Air-fryer mozzarella sticks are the quick and easy homemade version of your favorite frozen snack food. Marinara sauce not required, but it is strongly recommended!
Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Golden and crispy with the perfect cheese pull, air-fryer mozzarella sticks are a delicious treat for football watching, after-school snacking and anytime eating. The best part about this recipe is just how easy it is, and how few ingredients it uses.

You only need a few pantry ingredients plus string cheese to make mozzarella sticks in the air fryer. And no deep-frying oil necessary, which means that one of our favorite junk food snacks just got a little less junky.

An air fryer is basically a mini convection oven. The food gets blasted with hot air to create that crunchy texture we all crave, without needing to deep-fry in lots of heavy oil. (Learn more about how it all works in our handy air-fryer cooking guide.)

To get perfectly cooked mozzarella sticks in the air fryer, freeze them after you coat the string cheese with flour and bread crumbs. Then, to cook, simply spray the sticks with a little oil, and pop them in the air fryer for a few minutes. Make sure you’ve got your favorite dip ready, whether it’s ranch, marinara or Sriracha mayo.

Ingredients for Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

  • String cheese: This protein-packed, on-the-go snack is the perfect path to mozzarella stick bliss. Use the regular, full-fat sticks for the best texture. Here are our Test Kitchen’s favorite string cheese brands.
  • Flour: A light dredging in flour and egg helps the crispy bread crumb coating stick better to the cheese sticks.
  • Eggs: Eggs are part of the magic that helps the coating stick to the mozzarella sticks. There’s nothing worse than an air-fryer mozzarella stick that loses its breading.
  • Bread crumbs: Use regular, fine bread crumbs for the coating. They’ll give the best texture and get nice and crispy in the air fryer.
  • Seasonings: Italian seasoning, garlic powder and pepper is the best flavor combo for these air-fried mozzarella sticks.

Directions

Step 1: Toast the bread crumbs

In a small skillet, toast the bread crumbs until lightly browned, one to two minutes. Put them in a shallow bowl, and let them cool completely.

Step 2: Coat the mozzarella sticks

Place the flour in a shallow bowl. In another bowl, beat the eggs and water. Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder and pepper to the cooled bread crumbs, and stir to combine.

Create an assembly line with the three bowls and the cheese sticks. Coat the cheese sticks with flour, then dip in the egg mixture, then coat with bread crumb mixture. Repeat the egg and bread crumb coatings one time with all the cheese sticks.

Step 3: Freeze the sticks

Cover the coated mozzarella sticks, and freeze for eight hours or overnight.

Editor’s Tip: Don’t skip the freezing part! You really want to freeze these completely before air-frying so they cook evenly. If they’re not frozen, the coating will fall right off. The sticks should feel dry to the touch, no moisture or sogginess at all.

Step 4: Air-fry the mozzarella sticks

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Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the cheese sticks in a single layer on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket. Spritz evenly with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown and heated through, six to eight minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time and spritzing with more cooking spray. Allow the mozzarella sticks to stand for three to five minutes before serving. Serve with marinara or pasta sauce for dipping.

Test Kitchen Tip: In our testing, we find cook times vary dramatically between brands of air fryers. As a result, we give wider than normal ranges on suggested cook times. Begin checking at the first time listed, and adjust as needed.

Recipe Variations

  • Other seasonings: This recipe calls for Italian seasoning, garlic powder and pepper, but you can change those herbs and spice blends as you like. Kick up the spice level with chili powder or crushed red pepper flakes, or just change the bread crumbs to a seasoned crumb or homemade bread crumbs.
  • Bake ’em: To make the mozzarella sticks in the oven, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spray with cooking spray, and bake at 400° for six to eight minutes or until heated through. Allow to stand three to five minutes before serving.

How to Store Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

It’s best to eat these mozzarella sticks fresh and hot, but they’ll keep for one to two days in a sealed bag or container in the fridge. Simply toss them back into the air fryer for a few minutes to reheat.

Can you freeze leftover mozzarella sticks?

To freeze these sticks for future use, place unbaked on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen solid, transfer to a freezer bag or container for up to four months.

Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Tips

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How do you make air-fryer mozzarella sticks extra-crispy?

If you want to make your air-fryer mozzarella sticks extra-crispy, dip them and coat them in bread crumbs twice. If you want to really ensure the coating sticks, dip and bread the sticks, freeze, then repeat the process.

How long do you air-fry mozzarella sticks?

You only need to air-fry mozzarella sticks for six to eight minutes. Just make sure to turn them halfway through, and spritz with more oil to ensure a crispy, golden coating.

How can you tell when air-fryer mozzarella sticks are done?

These air-fryer mozzarella sticks are done when they’re golden brown and heated through. They should start to flatten slightly as the cheese melts. If you’re worried about overcooking, try making just one in the basket to start. Read our collection of air fryer tips to get confident cooking with your appliance.

Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Deep-fried mozzarella sticks are one of our favorite appetizers. I figured out how to make them at home without having to haul out the deep fryer. Make sure to double-bread each one so these air-fryer mozzarella sticks get nice and crunchy, and to keep the cheese from oozing out as they get warm. —Mary Merchant, Barre, Vermont
Air-Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Total Time

Prep: 15 min. + freezing Cook: 10 min.

Makes

1 dozen

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 cups dry bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 12 sticks string cheese
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 cup marinara sauce or meatless pasta sauce, warmed

Directions

  1. In a small skillet, toast breadcrumbs until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes. Cool completely.
  2. Place flour in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, beat eggs and water. In a third shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and pepper. Coat cheese sticks with flour, then dip in egg mixture and coat with bread crumb mixture. Repeat egg and bread crumb coatings. Cover and freeze for 8 hours or overnight.
  3. Preheat air fryer to 400°. Place cheese in a single layer on greased tray in air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown and heated through, 6-8 minutes, turning halfway through cooking and spritzing with additional cooking spray. Allow to stand 3-5 minutes before serving. Serve with marinara or pasta sauce for dipping.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 148 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 384mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 11g protein.