Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks (Printable)

Golden mozzarella sticks with a crispy crust and melty center, cooked to perfection using an air fryer.

# Ingredient List:

→ Cheese

01 - 12 mozzarella string cheese sticks

→ Breading

02 - 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
03 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

→ Coating

04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 2 tablespoons milk
06 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

→ Seasonings (optional)

07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For Serving

11 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed

# Steps:

01 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice each mozzarella stick in half to create 24 shorter sticks if preferred.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs combined with milk, and one with mixed Italian and panko breadcrumbs plus optional seasonings.
03 - Dredge each cheese stick in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into the egg mixture. Coat thoroughly in breadcrumb mixture.
04 - Repeat dipping in egg mixture and breadcrumb coating to ensure extra crispiness and prevent cheese leakage.
05 - Place coated sticks on the prepared baking sheet and freeze for at least one hour, or until solid.
06 - Set air fryer to 390°F (200°C) to preheat.
07 - Arrange frozen sticks in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with cooking oil. Air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden and crisp with cheese just starting to melt.
08 - Immediately serve with warm marinara sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're done in 8 minutes flat, which means you can go from frozen to serving in less time than it takes to heat an oven.
  • No messy deep fryer oil, no guilty feelings—just air-fried perfection that tastes indulgent but isn't complicated.
  • Double breading makes them stay crispy even after sitting out, so they survive game night without getting soggy.
02 -
  • Skipping the freeze step is the number one reason mozzarella sticks leak—patience here prevents a mess later.
  • Spray your air fryer basket lightly, not heavily, or the coating gets greasy instead of crispy; that fine mist from three feet away is the sweet spot.
03 -
  • Make a big batch on Sunday and freeze them for up to a month—when the craving hits mid-week, you have restaurant-quality snacks ready in 8 minutes.
  • If your cheese sticks are leaking during cooking, they weren't frozen long enough or your air fryer ran too hot; check the temperature and give the next batch extra freeze time.
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