Air Fried Mozzarella Sticks
Better than the ones found in the freezer aisle - these Air Fried Mozzarella Sticks are packed with melty, cheesy goodness and have a crunchy crust that is perfect for dipping!
Servings: 12 sticks
Calories: 62kcal
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- 3 Shallow Bowls
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Tray
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 count eggs
- 12 count mozzarella string cheese
Instructions
- Start by gently crushing the panko breadcrumbs using a rolling pin or cooking mallet.
- Mix together the breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and garlic powder in a large, shallow bowl.
- Pour the all-purpose flour into another shallow bowl.
- In one more shallow bowl, whisk together two eggs.
- Dip an unwrapped string cheese stick into the flour, then the egg wash, then the breadcrumb mixture.
- Repeat the dipping process so the cheese stick is double coated.
- Continue breading until all of the cheese sticks are covered. Add them to a large tray covered with parchment paper.
- Freeze the cheese sticks for at least one hour; do not skip this step! Freezing helps to avoid the mozzarella sticks from exploding in the air fryer.
- Spray avocado oil (or any oil-based cooking spray) on the frozen cheese sticks. Add them to your air fryer tray lined with parchment paper. Be sure to avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket. I recommend cooking in batches.
- Air fry at 390°F for 5 minutes.
- Flip the sticks, spray a bit more cooking spray on the other side, then cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Serve hot with freshly chopped parsley and a saucer of marinara sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Tips & Tricks:
If you prefer to deep fry your mozzarella sticks: Heat up vegetable oil in a skillet until it reaches 350°F. Fry the sticks (2 or 3 at a time) until golden brown, then add to a paper-towel lined plate to cool slightly.
If you prefer to oven bake your mozzarella sticks: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Add the frozen mozzarella sticks to a parchment-lined baking tray, spray with cooking oil, and bake on the lower rack for 6-8 minutes until crispy.
Reheating Instructions:
To reheat, line a parchment-lined baking tray with the mozzarella sticks. Bake in the oven at 350°F until heated through, usually 8-10 minutes.
Nutrition
Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 27mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 44IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg