Description
Crispy and golden Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks with gooey cheese inside—a delicious and easy appetizer or snack that’s ready in under an hour!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Cheese Sticks:
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- 8 whole milk mozzarella sticks
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (60g)
- 1 1/4 cups panko breadcrumbs (90g)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
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For Serving:
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- Marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Prep the Mozzarella Sticks: Cut the mozzarella sticks in half crosswise to make 16 pieces.
- Prepare the Coating Stations: Place the flour in a shallow dish. Beat the eggs in a second shallow dish, and combine the panko, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a third shallow dish.
- Coat the Cheese Sticks: Dip each cheese stick first in flour, then in the beaten egg, and then coat in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere. Repeat the dredging process by dipping again in the egg and coating once more in the breadcrumb mixture for a double layer.
- Freeze the Mozzarella Sticks: Place the coated mozzarella sticks on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes, or store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 month if preparing ahead of time.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 5 minutes. Spray both the air fryer basket and frozen mozzarella sticks with oil spray.
- Cook the Mozzarella Sticks: Air fry the mozzarella sticks in batches to ensure they cook evenly. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown, keeping an eye on them to prevent the cheese from oozing out. Serve immediately with marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Double-dredge the cheese sticks. Make sure to dredge the mozzarella sticks twice by giving them a double layer of coating in the egg and breadcrumb mixture to create a proper coating barrier and prevent cracking or splitting while cooking.
- Watch them carefully while air frying! Different air fryer models may vary in temperature, so check every minute after 6 minutes to avoid overcooking and leaking cheese.
- Don’t skip freezing! Freezing is crucial to keep the cheese from melting too quickly and spilling before the breading is fully cooked.
- Air fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. Leave sufficient space between the mozzarella sticks for crisp and even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 mozzarella sticks
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
