Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks – best method!

Unbelievably crispy, these air fryer mozzarella sticks are everything you want from a gooey mozzarella stick without all the oil! 

I’ll be honest, I’m still not head-over-heels in love with my air fryer. I continue to use my Instant Pot far more often (just look at my Instant Pot recipes for proof!), but I’m learning to love the air fryer for some things. 

My largest complaint about it is the basket size, so perhaps I need to shop around for a larger one. 

With that being said, I do LOVE it for these mozzarella sticks. They get just as crispy as deep-fried mozzarella sticks, which I would argue is something the oven is not capable of achieving. 

It’s also great for air fryer chicken nuggets and air fryer falafel, plus it makes awesomely crispy Brussels sprouts. I’ll be continuing to sprinkle in an occasional air fryer recipe for those of you that own one. It is a fun little appliance and it makes food so crispy with very little oil, which I love. 

About these Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t absolutely love mozzarella sticks? There is just something about the ooey, gooey cheese encased in a crispy breaded coating that is completely and absolutely irresistible. 

Dipped in marinara or ranch, they’re the perfect party food or snack when you’re craving something cheesy. 

We tested these a few different ways and found the best way possible to make these was to bread them twice. First you freeze the cheese stick halves until they’re solid. Then, they undergo the first breading: flour, then egg, then seasoned breadcrumbs. Then, back into the freezer they go. Once they’re frozen again, you’ll repeat the egg and breadcrumb step. And yup, you guessed it, back into the freezer!

Why the freezing? Well, you want the cheese to be nice and frozen when they go in the air fryer so that the breading has time to crisp up and get golden brown before the cheese starts to melt and ooze out of the breading. This will still happen occasionally and in small amounts, but if you skip the freezing steps, you’ll lose a lot more cheese.

No one wants that! 

FAQs about Mozzarella Sticks

How long do you cook mozzarella sticks in an air fryer?

From frozen, you’ll cook these mozzarella sticks for 5-6 minutes in the air fryer or until golden brown and crispy.

Do you have to preheat an air fryer?

Not for all recipes, but for this one, it works best to start with a hot air fryer. If you start with a cold air fryer, the mozzarella sticks will warm up slower, causing more cheese to melt out of the breading. You don’t want to lose any of that yummy cheese!

What goes with mozzarella sticks?

The real question is, what DOESN’T go with mozzarella sticks?? Okay truthfully I like to stick to either ranch (try this homemade ranch) or marinara/pizza sauce. 

But the world is your oyster and you are free to do whatever makes you happy! Wanna dip them in BBQ sauce? Homemade fry sauce? Honey? Chimichurri? Pesto? Carrot Pesto?Alfredo sauce? Applesauce?

I’m not here to judge! If you go through the trouble to freeze – bread – freeze – bread – freeze – air fry these (I still maintain that it’s 100% worth it), you can dip them in whatever you want! 

Do I really have to bread them twice?

We tested them both ways. They’re way better double-breaded. Yes, it’s more work. Yes, they turn out okay if you only bread them once. But if you want really amazing mozzarella sticks, take the time to double coat them. 

Do I really have to freeze them three times?

Yessss you do. Seriously, it’s worth it.

Tip: Okay, we’ve covered that these are a bit of a hassle (worth it!). BUT if you make extras (just go ahead and make a triple batch, you’ll be glad!), you can transfer them to a freezer safe bag and freeze them for up to three months. Then all you have to do is preheat the air fryer, cook them (might take 1-2 minutes longer), and you’ll be burning your fingers and mouth on the most delicious mozzarella sticks in less than fifteen minutes. 

More great finger foods:

Snacking is the best, isn’t it? If you like these air fryer mozzarella sticks, you’ll love: 

 

• Sweet Potato Wedges  with Chinese five spice – these are SO good!
• Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites – a healthy alternative to buffalo wings
• Air Fryer French Fries – hard to resist!
• Candied Bacon – I dare you to try and only eat one piece 
• Ham and Cheese Sliders – a party favorite! 
• Sausage Pinwheels – with apple, Gruyère, and sage
• Bacon Wrapped Dates
• Crispy Chickpeas – healthy snacking! 

Verdict: These are so dangerously good. So much crispiness and gooeyness. 
Husband’s take: Mmm-hmmm. 
Changes I would make: Make more.
Difficulty: A bit of a fuss, but not difficult, and very worth it.