Description
Crispy air fryer mozzarella sticks bring golden, gooey cheese magic straight to your plate. Melted mozzarella wrapped in crunchy breadcrumbs delivers irresistible Italian-inspired snacking bliss you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 mozzarella cheese sticks
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional Ingredients:
- Non-stick cooking spray
Instructions
- Carefully unwrap mozzarella sticks and position them on a parchment-lined tray, then freeze solid for at least 60 minutes to prevent cheese from melting during cooking.
- Create three separate preparation stations: first bowl with flour, second bowl with whisked eggs, third bowl combining Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Transform each frozen cheese stick by thoroughly coating in flour, ensuring complete coverage, then dredge through beaten eggs, and finally roll in seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere crumbs completely.
- Return breaded cheese sticks to freezer for additional 10-15 minutes to solidify coating and prevent cheese leakage during air frying.
- Activate air fryer and set temperature to 400°F. Lightly coat air fryer basket with non-stick spray, then arrange breaded sticks in single layer without overcrowding, and mist tops with cooking spray.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes, rotating halfway through cooking time, watching carefully until exterior turns golden brown and crispy while maintaining molten cheese interior.
- Transfer immediately to serving plate and accompany with marinara sauce or preferred dipping condiment for optimal temperature and crunchiness.
Notes
- Freeze Before Breading Freezing cheese sticks before coating helps prevent cheese from leaking during cooking and ensures a crispy exterior.
- Customize Breading Mix experiment with different herbs and spices like smoked paprika, dried basil, or cayenne pepper to add unique flavor profiles to the breading.
- Prevent Sticking Use parchment paper or silicone mats when freezing and arranging cheese sticks to avoid them sticking together or to the surface.
- Alternative Coating Options for gluten-free diets, replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend, and use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed pork rinds for extra crunch.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 235 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 13 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg