Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Air Fryer mozzarella sticks are breaded and then cooked until golden, crispy and seriously cheesy and delicious! Serve with warm marinara sauce for a tasty appetizer everyone will love.
Yield: 16 mozzarella sticks
Ingredients
- 8 mozzarella sticks
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons water
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For serving:
- Marinara sauce, warmed
Instructions
- Cut the mozzarella sticks in half cross-wise to make 16 short sticks. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and water. Place the flour in a separate shallow bowl. In a third bowl, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, paprika and salt.
- Dip each mozzarella stick in the egg mixture, then coat in the flour. Dip back in the egg mixture and then coat well in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place on the lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining mozzarella sticks. Place the baking sheet in the freezer and let the breaded mozzarella sticks freeze for 30-45 minutes to help the breading adhere. (It will fall right off in the Air Fryer if you skip the freezing step.)
- Preheat the Air Fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the mozzarella sticks to the Air Fryer insert and spray the tops with cooking spray. Cook at 400 for 5-7 minutes, until golden brown.
- Serve immediately with warm marinara sauce for dipping and enjoy!
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Notes
Mozzarella sticks: I recommend the full-fat kind for the best flavor. We’re also cutting these in half cross-wise to get smaller sticks, which is better for serving and dipping.
Breadcrumbs: The Panko breadcrumbs help get the really good crunch on these mozzarella sticks, so I don't recommend substituting regular breadcrumbs.
Cook time: This can vary slightly by Air Fryer, but you’ll know they are ready when they are golden brown and you start to see the cheese bubble out on the ends.
Leftovers: Leftover mozzarella sticks, once cooled, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheating: To reheat, place in the Air Fryer tray and set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes. This will get them hot and crispy again.
Nutrition
Serving: 2mozzarella sticks | Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 462mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
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