Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are ooey gooey party appetizers and snacks made with minimal pantry-staple ingredients in less than 30 minutes!
These cheese sticks get a crispy outer coating from the seasoned panko coating and fast-frying action of the air fryer, offering a healthier way to enjoy your favorite fried foods and snacks. Even better – these cheese sticks in the air fryer are low-carb!
Do you love making delicious food and snacks in your air fryer? Then you need to try these Bacon Wrapped Pickles, Air Fryer Home Fries, and Air Fryer Southwest Egg Rolls.
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
- Easy appetizers or party snacks.
- Ideal keto-friendly finger food, low in carbs.
- Ooey gooey cheese center with a crispy outer coating.
- Healthier fried food!
Ingredients Needed
- Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Cornstarch
- Flour
- Panko
- Eggs
- Nature’s seasoning
- Parsley
How to Make Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks
Step 1: Prepare the Mozzarella Sticks and Coating
Halve the cheese sticks. Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl with parsley and panko, and beat the eggs in another bowl.
Step 2: Coat the Mozzarella Sticks
Coat the cheese sticks in the beaten eggs and then in the flour mixture. Coat the sticks again in the egg mix and then the panko mixture.
Step 3: Fry the Mozzarella Sticks and Enjoy
Add the coated cheese sticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray them with oil. Cook for 5 minutes at 400F. Allow the fried Mozzarella sticks to cool before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- Chilling the Mozzarella sticks in the refrigerator can make it easier to slice the sticks in half and also preserve the cheese while the assembled snack fries.
- Add freshly fried Mozzarella sticks to a paper towel to absorb excess oil before serving.
- Enjoy these air fryer mozzarella sticks as is or with your favorite dipping sauces.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket with too many Mozzarella sticks otherwise, they won’t get a good outer crisp due to lack of air circulation. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to fry these cheese sticks in batches.
Frequently Asked Questions
These Mozzarella sticks can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat them in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes before serving again.
There is a larger ratio of Mozzarella cheese than there is panko coating which definitely makes this appetizer low-carb.
I’ve used all-purpose flour and regular panko breadcrumbs in this recipe, but you can use gluten-free flour and a brand of gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this snack appropriate for gluten sensitivities.
• One of the ways that you vary this recipe is by frying these mozzarella sticks in a frying pan with oil instead of the air fryer. Add about 2-inches of cooking oil to a skillet and heat on medium-high until the oil reaches 350 F. Add several coated mozzarella sticks to the hot oil at a time, flipping them after a few minutes and frying until golden.
• Instead of coating these mozzarella sticks with panko breadcrumbs, consider wrapping them with regular-cut bacon, covering the entire stick with the bacon, and securing the bacon on each end with a toothpick.
• Make gluten-free mozzarella sticks in an air fryer by using gluten-free breadcrumbs.
• Add different seasoning blends to the breadcrumb mixture, such as Italian seasoning.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Printable Recipe Card
Air Fryer Cheese Sticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 mozzarella cheese sticks
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup panko
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon Nature's Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped finely
Instructions
- Halve the cheese sticks. Combine the dry ingredients in one bowl with parsley and panko and beat the eggs in another bowl.
- Coat the cheese sticks in the beaten eggs and then in the flour mixture. Coat the sticks again in the egg mix and then the panko mixture.
- Add the coated cheese sticks to the air fryer basket and lightly spray them with oil. Cook for 5 minutes at 400F. Allow the fried Mozzarella sticks to cool before serving.
Notes
- Chilling the Mozzarella sticks in the refrigerator can make it easier to slice the sticks in half and also preserve the cheese while the assembled snack fries.
- Add freshly fried Mozzarella sticks to a paper towel to absorb excess oil before serving.
- Enjoy these air fryer mozzarella sticks as is or with your favorite dipping sauces.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket with too many Mozzarella sticks otherwise, they won’t get a good outer crisp due to lack of air circulation. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to fry these cheese sticks in batches.