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A plate of golden crispy air fryer mozzarella sticks piled casually on a white plate, one stick broken in half showing a long stretchy melted mozzarella cheese pull, perfectly golden breadcrumb coa...
Sarah Mitchell

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Let me save you $12 and a trip to Applebee's. Homemade mozzarella sticks in the air fryer are crispier, cheesier, and about a hundred times more satisfying than anything you'll get at a chain restaurant.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 26 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 260
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 sticks string cheese (mozzarella)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed (for dipping)

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Three shallow bowls for breading
  • Baking sheet with parchment paper
  • Cooking spray

Method
 

  1. Set up your breading station with three shallow bowls: flour in the first, beaten eggs mixed with milk in the second, and combined Italian breadcrumbs, panko, garlic powder, and onion powder in the third.
  2. Take each string cheese stick and coat it in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg mixture, then press firmly into the breadcrumb mixture, covering all sides.
  3. For extra crunch, dip back into the egg and breadcrumbs a second time — this double coat is what gives you restaurant-quality crispiness.
  4. Place the coated cheese sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour, or until completely frozen solid. (Overnight works great too.)
  5. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). Spray the basket with cooking spray.
  6. Place the frozen mozzarella sticks in a single layer (don't let them touch) and spray the tops with cooking spray. Air fry for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and the coating is crispy.
  7. Let rest for 1-2 minutes (the cheese inside is extremely hot), then serve immediately with warm marinara sauce.

Notes

Never skip the double coating or the freeze — they're the entire reason these work in an air fryer. The double coat creates a thick enough barrier to contain the melting cheese, and the freeze gives that barrier a head start. Pull them out of the air fryer the moment they're golden — even 1 extra minute can mean the cheese bursts through. They should look golden brown but still feel heavy with cheese inside.