella sticks in advance and freeze them uncooked with the coating before cooking them. This is a quick treat that you can meal prep ahead of time and cook and eat fresh.
